saw 8th! GI "dr" from the stupid clinic I am forced to go to since no insurance. He did not introduce himslef and I figured later that he was an intern or whatever you are before a dr..
He asked why I was on bactrim and azithro and I told him I have tick diseases. He said, "well, why are you taking them for 3 months?!"
I said, "well, I have been diagnosed with 4 tick diseases "(of course he didn't know what any were except lyme)
this is what he said to me: "wow! do you like in a jungle or something?"
what an idiot
he also came into the room with a scrap of paper and none of my records (3rd time I was there)
he said the computers were down, but when I checked out there were 3 people at the desk using computers!
this is after 3 visits, seeing diffrnt drs each time and none seem to know what the hell is going on
bleh bleh bleh
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
A lot of stupid "doctors" out there.....Sorry for your bad experience. Maybe karma is the form of a tick bite will show him the light.
Posted by LisaK (Member # 41384) on :
oops, mistype, ""wow! do you LIVE in a jungle or something?"- and yes, I did proofread Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
I am lucky enough to have excellent insurance and the last Gi doc i saw told me to go gluten free
two days later I had an emergency appendectomy I'm as far as I'm concerned they are all jerks
I had one reasonably good one a long time ago but he's far away
Posted by Winesnob81 (Member # 42355) on :
In my experience, GI doctors just want to prescribe some PPI acid reducing drug and tell you to come back in a month.
I have seen a few of them for a variety of different symptoms and issues and every one of them, every time, has told me to take some PPI.
It seems a lot of Doctors try to fit their patients into preconceived boxes of things they think they know how to treat.
If that doesn't work then they are not wrong in their treatment program, "it is in your head."
Just my experience.....
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- It took me years to realize that I was NOT forced to see doctors just because they were the only ones insurance would pay for. Even if you can't see a LLMD for budget reasons,
or for other issues if you can't find an intelligent doctor who is "well enough educated" for the purpose of the visit in your insurance plan, just don't go. Just say no.
Figure out how else, who else, where else to gather information, expertise, options. Figure out what you can do on your own.
Most Rx that doctors push down our throats for stomach issues are actually damaging to us in many ways and don't address the causes.
Only if you might need a specific test (either lab or scan of some type) would you then proceed under your insurance plan. Actually, even then, be aware that tests for gluten are often done incorrectly. Many doctors are just clueless in that area, too.
Regardless of whether celiac or not, many LLMD strongly suggest their lyme patients are gluten free well into remission. (If celiac, though, that would be life long advice, of course). -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Are you Gluten-Free? Dairy-Free? GMO-free? Organic? Those really made a fabulous different for my GI issues.
For a start, anyway and for the absolute foundation of my diet, it really matters to keep in line with all that. So, SO, much better for it. Details here that can save pain, lives:
Excitotoxins; MSG; Aspartame; & "Natural" Flavors (that are not likely natural at all);
GMO foods that destroy the GI Tract; Gluten; Dairy. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Do learn the signs for appendicitis, of course. And know that it can sometimes be on the left side - not always where it "belongs" -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- And, liver support can help the whole GI system, too. See the "How the Liver Works" link here and then connect in that same "ONE EARTH" site to learn more about the GI tract and how we can support it.
Many great links here, along with LL ND links -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- As so many different doctors have been run past you in that practice (you say that you are on your "8th GI doctor" there), you may have been "awarded" a distinguished code of some type. Most common is:
How will this affect standard of care even for ordinary doctor visits?
Why is that written in bold letters inside my medical chart cover?
& HOW DOCTORS THINK -
Posted by karenl (Member # 17753) on :
...once I heard a doctor say to a friend in the hospital after surgery " you are mutating to a camel"
Posted by BoxerMom (Member # 25251) on :
Everyone I've talked to about GI docs says the same thing. It's acid blockers for whatever ails ya!
Geez, did they only take one class in medical school? And only show up for one day?
Cuz I could do that.
The best things I've ever done for my GI were treating protozoans and helminths. And taking HCl to increase my stomach acid.
I get reflux when my stomach is too alkaline, which can be a side effect of abx, and a problem with our disease in general. I feel so much better when I supplement HCl.
Oh! When I got my initial blood draws for Igenex, the lab techs asked me if I travelled a lot, like I had a bajillion exotic diseases.
Nope. Just the current epidemic. Ho hum.
