Posts by vividsailor7

crimsonfox5 said:Unfortunately, I ended up in this group because 😢.I was at my mother's hospital, and her condition is just horrific! She’s on supplemental oxygen through a nasal cannula and an IV drip for glucose mixed with her other meds. Her skin looks strange—almost sticky?! And the color... it's several shades darker than the hospital sheets! To make matters worse, she's rejecting every single bit of help offered. Yesterday morning, she ripped everything right off herself—the oxygen, the IV, the needles... they actually had to restrain her arms and legs, so now she's getting fluids through a vein in her leg. As for diagnoses, she's dealing with COPD, heart failure, a broken hip, and she's struggling with suicidal ideation. I honestly don't know what to do. Maybe nothing? Just wait for the end? The absolute worst part is how much she fights against any assistance.

She likely has respiratory insufficiency as well. But honestly, that broken hip is the real killer here. It makes it nearly impossible for things to take a turn for the better.

Angela Wright said:Can you tell me which show that was on? I’m dying to know. Was it on The Washington Post?

The full interview is right there on the FOX website; what they showed on the news was just a tiny snippet.

Angela Wright said:So, looking at the situation, taking Kalinorm would actually be a solid move. It’s a good idea. It’s also about using something like Ensure or Prosure to deal with that cachexia.

I wrote Vitamin K, not potassium! Adding potassium to something like Aldactone is a recipe for disaster—you'd be looking at fatal hyperkalemia. Besides, Vitamin K is typically administered intravenously anyway. On that point, I completely agree.

rustyraven8 said:For the last few weeks, I've been dealing with this overwhelming sense of weakness. It’s paired with nausea, a nervous sensation in my stomach, dizziness, and slight tremors... almost like I’m about to pass out, though it never actually happens.
I initially suspected it was blood pressure issues, since I’ve always had low blood pressure; whenever I bend over and stand up quickly, my vision goes black.
However, it doesn't seem to be my pressure. I tried following dietary advice specifically for people with low blood pressure, but it hasn't made any difference at all.

It consistently occurs during the first half of the day—roughly from the morning until about 2 or 3 PM—and can persist for several hours. It happens regardless of what I'm doing or whether I've eaten or not... it just lingers for hours. 😕 Sometimes it lasts the entire morning. Generally, I feel better later on, in the afternoon and evening. 🤷

edit:
I forgot to mention: it isn't anemia, and my thyroid is fine too. 🤷

You really need to check your blood pressure while standing and then again while sitting.

swiftridge90 said:Man, I’ve been dealing with some weird fainting spells lately too... It started a few months back, but only like once a week. But then over the last couple of weeks, it’s really ramped up to happening multiple times a day. Specifically, just this crazy dizziness and weakness. Usually hits me when I'm on the subway or in a crowded room. One second I feel like I can't even catch my breath, my arms and legs start tingling, my knees just give out, I start shaking, and everything just goes black... My coworkers at the office were teasing me, asking if I was pregnant again (even though I bought a test and there's zero chance—obviously not...), but yeah... Back in June, I had my bloodwork done—glucose, iron, liver enzymes, all that. Everything came back perfect. Only thing was my thyroid hormones were a tiny bit off, but my doctor says that shouldn't be related to this. I keep telling myself I'm just making it up, and honestly, the more I obsess over it, the worse it probably gets. You think it could be something psychological?

I strongly suggest you go see a neurologist and a psychiatrist. It’s entirely possible.

Alex Price51 said:Everything else on the blood work looks fine; basically, everything is within the normal range.

The whole reason I went in for blood work was because I’ve been feeling nauseous and just generally miserable for quite some time now. This nausea? It lasts all damn day!

I dealt with a bladder infection caused by E. coli recently, but I don't have any issues with that right now. Back when I actually had the bladder and vaginal inflammation, my erythrocyte sedimentation rate wasn't even elevated.

Conclusion: perfectly clean results.

Hannah James76 said:Here are all the lab results I have: L 4.59, E 3.94, Hbg 128, Hct 0.35, MCV 88.8, MCH 32.54, MCHC 366, T 82, PV 0.79, INR 1.18, AST 266, ALT 201, CK 61, LDH 158, Glucose 6.2, Urea 19.3, Creatinine 261, total/direct bilirubin 52.1/20.1, serum amylase 81, Na 133, K 4.4, Cl 102, CRP 10.
Diagnoses: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Chronic Hepatitis B, Ascites, Grade II esophageal and gastric varices, Portal hypertensive gastropathy, Cholecystolithiasis, Malnutrition.

