So yesterday I had my first doctor’s appointment with my primary care doctor in over a year. It went well; but the news was not good. I’m not sure how much sense that makes; it went well because she immediately ordered treatments and medications.
So at my hospital stay in February I was in NIH, where I get treated for my cystic fibrosis. I had several consults that visit to try to get someone to help me with my mitochondrial disease. They did a ton of lab work while I was in, but I still could not be fit into a study for the mito. So yesterday my doctor looked over my copies of my labs and she freaked out. Freaked. Out.
My test showed severe malnutrition. Because it isn’t CF related, but rather mito related, NIH knew about it…and did nothing. So the reason I have been feeling progressively worse over the past 7 months is because I am still not absorbing enough vitamins, mineral and fats and according to my doctor my body is slowly starving to death. I’d like to think she was just being dramatic. (NIH did nothing because I didn’t fit into a current protocol, and as a government run hospital- I have to fit or they can’t help.) Anyhow I got a copy of my records for my SSDI hearing, and brought it along with me, b/c I knew some of my levels would be low and that my CK was 3294 (normal is 38-252). My prealbumin level was low, which is an indicator of malnutrition. Not to mention my Vitamins A, C and all of the B vitamins, selenium, iron and magnesium were low; my Vitamin D was undetectable. Oh…and my cholesterol was 80; which is too low. So she sent me for blood work, and is rechecking 21 of the labs to get a base line. Next comes the IV therapy, which I am really happy about. She is planning to double the dose I got last time, which was doubled from a normal dose already. I’m excited to start IV therapy again and I can’t wait to feel better. In addition to the IV therapy I have 9 new prescriptions, which include things to help with my pain. YAY! My doctor is also sending me to get a port (double?) which I am nervous about but so many people who I am friends with on Facebook have been able to give me information on the process. I am so grateful for them.
Now I know a lot of you probably looked at my picture and thought malnourished? This chick is fat!! While it is true I don’t *look* malnourished, sometimes I don’t *look* sick at all. I get very frustrated with some family and friends sometimes. I don’t like being treated like a sick person, but I am. I do a good imitation of someone who is just a little tired, and I'd like to think I can still pull of acting healthier than I really am most of the time. I don’t want pity, but just consideration or even acknowledgement would be nice. Maybe that is selfish of me?
Anyhow, I haven’t been able to lose weight for years and I haven’t gained either. I have staying within 10 lbs of my current weight. I can’t exercise due to my mito issues (although with my new pain meds I am hoping that I can start something light) but my biggest issue is that (according to my doctor you have to absorb fat to be able to burn fat. Sounded weird to me, but this article explains it
http://www.livestrong.com/article/557726-eat-fat-to-burn-fat/
I eat pretty healthy, although my portions are huge and I almost always feel hungry. My doctor says I feel hungry and eat large portions b/c I am not absorbing what I need from normal amounts of food. So my body always wants more.
Frank and I discussed telling our friends and family and what we would say. My doctor is on top of it, and now that I have health insurance I can start treatments in addition to the new medications. I don’t want anyone to worry, but I want to keep everyone updated.
About Me
- Chrissy
- I am a wife and mother who also has cystic fibrosis and a mitochondrial disease.
Showing posts with label CK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CK. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Just chillin'
So today I'm just hanging out. I got to sleep in, which was nice. I got some test results the other day and my cholesterol has gone up! Its at 99 which is the highest its been in a while (both numbers); my CK was 860, that is the lowest it has been in years! So although I am still anemic, deficient in Vitamin A, E, and D and am also low on Beta Carotene...I'm happy!
I had been feeling better muscle wise for the past week or so--but didn't know why. Now I do. I have been doing laundry, and dishes with out a problem! I have even been able to drive around with out leg cramps!
I had been feeling better muscle wise for the past week or so--but didn't know why. Now I do. I have been doing laundry, and dishes with out a problem! I have even been able to drive around with out leg cramps!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Something else...
