Big Weight loss, recent blood work...Thoughts?

[Cheryl]

CAT,
I'm glad your new doctor is on top of things!  We all want to hear the results of your CT and other findings.   Hang in there!
Cheryl

[Daisy1234]

Cat:

I'm so sorry that I was late in reading your post, had a bit of a time with my health lately which has been slowing me down a little.  In any case, I too was going to suggest a CT scan as the first place to start but your new GP seems right on top of things which is exactly what you need.  I am so glad that you found her!

Please take care of yourself in the meantime and be sure to let us know the outcome of any diagnoistic testing.  I am sending you many positive thoughts!
Daisy

[Carolina]

Glad you found the GP helpful, Cat.

A good observant and caring doctor is a blessing.

One thing to add to possibilities: 

About 50% of Sjogren's sufferers also have IC (Interstitial Cystitis) which is an inflammation of the bladder.

Interstitial Cystitis and Systemic Autoimmune Diseases. Indirect evidence, however, does support a possible autoimmune nature of interstitial cystitis, such as the strong female preponderance and the clinical association between interstitial cystitis and other known autoimmune diseases within patients and families. The strongest association occurs between interstitial cystitis and Sjögren's syndrome. Nat Clin Pract Urol. 2007 Sep;4(9):484-91. (Also see: Interstitial Cystitis)

http://www.sclero.org/medical/symptoms/associated/interstitial-cystitis/a-to-z.html

This would account for your bladder and other UTI symptoms.

Just a thought.

Keep us posted.

Hugs

Elaine

[Chickpea]

Hi Cat

Sorry I'm coming to this late.  Just to echo the others - it's great that you've found a caring and knowledgeable GP.  It's reassuring that she's doing lots of tests and taking you seriously. 

Your blood results do seem to show an infection but maybe that's cleared by now?  As Gursie says, it's definitely worth checking your thyroid levels as you can develop all sorts of odd symptoms when your thyroid is awry.  Carolina's thought about interstitial cystitis is a really good one - the more I read about it the more I think it explains a lot of symptoms that people here can have. 

Hope you're having a good day.

Take care - Chickpea

[CAT1962]

Hi, I ended up going to the ER on Saturday because I was so nauseated that I couldn't eat. They did blood work, said that looked Okay. Put an  IV in me. I'm sure my kidneys and other organs were doing a happy dance! They did the abdominal CT...no drinking the nasty toxic waste..yippee! They did the IV contrast dye. They said my kidneys, pancreas, spleen, tummy, etc. looked good. The radiologist "thinks he saw a cyst on your one ovary (my right one was removed in '02), but to sure, see your GP on Monday for an ultrasound" (I forgot to mention to the GP that my back has been hurting on the left side...I have had so many female issues the last few yrs, I kind of tune them out...)...so I am calling her this AM to see if I can get in, as I already have a sub for half a day. They also told me to have an endoscopy and a colonoscopy in addition. I spent yesterday on the couch with even more nausea (stupid Zofran hardly works)  praying the  colace they gave me would kick in. They also gave me Zofran for nausea and I declined to fill the drying Levsin.   
Anyway, that's where I am. 

[Nat]

I think Carolina's thought on interstitial cystitis is a good one also. Under the thread, "relentless headache" I posted some information on the connection to autoimmune disease and homocysteine. I think that all of these symptoms such as interstitial cystitis are connected to a lack of pancreatic enzymes. ( Please check my past posts)Homocysteine is a biological finding. One that can be explained. This is not a mystery. In fact, the current medical opinion that our immune systems are randomly attacking normal tissues such as our bladder, does not explain the many biological findings such as elevated homocysteine, dysregulated tumor necrosis factor, low B12, low vitamin D, lack of amino acids, low dopamine, low iron, etc. Not to mention indisputable evidence such as spinal tap studies that prove conclusively there is a biological basis for these diseases. Only one thing does explain these findings-missing enzymes.Studies show what the immune system is targeting in our bodies are abnormal proteins. (I just posted an actual picture of this in lupus under the thread, "relentless headache". These proteins are a direct result of these missing enzymes as the study states.

Here is a study on interstitial cystitis. In the conclusion it states, " Our results indicate that increased apoptosis of bladder microvascular endothelial cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of interstitial cystitis accompanied by bladder pain." Homocysteine destroys the cells lining our blood vessels or the ENDOTHELIAL CELLS. It causes them to committ "mass suicide" or APOPTOSIS. As far as the autoimmune process is concerned, this in my opinion does explain the "unknown" cause of interstitial cystitis.

http://www.mendeley.com/research/increased-number-apoptotic-endothelial-cells-bladder-interstitial-cystitis-patients/

[CAT1962]

The GP scheduled an appt with a new GYN next month to make sure that it truly is just a cyst and because the CT said I had a "prominent uterus". I do have fibroids I know. Maybe they think something hiding.  I don't know. Then we will progress to an ensoscopy and colonoscopy combo. I am so tired of this. I just want to get it over with. I was down another half a pound yesterday. Funny...I am losing weight in most areas of my body...my waist, too, but not as much as my other body parts......like my waist is staying mostly the same. Weird?