Mystery illness update, woo-hoo!!!

[thermodynamic]

Despite being on hefty antibiotics for 4+ days, the only improvement I've seen is my desire to actually eat more than saltine crackers and gatorade. My weight is back up to 225 (started from 230, went down to 214, now back to 225.) Despite it all, I'm rather amazed my weight is remaining stable.

Unfortunately, the nausea has come back and I'm still doing the "iced tea phenomenon" like crazy. (here's a hint, it looks like iced tea and I hope you're not drinking any right now!)

If I exert myself too much (which is technically not very much) I'll break out in a sweat and feel miserable. I nearly collapsed again when cleaning yesterday.

So I get a follow-up with the doc - probably tomorrow or Tuesday, who'll say I get to go back to the hospital for a colonoscopy. Great, it's candid camera time. :eyes: As long as they don't make me look at the monitor screen, I'll be fine... :scared: Probably a bunch of invading organisms from the planet Calufrax building a nest in my small intestine, won't that make headlines?!

Forgive me, my sense of humor...

[LeftCoast]

1. Hey Thermo!

This seems like it's been going on for a long time. Your Dr. seems somewhat 'casual' about addressing these very serious symptoms. Dehyrdration can be a major issue here. Hope this gets resolved quickly!

LeftCoast

[bocadem]

2. I have something similar..

Right now... Puked from both ends like crazy last night. I feel ok, not nauseous, but my stomach hurts. It feels like I have some kind of blockage.

[MuseRider]

3. We used to call that

the Flying Hawaiian. Named after a friend of ours seen having the same problem while hanging onto a tree arms and legs wrapped around the trunk. At the age we were and the condition we were in it was quite funny.

[MuseRider]

4. I keep posting this to you but

am always so late in the discussion that I don't know if you see it. Please try a stool sample first. Less costly and not invasive. I can't imagine they have not done this yet.

[thermodynamic]

6. Here's the history

Well, the first doc took the right steps (the stool sample tests :puke: ) but (he nor the lab) never got back to me when the results gave a very slight indication of a parasitic infection. The lab tech said they would call me back only if they found anything of concern.

I don't recall how but I ultimately saw a 2nd doc 2 weeks later. Probably went back out of frustration. She said the tests done were a smart move but decided to prescribe only Zantac 300 and told me to go back in 2 weeks if things got worse, in which case it's colonoscopy time where they get out Mr. Camera... She also ordered a blood test of which I haven't heard back so I can presume now what I did before, that the results were negative...

Fortunately I nearly passed out the next day (Tuesday) and got to the ER, where they saw the same reports as both docs at the clinic had (supposedly) and got me on antibiotics straight away -- though the ER doc stated this was essentially a shot in the dark and that they're baffled. If the antibiotics did not work, then it's candid camera time. :scared: They had also took several vials of blood and took another stool sample. :puke:

Antibiotics are not resolving the problem, that's where I'm at. :-(

I'm partly do blame for not being assertive. Maybe a small part; Uptown was good with looking into every possibility. The Woodbury clinic, well, has been casual for discounting the one slim sign that was present. Even though it's not turning out like that, I'm still annoyed.

[nuxvomica]

5. Do you crave ice water and if so, what happens when you drink it?

[Nikia]

7. Get better

I am sorry that you are still sick. I am still a bit sick too with symptoms similiar to yours. Everytime I think I am better, I get sick again. Good luck on your colonoscopy and thanks for keeping us upadated.

[thermodynamic]

10. Thanks for reading!

I appreciate your (and everybody's) comments!

[Crowdance]

8. Get anesthesia!

Thermo, I did two colonoscopies last year, both with anesthesia--and they were pieces of cake! Kinda' like a nice nap. The hard part is the preparation. But, since you're already experiencing the "ice tea" thing, you won't hardly notice the difference.

I know of two others who didn't do anesthesia, and hated the experience.

[supernova]

9. Re: the antibox

Did you read the info that came with the medicine? The stuff I took is known to make you nauseous. So, it could be the medicine, too. Just a thought.

Glad your appetite is coming back. :thumbsup:

Oh, the iced tea? I didn't get rid of that until I started eating normal quantities of regular solid food.

[Nay]

12. Did the doctor ask you if you had been in a foreign country

lately? Or if you had been hiking and drunk water from a stream? This sounds like giardia, but I would think it would show up in a stool sample. But again, it can be hard to see the little critters on the first look-see.

If you are not better in 3 days, I would seek a second opinion, preferably a gastroenterologist, and get more stool samples tested.

[supernova]

14. Yes, it does

and my GI suggested that, but all my tests from his office came back negative too.

Hope Thermo gets an answer though.

[scucci]

11. Good luck to you Thermo!

Please forgive me but I'm assuming they haven't found any blood in your stool samples which is a great sign. I know this has been going on for quite some time and I hope it's just some easily treated weird worm that crawled up your butt.
Anyway, I'll be thinking about you! Please let us know how you're doing tomorrow.
Love, scucci :)

[sam sarrha]

13. if you are sick do not drink coffee tea or alcohol, they are diuretics,

you can get in trouble, if you get dehydrated with vomiting and diarrhea you can damage your kidneys or even die.