Well the title is because I just got a new diagnosis the other day (Friday). First off my doctor gave me hell (in her own way) for skipping IV therapy so much. So I explained to my primary that I have been feeling like crud. I skipped about 3 weeks and my CK went up to just over 2200; and after getting lipids for a week it was down to just over 1500. She asked what was going on so I told her all my symptoms as of late; and she said "Hmmmm". (LOL)
She called the nurse in and had me lie down. She took me blood pressure and pulse; she had me sit up and she took BP and pulse again; and finally she had me stand and got the info. The nurse helped me sit back down and left the room to go talk to the doctor.
In comes the doctor and she is talking, but honestly my head was pounding and I couldn't pay attention. Really all I could make out was "you have POTS Chrissy" and "new medicine to help".
So I came home and looked it up...
What is Postural Tachycardia Syndrome?
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is one of a group of disorders that have orthostatic intolerance (OI) as their primary symptom. OI describes a condition in which an excessively reduced volume of blood returns to the heart after an individual stands up from a lying down position. The primary symptom of OI is lightheadedness or fainting. In POTS, the lightheadedness or fainting is also accompanied by a rapid increase in heartbeat of more than 30 beats per minute, or a heart rate that exceeds 120 beats per minute, within 10 minutes of rising. The faintness or lightheadeness of POTS are relieved by lying down again. Anyone at any age can develop POTS, but the majority of individuals affected (between 75 and 80 percent) are women between the ages of 15 to 50 years of age.
Doctors aren't sure yet what causes the reduced return of blood to the heart that occurs in OI, or why the heart begins to beat so rapidly in POTS, but the current thinking is that they are the result of abnormalities in the sympathetic nervous system (which is responsible for decreasing muscle tone and increasing heartbeat in reaction to situations of stress or emergency) or the parasympathetic nervous system (which does the opposite) or both .
(taken from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/postural_tachycardia_syndrome/postural_tachycardia_syndrome.htm)
And...
The symptoms of POTS are life altering and debilitating at times. POTS patients use about three times more energy to stand than a healthy person. It is as if these patients are running in place all the time. Activities such as housework, bathing, and even meals can exacerbate symptoms (Grubb, Kanjwal & Kosinski, 2006). Research shows that POTS patients' quality of life is similar to those with congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Benrud-Larson, Dewar, Sandroni, Rummans, Haythornthwaite & Low, 2002) Twenty-five percent of people with POTS are disabled and unable to work (Goldstein, Robertson, Esler, Straus, & Eisenhofer, 2002). Most patients will have to make some lifestyle adjustments to cope with this disorder.
(http://www.dinet.org/pots_an_overview.htm)
So...that explains a lot for me! December 1st I have a colonoscopy and endoscopy scheduled. I'm a little worried but they say it will help my digestive problems be diagnosed. My problems are too different from "standard" (their words not mine) CF digestive problems; and with my mitochondrial disease...well they just don't know. So getting these tests done will help figure out the puzzel that I am! (HA!)
She called the nurse in and had me lie down. She took me blood pressure and pulse; she had me sit up and she took BP and pulse again; and finally she had me stand and got the info. The nurse helped me sit back down and left the room to go talk to the doctor.
In comes the doctor and she is talking, but honestly my head was pounding and I couldn't pay attention. Really all I could make out was "you have POTS Chrissy" and "new medicine to help".
So I came home and looked it up...
What is Postural Tachycardia Syndrome?
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is one of a group of disorders that have orthostatic intolerance (OI) as their primary symptom. OI describes a condition in which an excessively reduced volume of blood returns to the heart after an individual stands up from a lying down position. The primary symptom of OI is lightheadedness or fainting. In POTS, the lightheadedness or fainting is also accompanied by a rapid increase in heartbeat of more than 30 beats per minute, or a heart rate that exceeds 120 beats per minute, within 10 minutes of rising. The faintness or lightheadeness of POTS are relieved by lying down again. Anyone at any age can develop POTS, but the majority of individuals affected (between 75 and 80 percent) are women between the ages of 15 to 50 years of age.
