Now that I'm feeling like I'm gonna survive this, I figured I'd post some observations from the journey.

(1) studies have proven that doctors make their initial diagnosis in the first 10 to 15 seconds of an office visit. In my case, about 6 weeks ago I fell in the shower. Twice. Went to the doc and said "I fell cause I'm weak cause as I've been saying I can't get any food down". I was sent to the ER and admitted to Beth Israel for 4 or 5 days while they looked for cardio issues. I tried to tell anyone who would listen that that was NOT the problem. Nope, sorry, they just couldn't get past the "fell in shower" thing. They paid no attention to the food/nutrition issues.

I finally demanded that they perform an endoscopy (camera down the throat) cause I knew THAT'S where the problem was. And guess what? SURPRISE! They found a hiatal hernia, a deep bacterial infection, and some other stuff. All in my esophogus. DUH! Now it's being treated, and lo and behold I'm feeling so much better.

Stand up for yourself and don't ever put blind faith in your doctor, no matter how much you like him/her. DEMAND TO BE HEARD!

For eye-opening reading, get a copy of "How Doctors Think" by Jerome Groopman, M.D. He saved a friends life after her doctor said "oh, she's depressed, starting menopause, etc". Nope, sorry. Jerry found a 7 lb tumor growing in her.

End of rant.

 

glad to hear ur OK bruce!


i have been in soo much pain recently with my stomache i went to the ER about a week back and they said i have an ulcer!!!! i realy need to get myself to my physician cuz i think it may be somthing worse!!!

 

Bruce! Soooo glad to hear you're feeling better!

What you say is so very true. You really do need to advocate for yourself or have someone close to you do it for you. Some patients just don't feel they should question their doctor or the route of diagnosis/treatment, nor do they feel they should take the time to educate themselves. Unfortunately you have to take time and the initiative to ask questions.

 

On the bright side, I've now been through an ultrasound with Doplar of my heart, ultrasounds of both carotid arteries in my nec, a full MRI of my head, and a CT scan or two. All A-OK.

Matt get that checked out. If only for your own piece of mind!

 

Great advice Bruce, glad you were finally able to get to the root of the problem and get it fixed.

 

I think the flip side of that coin is the hypochondriac with access to the web that comes in every month, "knowing" exactly what ailment they have now. I wouldn't be surprised if that situation is more common than having people actually correctly diagnose themselves and causes some doctors to just ignore self diagnosis in general.

 

I was thinking that too since I am a bit of a hypochondriac myself

I generally tell my doctor ALL the symptoms and let her draw her own conclusions. But if I have a strong opinion about a certain possibility I also will directly ask her, what about this... ?

 

glad your feeling better. we need you poking jeff now and then.
he was starting to ignore just steve doing it.

this will sound arrogant ...but that never stopped me before.

bruce you were blessed with the burden of intelligence.
it can be remarkably frustrating when dealing with people who phase lock on one particular thing.


and Matt, the good news is ulcers are treatable.
most are caused by H. Pylores bacteria.
antibiotics make them go away and they can heal.
couple weeks you'll be as good as new.

 

[QUOTE=TheToon,Apr 11 2008, 01:44 PM] a full MRI of my head

 

Cookies for Bruce!!! to feeling better.

One doc I had when I had an asthma flare up was an idiot. I was asking a SIMPLE question about one of the meds I was taking, and if we could try something with the dosage, to possibly prevent taking stronger meds with more side affects. I ended up getting a lecture about what the medicine was supposed to do.

The next time I saw my own doc, I biatched about that guy. My doc gave me two scripts to keep on hand, in the event I had an asthma issue on a weekend, and didn't want to chance getting Dr. "X" at the urgent care center

Another time I went to the urgent care and got a much better doc. I explained my problem, TOLD HIM WHAT I NEEDED, and he agreed. By then I had been dealing with asthma issues on and off for about eight years, I knew what was going on. He told me doctors, need to spend more time LISTENING to their patients, he ain't kidding. I liked that doctor!

BTW, be careful when searching symptoms on the internet, and diagnosing yourself. ...it can really make you go and I've been down that route myself.