test results

[Guest guest]

Phil,

Was your HHV6 test a simple bloodtest, or was it a PCR or non-standard test.

Also, which lab did you use to test for myco?

Jim

[Guest guest]

I used the Wisconsin Viral lab testing for active infection. The mycoplasma was

at professor Nicholson's lab.

Phil

jschm111@... wrote:

> Phil,

>

> Was your HHV6 test a simple bloodtest, or was it a PCR or non-standard test.

>

> Also, which lab did you use to test for myco?

>

> Jim

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Failed tests, classes skipped, forgotten locker combinations.

> Remember the good 'ol days

> 1/4053/4/_/531724/_/959710609/

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

discussed here, please consult your doctor.

[Guest guest]

<Well this

is only my 9826592649263579th email for today. I promise it to be my last

one so I go and rest..> Hey...aisha ever hear the phrase "actions speak

louder than words?" lol....get your rest!!!!

Sheena;)

[Guest guest]

My understanding is that if only the tumor is removed, new tumors will grow, as the only way to be sure you have all the tumor is to remove the entire tissue. Sounds like the best case is to remove both and know you won't have to deal with it again. Life would be different, but better.

Young

Right adrenalectomy 6/02

[Guest guest]

I had laproscopic. I feel like I have regained 5 years from my past. I have energy to do things, and I am unmedicated ,as far as my BP is concerned. I wish it hadn't taken 5 years to find out it was a tumor. I could have done so much more with my kids.

Young

Independent Consultant

Southern Living at HOME

melanie slah@...

815-547-7686 home

815-418-1465 cell

[Guest guest]

I've not heard of having just the adrenal lumps removed. The standard

procedure is to remove the gland or glands completely. This happens to

people with bilateral Cushings and you have to take replacement hormones.

You need to ask a LOT of questions such as how many times has he done this

before and what is the success rate. Also what is the regrowth rate. How do

they know it is in fact tumours?

Have you had a scan yet???????

Wish I was closer to you and then I could be with you as you go through

this. It is pretty scary when you are by yourself.

Helen

[Guest guest]

I know that waiting for the outcome of tests can be very frustrating, it seems to me, to them it's a job, and to us, it's our lives. Be patient, and you will be rewarded.

On a lighter note, I have 4 kids, that I would love to share if it would make a difference. Hehehe. Actually, it never made a difference for us, they were completely oblivious, unless of course one was vomiting...............

Young

[Guest guest]

Hey Mark,

You sound so much better!!! Your BP looks good as well and I had spikes from

time to time - still do in fact. As I now realise this is " normal " for me I

will live with and accept it. My average resting BP is 130/90.

I am swimming three times a week and have been kayaking every week for the

last 6 weeks as well. I feel alive again. I go back to work on 3rd

March......

Helen

[Guest guest]

Well Mark at least you know you do have an adrenal problem and that is a big

step forward. I expect your doc is waiting for the written report so he has

the numbers in front of him.

In my case it was the left gland was pumping out 7 times more than my right!

Now I feel wonderful - tired as I just swam 2 miles but wonderful!

I'm sure Shell thinks you are wonderful. Go give her a cuddle.

Helen

[Guest guest]

Well Mark at least you know you do have an adrenal problem and that is a big

step forward. I expect your doc is waiting for the written report so he has

the numbers in front of him.

In my case it was the left gland was pumping out 7 times more than my right!

Now I feel wonderful - tired as I just swam 2 miles but wonderful!

I'm sure Shell thinks you are wonderful. Go give her a cuddle.

Helen

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/17/05 6:04:55 PM, frand.2@... writes:

I have had several EMGs done over the years, the first

one was normal but the second and third ones show nerve damage in my

feet and legs. 

Fran

Have they talked about a nerve biopsy?

Has your BP improved on spiro?

The practice of medicine is not easy all the time.

May your pressure be low!

Clarence E. Grim, BS (Chem/Math), MS (Biochem), MD, FACP, FACC, FAHS

Clinical Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology

Director, Hypertension Diagnosis and Treatment Center

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

Published over 220 scientific papers, book chapters and 220 abstracts in the area of high blood pressure epidemiology, physiology, endocrinology measurement, treatment and how to detect curable causes.

