Appt w/ gastro today

Had my gastro appt today…

He agreed that since the gastro episodes (which we now know are caused by the gallstone) only occur once a month, that it is likely due to the lyme issues. So, he is also supportive of the approach to do the gallbladder cleanse and take the Actigall Rx in lieu of surgery.

But, this could take a long time to affect a change (reduce the size or break apart the stones) and even a small stone might still cause the attacks. But he still agreed that I don't need surgery right now. He did suggest that there is a chance that the attacks may require "emergency surgery" which is not as desirable as planning something in advance. So, all that is confusing. So—could the bottom like be that with more of the lyme treatment underway, maybe these episodes also work themselves out? Opinions?

And he also agreed that there is likely more to the problem than just the gallstones. I brought all the lab results that I have so far for him to make copies. After looking through them there are a couple more labs he wants to do. And then he wants to see me in a month. He charges $350/hr plus the tests and some food stuff to help my stomach heal—it was a $600 visit. And he doesn't take insurance and I called HealthNet twice to find out if my "out of network" benefits cover the visits and they couldn't tell me—they said I had to turn in a claim and wait and see. Really.

After I reviewed with him the protocol that I am on, he also expressed concern that there are issues that are not currently being addressed:

- my bad EKG (the Long QT that showed up while in the ER) - he suggested I need to get another EKG soon and find a cardiologist, which I'm trying to do.

- the cholesterol levels (which are very confusing—some levels are VERY bad while others are VERY good—plus the thyroid meds make cholesterol levels go up, the lyme and co-infections also throw levels off on the tests (when they are actually OK) and there is also new information that my "bad" cholesterol levels aren't bad at all (but of course now I can't remember where I read that)… very confusing and no one feels comfortable putting me on a bunch of medication—nor am I . And until I or someone else can work it out I do not want to take anything.

- Same with the hormonal tests I had done recently —he agreed that the lyme throws off the tests so they are probably not that bad. The ND and the pharmacist both said they were "post-menopausal" but I still have VERY regular periods and ovulation. So I didn't want to take the hormones they wanted to give me. So he wants to do a MSH test that will check levels that have to do with the part of hormones that aid in digestion. Not sure how much that test is but I think it's just a blood draw.

- I thought my HLA test was negative (for mold sensitivity) but he said he's never come across a lymie who didn't also have a mold sensitivity.

- And, he wants me to do something regarding breast cancer—did not follow that part of the conversation. My grandmother had a double mastectomy at age 70 and my mother had a double mastectomy last year (age 65) but she tested neg for the BRAC-1 gene. He said that wasn't what he was concerned about… so I'm not sure what he wanted me to do.

So I'm feeling overwhelmed again. I can barely keep up with everything going on as it is. I do feel strongly that I need to see a cardiologist (forgot to ask him for a reference) so I will do that. And I do need to either find my HLA results or retest. But I continue to be shocked how fast my body is falling apart. How much can actually be done all at the same time? How do you prioritize? I cannot afford to be seeing 5 specialists at the same time...

-p

Thanks POH—
Yes, he is 75-80 yrs old but I was impressed that he could keep up with my yammering about everything going wrong.

And I am going to post a new thread about MSH——I read something very interesting about it.

Yes, please do let me know if you have good results. I hope I don't have to go on a monitor, but maybe that would be a good idea and maybe help calm my nerves about all this, too. We'll see. Good luck!

-p

Thanks T… one thing at a time, right?

Yes, my cholesterol test had around 10 different numbers… the whole set of them is very, very confusing… no one knows what to make of it—probably in context with my other labs. I'm going to send him more test results that he hasn't seen yet and we'll see if he wants to wager a bet for what is wrong… Cholesterol is one thing I am very uneducated about but my previous ND checked the levels about 4 yrs ago and they were very good…. AND there is the theory that cholesterol contributing to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is a scam… and that it is critical for immune system support. This is a pretty good article—anyone familiar w/ Bee Wilder?
healingnaturallybybee.com/foods-that-damage-foods-that-heal/#a35

I'm definitely avoiding surgery. I was given an Rx for oxycontin! LOL I do not take pain killers, but…… if I can avoid surgery, I'd inject heroin into my eyeballs!

-p

GP—
My NP mentioned it, knowing I was on the desiccated pig replacement so I do believe it is not just the synthetics. I am still trying to understand the full cholesterol picture but it's taking me awhile. ;) will report what I find...

-p