Doctors aren't sure yet what causes the reduced return of blood to the heart that occurs in OI, or why the heart begins to beat so rapidly in POTS, but the current thinking is that they are the result of abnormalities in the sympathetic nervous system (which is responsible for decreasing muscle tone and increasing heartbeat in reaction to situations of stress or emergency) or the parasympathetic nervous system (which does the opposite) or both .
(taken from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/postural_tachycardia_syndrome/postural_tachycardia_syndrome.htm)
And...
The symptoms of POTS are life altering and debilitating at times. POTS patients use about three times more energy to stand than a healthy person. It is as if these patients are running in place all the time. Activities such as housework, bathing, and even meals can exacerbate symptoms (Grubb, Kanjwal & Kosinski, 2006). Research shows that POTS patients' quality of life is similar to those with congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Benrud-Larson, Dewar, Sandroni, Rummans, Haythornthwaite & Low, 2002) Twenty-five percent of people with POTS are disabled and unable to work (Goldstein, Robertson, Esler, Straus, & Eisenhofer, 2002). Most patients will have to make some lifestyle adjustments to cope with this disorder.
(http://www.dinet.org/pots_an_overview.htm)
So...that explains a lot for me! December 1st I have a colonoscopy and endoscopy scheduled. I'm a little worried but they say it will help my digestive problems be diagnosed. My problems are too different from "standard" (their words not mine) CF digestive problems; and with my mitochondrial disease...well they just don't know. So getting these tests done will help figure out the puzzel that I am! (HA!)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Labs from 6/30/09
So I went in for IV therapy today and got my test results from the 30th. I have to laugh now when I get them...I think my body is in a constant state of flux.
Vitamin K went from 3.6 to 3.9; up is good! lol
Morning Glucose was 82
Calcium was 8.9 which is the same as it was before. If it doesn't go down I'm happy.
AST the 23rd it was 120 and on the 30th it was 156...
Gamma GT last time was 86 and on the 30th it was 106
ALT was 110 and went down on the 30th to 103
CK has gone up from 1165 to 1690
Cholesterol has dropped again! This time I am at 73. hdl dropped to 12 and ldl is at 44
Bun/CREA 8.6
Vitamin B12 652.6
Vitamin B2 listed as repeat test needed again?
B6 dropped to 11
Vitamin C is listed at .13
Vitamin E 3.9
Apolipoprotein A1- 77
Oh they have been checking vitamin d too, but since it doesn't come back flagged I hadn't noticed it. Vitamin D 1 is 20 which the lab says is low.
Other than that everything has been going OK. I'm getting better about saying everything is fine, or good...but its been baby steps. I just never think people want to hear me whine. lol
Over the weekend we went to a good bye for now party for my best friend Jessica. Her dad is really sick and she is going to stay with him in Las Vegas. She says she isn't planning to stay...I really hope not. I lost touch with her several years ago; so even if she doesn't come back...I'm not letting that happen again.
On my way home from Iv's I heard a song that makes me think of Frank and how hard it is for him to be married to someone who is sick. It's by Rob Thomas and it's called "Her Diamonds"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anlM631RsoQ
Vitamin K went from 3.6 to 3.9; up is good! lol
Morning Glucose was 82
Calcium was 8.9 which is the same as it was before. If it doesn't go down I'm happy.
AST the 23rd it was 120 and on the 30th it was 156...
Gamma GT last time was 86 and on the 30th it was 106
ALT was 110 and went down on the 30th to 103
CK has gone up from 1165 to 1690
Cholesterol has dropped again! This time I am at 73. hdl dropped to 12 and ldl is at 44
Bun/CREA 8.6
Vitamin B12 652.6
Vitamin B2 listed as repeat test needed again?
B6 dropped to 11
Vitamin C is listed at .13
Vitamin E 3.9
Apolipoprotein A1- 77
Oh they have been checking vitamin d too, but since it doesn't come back flagged I hadn't noticed it. Vitamin D 1 is 20 which the lab says is low.
