Extreme Pain And Bizzare Symptoms!

[ravenwoodglass]

I'm not quite sure of his name I remember his last name, but I don't know the address or whatever. I'll hopefully be going back soon...I'm still so cranky from this, more than you can probably imagine. Today again I broke out in tears just from not being able to handle pains jabbing me in two places...

~ Lisa ~

His last name and the name of the clinic are enough for the letter. I think this was a great idea and will most likely help you a lot. Do access those doctors numbers that they gave you also, you may get better treatment from one of those than from the walk-in.

It is not surprising that you have a messed up cycle, stress and illness can do that. I hope they get to the bottom of this soon.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

I'm not quite sure of his name I remember his last name, but I don't know the address or whatever. I'll hopefully be going back soon...I'm still so cranky from this, more than you can probably imagine. Today again I broke out in tears just from not being able to handle pains jabbing me in two places...

~ Lisa ~

I'm so sorry you are still in pain. {{{HUGS}}}

From now on, you MUST be totally on top of things. You will have to act like both a doctor and a lawyer. If you know that something is terribly wrong with your poop (like, it's white), you have to take the initiative. Save a poop sample BEFORE you go to the doctor. It's not enough to tell them your poop is white--they're gonna need a sample to test. (I told you this before!)

You need to save the name, address, and phone number of EVERY doctor who sees you, along with a copy of every bit of paperwork they give you. If you have to, ask the doctor to write down his name and office phone number the minute he walks in the door to see you.

This is standard, grown-up stuff. I don't know anybody who doesn't know the name of the doctor they saw.

I know everything has been terribly stressful for you, and that this kind of organization is not what you are used to. I am not saying this to make you feel bad, but to give you a chance at getting better medical care in the future.

When my #1 son was 2, he had open-heart surgery. The surgeon and the hospital had a horrible policy of keeping the children in these horrible cribs that were more like metal cages; I was not allowed to hold him! Can you imagine--a 2-year-old, crying for his mommy, and all I could do was kind of hang over the metal bars to barely touch him.

His cardiologist did NOT have privileges at that hospital, yet he was able to yell at the nurse, tell her to get whatever liability waiver forms for me to sign that were necessary, and to get a regular bed in the room so that I could hold my child.

Doctors can and do follow up on patients they care about, especially when you contact them and ask for help.

But you need to know the doctor's name and how to contact him.

It IS hard to be on top of things when you are in terrible pain. But even so, if you come across like a space case, the doctor will assume you are a nut case from the first second. That's how they are trained--to make snap judgments.

If you show up complaining of something way out of the ordinary, like white poop, but you don't bother to bring a sample, they assume that you are either spaced out on drugs or making it up.

If you sound the least bit vague (i.e, you don't know the name of the doctor who sent you, and you don't have copies of the paperwork), again, they will make a snap judgment about you, and it won't be a positive one.

The medical system in both our countries sucks. That's a given. And unfortunately, you are in the position to suffer most from that.

If what I am saying you need to do is just too overwhelming for you (especially in the pain you are in), is there ANYBODY on the faculty of your college who can come with you and help? Do you have an academic advisor, for example? Or is there a Dean of Students?

I

[JNBunnie1]

I'm just curious, why would a stool sample have to wait until your menstrual cycle is over? What does one have to do with the other?

[Joni63]

Yes, I was wondering the same thing. As much pain as your in, you shouldn't wait to get to the doctor. They can still take your stool sample and examine you and do whatever needs to be done even if you have your menstrual cycle. Please get yourself to another doctor right away.

Hope you get relief soon.

[sneezydiva]

I'm just curious, why would a stool sample have to wait until your menstrual cycle is over? What does one have to do with the other?

Because if the menstral blood gets in with the stool sample, the lab may mistakenly say there is blood in the stool when there isn't any, and then the doctors will go down a totally wrong path with diagnosis and other tests.

Lisa,

Please get in contact with that clinic doctor ASAP. And next time he sends you to the hospital have his card with a phone number to call him when the staff is treating you poorly. If you could have gotten in contact with him at the time, he could have called the hospital and straightened it out.

[Joni63]

Yes, but they will be looking for other things with the stool sample and she can explain that it's her time of month. I had to give a urine sample when I went in and it was that time of the month. They knew that's why the blood was there, but still checked it for other things. I think it's more important to be seen right away given her symptoms then wait another 4 - 5 days. Just my opinion.

Lisa, hope you feel better soon!

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Red blood in a stool sample is usually assumed to be from the rectum (fissures, or hemorrhoids), not from the intestinal tract, which would usually be indicated by black, tarry stools.

[Darn210]

This is standard, grown-up stuff. I don't know anybody who doesn't know the name of the doctor they saw.

