I have a friend who is very ill. The ER at first diag. her with extremely low calcium levels and gave her IV Calcium....but after they found out she did not have insurance, they told her she was "fine", "can't find anything wrong with you", and told her "don't come back".

What I know of her symptoms are:


Numbness around mouth, hands, feet.

Pain in rib cage, internal organs, legs, feet -- pretty much all over.

Stiff hands & feet.

rash on face at first, then all over her body after taking Calcium supplements.

Constipation -- a chronic problem.

Inablitity to sleep, seems due to pain & not being able to get comfortable.

Hair stiff and dry; no oil present after not having washed it for a full week!

One of the things I found that her symptoms might suggest is a magnesium deficiency.

(The last I heard from this friend is that she could barely walk to the bathroom).

Anyone know of ANY other diet/vit/mineral deficiencies that can cause all of this?

She has been on the yeast killer diet for a long time, and it doesn't seem to be helping, so she has agreed to go OFF of it.

That's all I can remember right now. Thanks for your assistance. I know she will appreciate it.
bk

Your friend needs to see an internal medicine doctor, this is the person who will run test to find out what problems are going on & how to treat them. An emergency room is exactly that- for emergencies, they can't go deep enough into a persons problems to diagnosis a lot of things unless its a life threatening thing. This is why they tell you to follow up with a physician. It sounds as if they did find something wrong & treated it, but that needed followed up on immediately to see if it was low again & possible why it was low to start with.
I realize it is expensive to see a doctor in his office & pay for all the test he will probably order, then buy any medications he may prescribe, but it sounds as if she really needs this done something major could be going on. Calcium & magnesium are electrolytes in the body (there are others also) that MUST remain in thir normal levels and remain balanced in order for our bodies to work properly. We can maintain for a short time with one/two out of the norms and our bodies will attempt to correct itself but sometimes it needs help. If elecrolytes are not kept in balance it causes lots of problems with some of the symptoms being what your friend has, it can even kill a person. Can you see why your friend needs to see a doctor regardless of the expense. Some of the larger hospitals have clinics that are usually based on ability to pay, check these out. Good luck and God bless you both.

Thank goodness your friend has you. Please help her to see a qualified physician. I am wondering if she needs an endocrinologist - they will do alot of blood testing. I had lyme disease last September and now I have symptoms of fibromyalgia. I have seen eight doctors. Good luck and please come back and post your findings and progress.

Oh, you give good advice...

sorry I forgot to say she was visiting here several hours from her home, and went to the ER at 4AM thinking she was dying!

She's back home now and seeing Dr.'s, and I think they are finally doing some serious testing.

She's told me some more symptoms:

heart rate usually around 120-140, and night sweats.

It's my thought that it could be a thymus or adrenal gland problem, not to mention some deficiencies from starving herself getting rid of candida for some years!

thanks,
bk