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Luckily, she has a new posting, Understanding How Your Deductible Works which can help clarify some of that. Please follow the link to learn more.
Have you ever been sorry about a health plan or deductible you chose?
ByroneyView Thread
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The WebMD Community StaffView Thread
before i get to my -- admittedly -- quickie internet search info, let me refer you to several previous webMD community discussions of hypocalcemia, because they contain some preliminary background info (see PS1) and because i think you will benefit from others' experience that we already have access to --
-- "hypocalcemia," http://forums.webmd.com/3/chronic-disease-and-disability-exchange/forum/348 ;
-- "hypocalcemia," http://forums.webmd.com/3/chronic-disease-and-disability-exchange/forum/793 ; and
-- "hypothyroidism," http://forums.webmd.com/3/chronic-disease-and-disability-exchange/forum/347 .
if you think you might be interested in participating in research on meds for hypocalcemia, a list of clinical trials is at http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Hypocalcemia%22 ; it also shows whether the researchers are still recruiting volunteers.
the primary treatment for chronic hypocalcemia is oral calcium supplements (PS2), which may take the form of calcium carbonate (PS3), calcium chloride, calcium citrate, calcium gluconate, or calcium lactate. the most commonly used calcium after thyroid surgery is calcium carbonate, but some people have trouble absorbing that and may want to try calcium gluconate or some other incarnation instead. stay away from calcium phosphate salts.
calcitriol -- active vitamin D (PS4) -- may also be used to supplement calcium; it promotes calcium absorption in the intestines and calcium retention in the kidneys. however, because calcitriol is expensive and has to be taken several times/day, other vitamin D formulations are often substituted for it, for example, ergocalciferol and dihydrotachysterol (PS5). ergocalciferol is the least expensive choice and is long-acting.
if your serum magnesium is low, your hypocalcemia will not improve unless the magnesium deficiency is treated as well, so you need to check on your magnesium level.
finally, and this is astonishing to me, but the NIH genetic and rare diseases info center will apparently answer individual Qs about certain conditions, hypocalcemia among them, http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/EmailForm.aspx?PageID=4 .
let me add one more thing that i think is more important than anything else i have said here -- if you feel that your dr is not taking you seriously, perhaps it is time to get a second opinion or find a different dr altogether. there is no point in your spending time, energy, and money on someone who does not listen to you or is not responsive to your concerns.
i send you caring thoughts and hope this helps. please keep us posted on how you are doing.
-- susie margaret
PS1 -- i am not a medical person; i welcome, solicit, and indeed beg for correction, amendment, or replacement of inaccuracies in my previous posts or this one.
PS2 -- webMD info on calcium in general is at http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-781-CALCIUM.aspx?activeIngredientId=781&activeIngredientName=CALCIUM&source=2 .
PS3 -- calcium carbonate is the main ingredient in tums, which is why your dr said to take them.
PS4 -- webMD info on vitamin D formulations in general, including calcitriol, is at http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-929-VITAMIN D.aspx?activeIngredientId=929&activeIngredientName=VITAMIN D&source=2 .
PS5 -- webMD info on ergocalciferol and dihydrotachysterol is also at http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-929-VITAMIN D.aspx?activeIngredientId=929&activeIngredientName=VITAMIN D&source=2 .View Thread
below is an explanation of the relevant science as i have extrapolated it from an admittedly quickie internet search tonight. however, you should keep in mind that i am not a medical person (see PS1). you also need to know that i am assuming your diagnosis is pneumonia; is this correct?
when the body is infected with bacteria or some other toxin, the immune system produces antibodies as a defense. IgG stands for "immunoglobulin G," the most plentiful class of antibodies. it appears in the blood in response to bacteria, viruses, fungi, and foreign particles.
to determine the presence/level of bacteria or other toxins in the blood, various tests will measure the presence/level of antibodies; these tests are called antibody assays (PS2). from what i understand, the term "antibody assay" is a blanket reference to tests that measure antibodies; it does not refer to a particular brand or test technology.
chlamydophila pneumoniae (also denominated c. pneumoniae, previously called chlamydia pneumoniae) is a particular kind of bacteria that can be identified thru IgG antibody assays. tests for chlamydophila pneumoniae are used primarily to diagnose pneumonia but are sometimes indicative of other diseases as well. however, because the term "IgG antibody assay" does not refer to a specific brand or test technology, it is impossible to report the accuracy of any of these assays unless you know the specific test that was used. do you?
