![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by NikkiT2 on June 30, 2004, at 8:10:39
I just saw my GP and I discussed my nausea / retching problem with her..
I had a liver function test done last december, and she said "its more or less OK".. I asked her what she meant by "more or less" and she said that the upper limit for the test was 130, and that my result was 136, but that it was close enough to be classed as OK.
Can anyone explain this??
Thanks
Nikki x
Posted by Glydin on June 30, 2004, at 9:24:27
In reply to Liver Function tests, posted by NikkiT2 on June 30, 2004, at 8:10:39
Liver function tests look at numerous values to assess liver function much like a Complete Blood Count looks at alot of different componants. Find out what specific value your Dr. is referring to and ask what that's really telling. Most blood tests are "screening" and let it be known if further testing is needed. Also, normal values are a "ballpark" range and some values a little below, a little above, and "within range" but close to the up or down value are ok from individual to individual.
If your Dr. isn't too concerned with the value you noted, it's probably fine, but you do have the right to question - in particular, if your symptoms aren't going away or worsening.
Posted by NikkiT2 on June 30, 2004, at 11:02:48
In reply to Re: Liver Function tests, posted by Glydin on June 30, 2004, at 9:24:27
Thanks.
I don't have much faith in my GP to tell the truth.. she's shown time and time again that she is rubbish!! When I went to her with incredibly painful sex, without running any tests, she said "oh, its probably chlamydia".. which as you can imagine freaked me RIGHT out seeing as I have been in monogamous relationship with my husband for 7 years! (it turned out to vaginismus).. When I saw her for first time 6 years ago when I mved here, before she had recived my notes, when I told her I was on an AD she replied "oh, we'll take you off that then, no need for it".. yeah right! At that point I was fairly stable on a tri cyclic - a year later I lost the plot big style..
It worries me that if they were slightly high 6 months ago, that should be re-checked.
Thanks for your reply
Nikki x
Posted by Glydin on June 30, 2004, at 11:25:47
In reply to Re: Liver Function tests » Glydin, posted by NikkiT2 on June 30, 2004, at 11:02:48
Oh Nikki, I'm sorry about your Dr. - can you go to someone else? Or isn't that an option? I have a good doc and I guess I assume, for the most part, others do too, 'couse after being at this site, I guess I should realize that isn't the case. Hope you get it worked out and stop all that nasty stomach stuff.
Posted by NikkiT2 on June 30, 2004, at 11:44:14
In reply to Re: Liver Function tests » NikkiT2, posted by Glydin on June 30, 2004, at 11:25:47
I just realised it might look strange me asking when the test was done in December..
I'm still feeling so nauseus so much of the time that i went back about it.. I had the liver function test, and helibactor (or whatever the ulcer test is) test done in december, and was told in January that they were fine, and that I was being referred to a gastroenterologist..
So wehn I went to GP today I epxlained I was still feeling as rough, and had they heard anything about my referral..Turns out, they forgot to refer me *sighing*
And she checked my results and when she got to liver function she said "more or less OK" and I asked her what she meant by "more or less"..
I just want to stop feeling sick
Nikki x
Posted by Glydin on June 30, 2004, at 13:16:33
In reply to the reason I ask now.., posted by NikkiT2 on June 30, 2004, at 11:44:14
Do you still have your gallbladder?
Are your symptoms related to eating?
Med related as possiblity???
Posted by NikkiT2 on June 30, 2004, at 14:56:06
In reply to Re: the reason I ask now.. » NikkiT2, posted by Glydin on June 30, 2004, at 13:16:33
I do still have my gall bladder.. and a few people have suggested that could be the problem.
And not on any meds any more.. been off them since beginning of december!!
Nikki x
Posted by Glydin on June 30, 2004, at 15:33:13
In reply to Re: the reason I ask now.. » Glydin, posted by NikkiT2 on June 30, 2004, at 14:56:06
Could be gallbladder problems - it's a frequent cause of GI symptoms in my circle of influence friends. Hope you can get a Gastroentero appointment soon, or better yet, it just go away???
Posted by Racer on July 1, 2004, at 18:51:33
In reply to Re: the reason I ask now.. » Glydin, posted by NikkiT2 on June 30, 2004, at 14:56:06
Nikki,
Let's see, you remember my liver problems of a few months back? (Or was it only weeks? Time warp...) I got to do a lot of research, some of which related to gallbladder problems. GB pain tends to start shortly after eating fatty foods, can cause a sudden urge to go to the loo, and GB removal is supposed to be pretty easy. I can't tell you much about liver stuff, beyond what related directly to what was discovered in mine.