Listed in Best Doctors in America

Specializing in Difficult to Control High Blood Pressure and the History and Physiology of High Blood pressure in the African Diaspora

[Guest guest]

Yay Tina!! I am happy to hear about that. Less sugar is a good thing

[Guest guest]

more good news in the test department <GBG> Will they retest you anytime soon or is it just watch your sugar intake?WVSouthernAngel@... wrote: I got the results back and I dont have Diabetes. My sugar was only 1 point higher then it was supposed to be. So Im really happy about that. So Im going to start watching my Sugar and everything. TinaLive, Love, Laugh

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/29/06 1:07:56 PM, frand.2@... writes:

Yesterday, I e-mailed the doctor to see if he had my results and he e-

mailed me back with this statement:  "did receive your results for the

saline suppression test.  The results are normal with a baseline

aldosterone of 19 ng/dl and suppression of aldosterone to 5 ng/dl. 

Therefore, you do not have primary aldosteronism.  I will catch up with

you by phone next week." 

About a year ago, I had a CT scan that showed a "9 mm area of

nodularity" on the left adrenal gland and the right adrenal gland is

normal.  My latest aldosterone test done in Jan showed that my

aldosterone level is 20 and my renin level is .9.  The only drug that

helps my bp is Spiro but my bp is still way too high.  On 200 mg a day,

my bp is arouond 150/65.  I also have the sweating which keeps me

indoors in the AC most of the summer.  Has anyone else experienced

anything like this? If it isn't a tumor, then what is raising my

aldosterone level? I had a high aldosterone level for about 3 years

before anything showed up on the CT/MRI.  Did the high aldosterone

level caused the growth on my left adrenal gland or is it just a

coincidence.  I have heard about secondary hyperaldosteronism but will

have to do more research on it.  I have got to find a cure because I

can't go on living like this.

Depends on which lab they did the saline test in. Read my article an take it to your Dr. My assumption is that you have personal hyperaldosteronism. If Sprio in not working then be sure you ar DASHing like you life depended on it.

Only if drugs cant control the PA do I recommend AVS with ACTH and only if that shows the problem is only on one side do I recommend surgery.

Read old posts for more infor on this rational.

If Spiro has brought your BP down a lot you have PA util proven otherwise. It you have problems with Spiro then I would try Inspra.

So in my book you have PA but just have not evolved enough to meet the group hyperaldosteronism

May your pressure be low!

CE Grim, BS(Chem/Math), MS(Biochem), MD.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

Former Epidemiologic Intelligence Services Officer (Lt. Comdr.), CDC

Specializing in Difficult to Manage High Blood Pressure

Clinical Professor of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin

[Guest guest]

Dr. Grim,

I am sure the tests were done at the Mayo Clinic. I recently sent

for my test results and the aldosterone tests had a statement, " Test

performed or referred by Mayo Medical Laboratories " . I don't know

what referred means. I had the test done at Univ of VA and my dr is

Dr. Carey. I do not like the man and I do not like UVA! At

UVA, you have to be referred by another dr and I think they have to

look at your records before they decide to see you. My primary and

two surgeons agree that I need surgery. My nephrologist, who I have

been told is very cautious, isn't sure but sent me to a surgeon for

his opinion. Both surgeons referred me to the same endocrine surgeon

at UVA but when I tried to make an appointment, I was told that I had

to be referred by an endocrinologist. The only reason I did the

saline test is because Dr. Carey said that he could go no farther

without it. Spiro (200 mg) is helping my bp but the top number is

still arouond 150, bottom is usually 60s-70s. I do not follow the

DASH diet but eat as little sodium as possible. I do not drink sodas

and use very little canned food. One interesting thing I have

learned is that some fresh chicken is very high is sodium. The local

news had a report that the grocery store I was going to was selling

boneless, skinless chicken breasts with 900 mg sodium. I looked and

they were right. Now I always check the sodium content of chicken.

I also eat a banana every day and drink 10 oz of OJ a day. My K is

4.3 so I don't want to eat much more high K foods. It was 4.9 but

has come down a little probably because I keep going off of spiro to

do tests. I will see what Dr. Carey wants to do next, but I have no

faith in him. The endo who referred me had done a fellowship at

UVA. She referred me to Dr Carey right before she left the area.

She felt that I needed surgery and I thought that he would do AVS.

