Sorry to go on so much. This happened over 3 years ago and it still gets my goat when I read about people going through this baloney.
Don't ever give up! We need to be informed and we need to fight for help.
Kathy L
At Thu, 14 Dec 2000, Amy Allen wrote:
>
>Yes, the right doctor CAN make all the difference. Just don't let any
>doctor intimidate you. Usually your gut instincts are the RIGHT instincts!
>I had been in pain since May. In August it got so severe, they put me in
>the hospital for 4 days and did every test imaginable, (8 blood screens,
>colonoscopy, upper GI, 2 ultrasounds, and a CT Scan) I saw 4 different
>doctors, but they just ended up releasing me with Vicodin, and Bacteria
>killing Antibiotics. I went to my OB two days later and requested a
>Laporoscopy. He wanted to be conservative, but I couldn't live and work on
>vicodin, so I took matters into my own hands, and started doctor hunting.
>I didn't want my doctor to refer me to 'one of his friends.' I researched
>on line, and a couple of appointments later, I found a new OB that I loved.
>The first day I met him, I broke down and cried from pain and frustration.
>He kept me at his office for 4 hours and performed every test imaginable
>HIMSELF - including the Ultrasounds. After my exam, he really felt my
>problem was GI related so he sent me to yet another doctor. This GI guy
>first diagnosed me with something called Dysmotility of the small intestine,
>and prescribed me anti-depressent/pain pills, and basically put me on a
>restricted diet. After 2 months of this, and lots of research, I just knew
>he wasn't right. I went back to him again armed with info. He told me that
>I read too much, and that I was looking for something to be 'drastically'
>wrong. He said I had IBS, and suffered from Fibromyalgia, and Chronic
>Fatigue, and then he gave me a bottle of muscle relaxers (that would make me
>even more tired!). On my way out, he told me that my General Practitioner
>would take my case from here. I left his office crying.
>
>Now 25 lbs lighter, and 1 month later, I begged my new OB Gyne for the
>laporoscopy. He jumped, and with in two days, I was on the table. This was
>last week Thursday. They found severe abdominal adhesions (for no
>particular reason I might add), and it took 2 hours of lazer sergury to
>remove them all. My *NEW* OBGyne apologized, and said, "I guess you were
>right, we should have done this back in August when I first met you."
>
>So, of coarse, I had to call my jerky GI guy... you'll never guess what he
>said... "Well, adhesions could certainly account for the digestion
>problems, but I don't see how they could be causing you pain..." If I could
>have choked him through the phone I would have! He never apologized for the
>mis-diagnosis (he has NO idea how mentally damaging that is!), but he did
>say he could have been wrong. *laugh* Yeah... ya think?
>
>There were days I couldn't get out of bed, because when I slept, it didn't
>hurt. Every day was a liquid diet day. I was even addicted to vicodin for
>a while - taking them every 3 hours. I thought I was going crazy. I felt
>like no doctor believed me, and I felt like a burden to my friends and
>family. If I hadn't found a great doctor, I'd still be helpless. My GP
>says that there's a 100% chance my adhesions will return. You know - I can
>live with that - so long as I know that there IS something wrong, and that I
>have a great group like you guys to support me.
>
>Bless you all!
>
>Amy
>
>>From: gidge@eudoramail.com (gidge)
>>Reply-To: adhesions@adhesions.org
>>To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS
>><adhesions@mail.medispecialty.com>
>>Subject: Happy to say my dr is looking into my adhesion problem!!
>>Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2000 12:38:20 -0600
>>
>>went to see the dr that did my hyst yesterday (she's been off sick for
>>8mths and I"ve been dealing with her partner) and before she even
>>examined me, listening to my symptoms she said "Oh, sounds like
>>adhesions/scar tissue on your bowel/colon" and then she examined me
>>which caused a ton of pain (and is still painful the next day), she
>>wants to start with an ultrasound and possible bowel studies to rule out
>>an obstruction and then she feels we will probably go in with the scope
>>and have a look, let me just say that the right dr can make all the
>>difference in the world!! any advice from my fellow adhesion friends?
>>