Posted by LisaK (Member # 41384) on :
yes, everyone.... ugh. GIs can be very CLOSED minded. I saw one supposedly great dr at U of Penn that didn't wash his hands when he touched me!
but anyway....
yes, I am gluten free. I have extreme allergy to gluten for years so.... and also dairy, although that one is very hard for me to stay away from in the form of cheese.
Sometimes I enjoy a bowl of cereal with cow dairy, but it is usually half and half or cream as " regular " milk really bothers me- my whole body in general.
You all should know, I went to see this GI because about 3 months ago or so I had a blowout of excruciating pain in my esophagus while on doxy.
so I wanted to get everything looked at in there to make sure there is no ulcer or h.pylori in my stomach which was a possible watch from last time I had one done
One good thing that has come out of this- knowledgewise- is the dr I thought did my procedure, ( it turned out a rude little girl with a stick up her youknowwhat , and they concealed that from me before the procedure by telling me that she was "assisting" !!)
hope you are getting this.... the dr I THOUGHT did procedure saw me in recovery and told me he thinks I have "slow digestion" as sometimes lyme can cause this
well, that was the first intelligent thing I heard from someone in this field.
this had been a complaint of mine for years- that I am very full after only a few bites at most meals.
I DID tell them at this clinic at my first consult that I had fullness, difficulty swallowing and sometimes choked on my food.
I have also mentioned this to my lyme drs. They had never mentioned this slow gut thing to me and one even said I may be choking from a thyroid issue (which I didn't doubt since my thyroid physically feels different to me )
Then when I went in for the followup the other day when that Dr JR. went and got the REAL dr to come in, the real dr said that I needed to be on Prilosec for 4-6 weeks and come back and if I still had issues with "gerd" .....
I interjected with a REMINDER to him (and the 2 Dr. JRs standing in the room) that I had OTHER symptoms- other than reflux or heartburn which SELDOM happen.
I mentioned what the other dr said about lyme and slow gut, and this dr then said they would
check into another possible issue for Gastroparesis after I was on the prilosec. I asked what that would be, and he would actually NOT tell me, claiming that we don't need to even "go that route" unless we need to.
at this point I could not contain myself and started laughing. I told him, "dr. if you don't tell me, I am just going to look it up!"
and so he tried to distract me with mixed wordage.
so , now that *I* know I don't have ulcers or things like that I can now focus on this other issue I guess which was MY main concern anyway! (the choking and gagging and feeling full)
anyone here have this and what, if anything, can be done about it?
ps to Keebler- I have read a lot about gut palsy but not found any info on what can be done about helping it- do your articles tell that? (reading is even more limited this week as I am suffering from influenza and have only small bursts of energy, so any shortened versions or links are welcome)
Posted by LisaK (Member # 41384) on :
sickfopain, what you said about them telling you that you eat too much cheese but didn't ask made me laugh!
when I got my flimsy "result" letter from the GI clinic office it said, paraphrasing- " you have chronic gastritis caused by taking too many NSAIDS"
well, I don't take nsaids. OK, maybe like ONCE a year for one day! haha
when I asked Jr Dr. if the gastritis could be from a certain citrus based isotonic multi vitamin I was taking for years, he had no clue whatsoever
Posted by Carmen (Member # 42391) on :
I've had gut issues, but pre-lyme though.
One time I had this thing where if felt like the food would not go down my esophagus right. I'd often have to leave the dining table to go lay down in the middle of a meal. This happened three or 4 times a week to varying degrees and went on for about 2 years. I thought it was stress related cause the kids were really small and I was really STRESSED!
The other time I got acid reflux and bloating that went on for about 8 months and I tried all the enzymes, HCL and alternative stuff I could find but nothing really helped like is should have.
Both situations were fully corrected through homeoapthy. I had to consult a professional homeoapth each time. The first situation cured easily. The second we had to try a remedy in several potenceis for a complete cure ending up with an LM potency instead of a high potency which generally worked for me historically.
Never been bothered since by either conditions.
Homeopathy can correct the underlying issues so that no pills of any kind are needed.
Posted by linky123 (Member # 19974) on :
Anyone who makes a living probing people's behinds has to be twisted, demented, warped...and most of them are stupid too.