Just to comment . . . I don't want you to be too hard on yourself. I'm terrible with names. If I have gone into a walk-in clinic (instead of seeing my regular doctor) an hour later, I would have no idea what the doctor's name was unless it was on the paperwork that I brought home. If you call the clinic, though, they can tell you who you saw and that's what I would do if I needed his/her name.

I wouldn't wait on the stool sample. Tell them that you are on your menstral cycle, they can ignore a blood contamination for the time being and get another sample later if they need to. You need to keep this process moving.

I hope you get this figured out soon!!

[sneezydiva]

Red blood in a stool sample is usually assumed to be from the rectum (fissures, or hemorrhoids), not from the intestinal tract, which would usually be indicated by black, tarry stools.

That's true! I forgot about that. I wonder why they want her to wait to provide it now in that case?

Though IMHO the stool sample is secondary. The clinic doctor obviously intended for certain other tests which can only be performed at a hospital (likely an ultrasound) to done at the hospital or he wouldn't have sent her there. She should get in touch with the clinic doctor ASAP, and with or without that sample, I'm sure he will help move things along.

[num1habsfan]

That's true! I forgot about that. I wonder why they want her to wait to provide it now in that case?

Though IMHO the stool sample is secondary. The clinic doctor obviously intended for certain other tests which can only be performed at a hospital (likely an ultrasound) to done at the hospital or he wouldn't have sent her there. She should get in touch with the clinic doctor ASAP, and with or without that sample, I'm sure he will help move things along.

I've had to given the same stool sample 2 other times in the last year. He wants to be sure its not a bacterial infection. And I was told that I had to wait until my period was over.

~ Lisa ~

[GlutenWrangler]

Lisa,

It sounds like a blockage in your bile duct, possibly gallstones. You should definitely see a doctor asap. Take care, and good luck,

-Brian

[ravenwoodglass]

Lisa did they do any blood work on you while you were in the ER? Are you feeling any better? You mentioned the doctor said to wait to give a stool sample, is there any way you can see a differnt doctor with a baggie in hand? Their wanting you to wait makes me wonder if they thought you were just a 'crazy PMS' case and will go away once your period is over.

Pure white stools are not normal, as mentioned they can be a sign of gallbladder disease, which of course only effects you. It can also be a sign of hepatitis, this is something that could effect others so to leave you hanging like that could leave not only you but others around you in danger. My family and freinds were far from thrilled when I had this as a teen. By the time I was diagnosed a lot of folks had to go in for gammma gobulin shots. Make sure they did a blood draw and checked for it.

[num1habsfan]

Lisa did they do any blood work on you while you were in the ER? Are you feeling any better? You mentioned the doctor said to wait to give a stool sample, is there any way you can see a differnt doctor with a baggie in hand? Their wanting you to wait makes me wonder if they thought you were just a 'crazy PMS' case and will go away once your period is over.

Pure white stools are not normal, as mentioned they can be a sign of gallbladder disease, which of course only effects you. It can also be a sign of hepatitis, this is something that could effect others so to leave you hanging like that could leave not only you but others around you in danger. My family and freinds were far from thrilled when I had this as a teen. By the time I was diagnosed a lot of folks had to go in for gammma gobulin shots. Make sure they did a blood draw and checked for it.

i'm not even sure what the bloodwork did, or what anything showed. They wouldnt explain anything to me. And if I understood anything about medical records I would have just read it myself.

It wasn't this guy who told me to wait for the stool sample, he wanted it done as soon as possible. It was one of the previous times at home that I was told to wait until after my period is done (because of testing for bacteria..not sure how it affects it, but it does).

I talked to one of my friends who had gallbladder surgery last year, and she told me some of her old symptoms and it basically describes me perfectly except for the fact that I haven't thrown up yet (could have a few times by now, but always stop myself). So said the only thing that diagnosed hers was the ultrasound...I also told mom to talk to my aunty who just had the surgery from being blocked up with gallstones just this summer. See if she'll say anything familiar, too.

If I want to get that done it appears like I got to just tell them myself to do this damn test and find the answer instead of having me get worse. I always thought my burping was being of my hiatus hernia, but then my friend mentioned it was also one of her symptoms so maybe mine is too?? *sigh* so confusing already...

~ Lisa ~

[newglu]

Lisa,

I hope you are doing o.k. I came into this late and was wondering what is happening.

One thing I feel that I must tell you. In this day and age, you absolutely MUST take responsibility for your healthcare - IMHO it has nothing to do with whether you have free health care or if you are in the US with insurance. I worked in the medical profession in a hospital for four years so I know quite a bit about this - plus I grew up in a medical family.

When one doctor gives you the run-around which is what happened with you, then you have to take action. No, it isn't easy, especially when you are so sick, but please, or please don't take everything they say at face value. Do research. What is happening to you is pathetic to say the least and it is a crime also. More and more, they are wrong and we suffer.

