mforce00 Didn't You See The Doctor

[BrokenBladder]

yesterday? I was wondering what they had to say. Please check in with us and let us know how you're doing.

[mforce00]

I did, but I have decided to not post the info here because of recent events. I was pretty sure it would have been ignored.

[BrokenBladder]

Okay I respect your decision. Just remember we're here for support, if I didn't care I wouldn't have ask. I hope everything is going well with you and it's always best to put the past behind you.

[Mark N]

It is okay if you don't want to post the info but don't think you would be ignored. I was wondering how your visit went and hadn't heard anything but I hope that you forget about the fear of being ignored.

[mforce00]

At the doc I didn't learn much. I tried telling him these symptoms were new and unrelated, but he wanted to relate them it seemed. I had an EKG done and it was normal. I did bloodwork today for liver, heavy metals, and other stuff. He did say that this might be related to anxiety, or some type of GI problem (ulcer maybe). I'm glad he accepted by liver testing idea... That's about it. My hands are worthless now... allodynia in them makes life not worth living. The worst part about all this is going to a doctor and hearing that he hasn't seem anyone like me.

[BrokenBladder]

At the doc I didn't learn much. I tried telling him these symptoms were new and unrelated, but he wanted to relate them it seemed. I had an EKG done and it was normal. I did bloodwork today for liver, heavy metals, and other stuff. He did say that this might be related to anxiety, or some type of GI problem (ulcer maybe). I'm glad he accepted by liver testing idea... That's about it. My hands are worthless now... allodynia in them makes life not worth living. The worst part about all this is going to a doctor and hearing that he hasn't seem anyone like me.


Thanks for sharing what happened. Hopefully they will figure something out from your bloodwork or maybe it is as something as simple as anxiety. Thank goodness your EKG was fine that's one less thing to worry about.
I'm sorry your hands aren't working properly. Hopefully soon something show up that can give you some relief.

[Mark N]

I hope you have an inquisitive doctor because if he hasn't seen anyone like this before it may cause him to dig and not give up until he finds the cause. It is good to hear that he listened about the liver test and ran it. I hope he calls you back to investigate further and get to the root cause of this.

[Bobbi]

It could be a good thing (sounds weird to see someone say that, huh?) that your doctor hasn't seen anyone like you. The reason I mention it is, my doctors stated the same about me and it turned out that that was the impetus for them to find out all they could for a differential process to begin.

I'm sorry you didn't get answers or info. that may help create some ease, etc., at your appointment.

But: Don't give up. Your doctor is likely doing a lot of reading and calling around (networking) - to find some answers that may help you.

[mforce00]

For some reason the impression I get from most of them, all except 1, is that they don't know what's wrong with me, and I'm not worth figuring out. Figuring out the problem would require time and effort. What is the trick to getting a doctor interested in YOU?

[curiousforever]

Oh honey - I'm sorry you feel that life's not worth living - but it is....some days I feel the same way.

I'm glad he ran the test...and talk to him about how you feel he's not showing any interest in figuring out what is wrong with you.

If after that conversation you still feel the same way, get another doctor.

[Bobbi]

What I've done is: I "guide" my doctors :). By that I mean, I don't attempt trying to act as if I know more than they may (though I did walk into a couple of my appointments with notes in my pocket after researching and knowing exactly what was the diagnoses; I withheld sharing the notes until after they told me what they thought was their diagnoses.) I had trochanteric and ischial bursitis. I knew it.

I preface with statements such as: "Do you think it might be [this or that]?"

In more recent years, however, and thanks to Dr. W. and also Chirogeek (or Dr. D. from the SD forum), I've not been as reserved in flatly suggesting some tests. Turns out, the docs from our very own BT forums were right on target :).

I imagine, I probably did as do so many. I was at wit's end and I'm sure that that came across when I was first referred to a few doctors. So, what I did: Looked for a way to break the ice. Humor was the key in my situation; I threatened to bill my doctors for them getting to see me disrobed.

If you have ideas about what's going on, take those with you, only present your ideas as questions. It doesn't strike as forward as someone who may seem as a know-all.

I know that I'm not, but when my own doctors tell me that they trust I will research, I do just that. But when I don't guise the info. as "What do you think?" it comes across as too cocky or something.

Whatever they may state, you are worth finding out about and what's going on within and to your body.

Too, another thought is, and this may be difficult right now to accept is: There are times when testing is not able to detect what is happening within a patient's body. Just ask people with soft-tissue disease or other conditions that it just takes time for imaging to discern on film (in tangible form for doctors to "see"). The testing methods are not ideal for all conditions - as in the case with people whom have degenerative processes taking place. Because the tests may not be able to "capture" it all on film, it doesn't mean it's not happening. Symptoms and feelings are very real, but... if another cannot see them objectively at times, it means, time can be both an enemy and friend (eventually the images show what's going on).

