Posts by vividsailor7

shadowhound82 said:Here’s my situation.
I went in for some thyroid testing, and because of my symptoms, the doctor sent me straight to a gastroenterologist.
After getting a gastroscopy, the doctor told me I have H. pylori, so I was on a regimen of Nexium, Amoxicillin, Fortim, and Buscopan as needed.
On top of all that, I was taking Synthroid for my thyroid.
The second time around, my test results came back normal, including my stool samples. So, I stuck just with the Nexium.

My first thyroid panel showed T3 at 2.2, T4 at 87.1 (is that too high? I'm just transcribing from the lab report), and TSH at 7.7. I was treating it with Synthroid, but I just got new labs yesterday and they say my TSH is normal now at 2.77.
The thing is, I've been dealing with dizziness for two days now, though the nausea has finally stopped. Now, my whole body feels tingly. It actually woke me up last night—this intense tingling all over, especially in my face and lips, and my tongue felt numb.😕😕

Should I get an X-ray of my cervical spine, maybe even a CT scan or a full blood panel? I honestly don't know what to do anymore.
Just so you know, my spinal imaging already showed some scoliosis and lordosis.

Thanks 😢

I'm responding to hypotension, so let me just add this: if these symptoms keep persisting, go straight to the ER for a neurological evaluation so they can give you something for it—like Toradol, for example.

Sandra Rivera37 said:I don't use birth control, I don't drink, and I've been pregnant twice, yet now these new spider angiomas are popping up.

Seriously, go see an immunologist or a rheumatologist immediately.

Laura Chavez47 said:Female, 40 years old. For the last 4-5 months, I've been dealing with fluctuating blood pressure, a racing heart, anxiety, and insomnia. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism three months ago and prescribed Propylthiouracil.

Since then, following my endocrinologist's advice, I've had hormone checks every 3-4 weeks. The treatment seemed to be working well, and my second-to-last set of results showed T3 and T4 levels within the normal range:
TSH 0.07 (0.4-4.01)
T3 2.95 (2.0-4.9)
T4 1.30 (0.82-1.63)

I stayed on the exact same dosage, but in my most recent lab work (done just 3 weeks after the previous one), there was a sudden spike in T3 while T4 continued to drop:
TSH 0.03
T3 4.8
T4 0.9
(Same reference values, same lab):

Could someone please explain why these results shifted so drastically despite being on therapy? It’s also worrying because now T3 is right at the upper limit, while T4 is hovering near the bottom. What could this signify? Thank you!

What's the Propylthiouracil dosage?
Don't sweat it. There's no need to worry.

rustycobra17 said:Along with these decent results, my TSH came back high. They didn't prescribe any treatment yet—just told me to come back in three months to check my TSH, T4, and T3 levels again. I’m barely feeling those weak symptoms mentioned above anymore (maybe once a month), and I don't have a fever at all.

Results:
TSH 6.21 mU/L (0.55-4.78)
T4 total 98.8 nmol/L (58.1-140.6)
T3 total 1.7 nmol/L (0.9-2.8)

What do you guys think? Is waiting three months for a follow-up enough? If my TSH lands within the normal range, can I stop testing altogether? And if it stays high, should I be seeing an endocrinologist immediately?

Checking your hormone levels once every six months is usually plenty, or depending on how you're feeling, maybe just once alongside an anti-TPO test.

shadowhound82 said:The diagnosis was hyperthyroidism, then later that *Helicobacter* issue. My doctor just prescribed some kind of daily pill—honestly, I don't even remember the names anymore. I'm still taking Nexium.
Height 5'8", weight 147 lbs..

I wasn't being specific. Those were just my symptoms and what I'm on.🤷
I've done everything there is to do: endoscopy, ultrasounds, blood work for TSH, T3, and T4...

1. Basically, it could be that your PPI dosage is off (based on an EGD report?), or you're dealing with thyroid hormone issues (have you actually reached euthyroid status yet?)
2. *Helicobacter pylori* isn't a diagnosis; it's the name of the bacteria itself.
3. As for you mentioning "EGD"—unless I'm standing right next to you looking over your shoulder at your medical records, I have no idea what your results actually say. Sadly, I can't see anyone else's reports either.
It would be wise to get TSH, fT4, an *H. pylori* breath test, and a full metabolic panel.

melloworca6 said:I honestly don't even know where to start asking this (yeah, yeah, I know, I'm embarrassed 😁) so I'll just drop it here.