He started off in a different direction even though I had a CT scan

that showed a nodule on my left adrenal. He said he thought I had a

parathyroid tumor because my calcium level was high (11) but my last

test ordered by my nephrologist was 10.3. I kept asking about the

growth on my adrenal but he always avoided answering. I have only

seen him twice, he only has clinic once a week. Mostly we either

phone or e-mail each other. The last time I saw him, I asked about

the CT results and he said I didn't have hyperaldosteronism. I told

im that everyone else said I did so he ordered tests. He called me

with my test results and said they were normal and I told him I did

not believe it because they were never normal before. He called me

back less than 45 min later and said that when he first talked to me,

he didn't have all of my test results (renin) back but now he did and

they indicated that I did have hyperaldosteronism. He sent a letter

to me and said that his test showed " a positive screaning test for

primary aldsoteronism for the first time " and that all of my previous

tests (done by other doctors including the referring dr) were

inclusive. My chormogranin A and 5-HIAA suggest the possibility of a

carcinoid tumor. An octreotide scan was normal. Is an adrenal tumor

a carcinoid tumor?

I am going to see what he says next week but am also going to send my

test results to s Hopkins. I had made an appointment with a dr

there earlier this month but then decided I was farther along with

Dr. Carey. He told me to go back on spiro so I don't think he plans

to do AVS. I am staying off of it until I talk to him. I found that

Hopkins was much more open and helpful than UVA. After I made the

appointment, they told me I could talk to the dr if I wanted and gave

me his phone number. I wanted to know if he would accept the other

tests I have had or start all over again. I left a message and he

called me back and suggested that I send him my test results. Then I

decided I was farther ahead at UVA plus it was easier to drive

there. Now I see that was a mistake.

Fran

>

>

> In a message dated 4/29/06 1:07:56 PM, frand.2@... writes:

>

>

> > Yesterday, I e-mailed the doctor to see if he had my results and

he e-

> > mailed me back with this statement:  " did receive your results

for the

> > saline suppression test.  The results are normal with a baseline

> > aldosterone of 19 ng/dl and suppression of aldosterone to 5

ng/dl. 

> > Therefore, you do not have primary aldosteronism.  I will catch

up with

> > you by phone next week. "  

> >

> > About a year ago, I had a CT scan that showed a " 9 mm area of

> > nodularity " on the left adrenal gland and the right adrenal gland

is

> > normal.  My latest aldosterone test done in Jan showed that my

> > aldosterone level is 20 and my renin level is .9.  The only drug

that

> > helps my bp is Spiro but my bp is still way too high.  On 200 mg

a day,

> > my bp is arouond 150/65.  I also have the sweating which keeps me

> > indoors in the AC most of the summer.  Has anyone else experienced

> > anything like this? If it isn't a tumor, then what is raising my

> > aldosterone level? I had a high aldosterone level for about 3

years

> > before anything showed up on the CT/MRI.  Did the high aldosterone

> > level caused the growth on my left adrenal gland or is it just a

> > coincidence.  I have heard about secondary hyperaldosteronism but

will

> > have to do more research on it.  I have got to find a cure

because I

> > can't go on living like this.

> >

>

> Depends on which lab they did the saline test in. Read my article

an take

> it to your Dr. My assumption is that you have personal

hyperaldosteronism.

> If Sprio in not working then be sure you ar DASHing like you life

depended on

> it.

>

> Only if drugs cant control the PA do I recommend AVS with ACTH and

only if

> that shows the problem is only on one side do I recommend

surgery.

>

> Read old posts for more infor on this rational.

>

> If Spiro has brought your BP down a lot you have PA util proven

otherwise. It

> you have problems with Spiro then I would try Inspra.

>

> So in my book you have PA but just have not evolved enough to meet

the group

> hyperaldosteronism

>

>

>

> May your pressure be low!

>

> CE Grim, BS(Chem/Math), MS(Biochem), MD.

> Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

> Former Epidemiologic Intelligence Services Officer (Lt. Comdr.), CDC

> Specializing in Difficult to Manage High Blood Pressure

> Clinical Professor of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin

>

[Guest guest]

You can also pubmed the Dr. at Hopkins and see what he or she have been writing.

May your pressure be low!

CE Grim, BS(Chem/Math), MS(Biochem), MD.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

Former Epidemiologic Intelligence Services Officer (Lt. Comdr.), CDC

Specializing in Difficult to Manage High Blood Pressure

Clinical Professor of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin

[Guest guest]

You have a geno type 2b which is good . Your genotype responds well to treatment and has higher success rates , also you only have to treat for 24 weeks . As a matter of fact they are even doing studies to see if only 16wks of treatment is the same . Your viral load is 45,000 which is not high but with hep c any viral load is not good . Your alt is high because of the hep and should come down once you start treatment . I have rheumatoid arthritis and it didn't bother me that much during treatment . So unless you have real bad symptoms of rh your doc should give you the go ahead for treatment .