Progression, unfortunately, for many, is what finally leads to diagnosis :(. In turn, everything is several steps behind where it may have, could have been :(.

But, as I said, I find a way to let doctors believe their "Ahh-haa" moments were soley theirs. Whatever makes them feel better can only end up helping me.

[Bobbi]

P.S.: What could make a major difference, too, is the one whom is interested. That doctor may end up being a "team" leader in your care. That's the relationship I'd work on and forget the naysayers :).

[Mark N]

I don't know how to get a doctor that cares but the way I did it was to not take no for an answer. When I ran across a doctor [several of them] that didn't care I didn't see them again and went to another doctor until one found what was wrong with me.

I started out with an episode where I couldn't walk for two weeks. My PCP refered me to a NS and this is what he told me " you are an aging jock and wil just have to learn to live with it." Besides wanting to clean his clock for is idiotic comment I knew he wasn't a doctor I wanted to deal with. I got referred to another NS that tried to help but couldn't find what was wrong, thankfully he sent me to an OSS in the hospital that their "tough" patients were referred to. I saw many doctors in between the first NS and my OSS that has done both of my fusions. Many of them tried to find a solution but a few were arrogant beyond belief and denied anything was wrong in spite of my symptoms because MRIs didn't show anything major going on.

Hang in there and persevere. It isn't easy but only you care enough to get the best care for yourself. No reason to get mad at the doctors just hang on to a good one when you find them and walk away from the ones that don't want to help you.

[Kathi49]

Agree Mark!

I have had a couple of PM's that were arrogant beyond belief and throw in some cockiness for good measure. Of course they were Residents at the time and probably felt like they knew it all and it showed! So, like you, I simply walked away never to return and found a group that took the time to listen. It has been my experience that the older docs are the best. Not just because they have gained the experience but they have years of maturity and know how to talk with people i.e., interpersonal communications. I do as Bobbi does and take notes in an attempt to make it easier on the docs when I do have appointments. Not a one of them I currently have have ever said anything negative about it. I simply formulate my notes and then ASK them what they think. Case in point. I couldn't get in to see my Urogynecologist once so his nurse wanted me to write up an email for his review. I did so. When I finally got in to see him he said, "You are so good at articulating exactly what is going on and it helped me a great deal. I wish more of my patients were as good at explaining things as you are." Now, THAT is my kind of doctor! Not because he gave me a compliment. But because he was actually thanking me for making his job a little easier.

Now, my current PM and my GP are my age. Still fairly young but have been around long enough to have gained some experience. Plus, I like the fact that they really take their time with me. I am always going on about how wonderful my PM is but my GP is also one who wants to talk forever. It cracks me up! He is always wanting to discuss HRT with me for some reason and I think it is because I have gone through so much with it and he is very interested in it.

Anyway, yep, I stay clear of the naysayers and the arrogant ones LOL!

[BrokenBladder]

In my case I stumbled upon my first good doctor. In fact his bedside manner was so horrible I had to tell him about it. Here's what he said to me, "I'm not here for my bedside manner, but I can guarantee you that I will do everything I can for you." I stuck with him and here I am 5 years later with several solid DX's that I'm sure I'd still been looking for if not for him. You see since he is a very dedicated, yet no bedside manner kind of doctor, he has referred me to other doctors that are the same way, but somehow they all seem interested in me. Bedside manner aside, that is.

[Kathi49]

Lisa,

Okay, LOL! To be fair...

My NS is like that; strictly business at all times. Only once in awhile will he cut up; pretty rare though. Those of us that have gone to him (friends here in town), all remark about him being brusque, etc. But then we all turn around and say, "He is one heck of a great surgeon!" Honestly, if it had not been for my PM and this NS, I don't think my problem ever would have been sorted out and fixed.

[waggytalk]

In my case I stumbled upon my first good doctor. In fact his bedside manner was so horrible I had to tell him about it. Here's what he said to me, "I'm not here for my bedside manner, but I can guarantee you that I will do everything I can for you." I stuck with him and here I am 5 years later with several solid DX's that I'm sure I'd still been looking for if not for him. You see since he is a very dedicated, yet no bedside manner kind of doctor, he has referred me to other doctors that are the same way, but somehow they all seem interested in me. Bedside manner aside, that is.

lol yeah my PC doctor is that way. he can be nearly rude but i know he is going to do whatever he has to for me.

ha has written a few letters to the SS office on my behaf. only one i had asked the others he couldnt belive they were giving me the run around. I went to one specilist that said my pain and Cerbal Palsy were figmints of my imaganation. i told my PC doctor about that and he walked over to his office (same clinic) and asked him to come over. then he chewed him out in front of me. he told me to not go back to him because he was a quack. a few months later he was gone LOL.

I should also mention my PC Doc is head doctor of the place.


I love the guy. i been seeing him for 15 years now. so he has seen everything happen over time.