POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: xyahka on September 19, 2007, 03:22:05 am
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Hi.... well... this is not an easy issue to talk about for me, and believe me, this is a serious post.
Before diagnosed i used to have a very strong stomache, could eat anything at anytime. Since diagnosed all that changed. Went through two episodes of heavy diarrhoea (first lasted 1,5 months and second 7 days).
I have noticed changes in my stomache since diagnosed, my bowel movements are easier ... sometimes i think i am not doing any effort to go defecate.. but making an effort to not do it often. I have got (or at least i was told) all stomache tests for all those not so common things one can have in the stomache (all those hard to pronounce bugs), they came back negative (April 2007).
But since diagnosed i have noticed what i leave in the toilet... looks strange. It looks this green... sometimes brown and almost black sometimes. Last saturday i took a yogurt glass at night and three breads .... and woke up vomiting 5.30am next morning. Previous to that my stomache was leaving this green stuff once more and today it turned this green and acid, no much liquid with it. Stomache with gas (farts) and burp with difficulty. Once more this is a serious post, I am worried. First i though it would be something momentaneous... but now i don't know what to think.
I am not having diarrhoea nowadays, i am not vegetarian by the way, and haven't eaten vegetables lately. My normal food is rice, chicken and beans (very typical in here and cheap). I was on fluconazol once per week during 3 or 4 months due to some dermathological issues and was stopped recently because Dr talked to me about Hepatoxicity. Haven't got HCV test results... so i really don't know what to think... Wondering if you think this could be something serious... my next appointment with my Dr would be in 2 months and believe me... she is a bitch, she will not order me tests just like that... i have to convince her in case i think i have something serious... so i wonder. what do you think?
I have also felt that everytime i get stomache sick i have troubles to breathe... and today i couldn't run without a feeling of pain in my right shoulder and pain in my chest. I feel i cannot breathe deeply it hurts a bit. Not sure what is happening...
So sorry to talk about this, but i am worried.
thanks for your advice
Juan Carlos
Edited to add i am not on ARVs, was prescribed just Complex B or multivitamins (1 per day) and i also take 1 Vitamin E pill (1 per day)
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Of course no one can or should diagnose over the internet, but this sounds too serious to wait two months. You should see a doctor right way. If you consider this woman a bitch you might want to consider switching to a new doctor. Keep thinking positive thoughts I know everything will be okay.
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Carlos,
Sounds like you need to be seen by a doctor, and soon.
Can you drop into a hospital's emergency department for a check up, or a walk-in clinic?
Daniel
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When I came down with a bad case of Salmonella, my faeces was green as chopped spinach.
I was and felt as sick as a dog and was running a 40+ C fever.
Que te sientes bien/mejor pronto
Saludos
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Hi... thank you. I wasn't really expecting it would look so urgent... for sure i still have lot of things to learn about this.
I will go to emergency room today (though i have heard cases mentioning that they are not poz friendly) if so i will request an urgent meeting with my Dr tomorrow morning. Not much chances for a Dr change since she is considered "the best" ID Dr in the Social Security Hospital (imagine how other's ID Drs looks like).
Yesterday ate a Shawarma, 2 breads and a coke at night and almost vomited today morning again. Strange cause apart than that i feel sort of fine.
Gotta work on this. Thank you.
Juan Carlos
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Hi JC
I don't know shits, so to speak, about this problem you're having but if you've vomitted as well for 2 or 3 days you should really go see a doctor. It may just be some small problems but please take care of yourself and let us know what's happening.
A big hug to you, Shaun
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You're HIV+ and have been vomiting for days and days -- and you've not gone to a doctor. My only question would be "Why?" There is no special gold star for needless suffering to become an AIDS martyr, that's for sure.
And while I realize from my years of dating endless streams of boys from South America that chicken, rice and beans are cultural staples you REALLY need to diversify your diet with some greener material.
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You might want to take a look at your diet, it sounds dreadful. Do some research on improving your diet or talk to your nutritionist. You are what you eat might be a good place to start after conferring with your doctor.
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Juan,
anything like diarrhea and vomiting that lasts for more than 2 days even without any fever must be checked immediately. Drink a lot of fluids as you are getting dehydrated right now. Let us know what the doctor said.
Milker.
