My daughter
#93704 - 07/27/04 09:01 PM
|
|
|
|
|
daisy2
Reged: 07/19/04
Posts: 45
Loc: Washington
|
|
|
Well.. we saw the gastro doc. today and she was diagnosted with IBS. However, I'm a little disappointed about what the doctor said and is doing about it. He first listen to her talk about all her symptoms while I remained quiet. He explained the brain gut thing to her and then said that there are really four major things that play an important role with IBS. 1) stress, 2) genetics, 3) viruses, and 4) diet. He said that she should take a pepcid at night before she goes to bed and that was it. No tests. No fiber supplements. Which I asked him all about. He doesn't want to see her again. I asked about her gaining more weight and he said she looks fine to me. At that point, I said do you see a lot of children her age with IBS? He said about 4 or 5 a week. I said do they ever get better? He said some do and some don't. Anyways, he was so vague that I let feeling frustrated. I actually had Heather's book with me " The First Years" and showed it to him. He didn't really say too much. My daughter said, Yah, she's always on this website now and I drink peppermint tea all the time too. He just stared at us. I left feeling like he didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. Is this common with doctors? Did I not ask the right questions? Any thoughts would help right now. Thanks.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Ummmm this doctor sounds like a fool too me, and sounds like you had an experience a lot of people have had on here all too often.
This really bugs me because you can't "officially" be diagnosed with IBS without ruling out other things.
I don't think you did anything wrong on your part and I hope your daughter is truly grateful to have such a caring mom like you! You sound like a wonderful mom 
I just wish that this silly doctor would have been just a LITTLE more interested and helpful. I REALLY think it would be wise to try another doc. You and your daughter both need someone who really cares and can offer you some sound advice.
-Caryn
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I agree with Ibsgrl, you didn't do anything wrong, it just sounds like another idiot GI who's not taking things seriously. I think you've mentioned this before, but how old is your daughter? I would try and get a referral to another GI, because like Ibsgrl said, you just can't be diagnosed with IBS without ruling out other things. I was told I had IBS when I was really young (about 11 I believe) and now I'm really sick and have been having a lot of problems, and I'm just now getting some doctors to take me seriously...you really have to fight to get the care you deserve.
Your daughter is lucky to have such a great mom!
Kelly
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Ok, not a doctor, but this is based on my experience of being little with IBS and GERD and what my doctors did...
Well, it sounds like typical gastro stuff to awhile... and then it sounds bad. When I first got sick my pediatrician did EXACTLY what that gastro did, which is fine for a pediatrician. When the pepcid (which was prescription only at the time) didn't help, she referred me to a pediatric gastroenterologist. Who ran a bunch of tests on me and then told me that she could run a bunch more tests on me or control the symptoms of my probable GERD (which is what pepcid is for, not IBS). I didn't want any more tests so I got medicine. The tests are hard to do on children, because their digestive system hasn't finished growning and is quite small, but you can do them. (You might have to do them again as an adult). At the very least they should have done an ultrasound and checked for organ damage (if I'm remembering correctly) and a blood test or two. I didn't get diagnosed with IBS too until a few years later down the line after I'd switched medicines quite a bit and some of my symptoms were fixed and some just wouldn't go away.
I would suggest taking her to a new gastro who will do some tests on her. I always suggest women doctors. I know it's sexist, but they have just repeatedly worked out well for me (my pediatric gastro and my current gastro are both women, the 2 men I tried going to inbetween sucked).
Arrgh, hang in there. I hope your daughter appreciates all the love and support you are giving her though. Sometimes I think getting those things so early is a blessing. People around here find it hard to adjust their diet and way of living when they get it as grown-ups, but I have always eaten for my GERD and IBS and I'm a healthier happier person for doing so.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Doctors, Doctors, Doctors (Shaking head) I am not surprised to read that this was your experience. When I went to my doctor he diagnosed me with IBS, sent me home with some pills and never said anything about the diet change or anything. When I discovered Heather I promised myself to try her diet for one month and see how I feel. It worked!!!
