[bizi]

I am asking for a friend. 18 months ago she was injured by an arc that entered her abdomen area and exited her head. She had severe burns on top of her head and lost hair, has never grown back, etc. She believes she has radiation poisoning from this.
She has been spitting up gray secretions in copious amounts over time. She believes that her body is trying to get rid of the toxicity. She wants to help heal her body.
Any suggestions? supplements to take??
bizi
I know that this is not our normal topic but did not know where to go...

That's such a scary and horrible injury! I'm so sorry for your friend. I'm afraid I have no idea what to suggest. Doesn't her doctor?

I apparently have some ancestor (from long ago) that died from a lighting strike. It's written in a family bible. Your friend is lucky she survived being electrocuted.

[tecomsin]

What a horrific experience. She needs to be seen by at least a pulmonologist (a lung doctor). Does she have difficulty breathing?

[bizi]

Thank you for your reply.
All of her doctors over the past year have just shrugged their shoulders and have not helped her. She is lucky to be alive.. She doesn't have access to a real computer, thoughh she can google on her little cell phone. I tried looking for support groups for her on my pc...to no avail. Other people have survived it seems. Some one suggested she seek a GI doctor.
She sees a new primary MD in january. I will try to talk her into seeking a gastro MD referral.....She has many problems and I want to try to help her.
bizi

[bizi]

Originally Posted by tecomsin

What a horrific experience. She needs to be seen by at least a pulmonologist (a lung doctor). Does she have difficulty breathing?

I and she thinks the gray secretions are from her stomach.
She has multiple problems. Is disabled from a car accident.
Severe pain in her head and feet.
Is a strict vegetarian, and is gluten intolerant. She reads labels of everthing. She has chronic exhaustion and fatigue.
I began eating lunch with her at a health food store about 6 weeks ago.
I am greatful to have her friendship.
Her family mother and daughter who live in town want nothing to do with her...but she did go over there for a couple of hours on thanksgiving.

She is ocd, and lives out of boxes.
I helped her move boxes around her apartment one day.
I believe she could easily be a hoarder, but has only lived in this apartment since september 1st. and there are already piles of paper, bags of plastic bags, plastic forks and other things and groceries. She won't use the cupboards because they are not clean. I asked her if i could clean them for her and she said she was fine having them in bags on the floor.

I will have to be mindful of my mental health and put up boundaries on this relationship.
bizi
I have a christian therapist that goes by a sliding scale. I am going to call her and see if she is still seeing clients.

[tecomsin]

Bizi, please be careful. Sometimes people who present this way have a lot more going on in them than even what is visibly wrong and can end up doing a lot of damage to the people around them, which is why they are often alone and isolated. I am also one of those alone and isolated people and could really use a friend to help me get out of the door. You wouldn't know right away I had bipolar and with my ex, who was also a hoarder, I didn't understand to also look at antisocial traits you might find in a person with a personality disorder. I also tend to think I am doing the world a favor by keeping to myself because of my history of mental instability. Who really wants to deal with that?

[bizi]

Originally Posted by tecomsin

Bizi, please be careful. Sometimes people who present this way have a lot more going on in them than even what is visibly wrong and can end up doing a lot of damage to the people around them, which is why they are often alone and isolated. I am also one of those alone and isolated people and could really use a friend to help me get out of the door. You wouldn't know right away I had bipolar and with my ex, who was also a hoarder, I didn't understand to also look at antisocial traits you might find in a person with a personality disorder. I also tend to think I am doing the world a favor by keeping to myself because of my history of mental instability. Who really wants to deal with that?

I have supported people on the forums for decades. This is the first person in real life who could use my help and support.
Thank you for your honesty.
I feel somewhat compelled to help her.
She needs professional help though...and am wondering if she wants change? She has shared a lot of her story with me over the past 6 weeks. Though she won't tell me how old she is even though I have asked several times...weird.

She told me she has been abused her whole life, and abandoned.
She already takes a lot of supplements that take up half of her refrigerator.
But she thinks she should take more because of this radiation poisoning.
This sounds like crazy talk I know.
bizi

Originally Posted by tecomsin

Bizi, please be careful. Sometimes people who present this way have a lot more going on in them than even what is visibly wrong and can end up doing a lot of damage to the people around them, which is why they are often alone and isolated.

I have very much wondered this myself in reading here. I would also add to be cautious of pity-collectors. They are exhausting and usually have no interest in actually getting better. Their stories are often drastic (and mysterious), causing caring helper types into get invested. I have personal experience helping (trying to help) what turned out to be a pity-collector and found it never actually ended. It was just one thing after another. It is sad to think, but helping is often enabling, as they find "pay off" in pity. The relationship will be very unbalanced, with one always giving, and the other always taking. They will suck the life out of you if you're not careful.

I hope she isn't, but I have not been able to shake a bad feeling. Hope I am not being too blunt. I know how important friends can be, but it's also important that they *be* friends.

Doctors would be my only suggestion. They may never have answers, but no one else can really either.

I really hope I haven't overstepped here. I only speak up because I've seen you to be a very caring person, and I don't want to see you get hurt.

[Tucson]

Radiation poinsoning by being struck by electricity? IMO this is not likely. She has not been exposed to anything radioactive. One way an element is made radioactive is by bombarding it with subatomic particles like protons. Also a cyclotron can be used, which is essentially a particle accelerator.

Hit in the abdomen and having the electric arc leave the top of her head? Downright bizzare. How is this possible? Still, bizzare things do indeed happen. She does need to see a medical specialist. I wish her the best. I think your drawing of boundaries is an excellent idea.

[tecomsin]

That's very well put Innerzone. Pity seeking is also a red flag for people with personality disorders on the antisocial spectrum. Such people can present as having been abused or mistreated by everyone in life (a classic victim) and do not seem threatening at first. I had quite a bad experience and learned my lesson the hard way with a hoarder, ocd, pity seeking older person who had no friends and some strange ailments. That is probably why I am reacting here.

Not saying that is your situation, bizi, but there are some warning signs to be mindful of.

I also don't think that electrocution can cause radiation poisoning but I am not a doctor and am not completely sure.

[MickeyCheeky]

I'm so sorry you and your friend are struggling I agree that she needs to see a specialist as soon as possible. I wish you lots of luck to her and to you

[~Christina]

Be her friend but make boundaries and keep them in stone.

As for her medical issues who knows what to make of that, radiation I doubt.

Just see how things go , maybe she will be a good friend.

I have lifelong PTSD from letting a member here move in with me.

[jaysmotogp]

Is she taking activated charcoal by chance?
I only mention it because some people take it (OTC) for alleged toxicity and i'm wondering if that's what could be turning the bile gray. Never heard of grey bile otherwise.

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by jaysmotogp

Is she taking activated charcoal by chance?
I only mention it because some people take it (OTC) for alleged toxicity and i'm wondering if that's what could be turning the bile gray. Never heard of grey bile otherwise.

That's a good point. There's a chance that one or more of her supplements are actually causing some of her symptoms.

[Blueberrybook]

I don't have any useful advice, but I just wanted to say I'm sorry to hear that your friend is struggling. If she is having that issue, really, I don't think she should hesitate a minute more about seeing a specialist.

[bizi]

It has taken months to get this jan appointment.

That is interesting about the charcoal...
maybe her supplements are causing this?
Thank you so much for your responses and I am not offended in the least.
I appreciate your honesty.
bizi