the preferred treatment to combat chlamydophila pneumoniae is 100 mg doxycycline -- an antibiotic -- twice/day; however, since your dosage makes you nauseated, you might want to ask your dr about a second approved protocol, which is 100 mg doxycycline once/day (do not change your dosage without talking with your dr first). other antibiotics (PS3) can also be used to treat chlamydophila pneumoniae, so you might want to ask your dr about those in addition.
i don't know what to advise you about the necessity of getting an x-ray or other type of diagnostic radiograph (PS4). do you have some doubt about your diagnosis? a chest x-ray can confirm a diagnosis of pneumonia. other tests often used to confirm a diagnosis of pneumonia include blood cultures, urine tests, sputum tests, chest CTs.
i send you caring thoughts and hope you will be feeling better soon. please write back if i have misunderstood your inquiry, and i'll give it another go-round!
-- susie margaret
PS1 -- i welcome, solicit, and indeed beg for correction, amendment, or replacement of any inaccuracies in this post.
PS2 -- chlamydophila trachomatis (also denominated c. trachomatis, previously called chlamydia trachomatis) is a particular kind of bacteria that can be identified thru IgG antibody assays; tests for chlamydolphila trachomatis are often used to detect sources of infection in women or men that might be interfering with fertility.
PS3 -- my personal experience is that antibiotic therapy for any illness always causes a yeast infection, but i don't know if that happens with everyone. in any event, yeast infections can easily be treated with over-the-counter meds.
PS4 -- a radiograph is the image produced by x-rays, gamma rays, or other types of radiation.View Thread
Thank you for the references - I am intrigued by these books and will be looking for them. Please keep posting and stay in touch, after all this is a community and we can all learn from each other.
Thanks for your honesty and courage in telling your story, it really made an impact on me, and I would like you to know that.
God Speed to us All.View Thread
webMD info on transient ischemic attack (TIA) is at http://www.webmd.com/stroke/tc/transient-ischemic-attack-tia-topic-overview . i didn't get the impression that J's problems were characterized by passing out, but J should take a look at this description, because it is very possible that i misunderstood her post. i am not a medical person, so this is just one layperson's view.
J, have you seen a neurologist?
J, let me suggest that you start keeping a diary of what symptoms you experience, date, time of day, anything significant that happened around that time, etc. doing this might show some patterns to either you or a dr.
T, your experiences sound very frightening, and i'm glad you've been to a dr and are getting some tests.
i send caring thoughts to both of you and hope you will keep us posted on how you are doing.
-- susie margaretView Thread
i can't answer this, but since i was unfamiliar with the elements of your question, i thought i would share my research with everyone.
storage pool disease is a bleeding/clotting disorder characterized by easy bruising and easy bleeding (see PS1). phytocillin is an umbrella term for a mixture of herb extracts usually described as "usnea/hops complex" (PS2, PS3).
what depression nasal spray are you talking about? in some admittedly quickie internet research tonight, i've run across mention of clinical trials of a nasal spray for depression at the mount sinai school of medicine, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1380588/The-nasal-spray-tackle-depression-just-hours.html , but i can't seem to find any articles about it later than april, 2011. maybe i'm not using the correct search terms? are you taking something that is already on the market?
can you give us some additional info?
-- susie margaret
PS1-- the genetic and rare diseases info center of the office of rare diseases research of the national institutes of health has a good article, with additional resources, on storage pool disease at http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/Condition/5034/Platelet_storage_pool_deficiency.aspx/Showall#Resources .
PS2 -- webMD info on usnea is at http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-694-USNEA.aspx?activeIngredientId=694&activeIngredientName=USNEA&source=2 .