Another possiblity is hiatal hernia, which can be related to weight loss -- didn't you say you'd lost some after stopping the meds? That's usually not a big issue, but it does tend to come along with gastro-esophageal reflux, which can be painful. (The GI x-ray series showed both in me, but the hernia was so mild the doctors didn't think it could be causing my problems, and the pain was so localized that I didn't think it was the GER.)
Your doctor sounds like a real joy -- so glad you can count on her, huh? Can you switch to another? I know nothing about your health care system, but if you can, it sounds like it might be quite worth it. While you wait for the GI referral, you might try something like Omeprazole. That's the heartburn pill, which I think takes a while to kick in, but is what the doctors recommended for me.
Sorry your tummy hurts,
R
Posted by NikkiT2 on July 3, 2004, at 8:32:15
In reply to Re: the reason I ask now.. » NikkiT2, posted by Racer on July 1, 2004, at 18:51:33
I will catch up with your other messages to me by the way! Been so busy past two days, and woke up this morning with a killer headache.. now off for a bath to try and see if that will help.
Anyway.. I'll give you a full list of my wonderful symptoms.
This nausea, that gets alot worse when I get hungry, or when I eat too much.. gag reflex gone wild - sometimes even putting food in my mouth makes me retch, brushing teeth, strong smells of any kind, and anything related to vomit or fecal matter - the mearest hint at it on TV and I'm retching!
I also get sudden, sharp pains in my stomach that last about 5 minutes before I desperately need the toilet. Then they pass. This is worse in the mornings.
Attacks of dizziness lasting about 5 minutes where it feels like my brain is spinning.
Sharp cramping pains on right hand side of torse.. kind of bottom of ribs.. take my breath away and I can't move while they happen, but only last about 15 seconds, and happen about 5 times a day, always get one after going to bed and lying on my right hand side.A few people have mentioned this does sound like gall bladder probs..
I tried Omeprazole for 2 months last year and it didn't help.. and also an anti nausea thats meant to be strong (i forget its name now).
Just wish I could see a doc sooner!!
Nikki x
Posted by Racer on July 3, 2004, at 9:47:15
In reply to Re: the reason I ask now.. » Racer, posted by NikkiT2 on July 3, 2004, at 8:32:15
Yeah, that sounds like the gallbladder. That's on the right side, up by the ribs, kinda cuddled into the curves of your liver. The good news is that it usually takes a long time to do any real damage, the bad news is that it hurts and makes you nauseous until it's taken care of. I did read some things about medications you can take to keep that under control, but can't remember what they were. And even those are just temporary measures.
If it turns out to be your GB, the surgery is usually laparoscopic, so tiny incision, not a lot of post op complications, etc. Those sound like the classic symptoms I read about, by the way.
I'm sorry it's happening to you, and hope your headache, at least, fades fast.
Posted by NikkiT2 on July 3, 2004, at 13:32:43
In reply to Sounds like... » NikkiT2, posted by Racer on July 3, 2004, at 9:47:15
headache is being a nasty little bugger.. regular tiger balm applications are easying it though.. Tiger Balm is amazing stuff!!
How do they diagnose GB problems?? do they go a tube down throat / up bum thing??
And in it a problem that can flare up / calm down / flare up etc?? Cos I had this problem 18 months ago for a few months too, but it passed.
Ah.. metoclopramide is the anti nausea they've been giving me! Remembered finally *L*
Thanks for all of this.. I just wish the docs would hurry up!
nikki x
Posted by Glydin on July 3, 2004, at 14:17:11
In reply to Re: Sounds like... » Racer, posted by NikkiT2 on July 3, 2004, at 13:32:43
I think they can use ultrasound to diagnosis stones in your gallbladder. So sorry about your head. Tiger balm IS great stuff!!
Posted by Racer on July 3, 2004, at 14:21:38
In reply to Re: Sounds like... » Racer, posted by NikkiT2 on July 3, 2004, at 13:32:43
LoL! No, I think an ultrasound is the usual test for gallstones -- no tubes, just slimy stuff on your tummy! Poor Nikki, that tube test would be scary -- I know, because from what the tests have shown so far and what the doctor said, one of those tubes (the "upward" sort) is likely in my future. (Although, from the experience my cat has had with a very similar condition to the one hypothesized for me, I am still hopeful that it can be avoided...)
So, non-invasive test for our Nikki. Is that good news?
Just from some of what you've written over the years, you might also ask the GI guy -- if you feel comfortable doing so once you meet him -- whether or not any such problems might be related to the meds you've been on. My problem was probably there in its earliest form, but only really activated by the meds over the years. {sigh} They may be life-savers in some ways, but some of the long term adverse effects are, I think, underappreciated by some of the people prescribing them.
Anyway, I do hope your head, at least, feels better soon. And I hope the GI guy is much better than your GP in the bedside-manner catagory.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.