Status: Conscious, oriented, mobile, eupneic, afebrile, normal peripheral perfusion. Head and neck externally unremarkable. Lungs clear upon auscultation. Heart rhythm is regular, sounds are clear, BP 110/80 mmHg. Abdomen: distended above the chest level, ascites present, non-tender, liver and spleen are not palpable, bowel sounds are audible. Extremities without edema, arterial pulses normal.

A paracentesis was performed, evacuating 3.5 liters of clear ascites.

His urine output is low, he isn't having bowel movements, and he’s barely eating anything at all.

Instead of using a selective beta-blocker like Carvedilol, he could be put on Propranolol at a dose of 80mg twice daily (for the portal hypertension and those dilated veins in his esophagus). Given the diagnoses listed above, we should also consider adding anemia and Stage III/V chronic renal failure to the list. We could increase the Aldactone dose to about 200mg. His electrolytes are... well, they're okay, I guess. But despite all that, what he needs most right now is Palliative Care.
P.S. In case you don't know what these diagnoses mean: Hepatocellular carcinoma—liver cancer.
Chronic Hepatitis B—long-term Hep B infection.
Ascites—fluid buildup in the abdomen.
Grade II esophageal and gastric varices—swollen veins in the esophagus and stomach, stage 2.
Portal hypertensive gastropathy—gastropathy caused by portal hypertension (increased pressure in the portal vein), which is what causes the ascites and the swelling of the veins in the stomach and esophagus. He has a low platelet count, likely due to a Vitamin K deficiency.
Cholecystolithiasis—gallstones.
Malnutrition—undernourishment.
Stage III/V chronic renal failure—kidney failure, stage 3.
His urine output is weak because of the ascites.
If anything else is unclear, feel free to ask.

Alex Price51 said:Maybe someone knows what these results mean:

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate - 1h value 31 Ref interval 4-24

Otherwise, the blood work is great; everything is within normal limits except

Cholesterol 5.4 Ref value 0-5
LDL cholesterol 3.4 Ref value up to 3

so it's not that bad.

Urinalysis

leukocyte high ref interval 0-2
Squamous epithelial cells Some
Bacteria Some

This is for a 36-year-old woman!

I've never had an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate before, so I'm getting a little anxious because the internet says just about anything regarding various diseases!?

Has anyone dealt with something similar??🤷

Did you people even read the first post? I have no idea why.
No, just slightly elevated cholesterol. Everything else looks fine—assuming you actually bothered to read the first post.

Kimberly Edwards2 said:I’m definitely going to seek out another opinion. Even though I saw a specialist internist—and they say he’s top-tier—there’s always that nagging possibility of a mistake or a missed conclusion. Why wouldn't I ask someone else?

Look, you're absolutely right. You have every right to get a second opinion.

Kimberly Edwards2 said:Digestion isn't actually the issue for me. Honestly, ever since I started going through all these medical tests, my husband was diagnosed with cancer. I have to admit, dealing with things like bowel prep, colonoscopies—those incredibly aggressive cleansing routines—and everything else happening at home has been an absolute nightmare to handle. It’s really no wonder the results showed some inflammation in the gut...

You really ought to reach out to an internist—specifically a hematologist.

Kimberly Edwards2 said:The values transcribed from the lab results are correct. The tests were performed at the end of August.
I only got the actual results a few days ago, and back then, the eosinophils were at 10%.
Everything else came back fine—intestinal passages, tumor markers, ELISA for echinococcosis was negative, IgG for trichinellosis was negative, CRP 1.7, ANCA negative. The only time eosinophils were mentioned was in the bone marrow biopsy results: Myelogram shows prom 2%, myelocytes and metamyelocytes 33%, seg 35%, ly 10%, plasma 1%, ebl 19%; diff seg 75%, eo 8%, ly 16%, mono 1%. In the puncture smears, there is moderately abundant hematopoietic tissue where the ratio of white to red marrow is about 8:1, favoring white marrow. In the granulocytopoiesis, transitional and mature forms predominate along with numerous eosinophils. Erythropoiesis is mostly normoblastic and mature. Thrombopoiesis is slightly increased; some megakaryocytes look normal, some are dwarfed, and you occasionally see a megakaryocyte.
Electrophoresis showed no abnormal protein; total protein 73g/L, albumin 43.3, alpha 1 3.4, alpha 2 7.4, beta 7.2, gamma 11.8 g/l.
Two weeks ago, I had my final checkup—a colonoscopy—and I needed to bring new results for that, and the eosinophils were elevated again at 19%.
During the exam, they took a biopsy, and the findings are as follows: small intestine—the surface has orderly villi and the crypts follow a normal pattern. In the lamina propria, which is edematous, there are some mononuclear inflammatory infiltrates along with some eosinophilic and neutrophilic leukocytes. Large intestine—histologically, the surface epithelium is preserved and the crypts follow a normal pattern. In the edematous lamina propria, there are mixed inflammatory infiltrates. Some leukocytes are visible within the cryptal epithelium, which corresponds to chronic localized active inflammatory changes of low activity in the large intestine area. No signs of IBD.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Are you having any digestive issues?
Have you seen an internist-hematologist yet?

