"This getting ridiculous" written by Paul on estrip.org

Category: health

12/19/07 02:36 - 37ºF - ID#42583

This getting ridiculous

So I call the doctors office again and get to talk to the secretary again. She tells me they are going to put me on Asacol

3 pills/3 times a day. So I call back and ask if I could also take a gluten or lactose intolerance test and she says, "Oh we don't do that here" So I ask her where and she doesn't know. So I call my "primary care" physician and he says there is no way they could have cme up with IBS from a CAT scan. SO SOMEONE IS FUCKING LYING - WHO IS IT?

He suggests I go to see the GI doctor. Which is exactly who I was looking for when I called the first doctor (a colon /rectal specialist) and asked him for a referal. He told me to just come to him and thats how I ended up in CT scan land. Now I have an appointment set for Feb 5th. By then I should be dead or crazy.

I guess I will just take the medicine and see if it helps. (e:terry) says it doesn't seem dangerous.

leetee writes at 08:27:25 12/19/07 - Comment #29474: I am so happy you HAVE health insurance, Paul... think of how shitty this would be without it.

I have had the same kind of issues you have had. The only thing that seemed to help me (i have no insurance, i have to self medicate) was keeping to bland foods and taking enzymes.

Good luck with this all... i really do hope that things aren't serious and that the pain doesn't continue!!

james writes at 07:36:54 12/19/07 - Comment #29472: and people complain about countries with socialized medicine making people wait...

imk2 writes at 06:31:27 12/19/07 - Comment #29466: you should tell them that you are in a lot of pain and that there is no way that you can wait that long. they leave spots open for cases like this. you have to be more assertive paul, you cant let these doctors walk all over you. i would call the office back and say "listen, i am in pain, i have been in pain for so long i am going to go crazy, you need to fit me in in the next week or so because there is no way that i can wait another month and a half to see a doctor, and then go through test and then wait for results. they will make room to see you, i gurantee you. do you want me to call for you and get this done?

ladycroft writes at 03:44:38 12/19/07 - Comment #29459: It took a long while for me to get diagnosed with IBS. Lots of tests later...would you believe it was actually my CHIROPRACTOR that made the discovery of my mega allergy to cow milk??? He was really into holistic healing and said he wanted to run blood tests for food allergies due ot my presenting symptoms. Crazy!

paul writes at 02:53:49 12/19/07 - Comment #29458: So I called the GI associates of Buffalo :::link::: and they said I was already a patient of Dr. Bartolone back in 1998. I really don't remember that. Maybe I just don't remember 1998. He looks like he speaks english at least. Right now that is still my only pre-requisite for a doctor. So I guess we will see feb 5th.

Permalink: This_getting_ridiculous.html
Words: 194
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: health

12/19/07 12:19 - 35ºF - ID#42581

What the hell kind of answer is this

Well good news is they didn't say it was cancer but it is IBS

or irritable bowel syndrome. What the fuck does that really mean. We don't know what is causing it but you bowel is irritated. No fucking surprise considering I have been complaining about that for about a month straight.

My favorite part of the wiki article

Misdiagnosis
Anecdotal accounts exist of poor patient outcomes due to treatable causes of diarrhea being mis-diagnosed as IBS. Common examples include infectious diseases, celiac disease,[5] and lactose intolerance.[6]

None of which I have been tested for. Still no stool sample, no bloodwork, no lactose intolelrance test, no test for celliac.

I guess I will go on one of those crazy nothing but rice and vegetable diets and adds stuff back into my diet to see if it help. Right now basically everything I eat goes right through me after getting a little bit bloody somewhere. Ya, gross I know. There is no consistency to anything I eat and everything makes my stomach ache.

I seriously am going to go crazy. And the lack of sufficient bathroom facilities at my work make it way worse.

I am thinking it is time to switch to a natural doctor for a bit and see how that goes. At this point I am willing to try anything to make it stop.

The molson ice hot water 40oz
Last night I made a hot water bottle for my stomach out of a molson 40oz beer bottle. It really helped. Maybe I should market them with little beer cozies?

paul writes at 11:50:35 12/20/07 - Comment #29493: I talked to the secretary again today and she affirmed IBD.

paul writes at 06:57:30 12/19/07 - Comment #29468: Seriously, it is not in my head. There is blood in the frickin diahrea that I have like 5+ times a day and everything hurts from my kidneys to my intestines. Pretty much all the time.

paul writes at 06:54:04 12/19/07 - Comment #29467: Its weird on our first conversation she said IBS but then she said IBD later and then said the medication was for ulcerative colitis. So who the fuck knows, I gues sthat is what I get for never getting to talk to a real doctor.

jenks writes at 06:30:56 12/19/07 - Comment #29465: wait, IBS, or IBD?
IBD - inflammatory bowel disease (i.e. crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis).
asacol is for IBD.

