I'm sick guys - long, but not rambling, just comprehensive
I highly recommend that you see a good endocrinologist in the mix too.
Any doctor, and I mean ANY doctor, who would consider saying to me that their basis for an extreme statement (like the one about liver disease and the DS) was "because I"m a doctor" would never ever see me again.
I don't think a "family practice" is appropriate for you at this point (I guess you already made that decision). And unless you find a very smart, openminded, and willing-to-work-hard internist, that's a waste of your time too. And this guy you saw sounds like none of the above. It also has to be an internist who is willing to acknowledge what he/she doesn't know and is willing to investigate and learn with you....this is rare. You might have better luck with a gastroenterologist, but who knows. I think your best best is to see a hematologist and an endocrinologist.
Any doctor, and I mean ANY doctor, who would consider saying to me that their basis for an extreme statement (like the one about liver disease and the DS) was "because I"m a doctor" would never ever see me again.
I don't think a "family practice" is appropriate for you at this point (I guess you already made that decision). And unless you find a very smart, openminded, and willing-to-work-hard internist, that's a waste of your time too. And this guy you saw sounds like none of the above. It also has to be an internist who is willing to acknowledge what he/she doesn't know and is willing to investigate and learn with you....this is rare. You might have better luck with a gastroenterologist, but who knows. I think your best best is to see a hematologist and an endocrinologist.
Not only would he never see me again, the administrator of any organization he was affiliated with would be hearing from me too. If I've discovered one truth during my Vitamin D odyssey is that unless a doc subspecializes in your particular issue, they don't know much about anything. I went to an endocrinologist about my DEXA results and calcium/D problems. I asked him to explain what role vitamin K played in calcium absorption. He looked at me like I was from outer space and said, "Vitamin K doesn't have anything to do with calcium absorption....it has something to do with blood clotting."
Julie R - Ludington, Michigan
Duodenal Switch 08/09/06 - Dr. Paul Kemmeter, Grand Rapids, Michigan
HW: 282 - 5'4"
SW: 268
GW: 135
CW: 125
Duodenal Switch 08/09/06 - Dr. Paul Kemmeter, Grand Rapids, Michigan
HW: 282 - 5'4"
SW: 268
GW: 135
CW: 125
Uhh....my favorite cookies are ranger cookies - the ones with the coconut, rice crispies, butterscotch chips, etc. in them. If you'd kindly upload me a couple, I'd be a happy girl.
I don't know much about anything, but I know that when my zinc/copper were out of whack, everything was out of whack. When I got my zinc up, my calcium and protein popped right back into normal range.
If I were in your situation, I'd definitely consult with a rheumatologist. Good luck, hun, and keep us posted please!
I don't know much about anything, but I know that when my zinc/copper were out of whack, everything was out of whack. When I got my zinc up, my calcium and protein popped right back into normal range.
If I were in your situation, I'd definitely consult with a rheumatologist. Good luck, hun, and keep us posted please!
Julie R - Ludington, Michigan
Duodenal Switch 08/09/06 - Dr. Paul Kemmeter, Grand Rapids, Michigan
HW: 282 - 5'4"
SW: 268
GW: 135
CW: 125
Duodenal Switch 08/09/06 - Dr. Paul Kemmeter, Grand Rapids, Michigan
HW: 282 - 5'4"
SW: 268
GW: 135
CW: 125
Ahhh, those ranger cookies sound darn good. There's this chocolate shop in the mall that has crispy coconut milk chocolate "haystacks" - so good.
I've upped my zinc, doubling the tablet and adding in 2 daily lozenges. In the process of cutting back on iron, I've also cut way back on my copper, so hopefully these will balance out soon.
Thanks, Julie :)
I've upped my zinc, doubling the tablet and adding in 2 daily lozenges. In the process of cutting back on iron, I've also cut way back on my copper, so hopefully these will balance out soon.
Thanks, Julie :)
HW / SW / CW / GW 299 / 287 / 160 / 140 Feb '09 / Mar '09 / Dec '13 /Aug '10
Appendicitis/Bowel Obstruction Surgery 8/21/10
Beat Hodgkin's Lymphoma! 7/15/2011 - 1/26/2012 
Ran Half-Marathon 10/14/2012
First Pregnancy, Due 8/12/14 I LOVE MY DS!!!
HW/SW/CW/GW 346/335/183/150 5'4.25"
P. Poster
on 7/9/11 8:12 am
on 7/9/11 8:12 am
I'd be marching straight to a rheumatologist. Sounds to me like RA, especially if you said you have had some issues with gluten, pre and post DS... A gluten free diet has been shown to decrease inflammation, especially in those with RA or JRA. Autoimmune can throw everything out of whack, definitely something to explore fully.
Thank you! I've been thinking all yesterday afternoon about the gluten factor. It really does seem to me that when I stay away from it, which I often do b/c of bloating/ gas, I do have less joint pain & inflammation. It's really not that hard to stay away from, just a choice. Thanks :)
HW / SW / CW / GW 299 / 287 / 160 / 140 Feb '09 / Mar '09 / Dec '13 /Aug '10
Appendicitis/Bowel Obstruction Surgery 8/21/10
Beat Hodgkin's Lymphoma! 7/15/2011 - 1/26/2012
Ran Half-Marathon 10/14/2012
First Pregnancy, Due 8/12/14 I LOVE MY DS!!!
Based on what I've read and from people I know, it sounds like it could be RA to me as well. BUT.........my neighbor had bloodwork similar to yours about 6 months after she had her dd, then a year later her body was shutting down (she and her doctor didn't look for an underlying cause). I took her to a new doctor and based on everything we told him and the tests she had she was diagnosed with Addison's Disease, an autoimmune disease. Seems she had had it for many years and the stress of having the baby really shocked her body and made it worse. Oh, and last week when I took her to the endocronologist she was diagnosed with RA as well. They said it wasn't uncommon, since once a person has one autoimmune disorder they are more susceptable to developing others.
But, hopefully we are all way off base here and you have some underlying infection that is throwing your labs way off.
But, hopefully we are all way off base here and you have some underlying infection that is throwing your labs way off.
Kristina
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