Re: physical symptoms

October 9, 2000

In a message dated 10/6/00 6:47:03 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

<< I know something is not right with my body and I am not going to give up

until someone gives me some answers. I realize that it may be likely that

there is nothing that can be done to " cure " whatever is going on. However,

what if I just listen to the doctors, sit back and do the best job I can to

simply ignore what's going on with me and then I find out down the road

something could have been prevented if they had only diagnosed the problem

sooner. >>

,

Would you mind telling me again what symptoms you are having which are giving

blank stares from the doctor? What kind of insurance, HMO, etc., do you have?

I am just curious because I get those same blank stares. Although my team of

doctors still can't come up with a diagnosis or a solution, they are

continuing to refer me to yet another specialist. A member of the Network

recently told me she just quit going to the doctors at all. She's fed up with

them all. I don't exactly have the same sentiment, but I am tired of being

poked and prodded. I really don't care what the cardiologist has to say. It's

not worth it to be poked and prodded anymore. It's actually interfering with

the semblance of quality of life as it is now.

Well, that was longer than I wanted it. But please get back with me.

Karyn

Pancreatitis Support Network

Indianapolis Symposium on Pancreatitis 2000

November 11, 2000

October 10, 2000

In a message dated 10/9/00 11:36:01 AM Central Daylight Time,

KarynWms@... writes:

<< ,

Would you mind telling me again what symptoms you are having which are

giving

blank stares from the doctor? What kind of insurance, HMO, etc., do you

have?

I am just curious because I get those same blank stares. Although my team of

doctors still can't come up with a diagnosis or a solution, they are

continuing to refer me to yet another specialist. A member of the Network

recently told me she just quit going to the doctors at all. She's fed up

with

them all. I don't exactly have the same sentiment, but I am tired of being

poked and prodded. I really don't care what the cardiologist has to say.

It's

not worth it to be poked and prodded anymore. It's actually interfering with

the semblance of quality of life as it is now.

Well, that was longer than I wanted it. But please get back with me.

Karyn

>>

,

My health insurance is Blue Cross Blue Shield federal insurance. It is

fabulous health insurance and I am so thankful for it. I can go to any

doctor I choose and don't have to have a referral. Almost 100% of the

doctors in the area are BCBS providers, but I can still go to a non-provider

if I choose and ins will pay 75%. right now, it will pay 100% for all

providers since I have met my catastrophic limit on out of pocket expenses

for the year (for the first time in my life).

Right now my symptoms are as follows

1. continued ruq abdomenal pain, sometimes goes around the side

2. pain in the back on the right side kind of under the shoulder blade

(for the last month, the pain really seems to have no association with eating)

At this time the pain is more in the back and only a dull ache. I am on

antibiotics again and lately that seems to make the back better.

3. Weight gain of 30 lbs since July. Mostly right in my gut.

4. Sudden jump in blood pressure the beginning of Sep. I've been on med

(tenormin) since 95 for borderline high bp, but it has been very well under

control. In Sep, my bp started running around 136/95 to 160/110 with most

readings closer to the latter.

5. Itchy skin for no reason and with no visible rash

6. blood in my urine on 6 of 8 urinalysis since July

7. Am now being treated for 3rd uti/kidney infection since july

8. swelling in hands and feet (just started becoming noticeable a few days

ago) hands are so tight I can't make a fist in the morning - not painful -

just tight; when I squat down - the skin in my legs feels like it is going to

split open

9. Found out last week I have a 60% stenosis of my right renal artery

10. My face is visibly puffy and round in comparision to pictures made in

June and especially in comparison to a family pic made in 11-99.

11. I feel like my brain does not function like it did only a few months

ago. I take very little narcotic pain med since my doc doesn't believe in

prescribing it much. He gave me 30 darvocet in August and I still have 2

left.

12. Blurry vision and puffy eyes since sep (i've been to eye doctor twice

thinking i needed stronger contacts - on 2nd visit she did up contacts to the

very next level but it really hasn't made a difference)

13. Achy muscles and joints.

14. weakness and fatigue

There are probably more, but this is all I can think of right now. Believe

it or not, in spite of all this, overall I still feel much better than I did

a few months ago! The main things that seems to be worse is that I feel so

weak much of the time. I went scuba diving in June and there is no way I

would have the strength to do that today.

I saw a nephrologist/internal med doc yesterday. He said the pain didn't

seem like kidney pain to him. He also said the two conditions that would

cause blood in the urine were painless. He is going to do a 24 hour urine to

check the creatinine and protein. He also wants to check two first morning

urines (not sure why). He did blood work and an EKG. He changed my bp med

from HCTZ (family doc added this in mid-sept) to Lasix 20 mg twice a day.

I had a catopril renal scan yesterday and also turned in a 24 hour urine to

check the cortisol level. I don't have the results of these yet. The family

doc is checking for an endocrine disorder - i assume cushing's.

Unfortunately, it seems cushing's can often be very difficult to diagnose

(where have I heard that before?).

Didn't mean to make this a book, but you asked. Any advice would be greatly

appreciated.

October 10, 2000

In a message dated 10/10/00 4:13:50 PM Central Daylight Time,

briffle@... writes:

<< ,

Every symptom you listed sounds like me! I get the same idiot looks

from Dr.s

How are you doing these days?

Becky (Indiana)

>>

Becky,

I actually feel better than I have. I still feel so weak, but the pain is

really not that bad since the last " bad spell " that was in early Sept. I

found out today that the reanl scan I had today was normal. Doc says this

means that my high bp is not caused by the blockage in my renal artery. He

says the kidneys were both functioning equally. I haven't seen the actual

report, this is just what the family doc told me. I will get a copy of the

report. He has not gotten back the results from the 24 hour urine cortisol

level. However, he told me it would probably be normal since cushing's is a

very unusual disorder. I told the doc my weight gain, swelling, and sudden

increase in bp was not normal. I got the " blank stare " , which frankly I am

sick to death of!!!!!

I got a copy of my cholesterol test he did a couple of weeks ago. The

cholesterol was 213 but family doc had told me it was fine since the ratio

was okay. The triglycerides were also a little high - 273 - normal is 0-199.

He didn't mention that.

My weight is down 4 pounds since yesterday. I'm sure it is from the Lasix.

Oh, well, we'll see what the latest tests show.

Hope everyone is having a good day.

October 10, 2000

In a message dated 10/10/00 5:29:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

loggiekw@... writes:

<< Becky (Indiana)