I'm on the Medical Merry-Go-Round

[Lisa Guliani]

I have been diagnosed with it. Reynaud's disease and vasculitis.

I was looking at Chantix info: http://www.chantix.com/

Important Safety Information

Some people have had changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions while using CHANTIX to help them quit smoking. Some people had these symptoms when they began taking CHANTIX, and others developed them after several weeks of treatment or after stopping CHANTIX. If you, your family, or caregiver notice agitation, hostility, depression, or changes in behavior, thinking, or mood that are not typical for you, or you develop suicidal thoughts or actions, anxiety, panic, aggression, anger, mania, abnormal sensations, hallucinations, paranoia, or confusion, stop taking CHANTIX and call your doctor right away. Also tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems before taking CHANTIX, as these symptoms may worsen while taking CHANTIX.

Do not take CHANTIX if you have had a serious allergic or skin reaction to CHANTIX. Some people can have serious skin reactions while taking CHANTIX, some of which can become life-threatening. These can include rash, swelling, redness, and peeling of the skin. Some people can have allergic reactions to CHANTIX, some of which can be life-threatening and include: swelling of the face, mouth, and throat that can cause trouble breathing. If you have these symptoms or have a rash with peeling skin or blisters in your mouth, stop taking CHANTIX and get medical attention right away.

Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart or blood vessel problems before starting CHANTIX, or if you have a history of these problems and have any new or worse symptoms during treatment with CHANTIX. Get emergency medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a heart attack.

The most common side effects of CHANTIX include nausea (30%), sleep problems, constipation, gas and/or vomiting. If you have side effects that bother you or don't go away, tell your doctor. You may have trouble sleeping, vivid, unusual or strange dreams while taking CHANTIX. Use caution driving or operating machinery until you know how CHANTIX may affect you.

CHANTIX should not be taken with other quit-smoking products. You may need a lower dose of CHANTIX if you have kidney problems or get dialysis.

Before starting CHANTIX, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or if you take insulin, asthma medicines, or blood thinners. Medicines like these may work differently when you quit smoking.

 

[Renaissance]

Chantix is evil. There was a pretty damning article about it that came out not long after it was released on the market: This Is My Brain on Chantix, It was discussed a little here.

 

[LQB]

LQB: Thank you, but please hold off on sending anything until I talk to the doctor. I'm thinking that might help with the lower back pain ( I think it's my SI joint) that's causing some pain that's radiating into my right hip and down my leg. Not sure if it would help my feet but I'm going to ask the doctor next Thursday when i go. I will get back with you and let you know.

Good - just let me know. I'll send you the manual with it so you can adjust all the various protocols

Re; Tramadol. I was prescribed this for pain several years ago. It makes me very sleepy/groggy and alters perception of pain, but doesn't touch all pain. it didn't do anything for the nerve pain I was taking it for. Normally these days, I do not take ANYTHING from Big Pharma and I'd like to keep it that way if i can help it.

Maybe you can ask the Doc that prescribed the Tramadol to switch to straight codeine - then you can adjust the dose up by half-pill to get the relief you need.

That said, I may end up having to fill this prescription today. I chose to take the Vitamin E and do the DMSO instead. But last night was not good.
Another thing about last night: I could feel something moving inside my legs - I know that sounds weird - but I wondered if that was blood flowing in my vessels. That's what it felt like to me - like something deeper within the legs, moving - in multiple places straight down the leg toward the feet. I was hoping it wasn't a clot or anything. Incidentally, I don't have varicose veins. Thank goodness.

Good - then you can do stim sessions from the thighs to the feet.

Oh yeah - the doctor told me yesterday: "Your feet are not totally blocked or you would need surgery today." But the pulses are still very weak.

They are very weak in my mother too - one is almost undetectable. Her improvement is why I think it may help you too. :)

 

[Lisa Guliani]

Yes, and all these EFFECTS - not side effects - seem pretty nasty. The warning about taking it if you have issues with blood vessels or are taking blood thinners seems like it wouldn't be a good idea for me, even if i ignored ( which I'm not) all the other unpleasantness that potentially goes along with taking it. Because the doctors prescribed me the procardia and the aspirin. Taking that stuff might make everything even worse.

 

[LQB]

Yes, and all these EFFECTS - not side effects - seem pretty nasty. The warning about taking it if you have issues with blood vessels or are taking blood thinners seems like it wouldn't be a good idea for me, even if i ignored ( which I'm not) all the other unpleasantness that potentially goes along with taking it. Because the doctors prescribed me the procardia and the aspirin. Taking that stuff might make everything even worse.