IBS, on the other hand, is (in my book) like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. I.e. more psych than anything else.
(I know that statement offends people, I'm sorry.)

If they said IBS, it probably just means all their tests have been negative. That's what it is. A diagnosis of exclusion. "you're having a problem but we can't find anything wrong with you."

I would have thought they'd send you to a GI guy before a colorectal guy...

I'm sorry for the way you're getting strung along. I hope they get to the bottom of it.

paul writes at 02:37:46 12/19/07 - Comment #29457: I have told them, every freakin' time and no one does it. During this whole thing I only saw a real doctor for about 5 minutes 3 weeks ago. Since then it has all been assistants and secretaries.

imk2 writes at 02:17:45 12/19/07 - Comment #29455: so you were passing blood in your stool? you should change doctors. my family doctor, sadiqa karim, is very good and will do all of the necessary tests to get your stuff diagnosed properly. you should tell the doctor that you feel they should do more like stool samples, blood tests, etc. often times they will listen to you. you have to advocate for yourself when you feel they are not doing their job.

seriously though, i would totally recommend that you go see her. she is on transit, has a tiny office, so the wait is not long. she works by herself, so you'll never see a nurse practitioner or another doctor instead. she'll sit down and talk to you and she'll definitely order tests. she loves doing those. her number is 683-5600.

paul writes at 01:31:57 12/19/07 - Comment #29454: Seriously, I don't drink, I thought I ate pretty healthy - I guess I have stress but not an inordinate amount. I seriously would at least like to talk with the doctor instead of his secretary before taking medicine.

drew writes at 01:13:22 12/19/07 - Comment #29453: Sorry this is so frustrating. Thanks for the reason to keep a 40 in the house though!

hodown writes at 12:59:11 12/19/07 - Comment #29451: They said I had that in college.

lilho writes at 12:24:19 12/19/07 - Comment #29450: wow, thanx to terry for that 40!

Permalink: What_the_hell_kind_of_answer_is_this.html
Words: 271
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: healthcare

12/18/07 01:37 - 31ºF - ID#42570

Barium Cocktail

I can believe I am drinking Barium Sulfite - and out of a styrofoam cup. It is some weird fruity and spicy flavor. I had to drink two jars of it.

leetee writes at 08:29:26 12/19/07 - Comment #29475: he did indeed, (e:Imk2) ... gotta love the Canadian health care system... come here for "free" slow medical care from people who think of patients as burgers needing flipping.

imk2 writes at 02:21:29 12/19/07 - Comment #29456: seriously lee? he told you to shut the fuck up!?

leetee writes at 08:35:10 12/19/07 - Comment #29444: How'd it go, Paul? I hope they find out what it is and it is simple and easy to fix!!

I had to drink that shit once. When i told the tech i was going to barf up the icky pink stuff, he told me to shut the fuck up and lay still. So, i made sure i puked on his nice white jacket. Passive agressive? Who? Me?

paul writes at 06:28:35 12/19/07 - Comment #29442: Please jenks, access it from anywhere. I would love for you to look at it.

pyrcedgrrl writes at 03:20:11 12/19/07 - Comment #29441: Guh! I finally got around to signing in (working swing shift and finishing up a semester is not fun), and read about all the problems you've been having!! I hope your CAT scan goes well and they find out what's going on in the tummy!
I had tummy issues a couple of Christmases ago that ended up being a common bile duct stone. I wasn't even able to keep water down for 4 days and was sent home each day by St. Mary's Hospital in Lewiston. I finally went to sisters and they admitted me immediately. I had jaundice so bad that my eyes were yellow. Apparently that is not enough of a sign for St. Mary's. lol!
Anyway, I hope all goes well! Good luck and feel better soon!

jenks writes at 11:32:00 12/18/07 - Comment #29439: yeah really.... you'd think they could flavor it a little better.

hey! I wonder if I can access it from home...

but i won't.

without your permission.

