our doctor explains the symptoms and treatment of appendicitis. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied

DR Cindy Pan explains the symptoms and treatment of this common but painful condition.

Question: How do you know if you have appendicitis? what is it and how is it treated?

Answer: Appendicitis, which means inflammation of the appendix, is the most common cause of acute abdominal pain.Typical symptoms include abdominal pain (commonly starting around the middle of the abdomen before moving to the right lower abdomen), poor appetite, nausea or vomiting and fever. It may be tender and sore when the doctor presses over the abdomen in the right lower region and there may be rebound pain when the doctor lets go after pressing deeply in this area. In some cases your abdomen may be quite rigid; the doctor will be unable to press deeply because your abdominal muscles are so tense. This can indicate that the appendix has burst and peritonitis (inflammation of the inner lining of the abdomen) has developed.the doctor may do blood tests to confirm the diagnosis of appendicitis. other tests which may be employed include CT scans and ultrasound.there are other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as ectopic pregnancy, severe menstrual cramps, pelvic inflammatory disease in women, gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, diverticulitis, pancreatitis and other conditions. by listening to your symptoms, examining you physically and ordering appropriate tests, your doctor can assess the likelihood of appendicitis and, if necessary, send you to hospital for further assessment. If needed, immediate surgery may be performed to remove the appendix.  the surgery can be performed via a laparoscope (using tiny instruments attached to a narrow flexible microscope, also known as keyhole surgery) or through an incision in the abdominal wall. Your doctor will talk to you about which approach is best for you. after the surgery your recovery time can vary from days to weeks, depending on whether the appendix ruptured and whether there were any other complications. while appendicitis is extremely common, it is not a condition to be taken lightly, since if left untreated, the appendix may rupture, leading to abscess formation, peritonitis and even death.

Got a question for Dr Cindy Pan? Visit bodyandsoul.com.au/askourexperts

If you schedule only one activity this weekend, please make it time to read the Special Report about life for the chimpanzees at the federal primate facility in New Mexico. 

Investigative reporter Chris Adams from McClatchy Newspapers wrote an extraordinary three-part series that shows how years of experimental testing has taken a mental and physical toll on these intelligent animals.

About 180 chimpanzees live at the Alamogordo Primate Facility.  they were brought there a decade ago after enduring years of repeated liver biopsies, blood tests and other experiments as researchers tried to find cures for HIV, hepatitis, measles, polio and more.

The chimps are in the middle of a debate between the National Institutes of Health and animal rights activists.  The NIH wants to move the chimpanzees back into research labs while animal advocates want them retired to a sanctuary.

Chris Adams’ story took him to interviews with researchers and the animal rights community.  He sifted through thousands of pages of medical records that were obtained as a result of a lawsuit by In Defense of Animals. 

The outcome of his investigation revealed that even after ten years away from medical labs, many of the chimps never recover from the stress of research.

Adams talked about a chimp named Donovan who went from a friendly ape to one who beat his female cage-mate so badly he had to live alone.  another chimpanzee named Lira was so stressed she chronically pulled out the hair on her body. And a third chimp named Bobby bit and mutilated his own arm because of severe depression.  Bobby sat day after day facing the wall of his cage, refusing to lie down to sleep. 

Adams said, “For the chimps, research can be lonely and debilitating; some end up with mental ailments including post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. sometimes the symptoms will ease once the testing ends, but sometimes they stick with a chimp for life.”

“Chimpanzees depend on close physical contact. they love their comforts, and like to stretch out on a nice soft bed of grass. they make their own choices all the time,” famed chimp researcher Jane Goodall said. “None of these things can in any possible way be experienced by a laboratory chimp. I’ve been in quite a lot of medical research labs, and the truth is I wish I hadn’t, because they haunt me.”

When McClatchy Newspapers talked with John VandeBerg at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute he defended how the chimps are handled.  He explained how they are given room to move and play. 

VandeBerg even said if he were a chimp he would prefer to live at the lab rather than the Chimp Haven Sanctuary where activists would like to see the New Mexico chimps retire.