Test Results

I received the results of my blood work and ultrasound today.The doctor said I am lucky as I am genotype 2 which is very treatable andonly requires 6 months versus a year of treatment.I'm not sure how to read the test results. It says:HCV RNA Genotype, LIPA - 2bHCV RNA IU/ml - 45000 (listed as out of range as it should be <50)HCV RNA, QN, PCR - 4.65 (listed as out of range as it should be <1.70)All the other results are within normal range with the exception of AST at135 (normal 3-35) and ALT at 152 (normal at 3-40).The only concern the doctor mentioned about treatment in my case is that itcan make my rheumatoid arthritis worse. He suggested I speak to myrheumatologist and make a decision whether to go ahead with treatment.Can someone interpret the numbers listed above for me so I can make sense ofit? Is it true about the treatment being half the time for genotype 2 withvery good results?Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the response. I'm glad to hear from someone also with RA. My RA is mild so I'm hoping it won't be a concern. I didn't think to ask whether or not it would be reversible if it did, in fact, worsen. Do you know?

The doctor also mentioned side effects such as anemia and depression - which I'm aware of. I explained that I just started a new job and I had concerns about my ability to work. He said that I should be able to work through the treatment and if that were not the case, he would discontinue the treatment. I guess I'm just very apprehensive about the whole treatment issue and need some time to get used to the idea.

[Guest guest]

If it does worsen there's a good chance it would reverse , ra is related to immunities and when treatment drops your white blood count you can have flare ups . But when the tx is discontinued your white blood count returns to normal and your ra blood values go down . The first time I treated I was able to do everything that I normally did on a daily basis . Have you had a biopsy ?

RE: Test Results

Thanks for the response. I'm glad to hear from someone also with RA. My RA is mild so I'm hoping it won't be a concern. I didn't think to ask whether or not it would be reversible if it did, in fact, worsen. Do you know?

The doctor also mentioned side effects such as anemia and depression - which I'm aware of. I explained that I just started a new job and I had concerns about my ability to work. He said that I should be able to work through the treatment and if that were not the case, he would discontinue the treatment. I guess I'm just very apprehensive about the whole treatment issue and need some time to get used to the idea.

[Guest guest]

congrats dorty in the geno 2b as the docs say in knoxville its like winning the lottery,u can reduce your alt/ast before treatment with certain herbs,they have been safe for me,and brought mine down __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

No, I haven't had a biopsy. The doctor said it wasn't required if I decide to treat due to the expected good results based on my genotype.

He said that if I decided NOT to treat, he recommends a biopsy in order to determine damage which, of course, wouldn't be receiving treatment.

I guess that logic makes some sense.

[Guest guest]

Thanks! Actually, those ALT/AST numbers looked pretty good to me.......they have run a lot higher than that over the years.

But you're right. I should try to get myself in better condition before starting treatment. I used to be so careful with my diet and I just kind of "fell off the wagon" the last year.

[Guest guest]

stay off them wagons i hear alota people say they fell off i recommend getting on the bus.there safe and cost effective lol __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I think biopsies should be standard , it gives you a baseline with which to compare future biopsies . But since your a geno 2 I guess you wouldnt have to get one since your genotype responds so well . I am a geno 1a which is the worst , lol my biopsies show the doc's the rate of progression . That's how they can tell me when to expect the worst of the disease , I guess my hep is predicable hehe

From: Dorothy

Hepatitis C

Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 4:54 PM

Subject: RE: Test Results

No, I haven't had a biopsy. The doctor said it wasn't required if I decide to treat due to the expected good results based on my genotype.

He said that if I decided NOT to treat, he recommends a biopsy in order to determine damage which, of course, wouldn't be receiving treatment.

I guess that logic makes some sense.

[Guest guest]

Hi Dorothy, I didnt have RA before tx but it looks like the Interferon trigged it. sigh,, just one more thing left over. One thing you said DOES have me concerned and that was that your doc said that if it got too bad , he would remove you from treatment. When you do THAT, the virus mutates many times and then cannot be controlled. I do not know ANYONE who had their virus mutate that has been successful in treating..and reaching SVR.. jaxDorothy <dorv@...> wrote: Thanks for the response. I'm glad to hear from someone also with RA. My RA is mild so I'm hoping it won't be a concern. I didn't think to ask whether or not it would be reversible if it did, in fact, worsen. Do you know? The doctor also mentioned side effects such as anemia and depression - which I'm aware of. I explained that I just started a new job and I had concerns about my ability to work. He said that I should be able to work through the treatment and if that were not the case, he would discontinue the treatment. I guess I'm just very apprehensive about the whole treatment issue and need some time to get used to the idea. Jackie