joshua writes at 09:55:23 12/18/07 - Comment #29430: There is a Lake Success, NY? Obviously this is not upstate... ba doom *crash*

paul writes at 04:05:45 12/18/07 - Comment #29421: From the way I feel about the medical systems right now I would assume probably next June.

jim writes at 03:52:02 12/18/07 - Comment #29419: How long do you have to wait for results?

drew writes at 03:14:28 12/18/07 - Comment #29415: better down than up!

mrdeadlier writes at 03:05:12 12/18/07 - Comment #29413: mrmike, that's exactly what i thought

jim writes at 02:52:08 12/18/07 - Comment #29412: Good luck, Paul!

james writes at 02:21:56 12/18/07 - Comment #29409: a drink? A DRINK?

kids today have it so easy

mrmike writes at 01:52:48 12/18/07 - Comment #29407: Love the illustration on the bottle. Like we didn't know the point was to be Drano for Humans

Permalink: Barium_Cocktail.html
Words: 37
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: health

12/18/07 11:04 - 25ºF - ID#42566

The CT scan

So at 3PM I get the CT scan at Buffalo general. I have to go there at 1PM though. I am so excited on one hand about finding anything out and so scared on the other hand about finding anything out and so scared on yet another hand about the radiation.

Permalink: The_CT_scan.html
Words: 51
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: health

12/18/07 09:51 - 24ºF - ID#42565

I am so angry/sick

So my abdominal area just keeps getting worse and I am really sick to my stomach. It is not normal to have to go to the bathroom like 5 times during the night.

I got up at 8:45 to schedule the abdominal CT, as at this point I would do anything to find out what is wrong. They told me they had two locations. Buffalo General and one in Wiliamville. I told her Buffalo general was better and she said she would call me back when she schedules. At 9:20 I still had n word so I called the doctors office back and said I would gladly drive to Williamsville if it was faster,easier I could get in sooner because my stomach is killing. She said she would call me back. Here we are one hour later, still no freakin' word.

I seriously, cannot believe how this is going for. In the mean time i don't know if I should try and eat anything or not because what if you need to have an empty stomach for it and it is today and then I have to reschedule. I wish it would render me unconscious at this point.

And then there is some unreasonable deadline at work that I am working against which normally is fun for me, but this time it is making me crazy because I am sick.

Now what I really want is a test for celiac disease just to rule that out in case and what about the blood and stool tests. Why none of them yet? Looks like for me they are going to skip to step 5.

Diagnostic Tests for Crohn's disease

Test for Crohn's disease

* Physical examination
* Complete blood count - for anemia and white blood cell counts
* Stool sample analysis
* Upper GI series - barium X-rays
* Lower GI series - barium X-rays

Permalink: I_am_so_angry_sick.html
Words: 307
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: shopping

12/17/07 11:11 - 24ºF - ID#42562

Hot Water Bottle

As (e:tinypliny) suggested I ordered a hot water bottle for my stomach aches. Sounds like a great idea as warm really makes it feel better. I searched around this time to find one that supposedly does not smell. You all know how I feel about things that smell like rubber or plastic.

If anyone else is looking for one, I order it from fashionhot.com

They were in good housekeeping and accept paypal.

Permalink: Hot_Water_Bottle.html
Words: 80
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: photos

12/17/07 10:28 - 24ºF - ID#42561

Media from other stuff, like snow

So besides my debilitating intestinal issues I managed to take some pics.

Yesterday, I thought eating lamb and potatoes with banana would make my stomach feel better. It was delicious but I was sick as ever. The way I made it. Soak lamb legs in wine, rosemary and garlic with oil, salt and pepper for about 3 hours. I am obsessed with bone marrow. I know you veggies are thinking that is the most disgusting thing ever.

Then bake in the oven at 350 for a couple hours.

Not so sure what is up with the amount of garbage the church produces. This is seriously a typical weeks garbage for them.

There was so much snow this morning. You can see just how much on this table in the backyard.

Luckily, the church plows our driveway but we still had to shovel the car ou

This citrus fruit looks so damn yummy. I wish that I could eat it.

The windshield was so icy. It took forever to chip it all off the car.

Here is (e:terry) trying to chip it. I ended up finishing it once the car heated up.

::Download Flash Video::

Permalink: Media_from_other_stuff_like_snow.html
Words: 204
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: life

12/17/07 06:32 - 25ºF - ID#42558

The void of my life before 2003

It is killing me that there is this massive void in my life before 2003. So much interesting stuff happened and I wrote nothing down, took almost no pictures and can barely remember most of it. Like for example I know that I got a CAT scan but I can't even remember when or why. That seems insane.

