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elkid
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Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 8353
Location: hiding out in Philly
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 Posted: 07/30/03 - 20:38 Post subject: Doctor Visit Results
A lot of you have asked how I've been feeling, and let me start off by saying, I really appreciate it. Your support has been amazing.
12 vials of blood and 116 blood tests  later the doc says round 1 is over. Ruled out allergies, diabetes, hyper- and hypoglycemia, and lupus. My blood pressure's great (120/82), as is my cholesterol. My red and white blood cell counts are great. 85% of all maladies ruled out. We reviewed my diet for the last three weeks and compared it with the eight weeks before that, and he said I'm no longer unintentionally starving myself  and am losing weight again at a good pace. Just need to stay at a certain level of calories, higher than what I'd thought, and I'm good. Knocking back on the running has helped me, and all physical restrictions are off - back to lifting and ab work, got the OK for aikido. Good news!
Bad news - still don't know what's wrong with me, or what has caused the illnesses or my eye infections. They took another 3 vials today to test for other things that need to be ruled out before he tests for The Big Stuff (I was too scared to ask now what that meant). He's going to be looking at things that have specific, weird causes (my words) rather than the things in Round 1 which could have common, multiple, or environmental causes. He feels strongly that the Round 2 stuff will come back negative as well, because most of them would be indicated by an off blood cell level.
As of now, no explanation for my dehydration issues, hypersensitivity to sugar, unpredictable energy level crashes/spikes, or irregular sleeping patterns. He had thought initially it was due to pushing myself harder than I was able to handle, but since I've been training much smarter and easier, he believes there may be something else going on here.
Next week I go back for discussion of Round 2. I know science is as much about ruling things out than making a diagnosis, but this is frustrating beyond belief.
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airehead
Oompa Loofah
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Joined: 12 Nov 2002
Posts: 18788
Location: Between here and eternity...
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Posted: 07/30/03 - 20:48 Post subject:
I am so pleased they are listening to you and taking you seriously.
I hope they find absolutely nothing while at the same time fix whatever's wrong--if that makes sense!!! 
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rolling rock
The Pinball
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Joined: 15 May 2002
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Posted: 07/30/03 - 20:52 Post subject:
are you seeing one MD or a series of MDs??
if it's one person, he sounds very thorough.
i hear you on the frustration part. it's maddening.
YOU BETTER TAKE IT EASY...please.
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elkid
Member
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Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 8353
Location: hiding out in Philly
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Posted: 07/30/03 - 21:08 Post subject:
| rolling rock wrote: | are you seeing one MD or a series of MDs??
if it's one person, he sounds very thorough.
i hear you on the frustration part. it's maddening.
YOU BETTER TAKE IT EASY...please. |
I am taking it easy! 
One MD right now; he's fantastic - I'm so glad I found him. When we hit The Big Stuff we'll probably branch out, into very specific neurological and chemical stuff.
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elkid
Member
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Joined: 18 Nov 2002
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Location: hiding out in Philly
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Posted: 07/31/03 - 10:49 Post subject:
The hits keep on coming: just got a call. I need to go back during lunch because they didn't get enough blood from me. 
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genie
Master of Prissface
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Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 16194
Location: Finding serenity one day at a time
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Posted: 07/31/03 - 10:54 Post subject: Re: Doctor Visit Results
| elkid wrote: | A lot of you have asked how I've been feeling, and let me start off by saying, I really appreciate it. Your support has been amazing.
12 vials of blood and 116 blood tests later the doc says round 1 is over. Ruled out allergies, diabetes, hyper- and hypoglycemia, and lupus. My blood pressure's great (120/82), as is my cholesterol. My red and white blood cell counts are great. 85% of all maladies ruled out. We reviewed my diet for the last three weeks and compared it with the eight weeks before that, and he said I'm no longer unintentionally starving myself and am losing weight again at a good pace. Just need to stay at a certain level of calories, higher than what I'd thought, and I'm good. Knocking back on the running has helped me, and all physical restrictions are off - back to lifting and ab work, got the OK for aikido. Good news!
Bad news - still don't know what's wrong with me, or what has caused the illnesses or my eye infections. They took another 3 vials today to test for other things that need to be ruled out before he tests for The Big Stuff (I was too scared to ask now what that meant). He's going to be looking at things that have specific, weird causes (my words) rather than the things in Round 1 which could have common, multiple, or environmental causes. He feels strongly that the Round 2 stuff will come back negative as well, because most of them would be indicated by an off blood cell level.
As of now, no explanation for my dehydration issues, hypersensitivity to sugar, unpredictable energy level crashes/spikes, or irregular sleeping patterns. He had thought initially it was due to pushing myself harder than I was able to handle, but since I've been training much smarter and easier, he believes there may be something else going on here.
Next week I go back for discussion of Round 2. I know science is as much about ruling things out than making a diagnosis, but this is frustrating beyond belief. |
Did they test for EBV and CMV antibodies, do you know?? If they didn't, ask them to. Good news so far though, at least it wasn't a sugar problem, which I know you were worried about.
Perhaps it's that city air....
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jrjo
Gone Fishin
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 16451
Location: Lake Wobegon, MN
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Posted: 07/31/03 - 10:55 Post subject:
I must not be keeping up. Aren't you planning a marathon?
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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Joined: 14 May 2002
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Posted: 07/31/03 - 11:03 Post subject:
| airehead wrote: | I am so pleased they are listening to you and taking you seriously.
I hope they find absolutely nothing while at the same time fix whatever's wrong--if that makes sense!!! |
Huge 
Take care of yourself in the meantime, twin.
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elkid
Member
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Joined: 18 Nov 2002
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Location: hiding out in Philly
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Posted: 07/31/03 - 11:09 Post subject:
Methinks EMV and CMV are Round 2 items. If not, I'm requesting it for Round 3.
jrjo - yes, I'm doing the marathon in late November, as well as 8 smaller races before it. I'm concerned that since I started running I've been getting nagging illnesses more (colds, flu, etc.) that last longer, and I've had two serious eye infections in ten months when I had no problems with my eyes EVAH. I'm in the best physical shape of my life, am eating great, have quit smoking, and done all the "good" things I should have done a long time ago, but sometimes I don't feel that way at all. The other issues (dehydration, energy level discrepancies, sugar issues, and sleep problems) - some of it can be blamed on aging and overtraining earlier this year, but I doubt all of it. It's not stopping me from training, but it is hindering it and making it much more difficult than it has to be.
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genie
Master of Prissface
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Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 16194
Location: Finding serenity one day at a time
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Posted: 07/31/03 - 11:17 Post subject:
| elkid wrote: | Methinks EMV and CMV are Round 2 items. If not, I'm requesting it for Round 3.
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I'd push for round 2 if you can, there isn't much that can be done to "cure" you if that's what it is but at least you'll know and can start doing the research. And if it isn't, it's one more relief off your list.
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