PS3 -- i have no way of assessing the accuracy of this description and do not vouch for it, but on various commercial websites, typical claims are that phytocillin is for use with "mouth, gum, stomach, or intestinal infections. phytocillin responds rapidly to respiratory infections including sinus, throat, lungs, bronchioles. phytocillin can be used internally for either gram-positive or gram-negative bacterial infections as well as viral and fungal infections. phytocillin can be used externally for staph, strep, or fungal infection, athlete's foot, ringworm, or as a douche in trichomonas infection. also, phytocillin can be used externally for abrasions, skin ulcers, boils, pressure ulcers (i.e., bedsores), impetigo, skin infections, or burns. ingredients -- usnea lichen, yerba mansa root, propolis gum, echinacea angustifolia root, oregon grape root, hops strobile, chinese licorice root."View Thread
i am so sorry you are having to endure this horrible disorder. i'm afraid i don't know much about psoriatic arthritis, but you may want to check out our rheumatoid arthritis community, http://exchanges.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-exchange , where there is an expert on-board.
webMD info for mobic/meloxicam is at http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-18173-mobic oral.aspx .
i send you caring thoughts and hope you can get some relief soon.
-- susie margaretView Thread
since these bumps are spreading, i think it is time for you to take your son to a dermatologist.
in the meantime, you may also want to check out our skin/treatments problems community, http://exchanges.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments-exchange , where there is an expert on-board.
i hope this problem will clear up soon.
-- susie margaretView Thread
i'm glad you've seen a neurologist. please keep us posted.
-- susie margaretView Thread
If you're facing a less-than-merry holiday season because of health concerns, it can be beneficial for you to embrace the support and positive attitudes of your friends. Stay in touch with your friends and family, don't cut yourself off, and be open to any assistance they want to give to help ease your holiday stress.
To read more, click on the following link:
'Tis the Season to Stay Connected
.....and share your thoughts on how you cope with health challenges are part of your life and it's the holidays.View Thread
Take the Poll
pinkView Thread
this depends on state law; however, my guess is that your father can probably appoint anyone he wants to have his power of attorney. the only ways to alter this are for someone to talk with him (does he have other family or good friends who could support you in this?) or to petition a court to declare that he was incompetent -- not thinking clearly enough to manage his own affairs -- when he agreed to appoint his nurse as having a power of attorney.
if you decide to challenge this in court, you will need a lawyer who is experienced in family law.
these are my opinions only; please do not consider them "legal advice" in the sense that you could rely on them without talking with a lawyer first.
-- susie margaretView Thread
i gave up on the nail-polish-type stuff. the prospect of waiting a year for any progress, and only a 12% chance of it working, was just too overwhelming. i'm just going without pedicures!
thanks for your reply.
-- susie margaretView Thread
webMD info on kanna (sceletium tortuosum) is at http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1259-Kanna SCELETIUM.aspx?activeIngredientId=1259&activeIngredientName=Kanna (SCELETIUM)&source=2 .
dr. andrew weil discusses this herb in an article at http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400959/Kanna-African-Herb-for-Depression.html .
-- susie margaretView Thread
Take the Poll
Poll Results
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It has many practical and medicinal uses and feels good80% (4)
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It feels good but thats it0% (0)
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I smoke, you smoke, lets all smoke0% (0)
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They should lock you up for asking0% (0)
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I hate it20% (1)
i'll be happy to see olivia, but we will miss you so much!
-- susie margaretView Thread
I'm sorry to hear about your should and the problems with the injection. I'd encourage you to call your doctor's office and ask them if what you experienced is normal, or if you should come in and get checked out. It is important that your doctor know about it in case it is an allergic reaction or something else happening.
Let us know what you find out,
ByroneyView Thread
Thank you so much for writing back with an update. It sounds like you and your husband have done everything you could think of to try and help him feel better. I hope as he continues with the physical therapy that his gait and nerves will improve.
Since you noted An_241733's mention of thyroid, perhaps your husband should consider consulting with an edocrinologist, if he hasn't already. Maybe one of our other members will have a suggestion for you as well.
Please let us know how you're both doing,
ByroneyView Thread
I'm sorry to hear of your sleeping issues. This article on when to see a Doctor for Sleep Disorders may be helpful to you. This slideshow of Sleep Disorders is informative, too.
You may also want to repost on our Sleep Disorders Community for more support.
Best wishes for better sleep,
ByroneyView Thread
Take the Poll
Poll Results
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I wake up at any noise100% (4)
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I sleep decently0% (0)
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I am a very deep sleeper0% (0)
If you're asking about the formulation of a certain cold medication, I'd encourage you to discuss it with your pharmacist. Also, most companies that make cold medications have a consumer help line, and they may be able to answer your questions too.
Best wishes,
ByroneyView Thread
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