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He said there wasn't a test for toxic levels of metal. Riiiggghhhhtt.
That's because it's not his specialty. It's not what he does.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BadKittehs
He also told us that an allergy to metal such at titanium or nickel would not cause systemic symptoms. I don't believe that one either.
I agree with him and I would make that a last resort to investigate since the only way to know for sure is to remove the pin and that means more surgery.
Her bowels are apparently prolapsing into her vagina now.
That's sure not going to help her bowel problems. Is she overweight?
Quote:
Originally Posted by BadKittehs
An interesting side note- she told me she had her first solid bowel movement in months after the colonoscopy. I joked with her beforehand that maybe all the stuff she took to clean her out would flush out whatever that was in there causing the problem.
Did they x-ray her for an impaction prior to her clearing herself out for the colonoscopy?
I just "love" how the medical community simplifies a more serious problem calling it an "allergy". Nickel, like all the "heavy metals" is toxic to humans if allowed to accumulate, it was used in dental crowns and bridges but I think not anymore precisely for that reason. Some people react more visibly to it, as in contact dermatitis, but that only means that they have a lower tolerance for it than others, but in the long range it's really not OK for anybody. But when it comes to some kind of implant, there is the possibility that the body encapsulates (surrounds) the "foreign object" with scar tissue to protect itself, so maybe, if any of the metal(s) would "leach" out it would remain contained (or so I hope for my own good!).
My daughter texted me at 1:30 this morning to tell me she is now vomiting blood. I tell her to call the doctor in the morning. Instead she comes over later in the morning, looking pale and saying her throat hurts and the pain in her abdomen is horrible. I keep the three year old and convince her to go Kaiser and get seen. She is there for a couple of hours, where they do blood and urine tests, and an EKG. The EKG is normal (no blood clot, thank Heaven!) and apparently the other tests were normal too.
She has torn something in her throat from the vomiting and that is where the blood and sore throat are coming from. He pulls up her colonoscopy and endoscopy and discovers she has gastritis. Finally an actual reason for her pain! The gastro doctor has not gotten back to her regarding her test results or her biopsies yet, but I would imagine he SAW the gastritis at the time if this other doctor could see it, but he didn't mention it to her at any time in the past 10 days. He gave her some nasty-tasting stuff to drink to make her throat feel better (it didn't), and sent her home with a rather impressive bag of drugs consisting of zofran for the vomiting, prilosec, and three bottles of some liquid crap she has to drink four times a day to coat her stomach and make the inflammation go away. He said it would take a couple of weeks before she really felt better.
I am glad she may actually be getting some relief for at least some of her symptoms. That said, I am really Pi**ed at this gastro guy for not saying anything after the procedures when he clearly could have seen the inflammation, and started to treat her. She went 10 unnecessary days in pain and ripped her throat from vomiting until it bled.
At least we now know something, even if it doesn't address all of her ailments, it is still progress...
Although there are -many- causes of gastritis, the top causes are excessive alcohol consumption, and NSAIDs (aspirin and ibuprophen). This doesn't mean she has been drinking a lot, and it doesn't mean she's been popping a lot of aspirins or Naproxyns. But those are the first things you'll want to rule out, if you're looking for a cause. If it turns out she's been taking a naproxyn every day, or painkillers containing aspirin every day, then she needs to stop doing that, so that she can heal and maintain a healthy stomach. It's also possible that she has an ulcer; ulcers and gastritis together is common.
Also she should avoid milk until the inflammation is gone; milk feels good going down, when you have gastritis. But it makes it worse once it's in your stomach.
The crap she's drinking is probably Pepto-Bismol, or similar.
She doesn't drink alcohol ever, but I am not sure about what pain killers she might be taking. She drinks milk now and then, so I will pass that info along to her.
Very interesting. I hope they find out what is happening.
I also am thinking a Celiac/Gluten intolerance. I also found this: Not sure if this is the problem, but it may lead to some insight.
A tauring imbalance and/or not enough bile / bilary obstruction. Analysis/Stools - AutismPedia
Many people I know have resulted in going to the Mayo clinic when local doctors and specialists are unable to come up with a treatment plan or diagnosis. She may want to consider that.
Very interesting. I hope they find out what is happening.
I also am thinking a Celiac/Gluten intolerance. I also found this: Not sure if this is the problem, but it may lead to some insight.
A tauring imbalance and/or not enough bile / bilary obstruction. Analysis/Stools - AutismPedia
Many people I know have resulted in going to the Mayo clinic when local doctors and specialists are unable to come up with a treatment plan or diagnosis. She may want to consider that.
My mom has Lupus and took NSAIDs for years, and she now has kidney damage from all of the anti-inflammatories. I know for me I can't take Ibuprofen because my stomach just can't tolerate it. I agree with the posters about checking out her liver because since she has had to take so many medications over the years from surgeries, stomach problems, and various other elements. All of these things are filtered out by the liver. Of course, I'm not a doctor, but I just really feel for your daughter and her situation. Good Luck, and I hope y'all can get some good news soon.
It is my humble opinion that your daughter is suffering from Post-Cholecystectomy Syndrome (PCS). All her digestive symptoms fit the profile, and it can strike years after gallbladder removal.
I had my gallbladder removed in 2009, and started having the symptoms of PCS almost immediately afterwards. Very few people know about it, and no doctor informed me prior to or after surgery that it was a possibility, yet 10 to 15% of people develop PCS after gallbladder surgery.
I have most of the same symptoms as your daughter, with the exception of the right upper quadrant pain. Here is a pretty thorough link to a description of PCS: Post-cholecystectomy syndrome - Medfriendly.com
The unregulated bile in the system of somebody who no longer has a gallbladder causes the dumping syndrome, and the bile is responsible for the color and consistency of stool. I get pain in my abdomen usually 5 to 10 minutes after eating, and sometimes while I am eating, which is accompanied by nausea and diarrhea as you described, and then followed by dizziness and weakness. I usually have to lay down for a while after an episode.
This constant flow of bile also leaks into the stomach, causing chronic gastritis. It took about three years for this to cause problems for me, and it causes really terrible burning pain when it happens. This link describes bile reflux, which can be caused by PCS: Bile reflux: Causes - MayoClinic.com
The only current drug that is prescribed for PCS is Cholestyramine (Questran) - it helps with the diarrhea. Unfortunately, because I have IBS-A (alternating), it causes constipation quickly, so I can't take it.
I now take prescription Cimetidine which keeps the gastric pain at bay. I tried some other OTC drugs, but Cimetidine is the only one that worked.
I really think it is a crime that your daughter has been to all these doctors and had all these tests and not one has mentioned PCS. I urge you to read the information in the links I provided and start asking your daughter's doctors about PCS.
P.S. I also have a lot of hair loss for the last few years, and although I might attribute it to my age (57), I have started to believe that it is due to malabsorption from PCS.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask - I'll share whatever else I can.
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