Need to Vent
#16484 - 08/06/03 12:57 PM
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Well, I just got back from my first GI Specialist appointment and although I was very happy with how well they listened, it still resulted in frusteration.. even though I know it's not the doctor's fault.
First, I ended up with a brand new doctor on her first day. So I spend an hour explaining my life story to her, and she nods and asks questions. Then she dissapears for 20 minutes and comes back with another doctor, of whom I now have to explain my life story to again. The end result? She knows its IBS, and thinks she knows a drug that can help me (stupid me, was so frusterated didn't even ask the name), but I have to go through more tests just to rule every possible stomach problem under the sun out before she prescribes it to me. I've already had a sigmoidoscopy and a barium enima that were horrible enough.
So I guess my frusteration stems from the fact that she thinks there's something that might help me, but I have to wait months and months (getting an appointment is hell) to get all these tests done before I can get it prescribed. I have to go get another blood test (and I HATE needles.. faint everytime), an upper sigmoidoscopy ("oh, don't worry.. they give you light medication for sticking a scope all the way down your throat to your stomach" they tell me), and another x-ray where I have to drink the chalky stuff again.
I know it's not her fault and later will be greatful she is just taking precautions, but it's frusterating at the same time. I do feel a little better now and maybe the new spasm medicine (Levlin?) she gave me will help a little with the abdominal pains.
Thanks for reading if you got this far. Just needed to vent. 
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- Jennifer
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I hate needels too, before I go to the doctor I buy anaestetic ointment (it's called Embla in Sweden) to put in the bend of the arm. It helps me relax to know that I'll hardly feel the sting and I alvays lie down when they draw the blood. I even forced them to put it on me when I gave birth, silly but I was more afraid of the needle than giving birth!
Good luck!
Fia
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Hi Jennifer,
Hang in there through all the tests. I've been through them all and it is no fun. But in the end you can ease your mind knowning it isn't anything more serious than IBS.
The medicine you are currently taking - is it called Levsin? I take it as needed and my doctor lowered my dose to handle the side effects better.
Wish you well and keep us informed.
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Hi there... I just read your post and I was wondering what your symptoms are...?
Good luck with everything during your 'discovery' period. It does sound like your doctors are listening, and that's a great start!
~Deborah
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~Deborah
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Hi Barbra,
Yup, it is Levsin. She put me on a low dose (the one you put under your tongue) and told me if that helps, she'll prescribe me the long-term kind. I just took my first one this morning because I had a bad attack on the way to work so I'm still waiting to see how bad the side effects are. So far feeling only a little drugged.
Thanks for listening to me vent. 
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- Jennifer
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Hi Deborah,
I've been diagnosed with IBS for over a year now from my regular doctor, but now that I'm seeing the GI Specialist, they want to practically do the tests over. This is because I got a lot of the tests done in a Mass. hospital when I was on vacation and landed in the ER.. and my GI Specialist thinks it'll be easier just to do the tests again then try to get them from the hospital. 
My symptoms are pretty normal for IBS.. mostly constipation with some weeks of straight painful diarrea, painful abdominal cramps after eating my trigger foods, constant bloating and excess gas, etc.
I'm definately going to request a copy of my medical record after all of this just in case I have to switch doctors again!
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- Jennifer
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I also put my under my tongue - the long term was too hard for me handle. You'll feel aittle tired and make sure you have gum or hard candy to suck on. It can dry your mouth out of a couple of weeks. Drink lots of water and that helps with the dry mouth too.
Good luck!
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Ooh good idea. Thanks Barbra!
That stuff tastes nasty, but it if helps...
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- Jennifer
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Jennifer,
Sounds like you've got a doctor that cares, and that's a good darn thing to have. Even if the tests are ikky, it's best to keep up with them. Seems that there are worse things that they can find, other than IBS, and it can't hurt to at least 'exclude' all of the other possibilities.
Take care.. OH, by the way, what part of California are you located? I'm in So. Cal.
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~Deborah
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Yeah, all those test really can be difficult. The endoscomy, have no idea how to spell that, the scope down the throat thing. really isn't that bad. From the sound of your fear with needles, that will be the worst part. They gave me an IV, drugged me good and woke me up when it was over! I was tired the rest of the day from the drugs and my throat was dry but that was all. Really no pain, no yucky stuff to drink. I'm curious to know what drug they were talking about?! I have Levsin and only take it when I have a really bad flare up, I'm not sure that it helps me a lot, hopefully it will work better for you!
Good luck and keep us posted. We will help you get through the tests!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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I've hardly had any tests done. Just the barium x-ray and blood work. So I don't really know what you're going through. Though I sometimes wonder if my doc did all he needed to do to make a diagnosis. In my first posts here, I explained the frustrations that I went through with my doc. I was not pleased.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking about ya, and keep posting updates!
And I LOVE your signature!! I don't want to thread-jack here, but when my sister was younger, she used to hold her breath whenever she got frustrated or mad. (usually when I smacked her -- I was a bully when I was little). She'd get really quiet, her lips would turn blue and all of a sudden she'd just fall down, nearly passed out. One time I smacked her while we were on our driveway, and she passed out on the cement and chipped her tooth!  She did it so often, that my mom wouldn't get worried about her health when it happened. She'd get really angry and say "kristin, if you don't stop doing that you're going to get a spanking!" Another time, my family was at my little league game, and I was swinging around a bat. Kristin walked right into it while I was swinging and took it right in the gut. Right in front of all the bleachers where the parents were sitting. She didn't get hit hard, but she started holding her breath. My mom just sat there while Kristin staggered slowly in front of the bleachers while all the parents watched her, horrified. She eventually fell down. My mom turned to them and said "don't worry, she does this all the time." It's so funny now! It's a great family story!
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~jules
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Who would have guessed? By your sweet little picture with your name you look so innocent.........Funny story about the poor (victim) little sister.
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