Liver worries...PLEASE help!
#35970 - 01/08/04 02:22 PM
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On top of everything...my doc can't figure out why I'm anemic AND he thinks I may have a prob. with my liver. I find out the blood work, hopefully, tom. I'm TERRIFIED! There's liver cancer y'know! Please....calm me down...I just ate rice with cheese and tom. sauce (I NEVER cheat...but I'm SCARED...hubby isn't home, I'm all alone!)
Please........if you have any words of encouragement....PLEASE post them. I'm trying not to let the tears flow right now...and I'm tutoring tonight....PLEASE help!
Thanks...love to you all!
Ruchie
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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It's gonna be ok honey! I know it's easier for me to say then for you right now! But nothing is going to be solved by getting anxious.
I know, that sounds harsh...but it's true! The only thing that happens is you will provoke an IBS attack! You have to be strong...try taking a nice warm bath with lotsa bubbles before your tutoring stuff has to happen!
You will be in my thoughts...I hope everything comes back ok for you! Please know we are all hear for you! You are not alone...it's going to work out fine!
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Lana_Marie
Proud Mommy to Bentley Taylor
Born May 12, 2004 9lbs, 3oz
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Thank Lana!
I wish I could take a bath...I wish I could call my hubby to come home (he can't be reahced on his cell b/c we don't get good reception where we moved). The boy will be here in 30 mins or less. He has midterms coming up...so I'm goona try to focus on helping on him and not think about myself. But it's SO HARD! I have blood work drawn every time I go to the doc now.......and he STILL doesn't know what's wrong with me. It's SCARY! I just wish they knew what was wrong, ya know?! At least if you know you have something you can learn to live with it.....not knowing is UNBEARABLE!
Sorry to complain...I'm just so scared! I just hope that whatever this is....I will be able to help someone else who suffers from it someday.....at least then my pain and suffering will have merit....(am I making sense? I'm trying to be positive...).
Thank Lana...thank you so much for posting...and, no you weren't harsh...just being REAL! Thanks for that.....
*hugs*
Ruchie
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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I have another sinus infection too...the meds didn't kill it....and my hubby are supposed to hop a plane to visit my fam next week. I hope I can still fly!!!! 
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Hand in there, Ruchie! What is actually wrong with your liver?? I found out 4 years ago that I have Hepatitis C, its the 2nd cause of liver cancer and hardening of the liver. I have no idea how I got it and I have Geno type 3, which is the least resistant to treatment so I have decided not to treat it. One of the things they use to measure liver function is an enzyme count, find out what yours is. I forget exactly but I think its supposed to be in the teens, mine was like 21 which is a little high but if you are REALLY sick it gets in the hundreds. So, until you KNOW whats really going on-DON"T PANICK! Easier said than done, I know! Let us know tommorrow what you find out and we'll help you through it! Keep in mind any sort of virus can make liver enzymes go up-the common cold, etc, so even if they are slightly elavated it's usually nothing to be alarmed about. Hang in there!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Ruchie, honey, please calm down. You really don't need this added stress right now.
Does the doctor think that it's your liver, then, and NOT an ulcer? He said you "MAY" have have a problem with your liver -- not that you DO, just that you MAY. Don't try to out-think the results of the tests, just be patient and wait for them.
I know that sounds easy for me to say -- but I too had to wait once like you. I had a breast biopsy awhile back, I was scared to death, I was sure I had cancer. Actually, they thought it was Paget's Disease because my areola was all black. I sat outside my condo with my puppy dog and cried -- while he lapped up my tears, bless his little heart. I was a basket case! I didn't want anyone to see me like that.
I cried needlessly -- turned out negative. But my point is that I understand how you feel, waiting WAITING WAITING! But you need to calm down because the stress won't work for you but against you.
After your tutoring, curl up with a heating pad on your tummy and a nice hot cup of cocoa, maybe a trashy novel, your needlepoint (cross-stitch)? Get your mind off it! Rest in the knowledge that you have a doctor who is working for you, he's trying to find what's wrong and having lab tests run.
Keep us posted, Girlfriend. We're all thinking about you and I'll be keeping you in my prayers.
Your Biggest Fan
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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My doc checked my tummy like he always does...and my left side HURT!!!!!!!!! I asked him why...he exaplined that was my spleen...and that he wanted to run blood work for my liver. That's all I've got. It could be ANYTHING...or nothing. Lets hope for nothing!
Does this mean you have cancer for life? What can you do for it?
Thanks for you advice and help!
*hugs*
Ruchie
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Thanks Bev!!!!!!!!!
