pearlgirl

thanks - yes that's exactly it. the psych doctor actually called on friday night and said he had given the labs to an internist who said no way should someone in their 30s have numbers like that and insisted he see an internist for more tests and a colonoscopy within the week- luckily my regular doctor is an internist at a good hospital and he squeezed him in -- we see him Tuesday and I don't think my husband will back out since I and his Dr are insisting pretty hard. Luckily the new psychiatrist is a very good man who said if my husband tries to back out he will be available for emergency session to talk to him and make sure he goes in...

sorry about that -- I updated. I am basically the spouse of someone who is sick but refuses to go to a doctor - and who also sufferes from PTSD and depression.... just recently got his psychiatrist to order blood labs....

Hi everyone Prefaced with a thanks for your continued attention to my questions as a family member with suspicions and a husband reluctant to get medical attention -- My intro post goes over all the scary symtoms and as I updated a couple weeks ago - with your help I got my husband's psychiatrist to order blood labs. I got a call that his labs were "normal" but I asked for a copy and many things are out of range. The psych dr ordered the labs to look at Liver Function due to some meds and history of drinking - those are onthe high end of normal but what is out of range is worrisome (below) -- Can any of you shed light on whether these are significant amounts? We dont have our appointment to discuss these with the Dr until next Tuesday. Again -- thank you so much, I know I am technically an interloper on this site but I am very much alone in this situation and your input is more help than you know... Here is what is out of range: White Blood Cell 13.0 (3.8-10.8 normal) Red Blood Cell 4.13 (4.20-5.8 normal) Hemoglobin 9.0 (13.2-27.1 normal) Hematocrit 28.1 (38.5-50 normal) MCV 67.9 (80-100 normal) MCH 21.7 (27-33 normal) RDW 20 (11-15 normal) absolute neutrophils 10010 (1500-7800 normal)

Hi everyone I just wanted to post an update -- you were all so willing to give me advice and I really took it to heart. In the past two months or so since I posted I was able to get my husband into a new doctor -- a psychiatrist and md who I was able to speak very frankly with before the appoitnment - he was extremely thorough and met with my husband for two, nearly three hour sessions before diagnosing PTS disorder along with the severe reoccuring depression and anxiety. He re-did his RXs and for the past few weeks it is like a cloud has literally lifted and my husband has been much much better -- all this to say he has agreed to a full blood workup. The Doctor prescribed a CBC, CMP, and LFT. Am I safe to assume, in your experiences, that if there is a serious helath issue brewing like I suspect from his myriad symptoms, something will show amiss in the blood workup? We go in Friday for the tests. I asked the Dr to prescribe a chest xray as well but when he talked to my husband he was too scared to go for it -- the doctor says one step at a time and he will talk to him about it again when they review the blood tests results. So anyway, along with my question regarding the blood tests -- I just wanted to thank you all for for your advice and encouraging me to be tough and insist that he go into a new doctor. It made all the difference -- and I cant thank you all enough. I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving holiday -- I often lurk around to see howyou are all doing. Pearl

Christine She is SO CUTE - our littlest baby is a dobie/hound mix - he was abused as a puppy and came to us missing one of his little eyes - and YET he is SO SWEET and even gives forced hugs when one of us is upset - yes, IT IS HUGE! Especially when there is no other family... Hugs to you and the baby too --

Dear RandyW, ernnol, and NickC Thanks for your replies -- I totally agree with you that I need to insist at this point, and enlist anyone I can to help me convince him to get help -- It isnt going to be pretty, but you are totally right. Thanks for the support -- it is very helpful to get outside input

Hi Christine! I have to say I have a dog that looked just like your avatar as a puppy!! Our dogs are the only things that seem to make my husband happy actually... we have 3, and cats as well. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for the thoughts and prayers - I will do the same for you - thank you... pearl

