Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | I'm sure your MD means well but........

MDs are trained to treat problems and if they can't do anything for the illness then they are typically quite uncomfortable with the patient if the patient keeps returning to them, b/c it makes them feel helpless....... something MDs are trained to NOT accept about themselves! Since IBS is essentially a disease that's not treatable AND not well understood by MOST MDs, it really would be best if she referred you to a GI specialist if she doesn't have empathy for or in depth knowledge about IBS symptoms and ongoing research.

It's very important that you tell her......really, just like you would a friend!......that she made you feel badly and that you won't accept this type of lack of understanding and caring from her. IF she still doesn't respond positively in her management of your ongoing symptoms, then it's very impo that you write an evaluation of her that honestly tells her superiors that she's not providing compassionate care.

80-85% of primary care is NOT life-threatening illness and involves chronic illnesses with lots of vague symptoms. This is nature of medical care in primary practice. So if she's not compassionate with you, most likely she's not being so with others too. Thus, your honest feedback about her lack of compassion in your evaluation will benefit others too.

However, please do first give her a chance to be more compassionate by talking with her openly about how she made you feel. MDs are people first and docs second, so they can have bad days too. Hopefully she will respond by improving her attitude. It's amazing how many MDs don't realize when they've made a patient feel badly; this is REALLY the truth, I promise you, I've watched it sooooo many times.

As far as your back pain, it DOES sound like it could be caused by your breasts' weight. Breast reduction might be the answer. However, it IS surgery, so it's not something to do w/o first trying exercises to strengthen your upper back and chest wall muscles. Yes, PT is physical therapist.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

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Many years of C-IBS and pain too for past 2 years-

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