He still thinks it's an ulcer.
He wqs checking my tummy and my left side hurt...I asked why....he said it's my spleen and he wanted to check my liver with blood work. He said he'd call me with results ASAP so I wouldn't worry too much. He didn't sound thrilled.
I dunno...I'm just tired of not knowing what's wrong!
Please forgive me...I'm not sure I can relax at the moment. I want to go to sleep! I need to sleep!
Ok...I'm not the only person that's ever ben through this, right? And they got through it, right? So, it'll be ok, right?
It's not easy to be positive right now....but I'm vertainly going to keep on tring!
Thanks for being here for me!
Love,
Ruchie
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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First off Ruchie, if there I'd grab you and give you a hug and then we'd sit down and look at this like rational people. Don't let your doc scare you ANY MORE. And with that said, remember it really is YOU scaring YOU, by your thoughts and your "what if's". Think about some of this: You were bleeding from your tush, right?.........we now know it was likely blood from a bleeding ulcer, right? Ok, so you've lost blood, and what does that often mean? Bingo, anemia!!!! (A off whack thyroid can cause menstration abnormalities like heavy periods and that can contribute to the anemia problems.) Also, you are NOT eating normally....and it is likely because of no red meat, or egg yolks, or dairy.....you may NOT be getting enough iron (the higher quality, easily absorbed kind) for your age.
Ok, so where does the liver thing come in? Because of where there is pain? If so, don't fret, my IBS pain ALWAYS came from the area of the liver area...high up...still does............. before being diagnosed I just knew I had liver cancer. My gastro assures me this is common in many IBS patients. And another thing, IF your blood results come back, and your liver enzymes are slightly elevated that may not be call for much concern........It just so happens in many IBS patients liver enzymes are elevated (See the book Perscription for Nutrional Healing on IBS)...I can't remember the reason why now, but there IS a logical reason.....The ONLY way you are going to know if you have a liver problem is 1) an Ulrasound, to rule out a fatty liver (doubtful in your case) and 2) An abdominal CT scan to rule out any tunors or abnormalities........if your doc can't do that for you.......go somewhere else and don't let him second guess what he THINKS it may be based on some liver enzymes being slightly elavated or where you hurt. BTW, elevated liver problems CAN mean gall bladder problems, in which case another ultra sound would show that up easy enuf....
Now sit down, have something sweet and a cup of tea, listen to Michael................and pull youself together..........
Love, Kandee (or more like mama Kandee in this instance)
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I just want to say I love you Kandee!
The anemia...can't be from my period. I haven't gotten it in months. I'm eating chicken liver and eggs (no IBS-safe diet for me right now...) so hopefully that'll help get some iron in me. I also cook with cast iron skillets when I can.
Whew! What a relief. Maybe it IS just my IBS pains he found. However, Hepatitis is rampant where I live  but I don't think the viral cancer is the Big C right?
My appointment to tutor was thankfully cancelled and my hubby and I ordered a pizza and fries (I wanted to feel normal....). We're also going to the mall tom. for a date! I don't have much energy...but we're gonna go to my fav. store...the Asian store...and look around. That always makes me feel good. Oh, and the health food store too! 
I will go back to my regular diet tom. I know it's healthiest for me. What is healthy for me right now is a big ? but I am trying to do what's best. The chicken liver is ok as long as I have it with TONS of soluble fiber...I eat it after like 3 or 4 rice cakes...and I eat it on rice cakes. Same with the eggs.
I'm going home, G-d willing, next week sometime. I will see my endocronologist, my ENT, and my dentist....the ones I grew up with who have known me for YEARS! I'm looking forward to that! Hopefully that can give me some insights and run whatever tests they feel neccessary.
I feel much btter now that I had my pizza and fries. It just made me feel healthy that I could eat those things (sounds weird, right?) I'm just so tired of being sick and having to say "no, I don't have the strenghth to babysit your kids today...I'm an old 25, sorry!" It gets me down, y'know! In college I was the queen of clubs...I was in like 13 of em'! I don't want to be in 13 clubs anymore  but I do want to be able to go to work and to the mall and to hang out with friends...normal things 25 year-olds do.
The good news is...I have a lot of great things in my life. I can still make people smile, I have a WONDERFUL hubby who adores me, a close family, lots of friends, and wonderful people in my life! I have so much to be thankful for! And the best part is...being sick is G-d willing temporary!
I also have a lot to be proud of. Not eating sugar for almost 1.5 months is HARD STUFF! Staying away from dairy and tomatoes, my fav, is tough too! (Staying away from dairy is tolerable as long as I can have tomatoes and vise versa...but BOTH is just too painful!)
