stomach +

[vet69271]

I have been sick for 2 years now (I'm disabled with cronic back pain and ptsd; I couldn't work if I wasn't). growling stomach (not hunger;) urine smells different and dark; feel bad (hard to identify, not like any feeling I have had before; drs. at the V.A. don't want to remove the gall blatter, because I have no pain there. I have lost 90 plus pounds . . . They have done all the camera tests (up one side and down the other, with no results; except curring h pylori, which did no good) Please help I'm desperate . . . tired of being sick . . . my family is tired also . . .

[ggreg]

Dear Vet69271
Well, the most important lab test you need right away is a urinalysis.  You can have that done either at the VA or the county health department, which is inexpensive.  Your symptoms suggest something to do with the kidneys.  In fact, some people who have been badly hurt in a war situation, their muscle tissue at the site of injury will deteriorate, and when the breakdown passes through the kidneys, it can cause the dark urine.  But there are other causes, including an infection or dehydration.  One simple thing you can do to help whatever the diagnosis turns out to be is to drink extra water.  And if they've already done a urinalysis, get another one.

I might add, when a person is in pain, it is VERY hard to do the normal things you're used to.  Adequate pain control is important, because otherwise people can get confused from pain, they cannot relax, and they get depressed from frustration.  Could be if you went to a pain clinic, they might take more seriously some better ************** and give you what you need.  I mean, if you're on morphine now, I apologize for mentioning it.  But I got a broke back myself, and I could not believe how long it took for me to find docs who would give me the right medications.

By the way, the trouble you have with communicating with your doc, who is probably from India, is I used to do complex computer work with folks from that region and also from all over the world, and I used to be very good at talking with people, but for whatever reason, the India accent and their way of expression was always difficult to comprehend.  I mean no harm in what I say whatsoever, but I wanted you to know that you are not alone and you are perfectly within your rights to request an American doctor... in fact, I even had a foreign physician suggest that to me one time.

Thank you for risking your neck in troubled war-torn countries, to keep us safe, and I'm glad you're back and gonna stay here.  We need you guys around, bravery is sometimes in waaaay too short supply.
GG

[vet69271]

dark smelly urine; chest pain; hot flashes; lost 80 lbs 2 years; stomach pains; growling and gurgling stomach. Justr feel bad most of the time. a new bad feeling for me; no real from of referance.
Can anyone please help being sick so long is a bum trip for all of us. I'm 100% disabled from the war; but the V.A. takes years some times to get through all the referrals; it's
depressing . . .any ideas.
Thanks 4 any help . .  my VA dr. is on steriods from a medical condition and real agressive; i think it would be a lot easier for him if i just went away. I'm starting to get a case of tyhe *** for all these foreign doctors. they arn't all bad but some (especially the asion doctors) seem to have little tollerance for cronic pain patients. i would guess it has some cultural root (I don't want to sound racial; but if it does, then give me some hard data that says different.)
thanks
vet