“You know, that’s an interesting question. I would rather be living here. … Chimp Haven is a wonderful facility — a beautiful facility, has beautiful outdoor areas. … so it’s a lovely facility. but what we have here is far better veterinary capacity.” He said the lab had vets on staff, full medical facilities and the ability to generate rapid test results. “We have medical capacity way beyond what Chimp Haven has, and if I were a chimpanzee I’d rather be here, where I could get the medical attention that I might need sometime in my life, especially as I got old.”

“The chimps,” he said, “even have televisions. they like to watch animal movies.”

However the research conducted by McClatchy Newspapers did not support VandeBerg’s observations. 

When Chris Adams found the records on Donovan, it showed that the chimpanzee was so fearful of the weekly blood tests and frequent biopsies run on him from 1997 to early 2001, he had to be shot with a tranquillizer dart each time before being moved into an exam room. 

The reports on Lira showed that for more than two years she was housed alone after her testing procedure called for her to have an operation that exposed her liver.  She then received repeated injections directly into her liver and spine.  Later weekly biopsies were taken from her. 

The third chimp Bobby was used in at least eight studies and anesthetized more than 250 times.

The United States is the only country using chimpanzees for medical research.  Earlier this year the University of California-San Diego reviewed the research and found that chimpanzees and humans experience diseases differently, so ultimately medical research on chimps isn’t very helpful.

They concluded in the Annual Review of Pathology: “Humans appear to have several surprising differences in the severity and/or incidence of diseases and pathologies that cannot be explained by environmental factors.”

TAKE ACTION: Help protect chimpanzees from medical research by signing the petition for passage of the Great Ape Protection Act.

Click here to read the three-part series by Chris Adams.

Read more: animals, animal welfare, animal testing, animal rights, great ape protection act, chimp testing

at the time though there was a bout of gastro going around my work so of course I just wrote it off as that. when everyone else started getting better and I didn’t, I had a feeling something was not quite right, next thing I knew I had lost five kilos…then another five… 12 kilos in total bringing me down to a very scary weight! I went to see my GP, she has been fantastic through all this, and she prescribed some blood tests testing for celiac and lactose intolerance and a stool sample. I was absolutely devastated at the time because I had always had such an appetite and such a passion for food, the thought of not being able to eat bread or pasta was terrifying (if only I knew what was to come!). A week or so later after a negative result on the tests, another doctor’s appointment I had lost all ability to get out of bed or stay awake for longer than a few minutes, my G P recommended I have a colonoscopy and an endoscopy so they could figure out what was wrong.

The day of my surgery I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and immediately started on prednisolone. By reading this website, I have been one of the lucky ones, the main side affects I had from this medication were a bit of hair loss and instead of depression there were a few days where I did feel abnormally elated, quite strange given the circumstances!! since then I have been taken off prednisolone and am now on salofalk and imuran (was taking iron supplements too but have since gotten my iron levels back up to a normal range). Overall I am fairly healthy, and in comparison to some of the other stories I have been reading I feel absolutely terrible for feeling sorry for myself and my state, there are others who have this disease far worse than I have at the moment even though my specialist has told me I was one of his worse cases when I first came, my heart goes out to you, it really does.

Being diagnosed with a chronic illness is something which takes a bit of adjusting to, only know that I am better I am starting to realize what this means.

before this I had never taken any over-the-counter painkillers (such as pandol), antibiotics or anything, the sickest I have ever been would have lasted for less than a week before I would be back playing the sports I love. Assuming the sick role has been so difficult for me because I have always felt a sense of pride of how healthy I was, I did everything right, good diet, heaps of exercise, why should this happen to me?? Now when I think of myself I don’t see myself as I used to be, I see my disease. I hate what is happening to me and that I have no way of controlling it and I feel so guilty that only now am I starting to feel this way when everybody has praised me for the last few months on how well I am handling this, I feel like I am letting people down by feeling this way now.

