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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / May 2005Update (was NOW what?! Sigh.)
OK - here's what I learned today. 1 - I am definitely bleeding internally, but they can't pinpoint where or why just yet. The suspected culprit is 21+ years of NSAIDS and 3+ years of prednisone. 2 - I will receive an upper GI scope at oh-dark-thirty on Tuesday, the 24th. That 'should' pinpoint the where and why. If it doesn't, then they'll do the colonoscopy again. He did say that since I had had a complete colonoscopy less than two years ago that was completely clear and normal, that he fully expects to find whatever it is in the upper GI tract. 3 - I will be given an ultrasound of the liver and surrounding areas "just in case" (The thing is, it's scheduled for August when we're supposed to be gone. I'll discuss that with the doctor on Tuesday. I've the feeling he'll insist on sooner.) 4 - More blood tests today. I'm thinking of having a spigot installed. LOL (BTW - it is my RED blood cell count that's been dropping the last couple years, not the white.) 5 - I am at a higher risk of liver cancer than the general public (so I'm an overachiever!), but the GI doc doesn't think we need to go there just yet. Now you know as much as I do. Thank you to all for the good wishes you've sent. I'll keep you updated as much as possible. DeeTee ________________________________ DeeTee and Bob Taggart http://www.marykay.com/dtaggart3 http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ ________________________________ You sure have been through the mill, hon. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers for sure. Nell Thank you for posting the update. I read yesterday's post today and was hoping the apponment answered some questions. At least GI scope isn't too far off. Can you imagine if part of the treatment was no more prednisone/NSAIDS?! (shivers) Here's a big cyber hug from the Great White North Skip > OK - here's what I learned today. > [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ > ________________________________ Sweetie, So sorry this is happening to you. Hope they find out the source of all the trouble and get it healed up ASAP. I've been on stomach meds for years to protect from NSAIDS. In fact, my RD told me to get the meds upped before I even started a new NSAID when I switched off Vioxx. Now taking Axid and Protonix and it's actually helping. Hope they find the right stuff for you, too. Adelle > OK - here's what I learned today. > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ > ________________________________ > OK - here's what I learned today. > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > less than two years ago that was completely clear and normal, that he fully > expects to find whatever it is in the upper GI tract. That's where I'd be looking, but I'm wondering why he doesn't do both in the same session. Then again, colonoscopy prep is much more unpleasant than just fasting for an upper GI. > 3 - I will be given an ultrasound of the liver and surrounding areas "just > in case" (The thing is, it's scheduled for August when we're supposed to be > gone. I'll discuss that with the doctor on Tuesday. I've the feeling he'll > insist on sooner.) I should hope so! That's an obscenely long wait for a simple abdominal ultrasound. > 4 - More blood tests today. I'm thinking of having a spigot installed. LOL > (BTW - it is my RED blood cell count that's been dropping the last couple > years, not the white.) Heh, BIG difference! If you could, what's your haemaglobin (hb) at? It's a better figure to use tog auge anaemia rather then red cell count. > 5 - I am at a higher risk of liver cancer than the general public (so I'm an > overachiever!), but the GI doc doesn't think we need to go there just yet. > > Now you know as much as I do. Thank you to all for the good wishes you've > sent. I'll keep you updated as much as possible. Please do, we're concerned and our thoughts are with you. > DeeTee > ________________________________ > DeeTee and Bob Taggart > http://www.marykay.com/dtaggart3 > http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ > ________________________________  Signaturespammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor: http://www.abmdr.org.au/ http://www.marrow.org/ Don't know the numbers except the rbc at 25. I'm told they are all bad. DeeTee ________________________________ DeeTee and Bob Taggart http://www.marykay.com/dtaggart3 http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ ________________________________ >> OK - here's what I learned today. >> [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] >> http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ >> ________________________________ Hello DeeTee, Im fairly new to the group, so first wanted to say nice to meet you. About your internal bleeding, i dont know if its the same as me. But, maybe be its a gastric ulcer? You mentioned the many years on NSAIDs and Prednisone, and the low Red blood count. I was on Bextra and Naproxen for a while and ended up getting a bleeding ulcer. Had to spend a few days in the hospital over the Easter weekend. Because my red blood cell count was so low, i needed a blood transfusion. My symptoms were fatique, loss of appetite and upset stomach. I thought it was a bug or the flu at first but decided to get to the hospital because it lasted too long. My doctor told me 'no more' NSAIDS or prednisone they hurt the stomach lining. I cant even get Toradoll shots for pain they also can hurt the stomach i was told. Im on Protonix daily and feel alot better. I have to schedule a follow up endescope to see if the ulcer is completely healed. Good luck to you, im sure the GI scope will show the doctor whats causing your bleeding, and you'll be ok. Carol L. > OK - here's what I learned today. > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ > ________________________________ Yes, I'm pretty sure it's an ulcer myself. I have pain in my right side all the time now, about waist high or just a bit higher. The doc told me to quadruple the OTC Prilosec (the only 'protector' I've been able to tolerate. Of course, I have to pay out of pocket for it because the military pharmacy no longer stocks it.). We'll see what they do about the NSAIDs and prednisone. I have gotten down to 3.5-4 mg of pred daily so that's a good thing. I had also raised concerns about the Arthrotec raising my blood pressure (I'm on 3 bp meds) and my RD and I were starting to talk about that when the blood test results were delivered, he started asking me questions and then he went bananas. :-D That was fun to watch! Thank you to everyone who has emailed me and posted with your suggestions and support. At least now I know why I've felt like something the cat refused to drag in lately. If I could just get rid of this side pain, I think I'd be fine. I actually slept for SEVEN hours straight last night! Unheard