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Ed Caffrey's Workshop Talk to Ed Caffrey ... The Montana Bladesmith! Tips, tricks and more from an ABS Mastersmith.

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  #16  
Old 08-31-2012, 05:10 PM
Doug Adams Doug Adams is offline
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Man Ed, sorry to hear that you didn't get any answers today. I am praying that God will hold you in his hands and give you peace, ease your pain, and find some doctors that will figure this out.

Doug
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  #17  
Old 08-31-2012, 05:44 PM
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Julie Coffey Julie Coffey is offline
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Lot of good doctors and facilities including the VA in Spokane, drop me a note if your looking for something specific.

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  #18  
Old 08-31-2012, 06:03 PM
cdent cdent is offline
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Ed, I can't imagine what you're going through, but I'm hugely relieved that you didn't write a 'got some bad news' note. Dust off that ole half full Ed to give 'em a little heck and line up that second opinion.

Always in our thoughts and prayers, Craig
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  #19  
Old 08-31-2012, 10:46 PM
Doug Lester Doug Lester is offline
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I'm fighting hard not to play doctor here but, having had intestinal problems all my life, I definitely sympathy for what you're going through. This sort of thing can end up being a diagnosis by process of elimination. I know that you're tired of all this crap that has been happening and you want to feel well again, and you will, but it just may take some time. Keep the faith and do what you can.

Doug


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  #20  
Old 08-31-2012, 11:38 PM
Kostoglotov Kostoglotov is offline
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Ed - If at all possible try and get to Mayo. I know 2 people that got jerked around (for lack of a better term) for years with local doctors and got correctly diagnosed with in a couple of days

Not saying that the local docs are bad or dont care or are bad docs (both cases were major city medical groups), but Mayo is at a completely different level of care

Best wished and prayers sent

Last edited by Kostoglotov; 08-31-2012 at 11:42 PM.
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  #21  
Old 09-01-2012, 03:13 PM
fjkratky fjkratky is offline
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Ed, You need to get outside of Montana and see some different specialists. The Mayo clinic that was suggested would be a great idea. You have been going through this for too long, and if the local doctors can not help you need to go to a larger metropolitan area with good specialsts. Love living in Montana, and I do not mean to be dispairing to any of our doctors, but the high powered guys life outside of our state where they can make more money. You do not need to go through the run around any longer, time to take the bull by the horns and get er done right.
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  #22  
Old 09-01-2012, 07:00 PM
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Sorry to hear the updated report Ed. Mayo would be a good one to go to, there is also a good one in Houston, Tex. Some call it the Diagnostic Center and others refer to it as the Diagnostic Clinic. I have known several people over the years that were having problems and the local doctors could not figure out what was going on, but this facility was very quick in figuring out what was going on. You are in our prayers.


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  #23  
Old 09-02-2012, 10:44 AM
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I agree Ed. Time to get outside the local circle. Mayo is great or around here folks head to UCLA. But it definitely seems its time to pull out the big guns. The level of care at such a place is set at a whole different bar. Prayers will continue for you and yours.


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  #24  
Old 09-04-2012, 10:37 AM
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Some cause for hope.....this morning I did a lot of phone "foot work". I am scheduled for a colonoscopy, and an EGD Bravo on 12 Sept. (local). My Doctor at the base is also submitting a referral for me to the Mayo Clinic, as a "fall back" plan in case this test finds nothing.

This weekend was a rough one... I've been in so much pain that I've only slept 3-4 hours per night....the Vicodin seems to last about that long, then the pain wakes me up. Same thing during the day...as soon as a dose of the Vicodin starts wearing off, I have to go to the couch or recliner and lay quietly for about an hour. I'm really hoping that this next test gives us some clues as to what's going on, and ultimately a direction to fix me. I'd really like to stop taking these pain killers before my liver explodes!

Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement!


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  #25  
Old 09-04-2012, 06:55 PM
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Will be praying for some favorable results to find a solution.


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  #26  
Old 09-04-2012, 11:04 PM
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Ed,

Good to get some news. It is tough not knowing. Went through a similar problem a few years ago. I used the VA and was very impressed how thorough they were. The Dr who did my colonoscopy and endoscopy even called a few months later just to check on me. Since we don't have any base facilities nearby I use the VA exclusively. It does sound like your Dr is getting thinks rolling with the Mayo Clinic though. Hang in there and try to keep your spirits up. You can always give me a call, on old soldier to a another, well I'm an old sailor but you know what I mean.

