LymeNet Flash: This may be a stretch... Has a doctor ever heard a BRUIT in your neck/abdomen?

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Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :

I went to see a hematologist yesterday about my chronic LOW white blood cell count.

He basically told me that he wanted me to stop antibiotics for 3 - 4 weeks to see if that would help my white blood cell count go up some. He knows it probably won't go up to normal since it hasn't been normal (and was low) since the time I was in high school. I'm not sure what to think about stopping antibiotics for THAT long.

Oh, he also said that I was immunocompromised with how low my white blood cell count is (2.1) and my neutrophil count is very low as well.

Anyway, the whole point of the post is not about that, but about a BRUIT he heard while he was physically examining me. He was listening to my belly with his stethescope and came to the left side of my belly button and kept listening there for a good few minutes. He kept pushing down really hard.

He told me he heard a bruit in the aorta in my abdomen. A bruit "is the term for the unusual sound that blood makes when it rushes past an obstruction (called turbulent flow) in an artery when the sound is auscultated with the bell portion of a stethoscope".

So I have to get a CT scan of my abdomen on June 2nd to look for possible blockages.

He asked me if I have high cholesterol. Which I do and it's rather high for my age and I'm vegan on top of it so I don't even take in any dietary cholesterol.

Of course this has me worried. I'm only 24, for one thing and I may have a blockage in my aorta (a major artery of my heart). I've heard blockages in main arteries happening to people at age 50's or older, but 24? This is getting ridiculously frightening. If it's not one thing, it's always another. [shake]

Just curious if anyone else has had this or was told their doctor heard a bruit on them at any time?

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

Wow... no, in answer to your question. Yes, you ARE too young, but sometimes things like this are hereditary.

Keep us posted! I hope you are A-OK!!!

Do you have high triglycerides too?

Posted by UnexpectedIlls (Member # 15144) on :

I thought your CT scan was today???

Just to let you know also that inflammation can cause your Cholesterol to be high.

[group hug]

Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Lymetoo:
Do you have high triglycerides too?

Nope, every time I have checked, my triglycerides are always low.

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

Good!

Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :

quote:
Originally posted by UnexpectedIlls:
I thought your CT scan was today???

Just to let you know also that inflammation can cause your Cholesterol to be high.

Shandy, I had said in chat last night that I had to call today to make an appointment for one. So that's probably what you heard and thought I meant I was having the CT scan today. Sadly, nope, not yet.

I've had my inflammation checked in my blood tests and those are always normal.

What can I say? There's always something wrong with me. Every time I go to the doctor, they always find something. This is really worrisome though. [Frown]

I guess it makes sense. My mom and dad both have heart disease in their 50's... I guess I am just destined to have heart disease earlier maybe, and then especially at their age as much as I wish NOT. [shake]

Posted by roro (Member # 13383) on :

do you have lyme and co-infections? fibrin deposits, which could cause blockages in arteries, comes from infections.

cholesterol in food has little effect on blood cholesterol levels. some people's liver make it. study after syudy show that diet has little effect on cholesterol, and that cholesterol has little effect on heart disease.

I am convinced its the fibrin. fibrin may be caused by other things other than infection, but I am not sure about that, and if you have lyme, then thats probably what it is.

I had to get arterial tests because I was having claudication in my legs. no bruits, but the tests did show multilevel mild blockages. i am convinced its the lyme. my cholesterol is low, always has been. its around 150, mostly the good cholesterol. and I eat tons of butter and bacon fat, so go figure. I think some people's bodies just make it.

Dont do this until AFTER the CT scan, but you can try things to break up the fibrin. Some of the things I have heard of are CO-Q10 and fish oil. some people take a baby aspirin to thin the blood, but the natural things are probably safer. if you are already taking those, then consider the baby aspirin. But not until after you make sure its not dangerously clogged. if its a bad blocckage and you take something to break it up, it could be dangerous, like a blood clot. so wait until after the scan, and ask the dr if you can take those things to help with the plaques.

dont worry, its better that they found it. you are going to be just fine. its when they dont find it that its dangerous.

Posted by Blackstone (Member # 9453) on :

A long time ago, before I was diagnosed (and just had "chronic fatigue syndrome") a doctor heard one of these, or thought she did, prompting me to have an aortic ultrasound.

Nothing visible.

Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :

Thanks, Blackstone, that's good to hear. That's good for me to hear as well. I am hoping that this is just a mistake as well. I'll be having a CT scan on Monday. Not sure what the difference between the ultra sound and CT scan is though, or why he ordered the CT scan and not an ultrasound.