Does anyone actually know if there’s a master list out there for all the medications covered under the basic and supplemental plans by Medicare?

Just check the Medicare drug list.

shadowhound82 said:Hi everyone. I’m joining this forum because I need to ask a few things—honestly, even my doctors seem stumped about what's going on with me :/, so maybe you all can help.

The gist is this: over a year ago, I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. I've been cycling through Nexium, amoxicillin, and God knows what else. I was taking seven different medications a day, some even twice daily. Right now, I'm on Synthroid 20 mcg. I was actually on 50 mcg for a while before my doctor decided to scale me back. Based on my ultrasounds and bloodwork, my TSH, T3, and T4 levels were through the roof. Now that I'm down to 20 mcg, I'm dealing with constant nausea, exhaustion, and tremors in my hands, legs—basically my entire body. I feel absolutely wrecked. I can barely move, I'm constantly nauseous, and I've been vomiting quite often. I know it isn't just a passing thing since it's been 4 or 5 days already; I have zero appetite, and whenever I try to eat, even the smell of food makes me sick. My doctor told me she’s out of ideas regarding which tests to run next...

On top of that, my lower back is killing me. I spend 12 hours a day sitting at work, and by the end of the shift, the pain is unbearable. I tried getting massages, which helped a little, but the relief doesn't last and they are way too expensive. On Friday, I had an X-ray of my lower spine, and they told me I have scoliosis. Is that something I should be seriously worried about? Along with that, there's the spinal scoliosis itself.

Please, I need help. Thank you so much. 🙂

Also, I dealt with H. pylori in the past. Is it possible it's come back?

You need to provide specific details! You should list every single diagnosis, your entire medication history, your height and weight, and all the test results and findings you've received.

swiftcanyon64 said:I’m assuming you guys will be the ones to have the answer here...
Last night, I was jolted awake by this absolutely brutal pain in my lower left abdomen. It felt exactly like one of those intense ovarian inflammations. To be fair, I’d been feeling this nagging, sharp poking sensation in that same area all day long, though nothing too crazy at the time.
I ended up popping two Advil, and it took a solid two hours before things finally settled down enough for me to drift off. I feel fine this morning, but now I can't stop wondering—could that have been a flare-up of diverticulitis?

Have you had any previous GI workups?

Quote : Wedding

Megan Williams6 said:Durogesic? Is that some kind of cream or an oil? And can you even pick it up without a prescription? I'm not sure where I'd even find an anesthesiologist right now.... Anyway, thanks for the advice.😉

Fentagesic (fentanyl) isn't some casual over-the-counter pill you grab at a drugstore; it’s a heavy-duty opioid analgesic. We’re talking about transdermal patches here, specifically designed for patients battling malignant pain, and they should only ever be used under the strict recommendation of a specialist. You can't just wing it. The entire process of dose titration depends entirely on the patient's medical history and their previous experience with opioid analgesics. It's precise science, not guesswork.

Sandra Rivera37 said:White Blood Cells (WBC) 5.5 / 3.4 - 9.7
Erythrocytes (RBC) 4.50 / 3.86 - 5.08
Hemoglobin (Hb) 124 / 119 - 157
Hematocrit (Hct) 0.378 / L/L 0.356 - 0.470
MCV 83.8 / fL 83.0 - 97.2
MCH 27.6 / pg 27.4 - 33.9
MCHC 329 / g/L 320 - 345
RDW 10.7 / % 9.0 - 15.0
Platelets (PLT) 262 / x109 /L 158 - 424
MPV 6.2 L / fL 6.8 - 10.4

CBC

Neutrophils (seg) 3.05 / x109 /L 2.06 - 6.49
Lymphocytes 1.81 / x109 /L 1.19 - 3.35
Monocytes 0.42 / x109 /L 0.12 - 0.84
Eosinophils 0.16 / x109 /L 0.00 - 0.43
Basophils 0.06 / x109 /L 0.00 - 0.06
Neutrophils (seg) 55.5 / rel % 44 - 72
Lymphocytes 32.9 / rel % 20 - 46
Monocytes 7.7 / rel % 2 - 12
Eosinophils 2.9 / rel % 0 - 7
Basophils 1.0 / rel % 0 - 1

Sandra Rivera37 said:I also went ahead and ran my liver panel:

ALT - 23 (30 - 36)
AST - 25 (8 - 30)

GGT - 10 (9 - 35)

everything looks fine there.

