Being sick and not able to eat takes its toll. :(

[Betticus]

I took this pic this morning to compare me before getting sick and now. The whole left side of my neck is still swollen, lymph nodes I guess but my face is getting pale and sunken.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/betticus/IMG_9576.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/betticus/me.jpg

 

[Betticus]

Moved pic to first post.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

Bett, have you discussed the eating issue (and associated {apparent} weight loss, etc.) with your doctor(s)? I would think they would want to do everything possible to ensure that you're getting sufficient nutrition (vitamins, minerals, and so on) that your body can heal more effectively.

 

[graceanne]

*hugs*

Have you tried slimfast? It's a lot of calories in a small amount. I add mine to milk to bump my caloric intake.

 

[FurryFury]

*hugs and hugs*

 

[ultramarineblue]

*hugs*

 

[Betticus]

Bett, have you discussed the eating issue (and associated {apparent} weight loss, etc.) with your doctor(s)? I would think they would want to do everything possible to ensure that you're getting sufficient nutrition (vitamins, minerals, and so on) that your body can heal more effectively.

I gotta do something. I think I'm going to go nuts making up those vegan green smoothies. I got some fresh spinach for it just today.

As far as eating. I made biscuits just a little while ago and made em salt freeish. I had one with some lingonberry jam and around 3 this afternoon I had maybe six ounces of one of the odwalla brand green fruit&veggie smoothie things. Also, water. I'm drinking a nice glass of iced water and have been drinking water thru the day. I just have zero appetite and am going to have to start making myself eat on some kind of a timed schedule I guess.

 

[graceanne]

I gotta do something. I think I'm going to go nuts making up those vegan green smoothies. I got some fresh spinach for it just today.

As far as eating. I made biscuits just a little while ago and made em salt freeish. I had one with some lingonberry jam and around 3 this afternoon I had maybe six ounces of one of the odwalla brand green fruit&veggie smoothie things. Also, water. I'm drinking a nice glass of iced water and have been drinking water thru the day. I just have zero appetite and am going to have to start making myself eat on some kind of a timed schedule I guess.

Yeah, no appetite has always been my issue, too. That's one of the reasons I like slimfast. It's all the calories of a meal in an 8 oz glass.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

I gotta do something. I think I'm going to go nuts making up those vegan green smoothies. I got some fresh spinach for it just today.

As far as eating. I made biscuits just a little while ago and made em salt freeish. I had one with some lingonberry jam and around 3 this afternoon I had maybe six ounces of one of the odwalla brand green fruit&veggie smoothie things. Also, water. I'm drinking a nice glass of iced water and have been drinking water thru the day. I just have zero appetite and am going to have to start making myself eat on some kind of a timed schedule I guess.

And scheduled quantities (calorie/nutrition value-wise, preferably). Take care of yourself, guy, and make your medicos take care of you, too. I don't have enough shoulders for all the lil subbies should somethin' happen to you. And I'd miss havin' you around here, too.

 

[BiaTcHiNFiRe]

*BIG HUGGS Bett*

 

[Netzach]

Odwalla = Godsend.

The green ones are sometimes a bit much for me.. I'm a fan of the banana-berry, YMMV. Good calorie-rich but also nutritionally dense option. Doing one of those with your food can add in about 300 cals.

 

[unregistered]

 

[Yasashii_Kaze]

Please take care of yourself. I don't know what to suggest that the others haven't already, but I'll keep rooting for you!

 

[Betticus]

Ok, I saw the gastro enterologist today. Thankfully he seems to be pretty good, listened to the whole story, asked questions, etc. Anyway, it turns out that I still have an infection. It started in my shoulder then yesterday down the back on the left side. I have a bunch of swollen lymph nodes too. Also, it's gotten into the top of my left lung so when I take a breath it hurts. The whole thing hurts like crazy and the oxycodone barely touches it so I'm having to mostly just take it. I went to the lab and gave blood so they're gonna do a full liver panel and some other tests. Tomorrow I get to call in and see about antibiotics. Monday I have an appointment to have some of the abdominal fluid drained and sent to the lab for testing. Soooo, we'll have a little more waiting before I know what's up.