So I changed doctors (mine was just a prescription slinger dorkus) and I told my new doctor about what I was doing to combat my IBS she kinda looked at me with relief. Like I didn't need any help. She said "Whatever is working for you..keep it up!"
I personally think maybe some doctors really have no clue as to what to do about IBS. If Heather's diet is working for your daughter I would stick with it. Don't stress that a doctor didn't agree....what ever works!! As my doctor said LOL
--------------------
Lana_Marie
Proud Mommy to Bentley Taylor
Born May 12, 2004 9lbs, 3oz
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I remembered your telling me you visited Mass. it's a shame you're not still here. My doctor is wonderful. Head of the department at Brigham and Women's in Boston. And I was so sick this week (they think I have a parasite this time) that he told me to see my PCP and that he'd squeeze me in next week between patients.
The "good" IBS doctors understand at very least about soluble fiber and possibly muscle relaxants so that you don't feel "flare ups" with as much force.
I agree with everyone else who tells you that you should definitely find a new doctor. It took me several tries to find the one I have, but I wouldn't trade him and his knowledge of this disease for the world.
Karen =)
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Goodmorning.
Thanks for your response. I'm curious what is GERD? Also, when were you diagnosed with IBS? It's funny you mention a women gastro because I told my husband last night, the next doc I try with her is going to be a women. I know that there is little tests to do on her as a 9 year old and she has already had the blood work done by her ped. doc. Everything checked out fine. We asked the doc yesterday about hypoglycemic because she just feels terrible if she goes more than 2 hours between meals/snacks. He said he doubts it. Really made her feel like it was all in her head. I'm calling his nurse back this morning to ask some more questions. I really don't think she has acid reflex so what would the pepcid do for her? Although, she does have a tightness in her throat that she decribed.
I let her have some ice cream after no dairy for a week last night and she said she was fine. Probably shouldn't have. I have her on vanilla silk for everything else.
I feel a real connection with you. Thanks for all your help. Carolyn
P.S. I need to get a picture of us up so you can see the faces behind this email. How do you do it?
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
My daughter's ped. doc when we first saw her about this 5 months ago thought she had a parasite too. Giardia was what she thought she had since we travel quite a bit but turned out negative. Hope you feel better soon.
How do I go about finding a good ped. gastro for her?? This one came highly recommended from her ped. doc? Should I do a post on this site and see what happens?
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
GERD is gastroesphegeal Reflux Disease. Or, acid reflux constantly. So I agree with you that if she doesn't have that, the Pepcid isn't going to do anything.
I would ask your pediatrician for a recommendation to a good pediatric gastro doctor. That's where I found my first from.
I was diagnosed with my GERD when I was 12, and my IBS when I was 14. I'd always had problems with food and umm... digesting food though. My whole life that I can remember. I had serious problems with constipation when I was very small and they fed me a lot of mineral oil (yuck). Coincidentally I also became a vegetarian when I was 12 or so, which helped my IBS a lot because I wasn't eating red meat or a lot of dairy which is a no-no for people with IBS.
A lot of IBS-ers (me included) can't take having an empty stomach and need to eat every couple of hours or so. So that could be a sign of IBS.
You could buy her some soy ice cream... then she could eat a little bit whenever and not feel deprived!
As for the picture, you need somewhere to host it (a lot of people use photobucket.com), they'll give you instructions on how to upload it and then you put the URL in your homepage profile (on this site) and there you will be! Or you could email a photo to Heather and she'll put it up when she gets the chance. We're always happy to see the faces of people we talk to around here.
I'm glad to be able to help... I do understand what it feels like to be young, and my parents really had no idea (though lots of good intentions) on what to do.
Jenny
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Her ped. doc actually recommended her to the ped. gastro we saw yesterday. That is why I'm not sure now where to turn.
As for her constipation problems, what are you taking for it and is it helping. What should I get her on? Her ped. doc recommended Mirralax but I would like to get her on a supplement.
The soy ice cream is a great idea. We have Trader Joes here which I love for stuff like that.
Carolyn
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Posts
