posted
My grandma was admitted to the hospital back on Father's Day after strange numbers in her blood tests. The kidney specialist said she was having renal failure due to high amount of calcium. He blamed her calcium supplement, got her off of it, got her levels normal, and sent her home. But everyone in my family couldn't believe that was the true reason since she wasn't taking THAT much calcium.
Now, she was readmitted after bad blood tests on Friday. This time, the doctor says it's due to her herbal supplements, so he took her off all of those and said the numbers would go down. But her creatinin levels, which were at 3.7 on Friday and down to 3.4 on Saturday are now up to 3.8. They have no idea why.
The doctor wants to do a kidney biopsy, but admitted that procedure could either kill my grandma's kidney or her. He thinks it might be Cancer or Lupus. She has a history of Lyme, but the doctor laughed and said chronic Lyme doesn't exist.
We NEED a 2nd opinion. Hopefully by a different kidney specialist who acknowledges chronic Lyme.
We are in Connecticut. PLEASE HELP!
Posts: 55 | From Connecticut | Registered: Oct 2007
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
I don't have a name for a kidney/lyme doc.
I did want to say I'm so sorry you and yours are in this sad situation. It's just not believable what loved ones must endure when they know more than the DO NO HARM group.
Hope you find her angel.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6459 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I don't have a name for you but a good LLMD should be able to help if she's not been properly treated.
She may be able to get in to see a LL ND sooner, though. There are some ILADS-educated LL NDs and since she is open to herbs, that may be a quicker way to get treatment.
Some herbs are very helpful. Some are not. A good LL ND is the best guide regarding herbs.
Be sure she avoid Ibuprofen and even one dose has caused kidney failure for some in recent years.
And acetaminophen can stress the liver.
I hope she finds the care she needs. I hope she gets out of the hospital.
Good luck. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I would not agree to a kidney biopsy with risks like that. It's insane to proceed. Beyond insane, cruel and inhumane.
I hope she can connect to a LLMD.
However, the waiting list may be shorter for a LL ND. A LL ND can better determine if the herbs she was taking are intended for her case or not.
One who is also an acupuncturist may be able to offer acupuncture to help the kidneys, too.
When considering herbal / nutritional / adjunct methods:
if at all possible - because each person & each case is different - it's best to consult with an ILADS-educated LL (lyme literate) doctor who has completed four years of post-graduate medical education in the field of herbal and nutritional medicine -
- and someone who is current with ILADS' research & presentations, past and present.
Many LL NDs incorporate antibiotics (depending upon the licensing laws in their state). Some LLMDs and LL NDs have good working relationships.
When possible, it's great to have both a LLMD and LL ND and even better when they have a long-standing professional relationship.
------------- The hospital may actually have a ND or L.Ac. on staff, more likely through their oncology departments but see if you can find on with hospital privileges. Just all the front desk or hospital operator. Though you may have to pay privately. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Ibuprofen constricts blood flow. This can pose problems.
National Kidney & Urulogic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC)
Analgesic Nephropathy (Painkillers and the Kidneys)
Excerpts:
. . . Analgesic use has been associated with two different forms of kidney damage: acute renal failure and a type of chronic kidney disease called analgesic nephropathy. . . .
. . . Some patient case reports have attributed incidents of sudden-onset acute kidney failure to the use of over-the-counter painkillers, including aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium. . . .
. . . A second form of kidney damage, called analgesic nephropathy, can result from taking painkillers every day for several years. . . . .
. . . Ibuprofen may also increase the risk of chronic kidney damage, . . .
The popular pain reliever ibuprofen can cause kidney failure in people with mild kidney disease, according to a new study.
A three-year study on the drug was reported today in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. . . .
. . . gave participants above-normal doses of 800 milligrams of ibuprofen three times a day - the equivalent of 12 ibuprofen tablets - for up to 11 days.
After eight days, three women developed kidney failure, which reversed when ibuprofen was discontinued. The remaining nine women, who received ibuprofen for 11 days, showed changes in kidney function but did not develop kidney failure.