The main reason I stumbled upon this site is that for the last week or so I have had quite severe joint pains, mainly in my back. Reading some other peoples posts, imuran seems to be the most likely cause for this (other than the disease itself), however I have been taking imuran for about 6 months with no previous problems. Truth is I am actually quite worried about my kidneys, as the pain seems to be in the right spot and I have also had a slight fever all week. I have had a blood test done this week, just my usual one which tests for everything under the sun. I really don’t want to go back to the doctor as after visiting him every week I was getting a little sick of him!! and he just told me that as long as my blood tests remain fine I don’t have to come back for 6 months!!

As a psychology student at university, one thing that did particularly bother me about the medical system here in Australia is that I was not referred to see a psychologist or a dietician (I know they say it’s not diet or stress related but realistically…how can it not be) or physiotherapist or any other allied health service. Managing a chronic illness, or any illness, involves a much more multi-disciplinary approach than purely the ‘fix the symptoms’ mentality of the medical profession. I was just wondering if any other countries the multi-faceted approach is utilized more than it is here?

I think that’s all for now! Feels good to finally get that off my chest.

Medications:  Salofalk (mesalazine): 4g/day, Imuran (azothiaprine): 100mg/day

Daina’s story is now entered into the 2011 Ulcerative Colitis Writing Contest!!!

You can Join too, click here for details

Acute Viral Hepatitis is a liver inflammation resulted from infections with 1 of the 5 hepatitis viruses. For most individuals, the inflammation starts abruptly and lasts only several weeks.

Acute Viral Hepatitis symptoms commonly start abruptly. the symptoms include nausea, the feeling of being ill, vomiting, and fever. In smokers, a typical symptom is a distaste for cigarettes. some people, especially, who have hepatitis B virus, develop wheals (red itchy hives) on the skin or joint aches. After a several days, the urine becomes dark and jaundice can progress. Most symptoms  usually disappear at this point and individual feeling better, even through jaundice becomes worse.

Cholestasis (bile flow reduction or stoppage) symptoms such as general itching and pale stool can develop. Acute Viral Hepatitis is usually diagnosed based on the results of blood tests and on individual’s symptoms. a doctor finds the enlargement of liver or tenderness in about 50% of individuals with such disease and tries to distinguish Acute Viral Hepatitis from other diseases with similar symptoms.

An Acute Viral Hepatitis’ specific diagnosis can be confirmed if blood tests show antibodies against hepatitis infections or viral proteins. Acute Viral Hepatitis may produce various symptoms from a minor flu-like condition to fatal failure of the liver. An individual, who has Acute Viral Hepatitis, generally recovers after four to eight weeks, even without treatment.

An individual with this disease may become a virus chronic carrier. In the carrier stage, the patient experience no symptoms but is still infected. Such incidence happens only with hepatitis B and C infections, not in hepatitis a. a chronic carrier can develop cancer of liver. Preventing of spreading hepatitis a virus consists of proper hygiene. Hospital workers can lower their risk by screening all blood donors for hepatitis B and C viruses by using blood donated by volunteer, rather than paid donor. Vaccination against hepatitis B stimulating body’s immune defense and protecting most individuals as well. Vaccines against hepatitis a virus are given to individuals at high risk of acquiring the infections. no vaccines exist against hepatitis E, D and C infections.

Individuals who have not be vaccinated and who were exposed to hepatitis, can recieve immune serum globulin (antibody preparation), which is given immediate protection against viral hepatitis. Individuals with extremely severe acute Viral Hepatitis can require hospitalization, but in most situations, treatments are not necessary. After the first few days, appetite generally returns and the individual does not require to stay in bed. Severe restrictions of activities or diet are not required and vitamin supplement is not necessary. Most individuals may return to work after the jaundice is cleared, even if their liver functions test results are not nearly normal.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 5th, 2011 at 2:46 am and is filed under Diseases and Conditions.