If I had not intervened against the medical mob (continuously for years), I feel certain that my mother would have passed on long ago.

 

[Lisa Guliani]

Just got a call from the nurse: My bloodwork results are in:
My white blood cell couint is elevated. she said normal is 4 - 10.80 and mine is at 10.97.
They want me to come in and get a chest x-ray, a urinalysis and a urine culture.
They're going to recheck the WBC in one week.

My thyroid level is also elevated. Normal = 2.7 - 4. Mine is 7.13.
She says it could be caused by hot or cold intolerance?

The Internal med doctor is now prescribing me ANOTHER medicine: Synthroid.

She said the notes indicated some other issues with inflammation, but I'll find out more when I go there Monday, if I can.

None of this is good news.

 

[Laura]

Do NOT take synthroid. Evil stuff.

You are showing all the signs of some sort of auto-immune thing going on.

 

[Lisa Guliani]

Laura, I don't want to take ANY of it and I'm not, except for one Tramadol pill for pain and one baby aspirin. I'm taking all my supplements though.
Every single person in my family has a thyroid problem too and is on Synthroid. Seems like everything is coming at me from all sides now.
I guess i'll have more information next week on the lab tests. They are rechecking some of the levels, i was told.

 

[Gaby]

My white blood cell couint is elevated. she said normal is 4 - 10.80 and mine is at 10.97.

It looks normal to me.

The medical merry-go-round you are going through is a complete nightmare!

 

[Laura]

I think Lisa is being looked at as a "billable commodity". The more they can find wrong with her, the more tests they can run, the more drugs they can prescribe, the more money they can get from the insurance/gov. Her health is totally NOT on their minds. Getting her well hasn't occurred to them.

It really is sick. No pun intended.

 

[Buddy]

None of this is good news.

Well, there is the news and there is the interpretation of the news by people who practice symptom management, not healing. Have you thought of taking all these test results to (another) reputable diagnostician? If there is an auto-immune dysfunction, the probability that it may be correctly perceived and correctly diagnosed seems more likely to me.

 

[Lisa Guliani]

Buddy, I've been seen now by 4 doctors and a nurse practitioner. General practice, Rheumatology, Vascular surgeon and Internal medicine. I have to stay within my healthcare network.
I refuse to allow them to freak me out about all this. Just wasn't expecting to hear this stuff about the thyroid AT ALL. And, they want to put me on cholesterol meds in 3-4 months too, if my 125 number doesn't dip below 100. So that's another poison pill I won't be eating.

 

[Gaby]

Buddy, I've been seen now by 4 doctors and a nurse practitioner. General practice, Rheumatology, Vascular surgeon and Internal medicine. I have to stay within my healthcare network.
I refuse to allow them to freak me out about all this. Just wasn't expecting to hear this stuff about the thyroid AT ALL. And, they want to put me on cholesterol meds in 3-4 months too, if my 125 number doesn't dip below 100. So that's another poison pill I won't be eating.

The health care system of hell alright. If only you could get proper care and not mindless protocols. Somebody who will look at you. Sheesh, I think you will have better luck in ANY hospital in Cuba or Central America. My experience is limited to the public health care system, which I thought was bad enough. But asking for X rays based on that white blood count is not even funny as an emergency room humor reaction.

I hope you are reading ingredients very well and avoiding all possible hidden sources of gluten. Fluoride is another one to watch out for in order for your thyroid to recover.

 

[Lisa Guliani]

I'm reading everything very closely. I asked why I need a chest x-ray and was told they want to check to see if I have a lung infection. And they completely ignore the ache in my lower back I've been telling them about while my feet and hands steadily turn into mini icebergs as the weeks pass. Oh yeah - and they made sure they sent me my first bill too.
Thoughtful of them.

 

[truth seeker]

I think Lisa is being looked at as a "billable commodity". The more they can find wrong with her, the more tests they can run, the more drugs they can prescribe, the more money they can get from the insurance/gov. Her health is totally NOT on their minds. Getting her well hasn't occurred to them.

It really is sick. No pun intended.

Wholeheartedly agree.

Are you having bone broth everyday, Lisa? I realize that for some, it may initially be a bit of an acquired taste, but may really help to make a difference in the long run.