My GI doc is an idiot, need advice
#302672 - 03/20/07 05:31 PM
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I went to my GI doctor this afternoon complaining about extreme gas, bloating, irregular bm's (three times on day, then nothing for 3 to 4 days, and on and on). I explained to him that I have been following Heather's guidelines and the gas has not improved. He gave me some reading material on "gassy" foods. I said I know all of this, eating this way is not helping, could it be celiac's? He said no, they tested for that Sept 2005. I asked for an allergy test, he said no need that i just need to alter my diet (which i JUST told him was not working). He told me to eat citracel and gave me a prescription for bentyl. I am VERY frustrated and depressed. I had to leave work early the past two days because my gas was SO explosive I thought I was going to accidentally have some sort of public trauma ocur if i didn't leave, not to mention that my belly was pouring over my pants because i was so bloated. I have been following heather's guidelines for two months now, I suck down peppermint and fennel tea like its my only source of water (i told the doctor about the peppermint tea and he asked me "what does that do?"). I am at the end of my rope, I have lost all patience. Nothing I eat is safe. Everything I eat gives me gas. Any advice? Maybe a probiotic in case my bacteria is all out of wack???
Any advice is much appreciated.
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Get out of his grip! My GI doctor was very understanding although he did not give any extra help, at least he was understanding and suggested things that just can't be afforded right now. HOWEVER! You need a new GI doctor! And REAL help...get someone else! You need another blood test and allegery test and the such and just a new doctor. Do whatever you can to take care of yourself. You are doing the right thing by knowing that what he did was wrong wrong wrong. You do not have to live like this and there is real help that docotors will give...just find a new one! What insurance are you on?
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my insurance is United Healthcare which has been really good, I live in the Atlanta area. I have some names and numbers of some new docs and i plan on calling and making an appointment tomorrow.
Another thing that is driving me crazy about this guy: he gave me 6 or 7 pieces of "literature" to read about excessive gas. One of them says to try the elimination diet, adding food groups back one at a time to see which group causes the most problems, and it says to eat a bare bones diet for 3 to 4 days, suggesting a few things most importantly CUCUMBERS, BROCOLI and MELON. On a different sheet the doctor gave me it says: "Stay away from CUCUMBERS, BROCOLI and MELON at all costs (and other things, but these were in there.) Even his "literature" doesnt make sense. This is so frustrating. Even my plain pasta for dinner is irritating my stomach right now!!!
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oh and ANOTHER thing! This doctor told me that there was a study done, 100 people without IBS, 100 with IBS, they took xrays of everyone's stomachs and everyone had the same amount of gas. His explanation was that people with IBS can FEEL it more then normal people and thats why I am so miserable. Does that even make sense???!?!?!?! There is no way that the amount of gas I have is normal, I could fill up a hot air balloon!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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First off, I haven't had much luck with GI docs other than to have them run tests and tell me I'm not dying of anything. Asking a GI doc about diet and food is very brave! They rarely have answers for that.
If you want, post your sample daily menu here and I'll have a look and try to give advice. Include all meds you take as well, and any small amounts of trigger foods (even if you just had a bite of chocolate, that kinda thing). There are a lot of things that contribute to gas, including drinking too much with a meal, eating too much at one time, eating lots of IF (most IF sources will cause gas, I take Beano for this), as well as various 'gassy' foods, and even some pre-packaged foods that contain milk products you may not know about. So please maybe post your daily diet and we can see if we can suggest improvements.
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Kat
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LOL, unbelievably it might be true.. However (big however!) in regular people, the gas passes through them without causing cramping or pain, and usually is expelled when they go to the washroom or at night when the muscles in the digestive system relax. The gas doesn't build up and cause bloating/cramping/pain.
In someone with IBS, we feel it more because we get cramping and bloating along with the gas, and tend to build it up and expel it at once, sometimes in a painful embarassing way.
So it is possible we do all have the same amount of gas, it will affect an IBS person a lot more.
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Kat
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Quote:
oh and ANOTHER thing! This doctor told me that there was a study done, 100 people without IBS, 100 with IBS, they took xrays of everyone's stomachs and everyone had the same amount of gas. His explanation was that people with IBS can FEEL it more then normal people and thats why I am so miserable. Does that even make sense???!?!?!?! There is no way that the amount of gas I have is normal, I could fill up a hot air balloon!!!!!!!!!!!!!
While people with IBS do tend to have a heightened sensitivity to pain in their abdomens, you're doctor is an idiot. Get a new one. There is an average number of times humans are supposed to pass gas each day. I think it's something like 17 times a day. Even if you are near that number, you shouldn't be in pain from the bloating/gas.
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I asked for an allergy test, he said no need
Again, new doctor. He shouldn't be disregarding a perfectly valid request like that.
With United Healthcare, I think you can go straight to specialists without a referral. I have United too and I've never had to get referrals. Find an allergist and get those tests done if that's what you need.
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If you're not dead, you've still got time.
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I'm in the Atlanta area too. My insurance is Kaiser, so I am stuck going to Kaiser drs. Although my GI dr is very sympathetic, she did admit to me that she didn't know how to help me. She suggested I do research for myself, and I found this website. Thank goodness. 
I agree with K2. Post a sample menu for a day, and everyone will try to help.
Snookie, IBS-C
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Snookie, IBS-C
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Hang in there! I am glad you have good insurance and are calling new doctors tomorrow! Just keep with it..you are doing the right thing and it has to be sooo frustrating. Throw away those papers, obviously he doesn't know what is going on and is pretending like he does. You know what to do, more than you probably are giving yourself credit for. Take the time and even take off a few days of work if you can..simply to rest and breath. you deserve it, and this is hard especially when everything revolves around the gut and health..hang in there and let us know what happens
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Mine is Kyser too (spelling incorrect..oh well) It is nice to know that at least we can simi afford all the bills!
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