Everything looks normal.

Angela Scott56 said:Hey everyone... listen, I’ve been suffering through constant bloating, agonizing abdominal pain right under my ribs... and losing weight because food just passes straight through my gut. Then it hit me—yellow, greasy, massive stools, five or six times a day. I started reacting to everything: eggs (my first and worst allergy), apples, dairy, bread (that was brutal)... I went through all the Celiac antibody tests and they came back negative. Protein synthesis is fine, but my iron is a bit low, I'm deficient in Vitamin D, and I have osteopenia. Plus, a 10,000 CFU Candida count. Now, the rib pain has become absolutely unbearable; sometimes it cramps up so hard I have to hunch over just to breathe. The acid reflux is constant... my stools are heavy, greasy, and green, even my urine changed color, and my saliva looks greenish too... I vomit whatever I eat sometimes; I have to bolt to the bathroom immediately. I can't even look at vegetables. For the last two weeks, anything I eat feels like it just drains straight into my hands and feet, like my intestines are literally melting away, and it is horrific. I constantly feel like my guts are "wet" and the food is just dissolving inside me—I can feel it happening. On top of all this, I can't touch a single drop of fat, or my bowels go haywire. If I eat meat and it’s even slightly fatty, it just squeezes out of me, then I bloat up and struggle to catch my breath. Honestly, I feel best when I don't eat at all. Water is the only thing I can handle without a reaction... My abdominal ultrasound was fine about a month and a half ago. But the doctors? They just keep ordering more and more tests. It goes on and on while I can't eat, I'm sprinting to the bathroom, I'm vomiting violently, and this constant acid reflux is making my life a living hell. I'm inflamed everywhere. I can't have any fat or my guts get "wet" and I feel it draining down to my legs... I'm losing my mind. I just want to be admitted to the hospital so this can be fixed, because besides water, I can't tolerate anything. Currently, I'm taking Vitamin D drops, 600 mg Calcium Citrate, Daosin, and probiotics.

If I eat carbohydrates, my gallbladder settles down, but the Candida goes wild and I'm running to the bathroom because of it. If I eat meat and veggies, I can't live because of my gallbladder, and then it all just hits my bloodstream and goes to my arms and legs and it HURTSSSSS. I'm at my breaking point waiting for these results; this has been dragging on for a month now!

Based on clinical indications, the following should be performed/repeated/reviewed:
Small bowel follow-through/Radiology of the gastroduodenal and small intestine.
PTH, Ca, ionized Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, 25-hydroxy Vitamin D, serum amylase, lipase, fecal fat, CK, LDH, creatinine, urea, protein electrophoresis, liver function panel, Fe, UIBC, ferritin, folic acid, B12.
24-hour urine creatinine clearance, 24-hour proteinuria, Ca, P.
Skin prick and/or specific IgE testing for nutritional allergens.
EGD with deep duodenal biopsies sent for pathology.
Ultrasound of the thyroid and parotid glands, plus thyroid hormone panel: TSH, T3, T4, anti-TPO.
Abdominal MRI with contrast angiography.

Thomas Wells5 said:I had no idea Bentley was for that; I honestly thought it was just a painkiller.

It relaxes the smooth muscles in your GI tract, man. It literally reduces the tension.

Jack James2 said:Can someone please help me out with a question about this medication?! I'm taking it for Ureaplasma (a 12-day course, one pill every 12 hours). Here’s the thing... I still have three days left in my treatment and I honestly don't feel any better at all 😢(( Has anyone else dealt with something like this? Thanks..

What symptoms are we talking about? What did your lab results show?
It isn't that simple.

