Doctors - How Do I Get Them To Listen?

[JRock]

Hi again,

I need to vent - I

[ravenwoodglass]

If this started after taking the supplements I would stop them for a while and see if it stops. Are you sure they are gluten free? Do they have barley grass by any chance? The metallic taste you describe is something I get from barley but that may not be the case for you. Do get checked for diabetes as the symptoms you describe could be from high blood sugar but they also could be symptoms of a glutening. They describe my 'before the stomach stuff starts' symptoms quite well. Right down to the ocular migraines although I am lucky and rarely get a headache with them anymore. Being glutened can also raise your blood sugar so if the doctors does find that yours is elevated do ask him to recheck you again after you are feeling better.

[tarnalberry]

I generally just call and say, "I need to make an appointment to see the doctor." You know you need to go in, so leaving a message just is asking for a delay. And if you're confident it wasn't a case of contamination, and there are just as many non-digestive symptoms, then I wouldn't start with a GI, but your regular doc. Don't expect a call back within an hour or two - though if you don't get a call back by the end of the day (when a lot of offices deal with messages, it seems), then it's fair game to call back early the next morning with "I didn't hear back from you, and am still concerned". And when you call, be concise in your symptomology, and specific in your concerns. "Sharp headaches, dizziness and mental confusion, uncontrollable shaking, and going from very hot to very cold. This hasn't happened before, and has me rather worried."

I wouldn't go for a goal of dx over the phone (so, more info isn't always better), but rather just trying to help them determine how quickly you need to be seen.

If they really don't care about responding to your concerns and health, then it's time to find a new service provider - they serve you, after all.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

I was wondering about the metallic taste in your mouth--do you have mercury amalgams (silver fillings in your teeth)? My dentist told me to let her know immediately if I had a metallic taste in my mouth, as that would mean that mercury was leaching from the fillings and the fillings would need to be removed and replaced (which is something VERY tricky, and most dentists don't know how to do it correctly, and end up poisoning their patients with more leached mercury).

And mercury poisoning could be causing all your symptoms (but so could gluten).

You might want to pm rachel_24 on this board for advice on that--she has been through it.

[neesee]

Too much stomach acid gives me a metallic taste in my mouth. When I was first diagnosed, I was on a heavy dose of zantac (300 mg) twice a day. It helped a lot!

I hope you figure it out and feel better soon.

neesee

[JRock]

Thank you for your responses!

I booked an appointment at the base clinic with a different provider since my primary care manager was not available - I'm thinking that might be good - I'll get a different perspective. My hubby suggested that I go off my vitamins slowly to figure out if they're doing it - I just went off all of the ones I started taking two weeks ago and kept my multi and the other few supplements.

I can't really explain the metallic taste - maybe it's more of an electric taste - it's hard to explain. I only have a few fillings and they're all white. I'm so lacking on mental energy today, so please excuse me if I don't make the most sense. Trying to articulate myself at work is becoming harder and harder.

I'll let you guys know what the doctor says - I really hope he's able to offer some insight and doesn't just rush me out like all of the others usually do.

Jen

[spinsterwitch]

A lot of the symptoms sound like migraine...my migraines really flaired during the last year (before I stopped the gluten), so it's worth checking out the vitamins.

Unfortunately, MDs can be entirely overloaded. It's frustrating and I don't mean to make any excuses for a doc that doesn't follow-up, but I usually do make an appointment as well when I really need to talk to them about something. When you are sitting in front of them, they have to listen.

Good luck!

[JRock]

Hi Again!

I'm happy to report that yesterday's appointment went well - the doctor actually SAT DOWN and made eye contact when he came into the room! They rarely do that! If they sit, they're usually staring at a computer. At any rate, the doc and I talked for almost 20 minutes and I'm grateful to say that he thinks the worst case is I might be hypoglycemic (I'm taking a glucose test tomorrow). The best case is that he thinks my body is healing and the extra calcium/magnesium might be overkill right now since I'm actually able to absorb things (we think - he did a blood test to find out). At any rate, he told me to lay off anything except the daily multivitamin and the sublinguial b-12 for a while. In addition, he pointed something out that I hadn't even considered! I've had problems with migraines since I was a teenager. About three years ago I had a migraine that lasted a week and would not subside with any medication - so my doctor put me on a pill to help prevent them (my husband hates that I'm on it because of the negative connotations) - 20mg of prozac. My doctor thinks that since I'm absorbing better that I don't need as much prozac - so he cut me to 10mg. We'll see how that goes - I definitely have had a shorter fuse since not taking my full dose last night.

At any rate, I wanted to let you guys know - maybe this is something that has been overlooked for others as well!

Jen

[Ms. Skinny Chic]

Hi Again!

I'm happy to report that yesterday's appointment went well - the doctor actually SAT DOWN and made eye contact when he came into the room! They rarely do that! If they sit, they're usually staring at a computer. At any rate, the doc and I talked for almost 20 minutes and I'm grateful to say that he thinks the worst case is I might be hypoglycemic (I'm taking a glucose test tomorrow). The best case is that he thinks my body is healing and the extra calcium/magnesium might be overkill right now since I'm actually able to absorb things (we think - he did a blood test to find out). At any rate, he told me to lay off anything except the daily multivitamin and the sublinguial b-12 for a while. In addition, he pointed something out that I hadn't even considered! I've had problems with migraines since I was a teenager. About three years ago I had a migraine that lasted a week and would not subside with any medication - so my doctor put me on a pill to help prevent them (my husband hates that I'm on it because of the negative connotations) - 20mg of prozac. My doctor thinks that since I'm absorbing better that I don't need as much prozac - so he cut me to 10mg. We'll see how that goes - I definitely have had a shorter fuse since not taking my full dose last night.

At any rate, I wanted to let you guys know - maybe this is something that has been overlooked for others as well!

Jen

Why did the doctor choose prozac?? There must be something else..you can take..

[debmidge]

Hi Again!

I'm happy to report that yesterday's appointment went well - the doctor actually SAT DOWN and made eye contact when he came into the room! They rarely do that! If they sit, they're usually staring at a computer. At any rate, the doc and I talked for almost 20 minutes and I'm grateful to say that he thinks the worst case is I might be hypoglycemic (I'm taking a glucose test tomorrow). The best case is that he thinks my body is healing and the extra calcium/magnesium might be overkill right now since I'm actually able to absorb things (we think - he did a blood test to find out). At any rate, he told me to lay off anything except the daily multivitamin and the sublinguial b-12 for a while. In addition, he pointed something out that I hadn't even considered! I've had problems with migraines since I was a teenager. About three years ago I had a migraine that lasted a week and would not subside with any medication - so my doctor put me on a pill to help prevent them (my husband hates that I'm on it because of the negative connotations) - 20mg of prozac. My doctor thinks that since I'm absorbing better that I don't need as much prozac - so he cut me to 10mg. We'll see how that goes - I definitely have had a shorter fuse since not taking my full dose last night.

At any rate, I wanted to let you guys know - maybe this is something that has been overlooked for others as well!

Jen

Jen

Not that this is a factor for you, but when I was one "The Pill" I used to get migraines very often. I never got the connection between medication and headache until I got off Pill.

I like the email messaging to Dr. That's a great idea....at least it gets a short message over to the Dr. so they have something to refer to when you do actually see or talk to them.