Tags: acute viral hepatitis, hepatitis a virus, hepatitis b and c, hepatitis infections, liver inflammation, viral hepatitis symptoms

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I think I might have low blood sugar (having weird vision, headaches, light headed, anxiety, and last week these weird mood swings). I have to wait until the blood tests come back later this week. But I was wondering, dont these symptoms only occur sometimes, and not everyday all day?

Usually you have these symptoms when you blood sugar is dropping or is low… make sure that you are eating at regular intervals and don't go for long periods of time without having a snack.. I would also keep a piece of candy on you at all times, so if you start having these symptoms you can pop it in your mouth and it may make you feel better… my mom has low blood sugar and when it starts dropping she starts shaking uncontrollably almost like she is having a seizure… she carries sugar pills with her… good luck..

March 03, 2011 12:00 AM

I am pleased to dedicate this month’s column to the subject of down syndrome, specifically as it relates to obstetrics. there are several ways to screen for and diagnose down syndrome — blood tests, ultrasounds and more invasive testing — which I will review in some detail.

Down syndrome is named after Dr. John Langdon down, the British doctor who first identified the condition in 1862.

We have learned a substantial amount about down syndrome, just over the past 20 years, about testing, caring for those affected and about ourselves.

Traits are passed from each parent through genes and chromosomes. each cell in our body is made up of genes and chromosomes. each chromosome carries many genes. Half of the fetus’ genes comes from the mother, half from the father. Human cells normally contain 23 pairs of chromosomes; one chromosome in each pair comes from your father, the other from your mother.

Down syndrome is caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21 in the cells of the developing baby. there are three types of cell division involving chromosome 21. all three result in extra genetic material from that chromosome, which is responsible for the characteristic features and development of down syndrome. The three genetic variations that can cause down syndrome include:

• Trisomy 21. more than 90 percent of cases are caused by trisomy 21. An individual with trisomy 21 has three copies of chromosome 21 — instead of the usual two copies — in all of his/her cells. this form of down syndrome is caused by the abnormal cell division during the development of the sperm or egg cell.
• Mosaic down syndrome. in this rare form, individuals have some cells with an extra copy of chromosome 21. this mosaic of normal and abnormal cells is caused by abnormal cell division after fertilization.
• Translocation down syndrome. in this form, part of chromosome 21 becomes attached (translocated) to another chromosome, before or at conception. Individuals with translocation down syndrome have the usual two copies of chromosome 21, but they also have additional chromosome 21 attached to the translocated chromosome. this form of down syndrome is uncommon.

Most cases are not inherited. They are caused by a problem with cell division during development of the egg, sperm or embryo.

Translocation down syndrome is the only form of this condition that can be passed from parent to child. however, only about 4 percent of individuals with down syndrome have translocation and only half of these cases are inherited from one of the parents.

In these translocation cases, the mother or father is a balanced carrier of the translocation, which means he or she has some rearranged genetic material, but no extra-genetic material. A balanced carrier has no signs or symptoms of down syndrome, but he or she may pass the translocation on to children.

Some parents have a greater risk of having a baby with down syndrome. Risk factors include:

• Advanced maternal age. A woman’s chances of giving birth to a child with down syndrome increase with age because “older” eggs have a greater risk of improper chromosome division. by age 35, a woman’s risk of conceiving a child with down syndrome is 1 in 400. by age 45, the risk is 1 in 35. however, most children with down syndrome are actually born to women under age 35.
• Having had a child with down syndrome. Typically, a woman who has one child with down syndrome has about a 1 percent chance of having another child with down syndrome.
• Being carriers of the genetic translocation. Both men and women can pass the genetic translocation for down syndrome on to their children.

In an unscreened population, about 1 in 700 babies is born with down syndrome. Early screening for down syndrome — to determine whether there is a high risk that the developing fetus has the condition — is offered as a routine part of prenatal care, as recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, regardless of maternal age. The most sensitive noninvasive screening available today is the “Integrated Test.”

The Integrated Test is performed in two stages. The first test is done between 10 and 13 weeks of pregnancy. The second stage is performed at 15 or 16 and no later than 22 weeks.

