Yeah, the problem is that what she has might be gastro, or might be muscular, or might be pulmonary...no one knows. Her latest doctor found something that might be it but just as easily might not, and he's pushing her towards an aggressive and unpleasant course of antibiotics.

Huh, usually aggressive and unpleasant antibiotics make gastrointestinal issues worse, not better. (Well okay, I guess they are used to treat H.pilori, but you know what I mean.)

That's exactly the diagnosis she's got now, but apparently it's common, and especially common in those who lived overseas. The doctor's kind of like, well, we can't find anything else, so *throws up hands*, let's try this. And she's understandably less than thrilled with that.

I can certainly see her point, Dana. I hope you find someone who has a better line on what's wrong and how to treat it.

Yes, Ginger, it was the diagnostic consult. Details are here.

It wasn't as bad as I'd dreaded, so thank you guys for the ~ma. I get bloodwork tomorrow, and see her on Monday, when she'll decide if she needs the spinal x-ray before she can treat. It seems weird to have a spinal x-ray to treat an eye problem, but there you go.

Okay, I guess the Rx makes more sense then, except I would think there'd be a test for the bacteria so that you'd only treat if it was a known infection, not just in case. A friend had an ulcer a few years back and said that the treatment took surprisingly long and required changes to diet, etc, as well as the antibiotics.

There is a blood test for H. pylori. And I also think they will send a scope down into your gut for a more accurate biopsy.

The scope showed nothing wrong.

I think my doc's expertise is in women's health not gastro issues, but her name is Sharon Orrange.

The scope showed nothing wrong.

Yay!

Thanks, Burrell, I'll pass it on.