Peter Taylor3 said:I've got two questions that have been burning a hole in my mind for a long time now...
How does cancer—take colon cancer, for example—just strike out of nowhere in someone who’s young, doesn't touch a cigarette, stays away from booze, eats clean, and hits the gym like a pro? It makes absolutely no sense!
If someone is battling a tumor or cancer, can their lab results—things like a complete blood count or ESR levels—actually look completely normal? Look, I’ve seen this play out far too many times, and it’s infuriating how much people rely on a single piece of paper to tell them they're "fine." To answer your question directly: Yes. Absolutely. It is entirely possible for a patient to be dealing with a malignancy while their blood work looks like a textbook definition of health. Don't let anyone give you a false sense of security just because the numbers aren't red-flagging. A standard CBC or an inflammation marker like sedimentation can stay within the "normal" range even when something serious is brewing under the surface. Cancer isn't always polite enough to show up in your blood counts right away. Sometimes the body compensates, or the specific type of growth hasn't disrupted those particular levels yet. It’s maddening. You go to the doctor, you get a report that says everything is perfect, and yet you *know* something is wrong. If you're seeing "normal" results but the symptoms are screaming otherwise, don't let some overworked clinician brush you off. Numbers are just data points; they aren't the whole story. If the intuition is there, keep pushing. Don't let a "clean" lab report silence what your body is telling you.
Look, this isn't even about me personally, but I’m genuinely curious...

Peter Taylor3 said:Regarding colorectal cancer—is colonoscopy really the gold standard here? Is it actually reliable?

When it comes to younger people, the health of the large intestine isn't exactly a shining example of wellness. Honestly, it’s usually just a reflection of how much they've already aged their system through sheer lifestyle choices. It's pretty pathetic, really.
A CBC can show microcytic anemia, and SE levels might be elevated.

Thomas Wells5 said:How many of us are actually dealing with this issue, and how on earth are you all managing it?

Bentley, Gas-X, Boeing Simplex, Bentyl, Nestlé, and so on.

redpuma26 said:I read somewhere that you shouldn't take pain relievers like Neogen about a week before anesthesia. I rely on it because my pain is just unbearable. My appointment with the anesthesiologist isn't until three days before the surgery, so I won't have a chance to ask them then. Is there anything else I can take for the pain leading up to the procedure? Thanks in advance!

Just stop taking NSAIDs three days before the surgery.

restlessbadger2 said:Hey there! I’m looking for someone who actually knows their stuff when it comes to interpreting lab results. Could you please give me a hand? I'm 29 years old.
I’m only doing these tests because I’ve been trapped in this endless cycle of vaginal infections for about six months now. Honestly, it's exhausting. Every single time I go in, they throw a different diagnosis at me—first it's vulvovaginitis, then suddenly it's candidiasis... it never ends. The symptoms have become my constant, miserable companions: intense redness across the anogenital mucosa, these bright red erythematous patches on the labia minora (which they claim is just from the Candida), and this burning sensation in the vulva and vagina that is absolutely driving me insane. I can't even tell if the burning is being caused by damaged tissue or if there's something else deeper going on. I have seen several so-called "top-tier" gynecologists, and frankly? None of them have a clue what is actually happening or why I am completely non-responsive to treatment. They just keep cycling through prescriptions like they're candy. I've been forced to use everything under the sun: Polygynax, Canesten, Plymicol, Gynodaktarin, Diflucan, and oral Itraconazole. Then come the various corticosteroid creams, Metronidazole in both vaginal and oral forms, and Dalacin vaginal cream. It is a total nightmare. 😢
For the most part, all my blood work came back looking fine. I’ve been running around like crazy getting everything checked out, but right now, I'm just sitting here waiting on the results from the immunology panel.
To make a long story short, I just got my lab results back, and here they are:

Microbiology report back: Stool tests came in. Both the native preparation and the stained preparation were negative. What does that actually mean? It means there is no Candida in my gut.
Serum testing (bloodwork) for antibodies against Candida spp... they actually ran three different methods on this.
a) IIF - IgG: result is 80 (reference range: 1 to ≤ 80)
b) IHA - IgM/IgG/IgA: Result came back at 160 (Reference range: 1 to ≤ 160)
c) ELISA - IgG: The result came back at 90. Just so everyone knows, that puts it right in that gray area—the cutoff range is between 40 and 100.

These results are right on the edge. I mean, they’re borderline, plain and simple. How much should we actually worry about them being "good" or "bad"? Honestly, the gray area is where things get frustrating. Is there a genuine risk of systemic candidiasis here? That’s the big question hanging over all of this.

