Nervous, Nervous, Nervous!

[penguin]

Why am I so nervous about an effin' doctors appt? This is a new GI doc, the last one I saw two years ago was a total toolbox. I don't like dentists for the same reason, one (ok two) bad apples in the bunch ruined the whole business of apples.

Apparently this one knows something about celiac, but I'm afraid he'll think I'm nuts! Of course, I have a doctor that actually diagnosed me celiac, but she didn't order an endo or anything. I have this big long list of symptoms and stuff, as much for me as for him, since I tend to forget things at dr appts. I'm going togive it to him along with copies of records from Dr. GI Toolbox and my most recent bloodwork. Here's what it says (sorry for yucky details):

As a child:

 GI workup around age 7, everything normal, stomachaches attributed to stress from siblings going to college

 Vomiting in the middle of the night (about every month)

As an adult:

 Mononucleosis summer 2002, sick for two months

 Beginning the following fall, diarrhea almost daily to present

 On-and-off anemia, elevated platelets

 Fall 2003- pyloric spasms start (ranging from weekly to every few months), no cause found after upper GI, ultrasound, and EGD

 Small ulcer found during EGD, attributed to heavy NSAID use. Treated with 60 day course of nexium. Didn’t effect spasms or diarrhea.

 Avoided oranges, tomatoes, and other acidic foods. Spasms happened anyway.

 Several h.pylori blood tests negative (taken about once a year)

 Spasm symptoms: moderate/severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting

 Spasms formerly treated with hydrocodone, levsinex, now treated with bentyl and phenergan

 Diagnosed with IBS, told to eat more whole grains. Didn’t help, made diarrhea worse.

 Celiac Panel in 1/06 – Only IgG comes out positive

 Gluten-free for four months, had some improvements

 Dr. Bartos makes Celiac diagnosis 2/24/06 after 3 weeks gluten-free

 Allergy testing 3/06, no food allergies

 Back on gluten 5/19/06

 Currently taking daily: Prilosec, Kariva. As needed: Bentyl, phenergan

 Other symptoms (GI or Otherwise):

o Heartburn

o Flu-like muscle aches (no fever)

o Facial numbness

o Lack of concentration (Spaced-out feeling)

o Feeling of intoxication

o Mouth sores (painful white patches)

o Foul gas

o Foul stools

o Lightly colored stools (from bright/pale yellow to orange)

o Loose stools (often bulky)

o Mucus in the stools

o Passing undigested food (especially vegetables and fruits, cooked or raw)

o Problems drinking milk, but cheeses and yogurt ok

o Tingling in hands and toes

o Tingling in the scalp (feels like my hair is falling out?)

o Lower abdominal cramping

o Charley horses (hereditary, have them at least once a week)

o Fatigue

o Gas and bloating

Um...anything else I should include? Am I nuts? I'm flipping out!

[Matilda]

..

[Felidae]

I know what you mean about having one bad doctor or dentist and then you always worry that the new ones will be bad too. Pretty comprehensive and I agree with Matilda add how the gluten challenge affected you.

Good luck with your appointment.

[jerseyangel]

Chelsea--Sounds like you are well prepared for your appt. I completely understand why you are nervous, but try to keep an open mind where the doctor is concerned. (I can't believe I actually said that!!) But really. I hope that it goes well and that he's not a toolbox I'll be anxious to hear what he has to say--

[flagbabyds]

thats a really long list!

i think that you are well enough prepared.

[TCA]

I love being prepared. You sound like you're ready! Good luck!

[penguin]

I leave for my appointment in about 45 minutes. I can't eat anything because my stomach hurts, which is good in a way, at least I'm going to the right kind of doctor for that.

I won't eat because I can't get over the fact that I've gained 16 lbs since May 19th! Very few of my clothes fit me. I haven't weighed this much since high school. Why on Earth would someone gain weight that fast?

That's like, 5 lbs a week?!

I don't know what to do...

[Guest nini]

good luck, definitely mention how going back on gluten has affected you. This is VERY important.

also, right before my dx, I gaine about 30 pounds in a matter of WEEKS... yep... was a very sick puppy... so while 5 pounds in a week seems a lot, it isn't as bad as it could be! I was literally gaining 10 pounds a week... keep us posted!

[jerseyangel]

I leave for my appointment in about 45 minutes. I can't eat anything because my stomach hurts, which is good in a way, at least I'm going to the right kind of doctor for that.

I know that feeling so well...hopefully in an hour or two, you'll feel relieved and have some answers. It's gonna be ok

[fanny]

Good luck and stay strong.

I'm having my second endoscope next month and I nervous about that I hope that my villi are healing.