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You're HIV+ and have been vomiting for days and days -- and you've not gone to a doctor. My only question would be "Why?" There is no special gold star for needless suffering to become an AIDS martyr, that's for sure.
I can answer you why i haven't been to a Dr after vomiting on Saturday: Lack of re$$ource$.
That's why this place is called Third world, cause people like me have to survive with 3 usd or less per day. So when one vomits or start to shit in color, Dr is just not the first option... pitifully. We just "hope" with the time it will go away. To that you should add that Drs are not opened/interested in meeting you when you need it... i went last week to meet my ID Dr with a pain in my left eye just to request her to refer me to an oculist (otherwise the Social Security Hospital will not allow me to have an appointment) and her answer was... "come back in your next appointment... we are busy".
I am not justifying my behaviour Philly... and believe me, your post made me reflect... but it is just that my reality here is different to yours... to meet a Dr is not that easy over here. I also realised today my mind is not yet used to the reality of being poz, i really though it was something this green thing was something "new but harmless". Now i am realising it is not.
Went to ER today, was even scared of saying i am poz loud... so I wrote it in a paper.. just in case. Didn't want others to feel scared of me, there is no privacy in there. Luckily didn't used the paper...Dr was poz friendly. I was prescribed blood tests... everything came back normal except...
# Ref
Neutrophils% 46.9 60 - 68
Lymphocyte% 45.2 20 - 45
MPV 4.2 9 - 13
Their answer was... they don't know what it is. They say it is not bacterial, might be viral... Although as they are not sure they didn't prescribed me anything, just lot of liquid cause today i had diarrhoea again and referred me to a Gastroenterologist for tomorrow morning.
let's see what happens tomorrow... thanks again to everyone for your suggestions.
Juan Carlos ...
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The green shit and stomach problems could well be a parasite. They should take a stool sample to be analyzed. The low neutrophils could be the result of the parasite or bacteria infection. The low mpv would need more research but could be due to hiv.
I'd definitely check for a parasite to start with. Those can be transfered by rimming.
Milker.
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Now now... I know we all take appropriate caution when rimming and use plastic kitchen wrapping.
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I guess this is just for venting... i am so fucking pissed off and depressed.
It's been six days since i first went to ER due to my stomach problem. Last time i told you they referred me to a gastroenterologist... i still don't see him. It has all been a fucking mess....fucking damned third world.
I went to the hospital last Thursday 9h00 to request appointment with the Gastroenterologist, they sent me to another health care facility.... luckily it wasn't that far.. 15mins. Once there making queue to get all the paper work done again. They didn't put me with the gastroenterologist but with a general medicine Dr (once more)... i had to wait for him and finally met him at 14h30. Same thing... he didn't know what happenned to me. He just prescribed me something for my stomach gasses. He requested an urgent widal reaction, hemogram and coproparasitary test and that i should be referred to the gastroenterologist immediately.
Until i got to get an appointment for the lab tests, and went to pick up the medicine for gasses... it was 16h30 already.
Went next day 8am for taking the tests. They said as they were urgent they would be ready at 14h00.I was there at 15h00 and they gave me the hemogram with a wrong name... i complained. They gave me mine and another page that was supposed to be Widal reaction, coproparasitary wasn't ready. I left as they were closing and in the way to my job i realised .... they didn't give me a Widal reaction.. but a rheumatism test results. Don't know how they could mess it so much. Diarrhoea is gone.. but my stomach is still weak... i am still shitting green.
Today i was there again 8am. To complain... and to try to meet the Gastroenterologist, originally they told me that he is full until October 11th, but as i am "special case" i should request him to meet me asap. The Widal reaction will be made today at midday... i have to deliver another blood sample. Coproparasitary wasn't ready. And the worst... i went to talk to the gastroenterologist... and he said he cannot meet me until October 11th.
I told him i am shitting green, i am Hiv+, i have been vomiting and have had diarrhoea. He said that as i have been to the toilet just twice per day lately "it is not an urgent thing, it is normal doesn't matter it is liquid". When i asked him about the green color he said the same "no problem, it is nothing urgent you can wait...". I had to almost negotiate with him to meet me tomorrow...but he said he will ONLY meet me if two or three of his patients miss their appointments, otherwise i will be waiting in vain.