The first stage involves an ultrasound examination to measure a space at the back of the baby’s neck called the nuchal translucency (NT) thickness; higher than average NT is a risk for down syndrome. Additionally, a blood sample is taken to measure the concentration of the pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A marker; low levels of PAPP-A are a risk factor for trisomy 21.

The second stage involves taking a blood sample to measure the concentration of the following four markers: alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), unconjugated estriol and inhibin-A. The NT measurement and levels of the five markers in your blood are used, together with your age, to estimate your risk of having a pregnancy affected by down syndrome.

The results are usually ready within one week after the second blood sample is taken. Because screening, as opposed to diagnostic, testing has a greater chance of being wrong, most women with “screen positive results” will not have a pregnancy with down syndrome. About 90 percent of screen positive results are, in fact, false positives. But those women whose various results place them at high risk will be offered more precise — if invasive — testing.

Amniocentesis is usually performed between 14 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is a procedure performed by a qualified obstetrician during which a small sample of amniotic fluid is obtained by inserting a fine needle through the abdominal wall of the mother and into the uterus. The sample of fluid is sent to the laboratory for diagnosis of chromosomal anomalies such as down syndrome. An amniocentesis is an invasive procedure, which means there is a small risk of miscarriage (usually 1 in 200) associated with it.

Results of amniocentesis, which has a very high level of accuracy, usually take one to two weeks.

A hot topic in screening research is that a blood sample taken from the mother may actually detect small amounts of the baby’s DNA genetic material, which can then be tested. this testing may accurately analyze the baby’s chromosomal makeup and determine such genetic problems as down syndrome without subjecting the mother to invasive testing such as amniocentesis.

This research is currently under way worldwide with hopes of introducing this cutting-edge technology into prenatal testing soon to high-risk patients.

A genetic counselor will discuss your baby’s diagnosis in detail with you and your obstetrician. Prenatal education and support should be facilitated by specialists with arrangements for appropriate medical services soon after delivery. in addition to local agencies such as the Kennedy-Donovan Center in new Bedford and the Schwartz Center for Children in Dartmouth, specialized services are available at Brown University School of Medicine’s Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence and Boston Children’s Hospital.

The down Syndrome Program at Boston Children’s Hospital offers specialized services for all children with down syndrome and their families. The staff works closely with children, parents, medical specialists, community physicians and educators. The program serves children of all ages and provides families who receive a prenatal diagnosis information and support as needed.

Weekly clinics with inter?disciplinary services for children are offered during the important period from birth to 3 years of age. The program focuses on medical and developmental monitoring. The family and child meet every six months with a team composed of a developmental pediatrician, physical therapist, nutritionist, speech pathologist, dentist, audiologist and the program coordinator, who is also a parent of a child with down syndrome. The program coordinator distributes information about state organizations, local parent groups and community resources.

I close with a quote from a wonderful patient of mine:

“Childbirth evokes a wide range of emotions, and learning about our child having down syndrome raised concerns and questions. Yet, my husband and I have learned that raising a child with down syndrome is more typical than not. Our son, Thomas, is a delightful, beautiful child who has enriched our lives beyond our expectations.”

Dr. Christian S. Pope specializes in obstetrics and gynecology. He has offices in new Bedford and Mattapoisett and practices at St. Luke’s Hospital, the new Bedford site of Southcoast Hospitals Group. He can be reached at 508-999-6245.

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Can anyone tell me what the symptoms of liver damage or liver disease are?

nausea, vomiting, fatigue, diahrea, bloody vomit or poo. skin/eyes turn yellow. confusion, more bleeding, coma, death.

Well, that depends what type of liver disease you mean, but here are typical symptoms-

jaundice
cholestasis
liver enlargement
portal hypertension
ascites
liver encephalopathy
liver failure

Failure of the liver can lead to yellow shade in your skin.

Jaundice (yellwoing of skin) is probably the most common. Also a high unconjugated bilirubin count in your blood tests is an early sign.

