Guest guest Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Sherri, Hi. I am 36 and I had my spleen out when I was 6. I recently recieved a packet of information from Boston Children's Hospital Hematology Dept. where I had my spleen out. They sent a pamphlet along with the package with updated info. on the research that they have done on people who have had their spleens out and the life-long effects. Your spleen filters out the blood and gets rid of anything that should not be there--like bacteria, etc. Because I, and your brother, do not have a spleen we are at an extreme disadvantage for fighting infections--especially within the first 5 years. In order to keep the body from becoming infected with serious things such as...meningitis, sepsis (blood infection), etc., they recommend putting the patients on long-term antibiotics. Also, the packet indicated that a person without a spleen who has a fever---it is considered an emergency. Also, if your fever goes above 101.5 you should go directly to the closest ER, have blood work, and be put on IV antibiotics. Apparently, they are very concerned about patient's without spleens and the long-term effects it has as far as infections. I know what that is like. I am sick all of the time and within the past year it has been constant. That is why my family doctor ordered lots of blood work on me and he also put me on a course of Biaxin for three weeks, which is an antibiotic. He also wants me to see a hematologist--at least yearly. They also indicated that these patients should keep penicillin at home at all times and whenever you develop a fever, take the penicillin. I am allergic to that, so I have a diff. antibiotic on hand. Hope this helps. I also have a son with the same blood disorder that I have and he may have to get his spleen removed. He is only 7 and I am concerned about him, so I am up-to-date on the info. regarding this. Why did your brother have his spleen removed? Mindy >> Hi Kristy:> > Why are people without spleens supposed to be on antibiotics and is that supposed to be long term? My brother doesn't have a spleen since 1996 and he has never been on antibiotics. So I was wondering.> > Sherri> > -------------- Original message -------------- > From: Kristy Sokoloski sokokl@... > > > Mindy, > > > > A wet mound is not for yeast any way. It's for finding out if > > someone has bacterial vaginosis which is different from yeast. > > > > You mentioned that you don't have a spleen. I am taking it that > > your dr is not giving you daily antibiotic treatment. Am I to > > understand that correctly? If yes, then why isn't your dr using > > giving you daily antibiotic treatment? The reason I ask is > > because who don't have a spleen are supposed to be taking > > antibiotics on a daily basis. > > > > As for the thyroid, if there's something wrong you can't base it > > on just the TSH levels. You need to have the entire panel > > (which consists of 7 tests). > > > > Kristy > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________ > > ____ > > Get your own web address. > > Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. > > http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL > > > > > > > > **IF REPLYING TO THIS POST, PLEASE REMOVE ORIGINAL POST, THANKS** > > > > Our HOME page is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VulvarDisorders > > to search our archives, files, articles, etc. > > > > *** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Hi Mindy: That is very interesting. I guess things were different 11 years ago when my brother lost his spleen. He was in a motorcylce accident and had internal bleeding. I'm going to forward your email to him to read. I think he will find it interesting too. I am sorry to hear that your son has the same disorder. My daughter has Crohn's disease so I am no stranger to hospitals either. You have a blood disorder and they remove the spleen? Why do they do that? Sherri -------------- Original message -------------- Sherri, Hi. I am 36 and I had my spleen out when I was 6. I recently recieved a packet of information from Boston Children's Hospital Hematology Dept. where I had my spleen out. They sent a pamphlet along with the package with updated info. on the research that they have done on people who have had their spleens out and the life-long effects. Your spleen filters out the blood and gets rid of anything that should not be there--like bacteria, etc. Because I, and your brother, do not have a spleen we are at an extreme disadvantage for fighting infections--especially within the first 5 years. In order to keep the body from becoming infected with serious things such as...meningitis, sepsis (blood infection), etc., they recommend putting the patients on long-term antibiotics. Also, the packet indicated that a person without a spleen who has a fever---it is considered an emergency. Also, if your fever goes above 101.5 you shou ld go directly