Reged: 12/13/04
Posts: 4490
Loc: West Orange, NJ (IBS-D)
If you only had one stool sample checked for parasites, that may not be enough. Quest - a really big testing lab - says it takes at least 3 negative stool samples to rule out parasites. So your doctor's thinking may be that even though no parasites showed up, your symptoms seem to match up so he wants to assume the test may have missed them and wants to go ahead and treat for them. I'm not saying that's necessarily a good idea - you could always get additional tests - but it may be what he's thinking in which case he's not a total flake.
If you're uncertain about the treatment, I would definitely at least get a second opinion. If your doctor really, truly believes there's a good chance you have parasites, though, I wouldn't just ignore it. So I think you need to find out if he seriously believes you have parasites or is just floundering around trying things.
If you decide to see another doctor - either for a second opinion or permanently - you shouldn't have to repeat all the tests you've already had. Just get your existing records sent to the new doc.
HTH.
-------------------- [Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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Re: I don't know what to do