Thanks Connie B. He has been committed before and the results were disasterous...I cannot call the cops on him and have that happen again, BUT his dr. does know he has a history of multiple suicide attemps, so I think you are right and I need to call and work with her to get him into a medical doctor... Thanks again for your input Pearl

Hello everyone I am new here and looking for information -- thank you for having me. I have a post in the introductions section with my whole situation, but basically my husband is a heavy smoker (18 years, prob 2 packs a day unfiltered) and drinker with a family history of lung cancer (uncle died in his 30s) experiencing: chronic deep but unproductive cough, chest pain when he exerts himself, even laughing, (as well as pain under lower ribs), neck and shoulder pain, fatigue, weight loss (about 15 pounds over last 3 mo), lump behind ear, faint spider veins on cheek, swollen area around spine, and possibly a little swollen in the face as well. He is severly depressed and refuses to see a doctor. He is only 34. Is anyone in a similar situation that could offer advice, either on these symptoms or on the issue of trying to get someone who is unwilling into see a doctor?

Carleen & Kaffie Thank you so much for your suggestions and for sharing your stories with me -- Carleen I am so sorry for your loss and your post was completely heartbreaking - I am so so sorry. Thankfully at this point we have no children -- but unfortunately my husband is estranged from his family, so he just has me. I tried to broach the subject again last night when he almost passed out from a coughing fit and he seemed a little more receptive. I don't want to be paranoid, but knowing his family history, the way he is mistreating his body and how long its been going on, and seeing the list of his symptoms all in one place is just really frightening, and reading everyone's stories, it seems the symptoms show up when it is sometimes later than you'd like to know... I am going to continue to try and also try and speak with his psycho. dr. about ordering bloodwork -- thank you again pearl

Dear Ry, Thank you so much for replying -- he does see a psychopharmicologist for meds... Maybe I could speak with her and ask her to prescribe blood work up -- Is there a specific sort of blood workup that I should ask for? Again, thanks - I know you are all busy and so I appreciate your time to reply. I am trying to think of other weird symptoms he is having, and he also has swelling around his mid spine, and some spider veins on the side of his face -faint ones. It's tough because he is most certainly malnourished with the amount of "self-medicating" going on, but he also has a family history of young lung cancer death and so I am very very fearful. Thanks again Pearl

Hello everyone & thanks so much for reading my post. I'm Pearl and I am desperately seeking information and advice on a situation with my husband. The short version of a very complicated sitaution is this: He is about to turn 35, a heavy smoker (of unfiltered, rolled tobacco)since early teens and sufferer of severe depression and anxiety. He is also a very very heavy drinker and works (anywhere from 3-13 hours daily) in an artistic environment where smoking and drinking are regular. He has had a chronic cough for at least a year - has increased gradually so I am just now noticing how bad it sounds - worse than normal smokers cough. I have noticed him having chest pains, especially in the morning and he has what I am guessing is an enlarged lymph node behind his right ear. I have also noticed him in pain around his neck and down his right arm for the past few weeks to a month. He has recently lost at least 15 pounds, which I initally attributed to a recent major depressive episode. He is also has fatigue, which I again, initially assumed was the depression. Here is my problem -- he refuses to go to a doctor. His depression recently became an issue in our marraige (we have been married for 10 years) and so our relationship has been strained, so he is not listening to me as he may have several months ago. I am wondering if you can help me with other early symptoms, and also if you have any advice to help me convince him to go to the doctor. When I tell him he may be seriously sick, he says "good." He has told me to not call 911 even if he were to pass out or be otherwise inabled -- obviously I would anyway. One other thing, he finally agreed to go in for therapy about a month ago (he is on meds), and the doctor refused him as a patient after a two session of him pouring his heart out (he has serious issues from a very rough childhood and history of suicide attempts) -- this was a major major set back for him and so he feels hopeless right now. Anyway, I know this is a huge rambling post but I am scared to death and don't know what to do. Thank you so much for reading and for any insight you could spare. Pearl