An who has that data? Not when it was, but the actual data. I have no freakin' idea even who the doctor was? If I get this one I should ask to get a copy. Do you think that is possible?

Permalink: The_void_of_my_life_before_2003.html
Words: 98
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: health

12/17/07 04:55 - 26ºF - ID#42557

Appendicitis?

Holy crap. So I was having all this pain in my lower right side today and it was really sharp. So I decided to look up those symptoms and realized I have like almost every symptom of appendicitis.

Maybe that is what the CT scan (e:paul,42555) is to check for, but really I would almost rather just have it out.

What Are the Symptoms of Appendicitis?

The classic symptoms of appendicitis include:

* Dull pain near the navel or the upper abdomen that becomes sharp as it moves to the lower right abdomen. This is usually the first sign.
* Loss of appetite
* Nausea and/or vomiting soon after abdominal pain begins <-- I have been really nauseas although I haven't thrown up - I seriously never throw up though, even when drunk or with the flu
* Abdominal swelling
* Fever of 99° F to 102° F <-- this is the only one I don't have, I should check when I get home
* Inability to pass gas
* Painful urination
* Severe cramps
* Constipation or diarrhea with gas
* Dull or sharp pain anywhere in the upper or lower abdomen, back or rectum

I ate beef burgundy at work tonight and baked lamb legs with potatoes for dinner last night.

paul writes at 12:44:17 10/05/11 - Comment #65338: omfg, why would no one believe me at the time. Looking back on it is it so obvious, just a few months down the road they would be removing a gangrenous appendix out of me just as it was bursting. After that appendix came out my soon to be diagnosed "crohns" instead of appendicitis went away.

jenks writes at 11:23:57 12/18/07 - Comment #29438: ok paul there are newer journals than this so you've probably figured it out by now and i just need to catch up, or you've had your appendix out, BUT-
well first off, I sent mike a huge post about appendicitis a while ago- he might still have it.

But bottom line-
although fever is very non-specific - I would go as far as to say that if you don't have a fever, you don't have a appendicitis.

And as my chairman likes to say, appendicitis is a 72hr disease. You would know.

paul writes at 09:07:09 12/17/07 - Comment #29382: Then again, maybe it is lactose intolerance. I guess there is a test for that. Maybe I should start there first.

paul writes at 07:48:08 12/17/07 - Comment #29374: God, right now it feels a little better - what the fuck.

paul writes at 05:49:06 12/17/07 - Comment #29368: I am so torn between going and getting random Dr. or waiting and letting a doctor I trust take a look with the CT scan. This is seriously such a huge decision for me as I hate getting xrayed and this is getting super xrayed. Like I don't even get the dental xrays. I am so torn.

Like, I figure the chances of me dying are about zero and I am never more than one or two blocks from the hospital considering work and home are both a block away so I am just going to brave it I think? But it appears that braving it means the CT scan which would see more if it is something else.

jim writes at 05:17:50 12/17/07 - Comment #29367: Sounds like you should go to the hospital and camp out in the ER.

Permalink: Appendicitis_.html
Words: 205
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: health

12/17/07 03:05 - 26ºF - ID#42555

CAT scan

The abdominal CAT scan. So the doctors office called to say he wanted me to go get an abdominal CAT scan. Hm, I know I am probably just be a crazy but are they safe? I mean it seems like a lot of radiation. I know I had one before when I was about 17ish and I have had about 3 chest Xrays in my life. So should I worry about this? There are so many sites that make it seem really dangerous. On the other hand I am tired of my stomach hurting?

here is a quote from CBS news. Now I realize that I am not getting a full body CT just an abdominal one but --

It's not a huge risk, especially for someone with symptoms of a dangerous condition. But when used to screen healthy people for hidden evidence of disease, the risk may outweigh the benefit. And if a healthy person gets repeated full-body scans, cancer risks multiply, Brenner and colleague Carl D. Elliston report in the September issue of Radiology.

"The risks from a single full-body CT scan are not large: If 1,200 45-year-old people got one, you might expect one to die from radiation-induced cancer," Brenner tells WebMD. "But if you are thinking of doing this on a regular basis, as a routine screening modality, then the radiation doses start to add up and the risks then start to get quite high."