Blood enzymes checked daily showed stones had passed???

[Guest guest]

Hi: I read a recent post by Will in which you said " my blood enzymes (I read

them daily)

showed my stone had already passed days ago. " What are these " blood enymes " and

how

do you read them daily? I did not know that there was any blood test can could

tell this

and would love to know!

Thanks,

Tina

[Guest guest]

Tina, and all, (this is a condensed version of the hospital rant I sent

earlier)..

When I was hospitalized for what was diagnosed as gallstone-induced

pancreatitis they pulled blood immediately and it showed that all my liver

enzymes (related to obstructive jaundice and liver necrosis) were elevated, in

the thousands actually. Additionally, my pancreatic enzymes were also

grossly elevate. These things, in the absence of all else and with the obvious

pain patterns and vomiting, constitutes a diagnosis of an obstructed bile duct.

Addtionally, the ER ultrasound showed a bag of stones for a gallbladder. No

stone could be seen in the bile duct at that time, however. (I had gone to a

holistic chiropractor who worked me over quite a bit just before I was taken to

the ER). Inexplicably the hospital did not do an ERCP when I came in (that is

the flexible gastroscope with a teensy camera, light and grabber tool that is

passed down the throat and retrograded up into the bile duct).

As I lie in the ICU for the next few days, my daily blood tests showed a rapid

return to more normal levels of liver and pancreatic enzymes. It was at this

time that I was able to self-diagnose, and I deduced that the offending stone

HAD TO BE GONE, otherwise these enzymes and the jaundice would be

spiraling out of control. There could be no doubt, I figured. I was lucky, my

stone had popped out, perhaps from the good graces of my chiropractor to

whom I give great respect and thanks.

Interestingly, the GE docs became adamant on day 3 and even day 4 and 5

of my hospitalization that I have the ERCP. When I flatly refused the first GE

dumped me to his junior parter (who I actually liked much better, thank you,

and he was much friendlier to me). They were really pushing me to get the

test, they even sent in both the hospital business manager, and a shrink to

twist my arm. By now I was really smelling a rat and I speculated that the

scope now was primarily to pad the bill quite significantly and also to cover

them (they very likely " forgot " to scope me earlier on day 1 or 2 when it made

some sense). Those ERCPs pay for lots of condos, Lexuses, and boats. They

would come into my room in the wee hours of dawn, wake me up, and try to

get me to sign things.

This vicious game wherein I was " fair-game " , basically up for grabs for the

entire staff, got much worse, several times they tried to get me to sign

surgical releases for either an exploratory surgery or even removal of my

gallbladder. Strange, indeed, since the GE docs had told me earlier that no

one in my condition should have the surgery as it's too dangerous. This went

on and on, and was combined with numerous " human errors " made by the

staff and doctors. And this was a first-class hospital I was in too. I was

incredibly lucky to get out alive and intact. I attribute it to divine

intervention

actually. That, and my wife, who lovingly stayed with me the entire time,

sleeping on the floor some nights, saving my bacon on numerous occasions. I

owe her big time.

I should add that the ultrasound, as well as normal radiographs and even the

CT scans are poor methods for " seeing " gallstones since so few are calcified.

The only real seeing involves the invasive contrast media studies or visual

observation by going in. All this is at the patient's great expense too, not the

doctors.

Sorry to go on so long. I really do feel sorry for people in hospitals and at

the

mercy of what passes for " modern medicine " . I know there are millions of

decent, loving people in medicine, many attended me, but it is still a place

where you can be hurt, made sick, permanently damaged or killed. I feel most

sorry for people who don't have a loved one to stay with them, to protect

them, for the duration of their illness. If someone you love is in the hospital

never leave them alone if you can help it. Get them well enough to get home

where the true healing can begin.

Will in Minneapolis