I dunno...just trying to list the positives here. How'm I doing?
I'm SO THANKFUL I have this board and everyone here! You're like family!
And, Kandee......what can I say? You're ma mama Kandee! 
Thank you for EVERYTHING...
Love,
Ruchily
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Ruchie,
Wow, you're really going through it at the moment. I only just spotted your post. Can't really add any more to the other replies, but just want you to know I'm thinking of you. Let us know what you find out as soon as you can...
Shellsbells
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Oh Ruchie, I am so sorry that you are going thru this right now. When I started realizing that I had someting wrong with me, I was panicked too. It was bad. My right side hurt and I went to the ER 3x until they took all the tests in the world and it is just IBS. ( With an enlarged appendix...whatever that means.) When I went to see the pharmacists that I have told you about he checked my blood work and put me on a liver tonic because that is one of the hardest working organs in the body. IF you overload it with meds and/or herbs, etc it can get sluggish. You have to clean it out a bit. It helped so much. Basically it was a mixture of dandelion and milk thistle, which you can get over the counter in teas or capsules. Maybe that it the source of alot of your problems. You might try to detxo that way for awhile. I know that they also do things called castor oil packs that you heat and lay over your liver ( right side) at night. It gets absorbed into your body and helps clean it out too. I have never done that, but I guess that they are quite successful in those that do.
I wish that I had the $125 to give you to talk to Len and Joe. I just KNOW that they would help you. Just pray that you get the answers that you need. God will help you through it all. YOu might take a look at the website www.silentunity.com. They are a non-denominational organization that offers prayers and support ( anonymously) to you at no charge. I have contatced them via the web and phone several times and it has helped me cope and get through alot. I will be thinking of you and praying that you get well soon.
Your friend,
Christianne
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What if the Hokey Pokey is what it's all about???
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This a question for you based on a past post..........
Have you yourself ever tried using grapeseed extract with IBS? I tried it a long time back and thought I'd die....it is very caustic to the gut....this was in the days (before a positive diagnosis when I thought I may have an infection of some sort.)
And second.................have you ever actually tried the tea tree oil (love the stuff, for a variety of reasons) on a tampax as you recommended? I don't know why but that seems a bit extreme and irritating to the vaginal walls and I would think twice about doing this.
Kandee
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Yep, grapefruit seed extract obviously might be difficult to handle for some people. I thought it might be worth a try on a seriously steady soluble fibre base. I used it for several weeks not that long ago and didn't notice too many problems. But caution is best, as ever.
Tea tree oil is as gentle but powerful as you can get. I should, however, have suggested that it be diluted in warm water before you dip in the tampon and then insert. This is a tried and tested method for vaginal thrush. I've personally used tea tree cream and tea tree washes on a baby's horrifically sore nappy(diaper?) rash and a friend of mine's used the tampon method for thrush (it worked). Don't go mad though - it won't need several applications a day every day!! This is nothing like douching which is BAD as it's too harsh. This is just a gentle application of a diluted tea tree oil which will kill off candida but NOT the good bacteria that you NEED.
If you don't fancy trying the tampons, just try sitz or regular baths which can be just as effective. I would only try the tampon method once or maybe twice if I were in a REALLY bad way.
Hope this clarifies things - I should have been a bit more specific - like everything else. Just because something is helpful you don't have to go overboard. Less is more as they say. Let me know what you think.
Shellsbells
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The preliminary blood results are normal, thank G-d!
My fam thinks the doc. is a worrier...my hubby thinks he just cares and wants to get to the bottom of what's wrong....
I think I'm HAPPY I'm ok!!!!!!! LOL
I love all of you...thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!! It's gonna be ok I think...
Happy Friday!
Mama Kandee and Biggest fan Bev.....I'm sending you my love and thoughts and hugs....
Love,
Ruchie
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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WHOOOP-DE-DOOO!!!
#36301 - 01/09/04 12:55 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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OHMYGOD!!!! This is THE best news I've heard in a very long time!!! Ruchie, I am SOOOOO happy for you! Maybe all our prayers worked.
I think your family and your hubby could both be correct. Regardless, you have a doctor who is working for you -- how many people here can say that?
Well, Girlfriend, I'd suggest celebrating with a Jack -- but I can't do that -- I'd then suggest a bottle of merlot -- but I can't do that either.
Got any fennel tea?
All my best,
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I'm so glad to hear that the blood results were normal! It's looking better and better. Keep smiling and thinking happy thoughts.
