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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lonely on June 24, 2007, at 2:32:20
Just looking at MRI films from yesterday that I talked the tech into giving me. My doc has NOT seen them yet. I started reading the pre-printed stuff on the cardboard envelope and then the label on the folder and realized it said DXTX "osteomyelitis" along w/my name & bdate & doc.
I was told several years ago I had degenerative arthritis. Have thought for the last 3 months it was getting worse!!! Neurologist had no interest & would not run MRI. Finally strong-armed my pcp into the MRI at a really good hospital w/a Tensilon (sp?) 3 machine.
Ok, now it's the week-end and I'm kind've shook up!!! I have a lifetime history of sinusitis and bronchitis - never smoked. No aids or other exotic stuff that I know of although I'm the allergic kid (adult middle age). I'm really allergic to antibiotics - just one large classification I can take and another individual one. The pcp is not competent to handle this and he's 60 miles away. I'm hoping my pulmo will get me to someone at a med school. Can a pulmo handle this since I have history of lung infections? I've felt strongly that no one was taking me seriously.
How bad is this? I can't afford a big hairy hospital bill although I do have insurance. No family in this part of the country! What's going to happen? What should I do?
Help !!!!!
Posted by Honore on June 25, 2007, at 10:32:59
In reply to Osteomyelitis - SCARED!!!! What to do?, posted by Lonely on June 24, 2007, at 2:32:20
Hi, Lonely.
It is incredibly disturbing to see a diagnosis of anything but "bad cold" written in black and white.
But a lot of times, doctors have to give a diagnosis, and they put it into a category, even though it's a mild case, or a questionable case, or something similar. I wouldn't assume that you have anything but what your doctor told you before.
Of course you should check with him. But don't panic. It probably doesn't mean anything that you don't already know-- these diagnostic categories have meaning to doctors that we don't really understand, cause we don't know the special way they use their terms.
I hope it works out. But do find a specialist who deal with the issues you have. It might be more reassuring in the long run, to have someone else to consult on occasion.
Take care,
Honore
Posted by Larry Hoover on July 2, 2007, at 17:25:29
In reply to Osteomyelitis - SCARED!!!! What to do?, posted by Lonely on June 24, 2007, at 2:32:20
I hope that you've obtained some supportive care by the time you're reading this.....Osteomyelitis can be a very serious disorder, depending on a number of factors. The most important thing, obviously, is to determine the infective organism underlying the condition. Given your sensitivity to antibiotics, I'd still think there are more options for treatment than you might imagine.
Here's a good article: http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic349.htm
I hope you're feeling better already.
Lar
Posted by Lonely on July 2, 2007, at 18:52:51
In reply to Re: Osteomyelitis - SCARED!!!! What to do? » Lonely, posted by Larry Hoover on July 2, 2007, at 17:25:29
Thanks for posting - I appreciate the interest.
It's been an odd experience of twists and turns!
The "referring" physician (pcp) kind've went ballistic when I saw him 2 weeks ago and sent a letter telling me he would no longer treat me. He was pissed that I wanted to go to specialists. Kind've an in-sensitive control freak, I'd say. I asked him (phone and fax) several times to send me a copy of the report. I have yet to receive it from him.
Since I had a copy of the films, I scanned the label and sent it to a specialist who is treating me for various lung diseases (never smoked - just highly allergic). She faxed the mri report to me and it only shows some facet degeneration at L5 & S1. The weird part is that 2+ years ago I had the same degeneration plus a couple of bulging disks + slight stenosis. I don't know why that didn't show up. The report said there was no identifiable reason for the radiculopathy which the pcp had on the order. This was a very reputable hospital, too! Also strange because the bone and joint pain (maybe inflammed nerve?) had definitely been getting worse for 3 months. Also, I've gained weight which should make bulging disks worse!
By the middle of last week I began feeling like a cold and/or flu was coming on. My pulmo has told me it needs to be treated aggressively so in my case antibiotics are given to avoid almost guaranteed lung infection. I looked through my small collection of Rx meds that I take only as needed and found Avelox, a fluoroquinolone. I've had good results w/that class of antibiotics before so I went ahead and took it - 1 x day 400 mgs for 10 days. Still on it.
The strange thing is that the Avelox appears to have taken the "edge" off the body (joint/bone/nerve) pain. I can tell the difference - can more easily turn over in bed and pain is less acute. No pain killers - just the antibiotic! So, now I'm wondering if there was some kind of infection involved that an MRI can't show????
My pulmo wants me to see a rheumy and I agree but due to the first pcp's temper tantrum I have to start over with a new pcp (end of this week) and get referrals started. Unfortunately, my insurance contracts w/specialists that have waiting lists of 4 - 6 months.
Meantime, I've got diarrhea that got started with a very strong prescription vitamin. I dropped the vitamin but something got started there! I'm hugging the pepto-bismol bottle but have to take it 8 hrs before or 4 hr after the Avelox. Life is strange sometimes!!!!
> I hope that you've obtained some supportive care by the time you're reading this.....Osteomyelitis can be a very serious disorder, depending on a number of factors. The most important thing, obviously, is to determine the infective organism underlying the condition. Given your sensitivity to antibiotics, I'd still think there are more options for treatment than you might imagine.
>
> Here's a good article: http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic349.htm
>
> I hope you're feeling better already.
>
> Lar
This is the end of the thread.
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