Then i wonder why do i make an effort to be checked? they don't really care... why should i? i should just let my stomach get in colors until it finally waste me. I underlined i am poz, and all that... but he kept on saying i am not an urgent case.... without even checking the tests. I am a bit sad today... feel a bit lost. Though i should have expected it... that's how Drs behave here...fucking damned third world.
6 days and i still don't know what i have. I requested a meeting with my ID Dr tomorrow.... perhaps she will prescribe me something... depending on what she tells me... i might go and wait to see IF the gastroenterologist finally accept to meet me.
Life is shit sometimes. :(
Juan Carlos.... sad :(
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Hi JC
I am so sorry to hear about your ordeal... all I can say that I am here thinking about you all the time and hoping things will get better soon.
The system in Hongkong was like that when I was a kid - I remember having to go with my mother to a special clinic for my younger brother's allergy. We had to travel like 2 hours to go to that one clinic, then sat and waited all day. I was like 6 and my poor mother had to bring me because no one could look after me after school was out. So I do feel your pain.
Hugs, Shaun
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If you don't have insurance it is no better in the United States. In fact infant mortality rates are higher in Memphis than in many third world countries. My dad is a WWII veteran and suffers from diabetes and he had to wait three months for a Dr. appointment with the VA. I guess it's bad all over.
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I feel the frustration and pain, Juan. Don't stop caring about yourself.
The docs are overworked or overwhelmed in any given sector of your country? Or is it a monentary issue?
:(,
Mike
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I would say no Dr should consider that being overworked/overwhelmed is an excuse to be negligent.
I guess they are just careless.... the one from lab and the gastroenterologist... and my ID Dr is sometimes careless too. Plus i don't know why i feel surprised when i see an old Dr who can mix his specialisation with good Hiv knowledge (or at least some hiv knowledge). I think it is recent when new Drs started to receive info about Hiv in their specialisation courses and it is recent since they started not to feel scared when they meet poz patients. I bet they still gossip about it... i have felt some of them a bit aggressive, like if they would mean with their actions "you get what you deserved.. sinner". Off course i have no proofs... it is just my perception... and it is a monetary issue in the way that if you can "afford" some motivation, they will surely treat you better.... and pardon whatever sins you had done. >:(
Widall reaction came back all negative. Coproparasitary came back with amoeba histolytic and amoeba colis as a result. So i guess (and hope) it is only that causing all the problems. It is 06h30 and i am going to pick up a ticket to meet my Dr... i will have to wait until 11am to meet her. If she prescribes me something i won't keep on trying to meet the fucking gastroenterologist... he can save his two weeks waiting time up in his ass.
Who would say that it takes 6 days to get to know one has amoebas? Only here... >:(
Thanks for your care friends, it meant a lot.
Juan Carlos
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and pardon whatever sins you had done. >:(
Juan Carlos
If you think you are dealing with doctors that consider HIV a sin, I guess it really doesn't matter when, where, or how long it takes to meet with them. You will end up prejudging their opinions and treatment. I sense you going through the anger stage in dealing with your HIV, topped with some heavy feelings of guilt. Maybe some counseling is in order to help you sort through your feelings. As a newly diagnosed person constantly changing emotions are to be expected.
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... If she prescribes me something i won't keep on trying to meet the fucking gastroenterologist... he can save his two weeks waiting time up in his ass.
...
Juan Carlos
:D :D :D
This reference you made when you wrote, "and pardon whatever sins you had done. >:(" was meant as an example of their mindset--not yours, right Juan? You don't really believe you have contacted this virus out of any sort of divine punishment or the sorts. Right?
xxx,
Mike
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Hi guys, just to clarify... i am a deep believer but i don't take my Hiv diagnosis as a "Holy punishment"... For me Hiv is not a blessing nor a curse, it is a virus.
Exactly like Mike was saying i was talking about the way some Drs see poz patients here. And that might be a reason why they don't really care for what we need, some of them have this attitude like "you got what you deserve" which pisses me off. Some others as just negligent... like the people from the lab of the Hospital where i go to get checked... it is 6 months and i still don't have the HCV test results... i have delivered sample twice... and they always find an excuse not to make the test... and don't inform me. I get to know it one or two months later when i meet my Dr (who is not very much interested in me having such test anyways).
Well, as for me i started today my metronidazol prescription and i hope i get rid of this green problems. Thanks a lot for your help.
Juan Carlos