I still believe, even though you say they told you to wait, that you REALLY NEED to get that stool sample in. To avoid blood contamination, wash well, put in a tampon and hold the string to the front when you collect the sample. If they are checking for bacteria it should also ease that problem. Please call the clinic again, explain you are in real pain and then take the sample.

I know I am being a nag, but trust me, I have YEARS of experience dealing with all of this. They have to take you seriously and unless you have the proof (white stool) they will ignore you. I can't believe the guy palpated your gall bladder and found it tender AND THEN didn't pursue that lead. GEEZ.

Anyway, again, I REALLY HOPE you get help soon. Let us know.

Newglu

[num1habsfan]

I just got a phone call...from one of the receptions at the walk-in clinic that I went to about all these problems here. The guy I seen wants me to come back basically ASAP...tomorrow, monday, or tuesday...Now i feel worried

~ Lisa ~

[ravenwoodglass]

I just got a phone call...from one of the receptions at the walk-in clinic that I went to about all these problems here. The guy I seen wants me to come back basically ASAP...tomorrow, monday, or tuesday...Now i feel worried

~ Lisa ~

Don't be worried until after you see him, be relieved that you may have an answer. Let us know how things go and try to get there as soon as you can.

[elye]

Continuing to follow your story, Lisa....let us know when you have any info.

More hugs!

[num1habsfan]

Don't be worried until after you see him, be relieved that you may have an answer. Let us know how things go and try to get there as soon as you can.

Well it's just bothering me because in these 2 years of fighting with doctors (specialists not included) I've only been called back once, and that was for thyroid, so i have NEVER been told to come back to a general doc for stomach-related problems. It's scary, if I was always told to come back then it wouldnt be....

~ Lisa ~

[Jestgar]

Well it's just bothering me because in these 2 years of fighting with doctors (specialists not included) I've only been called back once, and that was for thyroid, so i have NEVER been told to come back to a general doc for stomach-related problems. It's scary, if I was always told to come back then it wouldnt be....

~ Lisa ~

Maybe it just means that you've finally found an MD that cares...

[num1habsfan]

Maybe it just means that you've finally found an MD that cares...

Maybe. Still weird that out of all the patients he sees a day at that walk-in clinic he remembered my case and wants to tell me whatever. Still feelin pretty nervous..

~ Lisa ~

[Fiddle-Faddle]

So why haven't you seen him yet????

Look, if you complain about not being able to obtain emergency care, and then the one doctor who seems to have a clue tells you to come back AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, you should go back AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I'm sorry, but the fact that you haven't gone back, or even called him back, makes you look like a total flake!

Is your health important or not?

[ravenwoodglass]

I really hope you have seen the seen the doctor by now. As FF said if you haven't you can't expect this doctor to take you seriously. The fact that he called and asked to see you means that he has found something important. You may very well have something communicable, your symptoms do point to a number of things one of the being hepatitis, which is communicable as mentioned before. You are not doing yourself or those around you any favors by not contacting him. I do so hope you are not still waiting and that you saw him yesterday.

[Lisa]

So why haven't you seen him yet????

Look, if you complain about not being able to obtain emergency care, and then the one doctor who seems to have a clue tells you to come back AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, you should go back AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I'm sorry, but the fact that you haven't gone back, or even called him back, makes you look like a total flake!

Is your health important or not?

Alison, I don't know what you are trying to achieve by your harsh comments and name calling. Motivations possibly. I found it extremely harsh toward a young person with concerns and in distress.

[num1habsfan]

Alison, I don't know what you are trying to achieve by your harsh comments and name calling. Motivations possibly. I found it extremely harsh toward a young person with concerns and in distress.

Thanks, fellow Lisa...I haven't gone back yet because I cannot skip on my finals. And they are not there in weekends. These universities don't accomodate for nothing. Sure I'm registered with the disability office, but that help goes as far as my sociology teacher letting me take the exams home for the weekend, or having permission to go to the washroom if I need. There's no such thing as make-ups or rescheduling, not when you have hundreds of people writing at the same time.

I told the office I would go back on Monday, they know when I'm coming. Please don't make this harder than it already is. I already have enough trouble focusing on my exams when I have all of this going on...

~ Lisa ~

[ravenwoodglass]

I told the office I would go back on Monday, they know when I'm coming. Please don't make this harder than it already is. I already have enough trouble focusing on my exams when I have all of this going on...

~ Lisa ~

Please let us know how things go, I don't think anyone meant to be harsh. There are a number of people here, myself included who are worried about you. I hope the doctor has some answers on Monday. If he chides you for not getting in sooner explain the reason why and ask if this happens again if they can leave a number for you to call him back or even have him call you after hours. I have had a couple of doctors who would return calls between 6 and 8 pm when needed, perhaps he will also. Keep us posted if you can and I hope everything went well with your exams.