Take Care


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  #27  
Old 09-05-2012, 12:25 PM
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I'm so sorry to hear you are going through all of this. I haven't been keeping up on the forums..I knew you were undergoing testing but I didn't realize how bad it was. I'll keep you in my prayers.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed Caffrey View Post
I'd really like to stop taking these pain killers before my liver explodes!

I see they have you on vicodin...are they offering you anything else? From my very limited understanding they add paracetamal to vicodin and thats what causes the liver damage. I don't know if its possible to get vicodin without the paracetamal added but that would make it easier on the liver. Also maybe ask about oxycotin...from what I understand its also better on the liver, and man is it potent. Don't confuse it with similar drugs like hydrocodone because they add paracetamal to that as well. A couple docs told me they do that to try and prevent recreational drug abuse....people would be more leery of taking it if they knew it would kill their liver.

If you do try oxycotin I'd advise having someone else drive, etc. The one time in my life I've had it it left me too high to feel safe with power tools, driving, etc. I don't have that problem when I use vicodin (I'm prone to severe migraines)

I really hope they figure out whats wrong soon!
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  #28  
Old 09-06-2012, 12:02 PM
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Back when this all first started, they put me on the Oxycotin.....OMG!
I don't know how to explain it other then it made me freaky! The recliner was spinning one way, I was spinning the other, and had the sickest feeling that I have ever experienced.

I remember talking to a friend on the phone and telling him what I was taking.....his reply was that those pills sell for $10 per mg on the street...my response was "You mean people would actually pay to feel that bad?!"
That was one of the most unpleasant experiences I have ever had with medications.

I have an appointment with my primary Doctor this afternoon, mainly to discuss and make sure we are all on the same page for the Mayo Clinic referral.

I'd like to say I'm hopeful about these upcoming tests yielding some usable results, but the same Doctor who did them the last time is doing them this time.....and my previous dealings with him, left me with the impression of a very arrogant, condescending individual. He was more concerned about how "right" he was, then he was about diagnosing/treating my problem(s).
Having gone through these last 5 months, it's become obvious that on the local level, Doctors spend more time "passing the buck" and running patients around then anything. It seems that each one must "consult" with that last one, and under no circumstances are they willing to look outside the box that the previous one built.
I suppose I shouldn't be like that, but in all honesty, I've come to expect more disappointment then results from this local circle of Doctors.


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  #29  
Old 09-06-2012, 02:30 PM
Doug Lester Doug Lester is offline
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I can really sympathize with your situation. The docs were trying to find me a new antidepressant. The old one that I was on was working fine until the FDA came along and that I could only be prescribed half of what I was taking. To be fair, there was a recorded increase in cardiac arrythmias with the dose I was on, but I wasn't having any. The first one was over sedating. The second one worked fine at lower than the normal therapeutic dose, except for the 2-3 hours it left me depressed. But once that was passed I felt like taking on the world. So now I'm back on the reduced dosage of the original medication.

Having worked in health care in one function or another for 40+ years I can really identify with doctors' attitudes. Most are very hard working and decent people but there are some who are a bunch of arrogant asses who think people should bow to them when they walk past. However, I remember one doctor from when I started working at one of the hospitals in town. He was infamous for his arrogance and verbal abusiveness, even to other doctors. But he also had the reputation of being one of the best Internists in Illinois south of Chicago.

Try to be patient. As I told you before, this could be a long drawn out process. Medicine really is not an exact science.

Doug


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Last edited by Doug Lester; 09-06-2012 at 02:32 PM.
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  #30  
Old 09-06-2012, 03:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed Caffrey View Post
Back when this all first started, they put me on the Oxycotin.....OMG!
I don't know how to explain it other then it made me freaky! The recliner was spinning one way, I was spinning the other, and had the sickest feeling that I have ever experienced.

I remember talking to a friend on the phone and telling him what I was taking.....his reply was that those pills sell for $10 per mg on the street...my response was "You mean people would actually pay to feel that bad?!"
That was one of the most unpleasant experiences I have ever had with medications.

Yeah those suckers are strong. I actually felt really, really good when I was on it (although sick to my stomach) but non functional. No driving, working in the shop, etc for me. And it was odd because I could still feel the pain, but its like I just didn't care enough to let it bother me. When I take Vicodin it gets rid of the pain and I feel completely normal unless I take it on an empty stomach.

When I was a kid I had a problem with my digestive tract that lasted a few years. AFter numerous hospital visits and tests they couldn't figure out what it was. One day it went away on its own and never came back (and 25yrs later my mom still asks me if I have any problems with it). Hopefully your illness will do the same.

Good luck on the upcoming tests and I hope they get you closer to resolution.
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