Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
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Venting Venting Venting
I am starting to think what else could go wrong with my poor body.
I have MS to the degree I have to live in a long term facility. I was told when I came into care I was too sick for a nursing home and would have to go into a long term hospital. I have heart problems, asthma, diabetic, and a stomach that does not absorb quit a few of my meds. I have to get IV magnesium b/c my body does not absorb it from my food. There are also a few meds I have to get by needle b/c my stomach does not absorb them.
Lately I seem to be stacking up more and more health problems. Last Dec I got a flu just after that I developed rheumatoid arthritis. I hurt so bad. I had a bunch of x-rays I was told I have very thin bones and at high risk of breaking bones. Years ago when I was 20 I had ovarian cancer and at the age of 23 ended up having a hysterectomy to save my life. I was told then I would be at high risk to develop thinning bones if I did not take estrogen so I have been on it for 20 yrs and still develop the thin bones anyway.
A year ago I was very tired more so then the norm for me so the did some blood work and I had a low blood count. For various reason I will not take blood (scary as H***) like what is in it. I went on iron with only limited success. Right now my count is 110. It is on the low side my normal count is 145. Any way every few months it goes down to 60-80 too low.
Any way I was told the only thing it could be is to be losing blood through my GI track. I saw the GI docs on Fri and they are going to set up a colonoscopy but they will not do one until my blood count is 120. So I am scared something bad is going on. I am trying not to think about cancer as it could be allot of other things. But I am starting to think why me and what else could go wrong.
I am starting to think what else could go wrong with my poor body.
I have MS to the degree I have to live in a long term facility. I was told when I came into care I was too sick for a nursing home and would have to go into a long term hospital. I have heart problems, asthma, diabetic, and a stomach that does not absorb quit a few of my meds. I have to get IV magnesium b/c my body does not absorb it from my food. There are also a few meds I have to get by needle b/c my stomach does not absorb them.
Lately I seem to be stacking up more and more health problems. Last Dec I got a flu just after that I developed rheumatoid arthritis. I hurt so bad. I had a bunch of x-rays I was told I have very thin bones and at high risk of breaking bones. Years ago when I was 20 I had ovarian cancer and at the age of 23 ended up having a hysterectomy to save my life. I was told then I would be at high risk to develop thinning bones if I did not take estrogen so I have been on it for 20 yrs and still develop the thin bones anyway.
A year ago I was very tired more so then the norm for me so the did some blood work and I had a low blood count. For various reason I will not take blood (scary as H***) like what is in it. I went on iron with only limited success. Right now my count is 110. It is on the low side my normal count is 145. Any way every few months it goes down to 60-80 too low.
Any way I was told the only thing it could be is to be losing blood through my GI track. I saw the GI docs on Fri and they are going to set up a colonoscopy but they will not do one until my blood count is 120. So I am scared something bad is going on. I am trying not to think about cancer as it could be allot of other things. But I am starting to think why me and what else could go wrong.
Sending you some info on testing for the GI. If they think it is a GI bleed causing your issues you need this test to look at micro-organisms of the gut and GI organ health (need them to provide right environment for good bacteria to thrive and protect your gut mucosa).
I have UC and doc would not give me a test so like usually had to research on my own and after 8 months found testing that led to some answers.
Best wishes to you
EP
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Iron info
A.) If it is too LOW (anemia) can contribute to fatigue, bruising, slow healing, etc. Some people can even be low after they are eating high iron foods (meats, etc) or getting iron infusion. If this is your issue I would look into the following with your doctor.
- Do NOT take it with calcium or within 2 hours of ingesting a lot of bio-available calcium ie milk, cheese, etc.
- If you have certain glutein or prolamine protien (certain grain protein) issues this can also interfere with iron absorption and in some people adversely affect GI lining. Getting good grain testing done (NOT celiacs as this does NOT pick up sensitivities that can interfere with GI function) then eliminate the grains you have issues too.
- What are your copper levels? You need a little copper for iron to work. An imbalance in copper can cause imbalance in iron.
- If you have excess bleeding (leads to low iron) due to endometriosis then look into neuro-feedback and progesterone.
- If you have excess bleeding due to IBD issues look into good GI test to look at micro-organisms, counter measures ie help GI organs, kill bad micro-organisms and replace with probiotics.
+ DO take iron with B complex vitamin that has B9 & vitamin C as this helps with iron absorption. Also maybe get a processed (metabolized form) of iron that you can more easily absorb and use in the body.
+ Take Fiber, water and make sure you are getting enough magnesium to reduce the constipation that iron supplementation can cause.
You articulate quite well, I hear your despair. You may be rolling your eyes, ("despair, is that all you hear?") I also feel it, inside. I have my own stuff going on and it gets on my nerves. Why can't the positive mental attitude (PMA) come first, instead of feeling this way, venting, finding perspective then be able to push the mental away and be able to deal with the physical ? Boy, as humans we'd be a more productive species if our emotions weren't tied to our physical wellness. Or if we were Rambo. Except that Rambo never would have made all those annoying movies if his emotions were not also tied.. Silly yes, but it helps to allow irony in, or in your case, iron. I hope I have diverted you from your issues at least for a little bit. Freshening my eyes doesn't come from make-up because I'm a guy. Sometimes I just have to stay distracted long enough so that when I again look at my situation, I've given time its opportunity to change part of it.