Posted by sickofthepain (Member # 39579) on :
I used to get food stuck in my throat. It was like I was suddenly full and it wouldn't go down and sometimes not even with water. That seems
better. Intestines are now becoming a paper mill slurry and not in a good way.
My mom, whom I think has undiagnosed lyme, has a new thing going on in her throat. She did have major gerd and now the dr's are telling
her that she could get throat cancer because stomach cells are trying to form in her throat, or something like that. She is taking another
drug.She would try other things but she is broke and it's all medicare will pay for. She is more of a mess than me. My poor mom. She has had so
many surgeries, knee, shoulder bone spurs, carpel tunnel surgeries, pins in her spine, heart
stints, gall bladder surgery, kidney stones, she has a c-pap, constant sinus, can't lose weight
even if she doesn't eat, diabetes, foggy bottom brain. I hope you come across the right dr. So frustrating.
Posted by LisaK (Member # 41384) on :
wow Sick, that is so sad.
BUT, I am REALLY trying to be strong enough to let go of other people's stubbornness to accepting facts.
All anyone has to do is find a Dr they can beg to start abx to just see if there is any improvement
I know, I know, easy to say! and twice as easy if you have money, which we do not.
My mom has lyme- I know it. She would rather have a bone marrow aspiration than ask her dr to try abx!!! she is 82. and she has a dr that is VERY open.
o brother.
and my niece , 13, has been 'treated' for lyme for 10 days so there is "no way she can have it" even though she has cycling symptoms and complains about that infamous "my belly hurts" thing
It is amazing how people don't want to believe they could have this stuff
I am trying to let them all go..... Is that bad?
on a flip side, I am getting prepared to start a new support group locally since there aren't any, so that way , hopefully, SOMEONE will have their eyes opened and actually wake up to accept facts
Also, I am meaning to write ASAP letters to all the past 30+ drs I have seen that had no clue about these diseases. I am going to send
them all info and clips, etc. Anonymously of course.
Posted by LisaK (Member # 41384) on :
Carmen, are you SURE your symptoms were pre-lyme? just a thought....
looking back, I think I had symptoms WAY before I got that bulls eye 16 years ago
Posted by LisaK (Member # 41384) on :
Keebler- I saw 8 drs at the clinic because it IS a clinic.
They are unorganized at best and have almost no "real" drs. and that is why every time you get whomever. You cannot request a dr there
you get what you pay for.
sad thing is, it may have been better that I never had been affluent as I wouldn't know the difference between these clinic Drs. or government run drs compared to real drs that care and work hard for a living in their own practices!
Posted by sickofthepain (Member # 39579) on :
That clinic you talk about is like the one here. Scary. Good for you for starting a support group.
The one that is suppose to be here, evidently doesn't exist. No one ever emailed me back or called.
After I had a positive igenex test, I wrote the dr's, eye dr and mri interpreters. I tried to be tactful and kind, letting them know that what
they had diagnosed as something else(or not at all) was lyme, that this is what lyme looks like. When I first went into the dr's here, I had a
medical health history written down with my list of problems, so they should have that in my file as a reference, but it was probably tossed. It
does fall on deaf eyes but you at least do your part. I am so glad that I didn't see 20 dr's. I started doing my own research online when this
was happening and had it narrowed down to lupus or lyme with a false positive syphilis test even though the eye dr said I have the beginning stage of ms in my one eye. I feel badly for those who
don't have the strength or ability to try to advocate for self. I see several of my family members that exhibit lyme symptoms but it doesn't
do me any good to talk about it. It means giving up things and it reminds me of the parable of the
rich man who was told to sell everything he had but he walked away sadly instead. Or they are resigned to what their insurance company dictates what they are allowed.
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
No, the insurance GI docs won't talk to you about yeast overgrowth (candida), parasites, klebsiella pneumonia, bartonella that can all be in your GI tract wreaking havoc.
Or, how these infections (particularly candida) puncture holes in your tract, creating a leaky gut, making you react to food proteins like gluten, dairy, soy.
They won't order a metramedix stool test to find out what's really going on and how to treat.
I'm fixing up my own gut- I thought being 100% gluten free was enough- it wasn't. I was still eating all kinds of GF carbs, and dairy, constipated, etc.
I also had a parasite issue that blew my mind with months treating.
Recently went 'Paleo' no grains, no dairy, no legumes, no boxed food. I'm healing.
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