Other than that everything has been going OK. I'm getting better about saying everything is fine, or good...but its been baby steps. I just never think people want to hear me whine. lol
Over the weekend we went to a good bye for now party for my best friend Jessica. Her dad is really sick and she is going to stay with him in Las Vegas. She says she isn't planning to stay...I really hope not. I lost touch with her several years ago; so even if she doesn't come back...I'm not letting that happen again.
On my way home from Iv's I heard a song that makes me think of Frank and how hard it is for him to be married to someone who is sick. It's by Rob Thomas and it's called "Her Diamonds"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anlM631RsoQ
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Really??
Okie dokie...so for those of you that read my last set of labs; they were from the 9th. I got my results from the 16th today:
Vitamin K was 3.7 which was barely within the normal range listed. These results came back this time at 3.4 just under the normal range.
Morning Glucose was 105 before breakfast and this time it was 135 before breakfast. The 135 came back marked as high this time...not really sure what that means! HA!
Calcium was 8.6 on the 9th; again just above the labs "normal range" and on the 16th it was 8.8
AST last time was 124; well above the normal range of 10-40; and on the 16th it was 181.
Gamma GT last time was elevated at 136 but the 16th it was 92. Which by the way is slightly higher than the normal range. So yay for improvement!
ALT was 124 on the 9th; and this time it was 110. Again yay for improvement!
Alright this is the biggest disappointment for me. My CK level last time was 1516; normal range is 21-232. Elevated yes but two weeks prior to the 1516 it was 2064 or something around there...so it went down; which is good. This number coincides with my muscle pain level and fatigue. So when I say that I pratically burst into tears when I read that the 16th I was at 2762...
It always freaks me out a little to see the numbers; even though I new my pain had gotten worse I casually put it off as pushing myself to hard for Kate's surprise birthday party...guess not, huh?
Next to update on is my second dissappointment. My cholesterol. This time my result is....drum roll please...76! Yep it has droped from 83 to 76...my hdl dropped from17 to a woping 5, while my ldl went from 48 to 56. I started a new medicine that we hoped would help me absorb fat and transport it properly...so far it doesn't seem to be doing much.
Bun/CREA went up from 7.5 up to a 10
Vitamin B12 was 631.8 and has gone up a little to 628.7! (YAY)
Vitamin B62 was a 13.6 on th 16th which has also gone up from 7.8
B6 was < 2 on the 9th but has improved to be a 5. (YAY)
Vitamin C was low but has risen up to be within the normal range at .47...yay!!
Vitamin E has improved to just below the normal range at 4.8
My Apolipoprotein A1-78 went down a litlle bit more to 69
My vitamin levels have all improved a bit...except for my vitamin K; so I'm hoping they continue to trend up. Today I had an appointment with a new GI doctor and he is planning an endoscope and a colonoscopy so that he can biopsy my tissue (Esophagus, intestine and stomach) to attempt to discover what is causing the malabsorbtion. He is also worried about my liver and for the second time in three years someone has thought that I have NASH (Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis).
So he also wants to review all of my liver tests from the last 5 years and he is talking about a liver biopsy...I hope he changes his tune because I do NOT want one of those! LOL
For those who are unsure of NASH check out:
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/nonalcoholic-steatohepatitis-nash-overview
So for those of you who are wondering how I'm feeling today--I could be better. But I'm not going to complain...
My husband went to his new doctor today too, and he seems to really like her so far. My daughter is planning a camping trip with her brother next week; and she has been supper excited about it! My car blew a tire today, on my way to IV's this morning...But I made it in with out being stranded on the side of the road! So today I am just thankful for the small things!!
Vitamin K was 3.7 which was barely within the normal range listed. These results came back this time at 3.4 just under the normal range.
Morning Glucose was 105 before breakfast and this time it was 135 before breakfast. The 135 came back marked as high this time...not really sure what that means! HA!
Calcium was 8.6 on the 9th; again just above the labs "normal range" and on the 16th it was 8.8
AST last time was 124; well above the normal range of 10-40; and on the 16th it was 181.
Gamma GT last time was elevated at 136 but the 16th it was 92. Which by the way is slightly higher than the normal range. So yay for improvement!