At advanced stages, you will have abdominal pain, blood in urine, black blood in stools, and high blood pressure. certain foods will also cause pain, such as fatty foods, etc.

I think you first will tend to be a yellowy color..jaundice…then other problems will start…the whites of your eyes become yellowy…it isn't a good thing…

Pain on the right side of your stomach or chest–sharp pain, or even crampy pains. Yellow in your eyeballs, yellowish tint on the skin, with tiredness and feeling lousy.

If you have drank a lot of alcohol, taken a lot of cholesterol medication, taken a great amount of tylenol (over a period of time) you are at a greater risk for liver damage. Some other meds can also damage the liver–but the three I've mentioned are the most common.

Symptoms of serious liver damage include jaundice (yellowing of skin or whites of the eyes) and brown urine. other, less specific symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, unusual tiredness, weakness, stomach pain, and loss of appetite.
cirrhosis symptoms:
Fluid buildup in the legs (edema) and the abdomen (ascites).
Fatigue.
Yellowing of the skin (jaundice).
Itching (pruritus).
Profuse nosebleeds (epistaxis).
Redness of the palms.
Small red spots and tiny lines on the skin called spider angiomas.
Bleeding from enlarged veins (varices) in the digestive tract.
Bruising easily.
Weight loss and muscle wasting.
Abdominal pain.
Frequent infections.
Confusion.

more:
Pain
Enlarged liver
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes)

there are many types of liver disease including:
Alagille Syndrome, Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency, Autoimmune Hepatitis, Biliary Atresia, Chronic Hepatitis, Cancer of the Liver,
Cirrhosis, Liver Cysts, Fatty Liver, Galactosemia, Gilbert's Syndrome, Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, Hepatitis a, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, Reye's Syndrome, Sarcoidosis, Tyrosinemia, TypeI Glycogen Storage Disease, Wilson's Disease, NonAlchoholic SteatoHepatitis, Porphyria, Hemochromatosis.
you can actually be sick for a long time before you know that you have liver disease thereby making the damage quite extensive by the time you are diagnosed.
but diagnosis is so easy, most tests are done with a simple blood test, unless there is a reason to go more extensive and get a liver biopsy. take care of your liver~it is a very important organ and very hard to cure.

agrees with breezy and take lot of milk thistle and liver detox tea helps as well.I have darn biopsy tuesday.just hangv in there and try all you can

what can we do to strengthen our liver?

Liver failure occurs when the body’s liver can no longer function properly. This is often preceded by liver disease, which can have numerous symptoms. Liver failure, however, is marked by several symptoms, which taken together with blood tests and other medical exams indicate the liver’s function is impaired to an extraordinary extent.

One marked symptom of liver failure is jaundice. Jaundice is easy to note physically since it discolors the skin to a yellow or orange tint. The whites of the eyes may also appear yellowish. Jaundice is a sign of the liver’s inability to successfully excrete bilirubin from the body. Although many babies suffer form jaundice after birth, this is not generally a symptom of liver failure. However, jaundice in adults is always cause for concern.

People with liver failure may also bleed easily or bruise excessively. Platelet count may be reduced in those with a failing liver, which “thins” the blood, making it harder for the blood to coagulate if a cut or a blunt injury occurs. Lower platelet counts are also symptomatic of numerous other illnesses.

Ascites, the accumulation of large amounts of fluid in the abdominal cavity, are quite frequently the result of liver failure. In fact, an abnormally protruding stomach is often a sign of severe liver failure. Ascites may also be caused by a failing heart or other conditions, which should be ruled out.

People with liver failure may also have a reduction in their ability to think and remember. overall, their health may be poor and they may be more susceptible to common illnesses. Liver failure can also cause significant fatigue, a general feeling of weakness, and loss of appetite or nausea.

If liver failure is unarrested, symptoms progress resulting in possible seizures, disorientation, inability to speak, and impaired judgment. Failure of other major organs may occur since the body works cooperatively with each organ. Ultimately death will occur if medical intervention is either not feasible or is not sought. Many who have liver failure can partially arrest symptoms through treatment with medications. However, some with liver failure require a liver transplant in order to recover.