Third vaginal swab results are back: the native prep came back positive, the stained prep was also positive, and they actually isolated a culture: *Candida albicans*.
They ran tests on the Candida using all sorts of different chemical compounds, and the results showed sensitivity across the board—meaning those drugs should actually work. But here’s the part that makes absolutely no sense to me: if the lab results say the Candida is sensitive to these medications, why on earth haven't they done a damn thing for my condition? How can the tests show they're effective while I'm still sitting here dealing with this? It just doesn't add up!
Here is the list of chemical substances:
-5 fluorocytosine: S (MIC = 4.000)
Regarding the amphotericin B results: it’s showing sensitivity (MIC = 0.500).
Fluconazole: Susceptible (MIC = 1.000)
Regarding the itraconazole results: it’s showing as Susceptible (MIC = 0.125).
Voriconazole: Susceptible (MIC = 0.060)

What exactly does MIK mean? I'm trying to figure out which of these substances would actually be effective at tackling a Candida infection. Is it that first one listed there with the MIK of 4,000?
My doctor just put me on a regimen of using 3% boric acid twice a week—both as topical compresses and as overnight tampons—to help with the epithelialization of some ulcerated areas on my mucous membrane.
After all that, we'll just have to see how things play out. For now, I'm not using anything at all to fight the Candida.
Does anyone have any actual suggestions on how to properly jumpstart the epithelialization of damaged vaginal mucosa? I feel like I've tried everything, but I'm looking for more ideas to get that tissue actually healing.
Thanks in advance for the response! 🙂

MIC is determined through a dilution procedure.Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC).
In short, that’s the absolute bare minimum dosage required to actually stop those pathogens from multiplying. Anything less and you're just wasting your time.
I’m not going to get into any other topics here—that’s simply not my area of expertise.

redeagle75 As I was saying:
Much appreciated.
I went ahead and ran some extra tests—specifically for bilirubin and iron levels—so feel free to take a look at those as well.

Total Bilirubin: 22 [Ref range: 3-20]
Iron: 27 [Ref range: 11-32]

Everything looks normal here.

feralsurfer172 said:Yeah, I actually use that property to prevent hard stools, since mine tend to be way too liquid right now, which is its own kind of nightmare. I’m sure there are other, better ways to get the same result.

Mr. "vividsailor7," what would you recommend? Am I doing any indirect damage to my body by having milk once a day at my age (49)? (I know that in certain parts of the world where people live incredibly long lives and have great living conditions, milk and dairy are consumed in massive amounts).

I just think it's common knowledge—I wanted to emphasize this specifically for the middle-aged and older generations, which is the group I fall into. 🙂

You aren't doing any damage to your organs by consuming milk, unless you're on dialysis or dealing with some serious parotid gland issues.
The classic advice is simple: drink plenty of fluids, eat something that acts as a natural laxative—like a fresh fig, for instance—keep your diet loaded with fruits and vegetables, and if things get really backed up, just use a mild laxative for a short period.

Gary Hill91 said:Hello there. Following an incredibly uncomfortable encounter at the urologist's office last week, I find myself questioning the legal and medical ethics behind what actually happened.
Specifically, under what circumstances is it necessary to be positioned on a gynecological exam chair for a standard outpatient visit rather than a surgical procedure?
Is it truly standard practice to be required to lie completely😠 naked on that table with my legs spread wide while a doctor and a technician spend an hour performing ultrasounds from every conceivable angle—below, above, external, internal... all while they constantly pace in and out of the exam room?
Between the unprofessional commentary and some light slapping on my backside, I felt compelled to look into whether this warrants a formal complaint.
In the end, the specialist simply concluded that I have some minor hemorrhoids.
Does anyone know if this is just how things are done, or did they overstep their bounds? If you have any insight, please let me know.

That depends on a lot of factors.

Angela Scott56 said:Hey everyone... I went in for a gastroscopy yesterday with biopsies because they suspected celiac disease. Turns out, zero trace of celiac, but they practically shouted it in the report: my stomach was nearly filled with bile—about 2 liters! They wouldn't give me any straight answers, just told me to follow up with a gastroenterologist. And honestly? That doctor was useless. My gastric emptying isn't even hitting 17:06... I’ve been dealing with massive bile issues, but they were too busy looking for celiac. To make matters worse, my last few abdominal ultrasounds came back totally normal, yet my gallbladder area is killing me—it’s intense, sudden attacks. Plus, they found a huge overgrowth of Candida in my gut. This bile situation is really starting to freak me out, especially since I have a whole mountain of other symptoms left to deal with.

List your symptoms, any past medical history or current meds, the full lab results, whether they took samples for pH testing, and your previous diagnoses.
It sounds like you're dealing with jejuno-duodenogastric reflux.