Kimberly Edwards2 said:The processing was done at the hospital—and the specialist recommended the treatment after reviewing all my test results.
IgE is 21.9.
Is it possible they prescribed this because eosinophils have been elevated for more than 6 months? In my case, they were just discovered by chance during a routine physical about 3 months ago.
Thanks for the reply.

That really depends on how high they actually are, but honestly, my first thought would be a parasitic infection.

Kimberly Edwards2 said:I’ve actually posted an inquiry about elevated eosinophils before.. Most tests have been done and the results were mostly SE 42, E4.25 HB12LG/L HTC 36% MCV 86.1 9.3 L9.3 /OE 10% LY16%/ TR 278 iron 17, UIBC 31
Since the full workup didn't show any infection /no target organ lesions/, it's being treated as hypereosinophilic syndrome for now...
I was prescribed Decortin as treatment. I'm wondering if, based on the values listed above, it's standard practice to jump straight to corticosteroid therapy? Is there anything milder available, considering the diagnosis seems more like an assumption at this stage?
If Nicholas Myers is reading this, I would be so grateful for an answer...

Who did you see for the follow-up workup?
Who recommended that specific treatment?
Did you get your total IgE checked?

Joshua Williams82 said:I just wanted to let you all know that her mammogram came back clear, and according to the doctor, everything else looks normal too. 🙂 He didn't make much of a big deal out of the biopsy results. 🤷

The surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, so I suppose I feel a little bit of relief for now.
I just really hope this isn't some kind of false sense of security. 🙂

After reading through all of this, it’s clear that none of us—not me and certainly not you—actually have the full picture here. But whatever.🤷
I'm hoping the surgery goes smoothly.🙂
Please, keep us posted on the results once you actually hear what the doctors have to say.

William Smith30 said:Yeah, I am.

Here are the results:

Right extensor digitorum brevis muscle: borderline intermediate innervation pattern with repetitive potentials at an 8mV amplitude.

Left flexor hallucis brevis muscle: barely on-to-intermediate innervation pattern showing clear separation of high potentials.

Right tibialis anterior muscle: borderline intermediate innervation pattern composed of low-voltage action potentials with amplitudes up to 2mV.

Right flexor hallucis brevis muscle: contraction-proportional sample composed of low-voltage action potentials.

Left extensor digitorum brevis muscle: nearly intermediate innervation pattern with clear separation of high potentials.

Right and left quadriceps femoris muscles: b.o.

CONCLUSION:

Moderate to significant chronic neural lesions were recorded in the L5 radicular distribution on the right, moderate on the right at L4, moderate on the left at S1, and mild on the right. No signs of acute denervation.
An MRI of the lumbar spine is indicated.

You need to get in touch with your neurologist immediately.

Olivia Anderson10 said:I was just hanging out with my sister, and she basically brushed me off, suggesting I might just be overly sensitive to electricity or something, telling me not to worry. When I asked if she’d ever dealt with anything similar to what I'm going through—she said no.
I'm holding off on seeing the neurologist until I get my eye exam and MRI finished.
There hasn't been any history of neurological issues in the family (parents, grandparents, even generations back—my mom isn't aware of anything, so she assumes we're clear).

It's possible, but you won't have the final word until you talk to a neurologist.

Angela Wright said:Do you think this could be where the issue lies?
In my opinion, the real problem here is the liver—specifically the ascites caused by the tumor. When kidneys start failing in a patient like this, we’re usually talking about just a few hours left, at least based on what I’ve seen as a layperson. Honestly, they probably won't even make it to dialysis. And if I'm being blunt, I haven't heard of it being standard practice to put them on dialysis anyway; when you're dealing with terminal patients, dialysis is just too expensive an "extravagant sport" to waste resources on. 😢

I can't say for sure without seeing the actual lab results. Both creatinine and urea levels are significantly elevated, so knowing the electrolyte balance would be crucial. Regarding dialysis, the note only mentioned it as one potential indication—essentially explaining why potassium is prescribed alongside Fursemid (except in cases of renal failure). As you already pointed out, palliative care is the priority here. But frankly, I doubt they ran all these tests during the initial ER visit, which is why I suggested getting them re-ordered to get a much clearer picture of the situation.

