Update on my patient, todays doctors visit,,,,

[Guest guest]

A quick update,, my wife has had CP along with Systemic Lupis and

Addisons Disease for a number of years. She is 60 years of age. In

2000, she underwent a successful Trans Duodenal Spincteroplasty by a

transplant surgeon here in Phoenix.

Since that surgery, I have kept a detailed diary of every attack,

minor or major.

To make a long story short, in 2001, 2002 and until the middle of

2003, she was having a major attack on average of every 5 to 7

months. Less acute attacks were taking place in the interim, for

which she was taking Maalox to soothe what she thought was an upset

stomach.

In July 2003, her endocronologist put her on Calcium supplements.

Ever since then, she has had more and more frequent major attacks (

every 10 days), the last being in early January of this year. Her

prescription expired in early January and has not taken any Calcium

supplements since that time. Bottom line, she says she has never

felt better, not one attack since 1/ 5/ 04, thats 44 days !!!

Today I accompanied her to her endocronogist with copies of

research I have done on a possible link between high Calcium blood

levels and CP. I also brought my diary and read word for word how

often she was having thes attacks since she began taking these

supplements. I confronted him with both my research and my diary and

asked for his opinion. His response was, the Calcium she was taking

was an " Oyster " based calcium, and that does have a connection

to CP. He even remarked that he had his Mother take those same

supplements and she developed kidney stones as a result !!! I said,

well Doc, what have we learned today ? He replied, " What can I

say " . I immediately said, " What you could say is that you learned

something today, didn't you doctor " . He replied, " Yes I did, she

was ( paraphrasing) " overdosing " on Calcium and I was not aware of

it, I'm sorry " . " I'll have to get up to date with the current mode

of treatment for her and this disease " .

He suggested she take another form of the supplement and she

declined and he said, " I understand why " .

We see him again in 3 months, but in the interim needless to say,

we're now looking for another endocronolgist. Fred.

[Guest guest]

Dear Fred,

You must feel some satisfaction in knowing that all your hard

research and " detecting " paid off. To suspect a cause is one

thing, but to actually be able to prove it, (especially when your

doctor seems clueless)........ that must be very rewarding!

And the fact that your work to research this has resulted in better

days, gloriously pain free days, for your wife, well, that's just

terrific.

Good luck with your search for a new, more enlightened, Endo.

With hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

http://panassociation.org/anthology.htm#heidi

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI, Intl.

Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and

should not be substituted for professional medical consultation.