to the closest ER, have blood work, and be put on IV antibiotics. Apparently, they are very concerned about patient's without spleens and the long-term effects it has as far as infections. I know what that is like. I am sick all of the time and within the past year it has been constant. That is why my family doctor ordered lots of blood work on me and he also put me on a course of Biaxin for three weeks, which is an antibiotic. He also wants me to see a hematologist--at least yearly. They also indicated that these patients should keep penicillin at home at all times and whenever you develop a fever, take the penicillin. I am allergic to that, so I have a diff. antibiotic on hand. Hope this helps. I also have a son with the same blood disorder that I have and he may have to get his spleen removed. He is only 7 and I am concerned about him, so I am up-to-date on the info. regarding this. Why did your brother have his spleen removed? Mindy >> Hi Kristy:> > Why are people without spleens supposed to be on antibiotics and is that supposed to be long term? My brother doesn't have a spleen since 1996 and he has never been on antibiotics. So I was wondering.> > Sherri> > -------------- Original message -------------- > From: Kristy Sokoloski sokokl@... > > > Mindy, > > > > A wet mound is not for yeast any way. It's for finding out if > > someone has bacterial vaginosis which is different from yeast. > > > > You mentioned that you don't have a spleen. I am taking it that > > your dr is not giving you daily antibiotic treatment. Am I to > > understand that correctly? If yes, then why isn't your dr using > > giving you daily antibiotic treatment? The reason I ask is > > because who don't have a spleen are supposed to be taking > > antibiotics on a daily basis. > > > > As for the thyroid, if there's something wrong you can't base it > > on just the TSH levels. You need to have the entire panel > > (which consists of 7 tests). > > > > Kristy > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________ > > ____ > > Get your own web address. > > Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. > > http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL > > > > > > > > **IF REPLYING TO THIS POST, PLEASE REMOVE ORIGINAL POST, THANKS** > > > > Our HOME page is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VulvarDisorders > > to search our archives, files, artic les, etc. > > > > *** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Hi Sherri, I have a blood disorder called heredetary spherocytosis. My red blood cells are shaped differently than the average person and, therefore, the spleen thinks that my RBCs should not be there and continuously kills them. This makes the body work very very hard to keep up with the constant destruction of the RBCs. My spleen was very enlarged as a child and I had constant stomach aches and I was anemic from my RBCs being so slow. My body just couldn't keep up with it and I was too sick, so that had to take the spleen out, which made my immune system compromised with no spleen. My son has the mild form of this blood disorder, so he is not sick like I was. He just has a hard time when he has a virus (flu, cold, etc.). Hopefully, he can keep it, but you never know how the body will react to something like that. Any type of virus could trigger things to go down hill for him. We just keep a close eye on him and check his blood work regularly. I found that info. interesting also regarding people without spleens. My mother has been telling me for years to see a doctor whenever I am sick. Of course you get focused on everyday things and taking care of your family and put yourself on the back burner, but I NEED to not do that anymore and take care of myself, because I have been sick for a while now. I feel like I have a virus or something that I just cannot shake. Tell your brother to take care of himself and make sure he sees a doctor on a regular basis and if he gets sick with a fever. Maybe he should think about seeing a hematologist yearly---just to be updated on things. Does he get sick often? Mindy> >> > Hi Kristy:> > > > Why are people without spleens supposed to be on antibiotics and is that supposed to be long term? My brother doesn't have a spleen since 1996 and he has never been on antibiotics. So I was wondering.