So, continuing with the soap opera that is my life, you will remember we left off with my surgery being cancelled because I was sick, and it turned out to be liver damage, so I stopped taking the meds for my skin rash (which is what we thought was causing the liver damage). So I was left with feeling yucky, having to re-book my surgery for a bladder problem that has yet to be diagnosed, and a yeasty skin rash that is stubborn as all heck and not responding to any treatments, save for the meds that gave me liver damage.
Well, on Monday, I had blood taken again to make sure that my enzyme levels were going back down since stopping the meds. On Tuesday (yesterday) my doctor called me at home to say that the levels were NOT dropping...in fact, they are even higher than last week! We discussed that obviously something else is coming into play here, and talked about fatty liver and the hepatitises. So since she can't tell what is going on (especially since I am feeling slightly better) I've got to re-do the labs again on Monday to check the enzyme levels, as well as a Hep screen and also go for a liver ultrasound. Once that is done, hopefully we will know more what could be going on. So in the meantime, I am stuck with the uncertainty of this liver problem, a rash I can't get rid of, and waiting for a surgery to see what my bladder's problem is. And even at that, I am now fearing they might not want to put me under a general anesthetic for the surgery, all because my liver may not be able to metabolize the anesthetic.
Oh yeah, and just to add insult to injury...my new eyebrow piercing? I was told I will have to take the jewellery out for the surgery because it is metal. And all the non-metal stuff they make for eyebrows is all in a different size (too big for my piercing). So, best case scenario, I take the jewellery out for the day and am able to put it back in when I get home about 4-5 hrs after it came out. Worst case scenario, I can't get it back in, so I'll have to let it heal over (takes 2 months) then go back and have it re-done. Grrr...why didn't I think before I had it done? No lectures, please! I am not sorry I had it done. I am only sorry I didn't check with the surgery dept. beforehand. I assumed it would be ok.
Again, thanks for listening. I know I go on and on...
Yeah, I would've never thought about the eyebrow piercing being a problem, either! When my husband had his surgeries, they always made him take off his wedding band, but I thought that was so he couldn't say someone stole it during surgery. I wonder what the deal is with metal in the OR? Maybe one of our RNs on the board could enlighten me?
I am so sorry you're having to deal with all this medical stuff. Last year, my teenaged son was experiencing weird symptoms, and no one could tell us what it was for about a week. Turned out to be a harmless virus (well, not so harmless that it didn't make him sick!), but not knowing what the **** was wrong was the very worst part (especially since at one point they had begun to suspect muscular dystrophy). Anyway, continue to be strong, and know that we are all here for you.
Miss Mew: My gosh, what a mystery you have!! You know that we are here for you and we are thinking of you. Keep us posted on your progress.
I have almost no medical knowledge whatsoever, but I think that they like to have metal removed before surgery because they need everything to be sterile. Just my guess. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
Well, I'm glad it wasn't anything serious for your son! I can't imagine one of my kids being really sick and not knowing what it was!!
I think the reason they won't let me wear the eyebrow jewellery during surgery is because if anything were to go wrong, like if I were to go into shock, and my heart stopped and they wanted to use the defribrillator paddles..well, metal is a conductor of electricity....
As well, if they had to do any kind of emergency work around my head and if something caught on the jewellery, it could rip it out.
So, I fully understand it is safer not to have it in, I just wish I had thought of it before I had it done, that's all. But really, that is the least of my worries. I went back to the place I had it done and asked him for a suggestion, and he said I could either use a barbell with a flexible, plastic type shaft and if that was not acceptable, to go buy a piece of fishing line the same diameter as my metal barbell and put that through for the few hours I will have it out.
Miss Mew I feel so bad for you... So much to deal with.. and the worse is .. the unknown! I am hoping everything turns out for the best.
Just a thought....Have you tried to use Gold Bond powder on your rash? I have a problem with that as well and even though it may not take it completely away.. it does keep it from itching..
Keep us posted and hang in there ((hugs))
Traci
Oh my, I really hope they figure out what's going on with you. I can't believe this is all going on.
Have you gone to get some of that Calmoseptine ointment at all yet? Maybe you should try some of that, and if it doesn't work well you still have it for other things(like I said to you before, that stuff is wonderful stuff, at least it is for Christian's g-tube site).
Well talk to you soon and let me know what the results turn out to be(you can call me or email me or what ever).
Miss..You poor thing! One thing right after another. When it rains it pours! Well, am glad to at least hear your feeling a little better now. That is the important thing. Hang in there, hopefully this roller coaster will end soon for you. I hope the lab results improve. Thinking of you and rooting you on...
Jenniffer; thanks for your thoughts...I'm holding onto the superstition that things happen in three's, so I think I'm there now and nothing else bad can go wrong. Of course, there is always Murphy's law...
Traci; Yes, I have tried the Gold Bond Powder...Oh my, it HURTS! I only used it once because it burned like being stung by 100 bees at the same time! I think that it did that because the skin is cracked and open. But thanks for the advice, I was thinking I'll try and use that once the rash is gone, as a preventative.
Jen; Sorry I didn't tell you about all this when we talked on the phone...I didn't want to waste your "dime" blabbing on about it, especially since you called in the afternoon when long distance is expensive. I didn't get any of that Calmoseptine because I talked to the doc about it and she said it isn't used for this type of situation, and would probably be a waste of money. And as we all know, money is in short supply!
Anyhow, gotta run, the kids need some lunch.
Thanks everyone for continuing to think about me and send healing vibes. Maybe that is the thing I need.
Sue: I just posted about this in the "swelling" thread where I asked about liver problems causing edema...I said that so far the best things that are staying down and not causing too much gas are salad and fruit. I went to the library and tried to find a book about the yeast diet...no luck. However, when you explained it to me, it made sense...I figure I will just avoid those things that are yeasty, even bread. Alcohol and mushrooms are no problem to avoid (I hate them both), and cheese makes me feel ill. I will continue to search for this diet on the Internet, though to make sure I am doing it right. I forgot to mention it to the doctor, but I may do that.
Jiffy: thank you for your prayers and thoughts. Every little bit helps!
I just answered your question on the swelling on the swelling thread. I will find out the diet for you. what i will say is that from what donna had said to me was that fruits are out too as the sugars in them feed the yeast infection too. but do not make any changes further till i can get a hold of that diet for you and you can see for your self and discuss it with your doc before yougo full bor e with it OK???
here is some links i have dug up. happy huting I think that you can get some valuable info here so check it out carefully. If this is not possible then let me know I will do some further research and let you know OK??
Sue, thanks so much for finding all this info for me. I'm reading it and saying "yeah, yeah, that's me!"....I'm really thinking this is something I should try. I printed out most of the information to bring to my doctor and see what she says about it.
I think it will be tough to follow (well, cutting out the foods I really like but are not good for me) but if I do have a sensitivity to the yeast, then no matter if I clear the rash up or not, it will probably come back.
Thank you again...I'm going to give it a go with my doc's approval.
the good thing is that once it is cleared up then you can start to add some thngs back in your diet slowly and i do mean slwoly or it will come back (advice from Donna) also the low carb will feel terrible for a short time but you end up feeling so much better and the cravings go. and especially with your situation you will feel so much better all around that you will not have the desire to go back to eating the foods that you had eaten in the past.
Good luck and keep me posted at what the doc says.
Update on me (off topic again, venting)
rash treatments