Jaundice(yellowing of the skin and mucus membranes) is a sign of a failing liver.

turning yellow is a symptom of liver failure, plus long term alcohol damage leads to vomiting blood.

The liver can repair itself up to a point, but serious damage may need a transplant.

don't drink alcohol

dear Pharmacist, I started taking 5 new supplements but I’ve been noticing occasional butterflies in my chest, hair loss, heartburn and muscle twitching. I think it’s related to my vitamins because when I stop them, the symptoms goes away. Should I stop?  –T.E., ManhattanAnswer: Yes, and then find out what specific nutrients your body need -don’t just use a shotgun approach. I’ve been very supportive of nutraceuticals over the years, but moderation is key. The problem is that most doctors don’t know how to test a patient for nutrient deficiencies, so you are forced to guess what you need. Misinformation abounds. Nutritional deficiencies can actually be tested with special “micronutrient” blood tests. there are three tests that I’ve taken myself: “Comprehensive Nutritional Panel” by SpectraCell Labs, “NutrEval” by Genova Diagnostics and the “Cardio/ION” from Metametrix. Practitioners with appropriate health licensure can become providers with these companies and order tests immediately.Why the big deal? I’m talking to doctors now: your patients are taking vitamins, minerals and antioxidants behind your back and they email me seeking guidance “because my doctor doesn’t believe in vitamins!” If your patients are supplementing indiscriminately, they could be harmed. you can help them with micronutrient testing. here are some examples which demonstrate the value of the information provided by this type of testing:Zinc- a trace mineral. Too much can cause metallic taste sensations, nausea and  copper deficiency. Too little could cause shortness of breath, hearing loss, infertility and prostate/erectile problems.Copper- a trace mineral. Overload is sometimes tied to use of estrogen drugs or low zinc levels. It can lead cause migraines, mental racing, anxiety, depression, frequent colds and interestingly, chocolate or avocado cravings. Deficiency can cause anemia, fatigue, arthritis and reproductive problems. L-Serine- An amino acid. Deficiencies are sometimes related to a rare metabolic disorder and have been associated with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, seizures, stiffness/weakness or muscles. Excessive serine can cause immune suppression or psychological symptoms.Vitamin K-  a vitamin that you need to keep from bleeding to death as it allows blood to clot. An excess can cause health problems, as the liver can only store so much of it.  Inadequate K results in bleeding gums, easy bruising, bone loss and higher cancer risk.  Niacin- a “B” vitamin. Too much causes diarrhea, itching or nervousness. Deficiencies may be associated with high cholesterol, indigestion, burning mouth syndrome, canker sores, fatigue or anemia.Glutathione- An antioxidant. Too much can cause stomach upset, but more often, a person has too little which may contribute to liver damage, joint pain, neurological symptoms like Parkinson’s and higher cancer risk.Glutamine- An amino acid which protects the brain and gut. Having too much is rare. low glutamine however, can lead to leaky gut, food allergies, Crohn’s disease, poor wound healing, skin rashes and arthritis.did you Know?  a new study proves that women can slash their risk of stroke by 30 percent, just by walking two hours each week! 

Got a question? Check out DearPharmacist.com

I've been pretty sick for the past few weeks and recently got blood tests done for anemia, a thyroid disease (which is hereditary) and mono. I already knew for a fact I wasn't anemic, and nobody in my family had the thyroid disease, so that leaves mono. I haven't really had a sore throat at all, and I thought that's what always presented in a case of mono.

Basically, I'm asking that if you have mono, will a symptom be a sore throat?

Thanks.

I personally have experience with Epstein Barr Virus (causes mono) anyways at first I just felt sore all over, very tired, headache and depressed. Then the symptoms got worse sore throat, fever, chills, low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, headache from HELL! I just actually got over the virus about a week ago finally I had it since July. I started taking AHCC supplements (immune boosters) and it went away within a week no joke!