> > > > Sherri> > > > -------------- Original message -------------- > > From: Kristy Sokoloski sokokl@ > > > > > Mindy, > > > > > > A wet mound is not for yeast any way. It's for finding out if > > > someone has bacterial vaginosis which is different from yeast. > > > > > > You mentioned that you don't have a spleen. I am taking it that > > > your dr is not giving you daily antibiotic treatment. Am I to > > > understand that correctly? If yes, then why isn't your dr using > > > giving you daily antibiotic treatment? The reason I ask is > > > because who don't have a spleen are supposed to be taking > > > antibiotics on a daily basis. > > > > > > As for the thyroid, if there's something wrong you can't base it > > > on just the TSH levels. You need to have the entire panel > > > (which consists of 7 tests). > > > > > > Kristy > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________ > > > ____ > > > Get your own web address. > > > Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. > > > http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL > > > > > > > > > > > > **IF REPLYING TO THIS POST, PLEASE REMOVE ORIGINAL POST, THANKS** > > > > > > Our HOME page is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VulvarDisorders > > > to search our archives, files, articles, etc. > > > > > > *** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Sherri, They also suggested that people without a spleen should get yearly flu shots pneumonia vaccinations every two years. Mindy > > > > Hi Kristy: > > > > Why are people without spleens supposed to be on antibiotics and is that supposed to be long term? My brother doesn't have a spleen since 1996 and he has never been on antibiotics. So I was wondering. > > > > Sherri > > > > -------------- Original message -------------- > > From: Kristy Sokoloski sokokl@ > > > > > Mindy, > > > > > > A wet mound is not for yeast any way. It's for finding out if > > > someone has bacterial vaginosis which is different from yeast. > > > > > > You mentioned that you don't have a spleen. I am taking it that > > > your dr is not giving you daily antibiotic treatment. Am I to > > > understand that correctly? If yes, then why isn't your dr using > > > giving you daily antibiotic treatment? The reason I ask is > > > because who don't have a spleen are supposed to be taking > > > antibiotics on a daily basis. > > > > > > As for the thyroid, if there's something wrong you can't base it > > > on just the TSH levels. You need to have the entire panel > > > (which consists of 7 tests). > > > > > > Kristy > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ ___________ > > > ____ > > > Get your own web address. > > > Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. > > > http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL > > > > > > > > > > > > **IF REPLYING TO THIS POST, PLEASE REMOVE ORIGINAL POST, THANKS** > > > > > > Our HOME page is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VulvarDisorders > > > to search our archives, files, articles, etc. > > > > > > *** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Mindy, I'm not sure where you got the info that a wet mount can be used to check for yeast if it shows up but that is not correct info. Wet Mount is only for BV which has some similar symptoms to yeast. That's why you can't trust the Wet Mount for yeast even if it were tru As for longer time cultures you are fortunate that you can get it done because usually that is not something that is done when it comes to coverage by insurance and also samples go bad after a while. I know because I asked my dr about it once and she's a very knowledgeable OB/GYN. I have gotten infections in spite of cultures before. But culturing has gotten even better on some level thanks to some new tests that are coming out (and my dr just loves to tell me about them when I have to go in for an infection check). Kristy ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Don't pick lemons. See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos. http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Kristy, I have had several wet mounts over many years time. I have had yeast inf. since age 19 and I am 36. Actually, I watched my doctor exam it under the microscope just recently. That is what has diagnosed some of my yeasts and when I had BV recently. If you read this article it explains it more... Test Overview A vaginal wet mount (sometimes called a vaginal smear) is a test to determine the cause of vaginitis, or inflammation of the vagina and the area around the vagina (vulva). See an illustration of female genitalia. Vaginitis is often caused by an infection, but it may also be caused by a reaction to vaginal products such as soap, bath oils, spermicidal jelly, or douches. Vaginitis may cause symptoms such as vaginal itching, pain, or discharge. Infections that can cause vaginitis are common and include: Yeast infection. A vaginal yeast infection is usually caused by a type of yeast called Candida albicans. A yeast infection is also called a candida infection, or candidiasis. A vaginal yeast infection often causes itching and a white, lumpy discharge that looks similar to cottage cheese; it also causes pain with sexual intercourse. A yeast infection is not considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Trichomoniasis. Trichomoniasis is a disease caused by a parasite (Trichomonas vaginalis). It is sometimes called trichomonas infection, trichomonal infection, or simply trich (pronounced "trick"). Trichomoniasis can produce