 

[YourCaptor]

Damn, it's got you good.

It may be time to call in some favors from friends.

 

[Betticus]

Damn, it's got you good.

It may be time to call in some favors from friends.

I need a witch doctor.

 

[subish2009]

I need a witch doctor.

Huh. Maybe you do. I haven't been around long enough to know you, and I certainly haven't followed your whole medical history here, so maybe you've already considered this, but...what about some alternative medicine? Acupuncture? I don't know... My one experience with acupuncture was pretty intense in a bad way, but I know TONS of people who've had great experiences and results with that and other Eastern/alternative medicine approaches for various ailments. Just a thought....

And good luck to you, man. I'm sorry you're having such a time of it.

 

[YourCaptor]

I need a witch doctor.

You can try an exploit the placebo effect. That's not the sugar pill either.

Find something you really think is going to work, surround yourself with people who believe it will work, and guess what, it will work a lot better.

You can also control your immune system without drugs. I think its called a drug holiday. If your meds are really rough on you, pair them with something else, something novel, like a juice it up shake or something. Something not related to anything you are consuming now. Take that with immune controlling drugs, and if you have to stop them for whatever reason, you will still get a residual effect by taking what you paired the drugs with.

Most of all though, don't ignore your doctors, and do what they prescribe. Western bio-medicine is still the most effective system in the world. For the best treatment however, you should get involved in it, don't just listen, ask questions, the dumb ones too, get involved, tell them everything even if it seems irrelevant.

 

[Betticus]

Well, between the pain and the fact that I apparently am suffering through some loss of sensation in my right leg now I took one for the team and went to the emergency room. My chief complaint being that I have some kind of infection. I got lots of tests done... I don't know why but I didn't get treated for anything and then the doctor goes and admits me. I said I was going to go home and here I am. The only thing saving any of it is that some of the tests that I had set up for Monday are now done.

 

[Homburg]

This may be a dumb question, but can you take protein powders? There are vegetable-only versions made from rice, soy, and hemp. I've heard that the rice protein powder is very, very digestible.

 

[YourCaptor]

Well, between the pain and the fact that I apparently am suffering through some loss of sensation in my right leg now I took one for the team and went to the emergency room. My chief complaint being that I have some kind of infection. I got lots of tests done... I don't know why but I didn't get treated for anything and then the doctor goes and admits me. I said I was going to go home and here I am. The only thing saving any of it is that some of the tests that I had set up for Monday are now done.

Did you get admitted for emergency treatment or the hospital?

Do you have problems that require multiple experts? If so get all there names and make sure all of them know who else is working with you and all have each others information. Doctors usually know one thing and one thing only, they suck at working with each other. You could ask a nurse or someone if there is any way to have them all meet up to figure out what to do with your case.

Also if they want you to stay the night, I would really recommend you do it. Sure its not the most comfy place, but it takes time to figure out whats going on, and if you aren't available for feedback, then things can't happen.

It's not a perfect system that will work like you imagine it should work. It also wont work anything like on TV. But if you get in there and really press these guys to get something happening, you'll get a lot better results. It takes leadership skills to be a successfully treated.

 

[00Syd]

Ach!! I'm sorry I don't have any helpful advice, but holy shit am I rooting for you to get better.

HUGZZZZZZ

 

[celticsunspiral]

Thinking about you and hoping you get answers with positive results soon. Take care.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

Putting in a consult request to Dr. Gregory House...

 

[Betticus]

My regular doctor is finally back from out of country. I was in the little exam room just waiting and when she came in and looked at me she said she wanted to admit me to the hospital for blood transfusions. She's just as mad at those other docs as I am since I've been asking for antibiotics for a month.

So now I'm on a broad spectrum antibiotic for any sort of bacterial infection.

Also, with the upper chest/shoulder pain they did a ct scan last week and found what they think is a small bit of cancer.