After recovering, the three women were given 400 milligrams of ibuprofen three times a day, equivalent to normal doses of the drug.
Two of the three again developed kidney failure but recovered when the ibuprofen was stopped.
Ibuprofen relieves pain by interfering with the body's production of prostaglandin, a substance involved in inflammation. But at the same time, the drug constricts blood flow.
Normally, the change poses little risk if used for a short period.
But for those whose blood flow to the kidneys is already reduced by kidney, heart or liver damage, flu, or aging, ibuprofen could lead to acute kidney failure. . . .
FOUNDATIONAL PROTOCOL for AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDERS
Dr. K and the Dana Gorman www.Thriiive.com Summit and Think Tank
147 pages - September 2009'
Excerpt from Page 32, top of page:
Never give Tylenol . . . (it reduces glutathione production . . . .)
- more detail at link above. End excerpt. ---
There have been several reports about it in the news over the years relating to liver damage, sometimes from even normal doses in otherwise healthy individuals.
. . . Even a single dose of acetaminophen can reduce the body's levels of glutathione, a peptide that helps repair oxidative damage that can drive inflammation in the airways, researchers have found. . . .
Tiny overdoses of Tylenol can add up to deadly damage
11-22-11 -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Is she also on a diet free of all food additives and dyes? I hope your family can take her food so that she does not have to eat the fake food at the hospital. That's not good for anyone.
[ 07-30-2012, 08:30 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I'm not an herbalist but if you happen to have the name of the supplement she was taking, I'll see what I can find out about it.
A brand name would be of help. A "parent company" link even better. (Be sure the capsule looks like what they are supposed to look like. Counterfeit herbs and Rx are out there).
Was this prescribed by a naturopathic doctor? If so, I assume that ND has been contacted.
Also, there may be other minerals either deficient or in excess that are throwing off the calcium levels.
The KIND of calcium she was taking could also matter. Some are not very well absorbed into the body.
Has she been getting the right amount of water and sea salt (not table salt)?
I assume they've checked her PARATHYROID as that can throw off calcium levels. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I know someone with advanced kidney disease who has seen a remarkable turn-around with SALVIA miltiorrhiza.
Salvia miltiorrhiza may be of immense help.
[That second word is very important as there is a different kind of salvia, a distant relative - Salvia Divinorum - a street drug that is smoked - it's not at all the same thing and that one not good for anyone.]
Salvia miltiorrhiza is also called Dan Shen or Danshen
A good naturopathic doctor would know all about this. As long as she is in hospital, no supplements would be allowed UNLESS she gets a ND who is also on staff to be sure it would not be contraindicated or interact with any Rx.
PM sent.
Posts: 8968 | From Illinois | Registered: May 2006
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- pepper,
you say your grandmother has a history of lyme.
It's unlikely a LLMD can take her case with her in hospital. However, if she was treated by an ILADS LLMD before, can you call their office and ask if they can suggest a
kidney specialist?
If your grandmother is released from hospital, can she get back in to see her previous LLMD (if it was an actual LLMD)?
Links to find other area LLMDs would have you asking the same basic question:
can any of them suggest a LL kidney specialist who is on staff at the hospital where your grandmother is right now?
I hope this works out well. You are a dear to try to find her a better doctor. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Thanks, everyone, for the help! My grandma was released yesterday, though her creatinine levels are still way too high and they don't yet have the results from the kidney biopsy.
I don't know all of the herbs/supplements she was on from her naturopath. She was on a couple of different things and she had also just stopped consuming gluten.
The current problem with the LLMD is that my grandma, myself, and two of my aunts all went to Dr. P in CT who recently shut down his practice. Because of this, my grandma has not yet gone to another LLMD..I know the naturopath is lyme literate though.
Anyway, she's out of the hospital but we still don't know what's wrong. They're currently guessing the kidney problems are either due to A) cancer or B) an autoimmume disease such as Lupus. My mom wondered if the autoimmune disease part of what they said could be related to Lyme, but the hospital kidney doctor doesn't believe in that, so who knows.
Posts: 55 | From Connecticut | Registered: Oct 2007
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