Olivia Anderson10 said:I'm reaching out to vividsailor7 since I know him, but of course, any other specialists could weigh in too.

Today I went in for an SSEP of my median and tibial nerves, but I just couldn't handle the electrical stimulation. It was the exact same thing that happened when I tried electrical therapy for my back pain. The technician explained that my toes were supposed to react to the current, but instead, my entire leg started twitching uncontrollably, and then the spasms spread to my other leg and even my pelvis—my toes didn't react at all. She tried one more time, but the result was identical. Basically, she just triggered those abnormal spasms that brought me in for testing in the first place. Then we tried the same thing with my fingers. My whole arm started twitching, barely anything in the fingers, and then my entire body and legs started spasming. I felt like I was in a "trance" because I was experiencing those abnormal movements again, and I failed to get the actual test done. Now I'm spiraling into these dark thoughts that something is physically wrong with me. Even an hour after the appointment, I still feel this "something" traveling through my body. On October 20th, I have an eye exam for a fundus and Goldman VP, and on October 25th, I have an MRI. I'm terrified because I couldn't complete the test, and I'm wondering if the way my body reacted actually points to something specific.
I also saw a physiatrist, and he was genuinely surprised by the intensity of my reflexes when he tested them with a hammer. He said it seemed strange to him because he would have expected the opposite reaction, so maybe this means something too....

Specifically, right now I'm interested in the brain MRI. What was the feedback regarding the somatosensory evoked potentials?
I'm not sure if I asked this, but does anyone in your family have similar or other neurological conditions?

Angela Wright As follows:
Hannah James76Even though everything is already looking pretty grim, there’s a real possibility things could take an even sharper turn for the worse because his electrolyte levels are also completely out of whack. Usually, when they put you on Furosemide, they'll prescribe some potassium too—something like Kalinorm.
It’s pretty obvious we're looking at ascites with my dad.
It absolutely breaks my heart to see how much everything has progressed already. It’s just devastating.😢 Based on everything you just described, I’m afraid we have to face the hard truth: Dad is in the terminal stage.
vividsailor7 listed out several things that could still be done—assuming they haven't been tried already—but honestly, you really have to weigh the options. You need to carefully consider how much any of this would actually help him versus how much it might just be more unnecessary suffering.
Stay by his side as much as you possibly can. Just be there for him and do everything in your power to make things easier. Right now, what he needs most is palliative care—and I mean real, aggressive palliative care. That means making sure he stays hydrated, ensuring he’s getting enough glucose, and being absolutely relentless about managing his pain. You have to insist on it. Don't let them overlook those things.
Hang in there. Please, just stay strong and try your absolute best to keep it together. I know exactly how impossible that feels when it’s someone you love, but honestly? Sometimes that desperate, overwhelming urge to fix them—to force a cure—ends up causing nothing but extra heartache and suffering for everyone involved.

You can't just bank on a single marker; it’s not a reliable diagnostic tool on its own. You really need to sit tight and wait for the pathology report before jumping to any conclusions.

Not when we're talking about kidney failure. You usually deal with hyperkalemia in those cases, which is one of the most frequent red flags that triggers the need for dialysis (alongside other clinical markers)—and that is exactly what Furosemide is meant to address, at least to some extent.

Samuel Hall33 said:So, I’m 17 years old and dealing with some thyroid issues, which led my gynecologist to put me on Diane 35, and I ended up taking those for about a year... and wow, I gained like 21 pounds, and my chest size jumped up three whole sizes... my skin actually cleared up a bit, but the acne is still hanging around... anyway, I was at the doctor's office the other day and she prescribed Nevynette instead, and after reading all the stuff here on the forum and looking through the official instructions and side effects, I’m feeling really uneasy about it... because some people say they work wonders while others swear they're terrible... and honestly, your input means everything to me right now because I’m just so lost on whether I should actually start these pills or if I should just skip them, please, I really need some guidance... because I'm technically supposed to start the first dose tomorrow butooooooooo...

1. What kind of thyroid condition are we talking about here?
2. Have you had any blood work done for your hormone levels yet?