ALT was 124 on the 9th; and this time it was 110. Again yay for improvement!
Alright this is the biggest disappointment for me. My CK level last time was 1516; normal range is 21-232. Elevated yes but two weeks prior to the 1516 it was 2064 or something around there...so it went down; which is good. This number coincides with my muscle pain level and fatigue. So when I say that I pratically burst into tears when I read that the 16th I was at 2762...
It always freaks me out a little to see the numbers; even though I new my pain had gotten worse I casually put it off as pushing myself to hard for Kate's surprise birthday party...guess not, huh?
Next to update on is my second dissappointment. My cholesterol. This time my result is....drum roll please...76! Yep it has droped from 83 to 76...my hdl dropped from17 to a woping 5, while my ldl went from 48 to 56. I started a new medicine that we hoped would help me absorb fat and transport it properly...so far it doesn't seem to be doing much.
Bun/CREA went up from 7.5 up to a 10
Vitamin B12 was 631.8 and has gone up a little to 628.7! (YAY)
Vitamin B62 was a 13.6 on th 16th which has also gone up from 7.8
B6 was < 2 on the 9th but has improved to be a 5. (YAY)
Vitamin C was low but has risen up to be within the normal range at .47...yay!!
Vitamin E has improved to just below the normal range at 4.8
My Apolipoprotein A1-78 went down a litlle bit more to 69
My vitamin levels have all improved a bit...except for my vitamin K; so I'm hoping they continue to trend up. Today I had an appointment with a new GI doctor and he is planning an endoscope and a colonoscopy so that he can biopsy my tissue (Esophagus, intestine and stomach) to attempt to discover what is causing the malabsorbtion. He is also worried about my liver and for the second time in three years someone has thought that I have NASH (Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis).
So he also wants to review all of my liver tests from the last 5 years and he is talking about a liver biopsy...I hope he changes his tune because I do NOT want one of those! LOL
For those who are unsure of NASH check out:
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/nonalcoholic-steatohepatitis-nash-overview
So for those of you who are wondering how I'm feeling today--I could be better. But I'm not going to complain...
My husband went to his new doctor today too, and he seems to really like her so far. My daughter is planning a camping trip with her brother next week; and she has been supper excited about it! My car blew a tire today, on my way to IV's this morning...But I made it in with out being stranded on the side of the road! So today I am just thankful for the small things!!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Are you kidding me?
So...today at IV therapy I asked for a copy of my most recent test results. I had blood work done last week, but they say none of it is back yet so I called my primary to see if she has them. I guess I'll save this post until I hear back from her.
Labs from 6/9/09
Vitamin K- 3.7 according to the lab it is barely within normal range (3.5-5.1)
Morning glucose (before breakfast) 105 (not sure if that is good or bad!!)
Calcium-8.6 also told by lab it is just in normal range (8.4-10.2)
AST-124 normal is 10-40
Gamma GT-136 normal is 5-85
ALT-124 normal is 30-65
CK-1516 down from the last number which was like 2064 or something normal is 21-232
(CK is the number associated with my muscle problems. They are almost always checking...I haven't gotten the results from last weeks blood work but am hoping that it is continuing to trend down. ALT AST and the Gamma GT all all something to do with my liver. My numbers have always been a little elevated; they think it has something to do with my CK # being high also...but as with all things Chrissy they just aren't sure.)
Cholesterol- 83 normal is listed as anything below 200. However this # according to my doctors is too low. Go figure. 83 is up from 80 which is what it dipped to last month. Keep in mind that I am receiving IV lipids too raise it.) The breakdown is LDL 48 and HDL is 17 (hdl should be above 40)
BUN/Crea-7.5 normal is 12.5-18.7
Vitamin B12-631.8 normal is 239-931 (YAY)
Vitamin B2-7.8 normal is 6.2-39.0 (this is improved from my last blood work)
B6 <2 normal is 2.1-21.7 ( This one is always a struggle for me to maintain.)