of!! DeeTee ________________________________ DeeTee and Bob Taggart http://www.marykay.com/dtaggart3 http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ ________________________________ > Hello DeeTee, > [quoted text clipped - 51 lines] >> http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ >> ________________________________ DeeTee, Sorry you are in so much discomfort, kiddo. This will sound a little strange, but I found eating potatoes and sour cream cooled and soothed my stomach when it was acting up. There were days that was all I could eat without making everything worse (and Gaviscon, too). Adelle > Yes, I'm pretty sure it's an ulcer myself. I have pain in my right side > all the time now, about waist high or just a bit higher. The doc told me [quoted text clipped - 74 lines] >>> http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ >>> ________________________________ DeeTee wrote: I'm pretty sure it's an ulcer myself. DeeTee, If there's suspicion of an ulcer, why isn't the doc doing the breath test for h-pylori? From what I've read, it's the main cause of ulcers. The test is simple and painless. If h-pylori's present, you're treated with antibiotics and the ulcer will heal. If the ulcer heals, the bleeding stops. Seems like the latest school of thought on ulcers isn't to keep adding antacids which only mask symptoms, but, to look for and treat the underlying cause. If you're one of the 'lucky' ones with h-pylori, there's a relatively 'easy,' quick fix. Wouldn't it be nice if something was simple for once? : ) > DeeTee wrote: I'm pretty sure it's an ulcer myself. > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > h-pylori, there's a relatively 'easy,' quick fix. Wouldn't it be nice > if something was simple for once? : ) I agree. The docs are most likely right, it's erosive damage from years and years of NSAIDs, but what if, yah know? The combination of helicobacter pylori and erosive NSAIDs is a rather nasty combination. Ari Signaturespammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor: http://www.abmdr.org.au/ http://www.marrow.org/ I didn't test positive for h-pylori but my doctor gave me antibiotics anyway, just in case. Gwen > > DeeTee wrote: I'm pretty sure it's an ulcer myself. > > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Ari The doc really doesn't think it is, it's just my "positive" thinking going on. I am not sure what he suspects, but he did a pretty thorough exam and never once said the word ulcer. DeeTee ________________________________ DeeTee and Bob Taggart http://www.marykay.com/dtaggart3 http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ ________________________________ > DeeTee wrote: I'm pretty sure it's an ulcer myself. > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > h-pylori, there's a relatively 'easy,' quick fix. Wouldn't it be nice > if something was simple for once? : ) do take care of yourself Dee janice | The doc really doesn't think it is, it's just my "positive" thinking going | on. I am not sure what he suspects, but he did a pretty thorough exam and [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] | > h-pylori, there's a relatively 'easy,' quick fix. Wouldn't it be nice | > if something was simple for once? : ) DeeTee, I just wanted to add to my previous post to you, I also had pain in my side about mid waist, only my pain was on the left side. I thought it was due to my herniated disc in the middle of my back and radiating to the front. But after i found out it was a gastric ulcer and began treatment the pain went away. I forgot to tell you the doctors put me on a medicine called Sucralfate tablets 1 gram. I had to take these pills three times a day before each meal for about two weeks. These pills actually "coat" the inside of your stomach protecting the ulcer from acid. This med really helped, thats if you have an ulcer. About your pred your taking, i have a cousin who takes a low dose daily for arthritis, she takes it with a Prilosec type med. and is doing well with it. She just has to have bone density tests regularly. Hope all goes well with you and your feeling better soon. Carol L. ;-) > Yes, I'm pretty sure it's an ulcer myself. I have pain in my right side > all the time now, about waist high or just a bit higher. The doc told me [quoted text clipped - 74 lines] >>> http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ >>> ________________________________ continue keeping us posted. prayers and hugs................. SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare oh, hon, what a lot to have to think about and deal with. you must be kinda overwhelmed by it all. ((((((((((((deetee))))))))))) it's kinda dumb that the ultrasound is scheduled for august. do they have you taking *i*r*o*n* for that red cell count? heck, that count is almost low enough for a red cell transfusion. scary. be aware of your breathing, sweetie, because you are getting low enough on that red cell count that your blood may not be carrying enough oxygen to the rest of your body. if your breathing is becoming labored at all, get in to ER immediately, please. hanging in there with you, deetee. lovingly, kate > OK - here's what I learned today. > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ > ________________________________ Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. DeeTee ________________________________ DeeTee and Bob Taggart http://www.marykay.com/dtaggart3 http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ ________________________________ > oh, hon, what a lot to have to think about and deal with. you must be > kinda overwhelmed by it all. ((((((((((((deetee))))))))))) it's kinda [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] >> http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ >> ________________________________ Dee Tee, I sure hope they get to the bottom of this quickly. My heart and thoughts are with you. Denise said last night that she has you in her prayers. She is sending good thoughts too. We are both sending you lots of hugs and TLC. We are praying for the wisdom of the drs that they can find out what is causing this and fix it quickly so that you can get back to feeling much much better soon. Prayers for both you and Bob. by the way I had to laugh at your spigot comment, I have felt the same way since Feb also. ;-) SignatureLove and hugs to all Good thoughts coming your way too. Squirrely Jo > 1 - I am definitely bleeding internally, but they can't pinpoint where or > why just yet. The suspected culprit is 21+ years of NSAIDS and 3+ years [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ > ________________________________ D you are in my thoughts and prayers. sending you a hug janice | OK - here's what I learned today. | [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] | http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/ | ________________________________ |
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