Silly Non-GI Doctor Visit Question - I can't eat or drink all day?
#77021 - 06/07/04 07:49 PM
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AstroChick
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 1023
Loc: Chicago, IL, USA
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I have a sorta non-IBS question for you all, particularly for other members of the delicate-flower, vapors-prone, dizzy-and-weak-when-it-gets-hot club: 
There was a message left on my answering machine from my doctor's office, where I'm getting my annual exam late tomorrow afternoon. The message confirmed my appointment and said that I should not drink or eat 8 hours before the appt.
Has anyone ever had this for a plain ol' annual exam before? And how the heck am I going to not eat or drink from 8:30 am until whenever my doctor's appt is over when it will be the hottest and most humid day of the year? I get weak and woozy enough when I don't get enough liquids and salt and when I contemplate being in the doc's office with all those needles and stuff....this may be really unfun.  And yeah, it will NOT make my IBS any easier, since my occasional D loves to show up when I'm all weak from the heat.
I'd love any suggestions from y'all about how I might deal with this. I suppose fainting dead away in the doc's office might convince her to give me an am appointment if she's going to spring this on me, but I think that's a last resort.
--a puzzled AC
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Um, ya...that has got to be the weirdest thing I have ever heard...are they tryin to starve ya or something???  I have absolutely no idea why this would be the case...does someone, anyone out there have a reasonable explaination for this? Sorry I couldnt be of more help AC! 
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Does your doctors office to their own blood work. The only time I've had to do that is when they test lipids and glucose. Strange, especially not having any fluids on a hot day. I would call them back in the morning and find out what they want.
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Peace,
Tammy
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Hmmmm?
#77025 - 06/07/04 08:21 PM
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I don't know to much my guesses would be that if they are planning to do some blood work there or maybe they want to feel your stomach or intestines without too much in them.
I would be tempted to phone the docotors office in the morning and check with them why or if they made a mistake about what to do before your appointment. Also make sure to tell them the situation and how you react to the heat and and not eating. It almost sounds like a mix up!
Unfortunately we really need to speak up to our doctors and ask questions. If something sounds strange or not right it is your right to ask about it and ask again if you are still confused and then if you don't like what they have to say see some one else. I think a lot of IBS people have problems with doing this.
I find that I started to have IBS because I didn't stand up and speak when I was upset so my body decieded to express itself because the emotions I needed to get out where being bottled up.
Anywho I have my yearly exams and paps and that has never been said to me ever! And i've been checked regularly lately for cancer cause of changes in my cells and had some biopsies and have paps every 6 months for the last 6 years and they have never told me to fast.
Hope it works out for you and if you wouldn't mind letting me know cause i'm curious now for the reasoning behind it.
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I think I would reschedule and go for a morning appointment.
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They are probably going to do some blood work. You have to fast for that. I usually make my appt. in the morning that way you have already fasted all night...
Barbie
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They almost always make me fast when they're going to do bloodwork. I would still call the office this morning and confirm, as well as asking if drinking water is ok... even when fasting, I've always been allowed water. The no-drinking rule is usually to keep patients from drinking soda, coffee, and anything else sugary.
Good luck!
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Yeah, I think you all are right, although she's never made this request before even when she did blood work. Feh. I think I will call up, because not drinking anything really sucks.
Thanks, everyone, for the guidance! I think I'll call 3 months in advance next time so I can get one of those primo 7:30 am slots...
--AC
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this is an interesting request. i'm dying to hear the rationale!
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I called a couple of hours ago to ask about the no eating or drinking request. The person answering said that generally the doc likes to do cholesterol screenings, and you can't eat before those.
I then asked if it was ok to drink water, and she said it was. I then expressed some confusion about why the message said I couldn't drink...but I didn't get a response there.
And at the end, I embarrassed myself by getting a little emotional when she asked if I could handle not eating.  (I really didn't want to think about fainting or D at that moment!) But she was nice and said that I could always reschedule the bloodwork for later in the week so I wouldn't have to fast during the day.
So I'm sitting at work trying to handle support calls on an empty stomach (but I'm well-hydrated, thankfully!). We'll see whether I get all sniffly when dealing with the doc or the person taking my blood...
Ya know, my dad had to do a fasting cholesterol test for the first time in his life a couple of weeks ago. I wonder if the word went out to docs in the past year that their patients didn't read their minds and know not to eat (or drink or whatever) before an exam. WhatEVAH!
--the hungry yet now moist AC
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I learned the fasting bit the hard way. After I had my bloodwork done (no one told me to fast) my doctor called me and said your readings are really high. Are you sure you were fasting before the test....Huh! I told him nobody told me to fast and what was I to know??? I rescheduled and fasted and all levels were good. I have noticed that now when I sit down to have my blood tested the person asks if I have been fasting. Nice when they let us in on their little secrets!!!!
Barbie
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well, that explains it.
how'd you do???
i dread fasting, too. i get all dizzy-weird. 
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I always have to do the fasting bloodwork because of cholesterol workups. So, - I schedule my physical for whenever and make a separate "nurse" appointment for the bloodwork either a few weeks before or after the physical. It works fine. I can't believe your doctor's office wouldn't think of that. How inconsiderate.
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So I find myself in the doctor's office feeling a little woozy (hey, it was 93 out today!) but basically ok since I had some water. Right when they call me back to get weighed and undressed (hey, isn't that the wrong order? ), the lights go out...and they stay out for the next hour.
Long story short, I had a pap smear by flashlight and an exam by one of the few windows in the building and the doc and I convinced ourselves that the bloodwork could wait until next year. I'm nervous enough about needles - needles in the dark are definitely a Bad Thing. 
Now I'm just chowing down on graham crackers and getting ready to send my new Pill prescription in - I'm curious to see whether a lower-dose Pill keeps me a bit more stable.
Thanks, everyone, for helping me through this nutty episode!
--AC
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AC, that's hysterical!! The deck was just stacked against you on this one, wasn't it??!!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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