Vitamin C- <.12 normal is .20-1.90 (this result is up from my last test...before it was undetectable)
Vitamin E-3.3 normal is 5.7-19.9
LDH-349 normal is 100-200
Apolipoprotein A1-78 normal is 101-198
So I have been getting IV therapy for months now, and a few weeks ago started going in 3x a week instead of 2. Why am I doing it? Well because if I don't get multivitamins and lipids directly into my blood steam; everyone is scared of what will happen. But really...it isn't making much of a difference. I keep getting my blood work results and hoping; praying that the numbers will be great. They should be...not only do I get IVs but I take a multi vitamin 2x a day extra B6, C, D, E and B complex(100). Can someone please tell me what the hell I'm doing this for? Why can't they just FREAKIN' FIX ME???
I am so sick of feeling like it's not fair for me to ask for others to adjust because I don't feel well...but apparently NO ONE (except my husband and a select few) cares about whether I adjust for them. At least that's how I feel.
Oh...I just got a call from the Dr's office and they are giving me a prescript to try to bump up my vitamin E...
Sorry for those who aren't used to me whining...lol...I do it a lot on my blog on cysticfibrosis.com; or at least I did. My husband says I need to stop telling people I feel fine or ok when they ask how I feel. So here it is guys...for those who want to know how I feel right now, today....like crap. I feel like crap.
Labs from 6/9/09
Vitamin K- 3.7 according to the lab it is barely within normal range (3.5-5.1)
Morning glucose (before breakfast) 105 (not sure if that is good or bad!!)
Calcium-8.6 also told by lab it is just in normal range (8.4-10.2)
AST-124 normal is 10-40
Gamma GT-136 normal is 5-85
ALT-124 normal is 30-65
CK-1516 down from the last number which was like 2064 or something normal is 21-232
(CK is the number associated with my muscle problems. They are almost always checking...I haven't gotten the results from last weeks blood work but am hoping that it is continuing to trend down. ALT AST and the Gamma GT all all something to do with my liver. My numbers have always been a little elevated; they think it has something to do with my CK # being high also...but as with all things Chrissy they just aren't sure.)
Cholesterol- 83 normal is listed as anything below 200. However this # according to my doctors is too low. Go figure. 83 is up from 80 which is what it dipped to last month. Keep in mind that I am receiving IV lipids too raise it.) The breakdown is LDL 48 and HDL is 17 (hdl should be above 40)
BUN/Crea-7.5 normal is 12.5-18.7
Vitamin B12-631.8 normal is 239-931 (YAY)
Vitamin B2-7.8 normal is 6.2-39.0 (this is improved from my last blood work)
B6 <2 normal is 2.1-21.7 ( This one is always a struggle for me to maintain.)
Vitamin C- <.12 normal is .20-1.90 (this result is up from my last test...before it was undetectable)
Vitamin E-3.3 normal is 5.7-19.9
LDH-349 normal is 100-200
Apolipoprotein A1-78 normal is 101-198
So I have been getting IV therapy for months now, and a few weeks ago started going in 3x a week instead of 2. Why am I doing it? Well because if I don't get multivitamins and lipids directly into my blood steam; everyone is scared of what will happen. But really...it isn't making much of a difference. I keep getting my blood work results and hoping; praying that the numbers will be great. They should be...not only do I get IVs but I take a multi vitamin 2x a day extra B6, C, D, E and B complex(100). Can someone please tell me what the hell I'm doing this for? Why can't they just FREAKIN' FIX ME???
I am so sick of feeling like it's not fair for me to ask for others to adjust because I don't feel well...but apparently NO ONE (except my husband and a select few) cares about whether I adjust for them. At least that's how I feel.
Oh...I just got a call from the Dr's office and they are giving me a prescript to try to bump up my vitamin E...
Sorry for those who aren't used to me whining...lol...I do it a lot on my blog on cysticfibrosis.com; or at least I did. My husband says I need to stop telling people I feel fine or ok when they ask how I feel. So here it is guys...for those who want to know how I feel right now, today....like crap. I feel like crap.
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