discharge from the vagina that is yellowish green, foamy, and foul-smelling. Pain with sexual intercourse or urination and abdominal pain may also occur. Trichomoniasis is usually spread by sexual contact with an infected person and, therefore, is considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Bacterial vaginosis (BV). Bacterial vaginosis develops when some types of bacteria that may live in the vagina in low numbers (mainly Gardnerella vaginalis) become more common than the normal vaginal bacteria (lactobacillus). The most distinctive symptom of BV is a thick, milky vaginal discharge with a strong fishy odor. However, nearly half of all women with BV have no symptoms. BV is not usually considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Infections such as chlamydia, genital warts, syphilis, herpes simplex, and gonorrhea can also affect the vagina. However, a diagnosis of these diseases usually requires other tests in addition to a vaginal smear. Genital warts may cause abnormal Pap test results. A vaginal sample is tested in the following ways to determine the cause of vaginitis. Wet mount. A sample of the vaginal discharge is placed on a glass microscope slide and mixed with a salt solution. The prepared slide is then examined under a microscope for bacteria, yeast cells, trichomoniasis organisms (trichomonads), white blood cells that indicate an infection, or clue cells that indicate bacterial vaginosis (BV). KOH slide. A sample of the vaginal discharge is placed on a slide and mixed with a solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH). The KOH destroys bacteria and cells from the vagina, leaving yeast hyphae and spores (if present) that indicate a yeast infection. Vaginal pH. The normal vaginal pH is 3.8 to 4.5. Bacterial vaginosis (BV), trichomoniasis, and atrophic vaginitis often cause a vaginal pH greater than 4.5. Whiff test. Several drops of a potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution are added to a sample of the vaginal discharge. A strong fishy odor from the mixture suggests bacterial vaginosis (BV) is present. Hope this info helps. Mindy >> Mindy,> > I'm not sure where you got the info that a wet mount can be used> to check for yeast if it shows up but that is not correct info. > Wet Mount is only for BV which has some similar symptoms to> yeast. That's why you can't trust the Wet Mount for yeast even> if it were tru> > As for longer time cultures you are fortunate that you can get> it done because usually that is not something that is done when> it comes to coverage by insurance and also samples go bad after> a while. I know because I asked my dr about it once and she's a> very knowledgeable OB/GYN.> > I have gotten infections in spite of cultures before. But> culturing has gotten even better on some level thanks to some> new tests that are coming out (and my dr just loves to tell me> about them when I have to go in for an infection check).> > Kristy > > > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________> Don't pick lemons.> See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos.> http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 I'll second Mindy's opinion. Wet mounts are indeed the first step to diagnosing a yeast infection. Yeast can be seen on a slide. I have seen them. You can see the buds and the hyphe. A wet mount is just a smear of the vaginal secretions. It allows the doc to catch a glimpse of what might be living in there. Whether it's yeast, excessive bacteria, trich, wbc's, rbc's or mast cells. It's not 100% reliable though. A top notch doc, the best in my area for vulvar pain issues, told me in January that 50% of all wet mounts, KOH preps and yeast cultures (even letting them grow for 7+ days on the correct media) are negative. It's just the nature of the beast. Dawn > > Mindy, > > I'm not sure where you got the info that a wet mount can be used > to check for yeast if it shows up but that is not correct info. > Wet Mount is only for BV which has some similar symptoms to > yeast. That's why you can't trust the Wet Mount for yeast even > if it were tru > > As for longer time cultures you are fortunate that you can get > it done because usually that is not something that is done when > it comes to coverage by insurance and also samples go bad after > a while. I know because I asked my dr about it once and she's a > very knowledgeable OB/GYN. > > I have gotten infections in spite of cultures before. But > culturing has gotten even better on some level thanks to some > new tests that are coming out (and my dr just loves to tell me > about them when I have to go in for an infection check). > > Kristy > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ ______________ > Don't pick lemons. > See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos. > http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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