Quote:
Lets hope it is an ulcer. They are relatively easy to treat. I worked with a guy that had an ulcer in his intestinal tract. The surgery was not fun and neither was the recovery.
|
Originally Posted by Ironik
Anyone have experience with this?
I ask because I may have one. My hematocrit level (the amount of red blood cells you have in your system) dropped to 21, which is in the danger zone. My doctor told me that at 18 people are generally flat on their back unconscious... or worse. So I was lucky they caught it through happenstance. I spent Friday night at the hospital getting a transfusion and I feel 100% better, but if I'm bleeding internally as they suspect, I'm not sure how long this will last. The two potential causes are a bleeding ulcer or leukemia, which are super fun choices. They're pretty sure it's not leukemia, for which I am immensely thankful, but I need to return to the hospital tomorrow for multiple tests and to get scoped inside and out, top to bottom. (I think you know what I'm trying to say.) Just wondering if anyone has info or advice. (I did a self-examination and I'm pretty sure my lack of blood is not caused by vampires. However, if I start posting only at night, you'll know something's up.) |
I'm not a doctor (nor do I even play one on TV) but I've read where they think now that the vast majority of ulcers are actually caused by certain types of bacterial infections. They used to do surgery pretty much every time they treated ulcers but now many of them can be "cured" without surgery.
Obviously you need to get a doctor to verify exactly what your situation is. But as I understand it if what you've got is an ulcer that doesn't automatically mean surgery like it used to.
Good luck regardless. 
Loth 50 Fire/Rad Controller [1392 Badges] [300 non-AE Souvenirs]
Ryver 50 Ele� Blaster [1392 Badges]
Silandra 50 Peacebringer [1138 Badges] [No Redside Badges]
--{=====> Virtue ♀
Whatever the problem turns out to be I sincerely hope it's easily treatable and temporary. You're in my prayers for a swift recovery.
I have a friend who had an ulcer last year. He was treated with antibiotics, no surgery required. I don't believe his ulcer was bleeding, but what Lothic said is indeed true, many *stomach* ulcers are caused by a bacterial infection, specifically Helicobacter pylori.
From this link: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hpylori/
Quote:
|
A bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a major cause of peptic ulcers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen, are another common cause. Rarely, cancerous or noncancerous tumors in the stomach, duodenum, or pancreas cause ulcers. Peptic ulcers are not caused by stress or eating spicy food, but both can make ulcer symptoms worse. Smoking and drinking alcohol also can worsen ulcers and prevent healing. |
Regardless of the cause or treatment you may receive, my thoughts and well wishes are with you.
Quote:
I liked the story behind that. For the longest time they thought nothing could live in the stomach. A doctor proved them wrong. When no one believed him, he swallowed the culture of the bacterium he had found. Heh.
|
Originally Posted by sleestack
I have a friend who had an ulcer last year. He was treated with antibiotics, no surgery required. I don't believe his ulcer was bleeding, but what Lothic said is indeed true, many *stomach* ulcers are caused by a bacterial infection, specifically Helicobacter pylori.
From this link: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hpylori/ Regardless of the cause or treatment you may receive, my thoughts and well wishes are with you. |
They actually received a Nobel Prize for that discovery. Do note that advil and other NSAIDs when taken on an empty stomach can damage your stomach lining.
Also there is an autoimmune disease that can cause your hematocrit lvl's to plunge like that. http://www.suite101.com/content/auto...c-anemia-a1936
My dog had the canine version and had to get treated with steroids to suppress her immune system for a few months till it stopped being so aggressive.
"Play Nice and BEHAVE! I don't want to hear about any more of your shenanigans brought up in our meetings at Paragon"-Ghost Falcon @Tritonfree @Philly's 2nd Convenient CIGAL BoBC/INOANN Arts&Crafts Sporks
Average Joes FAP THE MENTOR PROJECT Justice Events
Quote:
I do, but it was nowhere near as bad as your experience. I had heartburn, pain, and blood in my stool.|
Originally Posted by Ironik
Anyone have experience with this?
|
The endoscope is easy and you won't remember it because of the drugs. It'll tell them all they need to know. Just listen to the doctors, they know how to treat this stuff.
If I have any real advice, it would be that you needn't settle on one drug for treatment of stomach acid. They'll want to put you on a proton-pump blocker, probably Nexium. Nexium gives me headaches. You have other choices -- Aciphex and Prevacid, or the over-the-counter Prilosec (which is an early formulation of Nexium that works better for some people). If you don't like the side effects of the drug they give you, ask to try another one until you find what works for you.
...
New Webcomic -- Genocide Man
Life is funny. Death is funnier. Mass slaughter can be hilarious.
Get well soon man. Keep us apprised of your situation.
Quote:
I should have noted that the most likely cause of an ulcer would be my arthritis medication. I do take Prilosec as a preventative (and have doubled my daily dosage on doctor's orders) but if the meds are the cause, I clearly wasn't taking enough. I have since stopped taking a number of my meds, which has increased my pain quite a bit, but what doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?|
Originally Posted by RemusShepherd
I do, but it was nowhere near as bad as your experience. I had heartburn, pain, and blood in my stool.
The endoscope is easy and you won't remember it because of the drugs. It'll tell them all they need to know. Just listen to the doctors, they know how to treat this stuff. If I have any real advice, it would be that you needn't settle on one drug for treatment of stomach acid. They'll want to put you on a proton-pump blocker, probably Nexium. Nexium gives me headaches. You have other choices -- Aciphex and Prevacid, or the over-the-counter Prilosec (which is an early formulation of Nexium that works better for some people). If you don't like the side effects of the drug they give you, ask to try another one until you find what works for you. |
I'm definitely cognizant of side effects of drugs -- I certainly take enough! I seem to tolerate most of them pretty well. Well, until now. Here's my usual batch that gets me through the day, I think the total is 26 pills a day.
I got arthritis from an insect bite. I didn't know that was even possible until it happened to me. Last March I "celebrated" my 20th anniversary of contracting arthritis. I suppose I'm fortunate I haven't had too many serious side effects in the ensuing decades, but this one seems pretty serious. Hoping that it's fixable -- I also feel guilty for using up blood that crash victims or the like might need.
The Alt Alphabet ~ OPC: Other People's Characters ~ Terrific Screenshots of Cool ~ Superhero Fiction
Thanks for the good words and kind thoughts. In half an hour I start the prep for tomorrow's procedure. The prep sounds like the worst of it, actually.
The Alt Alphabet ~ OPC: Other People's Characters ~ Terrific Screenshots of Cool ~ Superhero Fiction
Anyone have experience with this?
I ask because I may have one. My hematocrit level (the amount of red blood cells you have in your system) dropped to 21, which is in the danger zone. My doctor told me that at 18 people are generally flat on their back unconscious... or worse. So I was lucky they caught it through happenstance. I spent Friday night at the hospital getting a transfusion and I feel 100% better, but if I'm bleeding internally as they suspect, I'm not sure how long this will last.
The two potential causes are a bleeding ulcer or leukemia, which are super fun choices. They're pretty sure it's not leukemia, for which I am immensely thankful, but I need to return to the hospital tomorrow for multiple tests and to get scoped inside and out, top to bottom. (I think you know what I'm trying to say.)
Just wondering if anyone has info or advice.
(I did a self-examination and I'm pretty sure my lack of blood is not caused by vampires. However, if I start posting only at night, you'll know something's up.)
The Alt Alphabet ~ OPC: Other People's Characters ~ Terrific Screenshots of Cool ~ Superhero Fiction