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Yay Ruchie! I'm so happy for you! You must be so relieved. Big congratulatory hugs coming your way!
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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And "Happy" my dear one, is what life is all about!!!!!
We all here, as you can tell, are happy as can be for you, but the real issue is YOURS......your happiness
Now, aren't you sorry you worried so needlessly? So, go out, be happy, make your adoring husband happy, and stay happy!!!!!
Hmmm, That reminds me of the song, "Don't worry, be happy"....
Love ya,
Kandee(Hmmmm, how'd I get on this happy kick today?)
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Shells,
Thanks for your clarification. I was asking for others not me. Never had a yeast infection, never used tampons, and now wouldn't need them anyway.
But, I AM trying Slippery Elm powder (boy is it expensive). It's suppose to calm the gut, and help coughs. (The coughs I can vouch for since I have a cold right now.) Not much on it here in a search. A small amount gets thick FAST in liquid.
Ever have any experience with it, Ms. Alt. med expert?
Kandee
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What if the Hokey Pokey is what it's all about???
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"Slippery Elm Powder"? "Calms the gut"? What? Where do I get it?
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Ruchie, that's wonderful news. Big hugs to you. 
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Yay !! Glad the results are normal!! Now you can relax and have a super weekend!! Congrats!! Take care Sue
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I'm just seeing this now...it's Sun. morning...sorry so late....wowowowowowow! You're all such WONDERFUL people! I feel so loved and cared for you...you have no idea!
To fill you in on some things:
Thur. night my hubby and I had pizza and fries night...somehting we were gonna do LAST NOVEMBER for my b-day but then we found out no dairy...
Fri. we went to the mall and played hooky on all our commitments for the day. We had those ice cream things where they add, for example, reese's pieces (a freshy maybe it's called?) We acted like two big kids and we laughed SO MUCH!
Waiting for those tests made me realize you gotta live and enjoy life. I WAS scared....but I took that fear and spent precious time with my hubby and I TOOK CARE OF MYSELF. It's hard for me to be assertive for fear my needs aren't import....but I'm lerning otherwise. G-d had a plan for me by making me wait for those results...and I'm VERY greatful!
Late Fri. we got the prelim. results. I can't tell you how good my world felt.....and how I've learned everyhting can change in a second in this world...
I always said how import. it is to tell people that you love them b/c you never know....now I realize you have to SHOW them too!
I hope y'all don't mind me going on and on like this...all of you just hold such a deep place in my heart even though I've never met you....I wanted to share all of this with you!
Thank you a million times for being here for me...you should all be well, happy, and have a super weekend!
Love to you all,
Ruchie
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Your last post was five days ago. We're getting a little worried. Are you okay?  Please let us hear from you.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Hi Kandee! Thanks for the great info! The last couple of days I've had a dull ache under my ribcage on the right side. I did some research online which I should never do. I was for sure that I had Primary Biliary Cirrhosis....but I don't. There are liver problems in my family but I'm just being a worrywort. Some of the symptoms of PBC is pain in right upper ab (under ribcage), itching and fatigue. Okay...it's winter so I have dry skin which is itchy and two sick children under 3 which contibutes to the fatigue. Now I learn that the dull ache is related to the IBS. Good to know! Phew! I'm really not a hypochondriac just a stay at home mom with too much time to search the web!
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Worrywort?
#42743 - 02/02/04 09:55 PM
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Kandee
Reged: 05/22/03
Posts: 3206
Loc: USA, Southern California
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Hi Cate, If I haven't said so, welcome. Love your smiling face……..
As you can see my post was almost a month old but if it helped you in any small way, I'm glad.
Amazing, isn't it, how sometimes our mind can be our own worst enemy? Like you, before I had a positive diagnosis, I did some searching and was just sure that I had liver problems. How relieved I was to finally find out, after all the important tests came back negative, that my IBS pain which was always high up was normal for some with this disorder. It moves around, well, more like from right to left, but for the most part it's high. When it's bad I say it feels like my lower ribs are in a vise. Ug.
If you (while busy being such a good mommy) can fit in some yoga stretches, or do the hypnosis tapes it helps, believe me. I've noticed correct breathing and relaxation can often zap that pain in its tracks. There is another forum here for just the hypnosis that you may want to check out…..it only takes about 30 minutes a day and could be done during children's nap times.
Hope your babies are better soon, and you can get out and about with them. It helps to get our minds off our own IBS problems and live as normal a life as possible -----and that means to limit computer time as well.
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Hi RUCHIE; I am so happy for you that the tests came back normal. I KNOW that is a HUGE RELIEF for you!
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