My Story, and why a Good Doctor makes all the difference!

From: Amy Allen (amyallen100@hotmail.com)
Thu Dec 14 17:48:17 2000

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?
>

Enter keywords:
Returns per screen: Require all keywords: