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Frustrating Doctor's Visit
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TooManyHats
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Personally, I think he's practicing "Cover Your Ass Medicine". He must have had a little talk with his lawyer after I told him that I was using over the counter medications to deal with my obvious (IMHO) mast cell issues. He said he wasn't comfortable with chromolyn sodium. I guess he wasn't kidding.
Arlene
Progress, not perfection.
Progress, not perfection.
I am unaccountably cranked up about this. You know this doc has patients who are taking all manner of OTC drugs, herbs, and supplements they don't mention. Not to mention the Rx-sharing that goes on out there in the world (college kids, seniors, you name it - anti-anxiety meds, ADD drugs, painkillers, sleep aids... I'm probably just not sufficiently aware of the rest). Not to mention the drinking - how many people answer the question 'how many alcoholic beverages a week do you consume?' candidly, unless it's NOT a problem in their lives? How many of them pretend they've taken their meds as instructed, because they feel put on the spot when asked - or worse, don't even realize they're not using them as instructed, because the instruction was so rushed or unclear?
Those people are surely among this fellow's patients. But hey, you tried to engage him as a colleague in your quest for health, and *that* he could not abide. Oh, I bet he'd have prescribed you an anti-anxiety drug in a heartbeat.
Still wish you'd dumped him first,
S
Those people are surely among this fellow's patients. But hey, you tried to engage him as a colleague in your quest for health, and *that* he could not abide. Oh, I bet he'd have prescribed you an anti-anxiety drug in a heartbeat.
Still wish you'd dumped him first,
S
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TooManyHats
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Oh dear Arlene, I'm so sorry. Nothing like being in the midst of a flare and then getting a letter like that to make matters worse.
It's funny; doctors used to just tell us what was wrong and what to take to feel better. It really wasn't a two way street; they talked, we listened. Now, however, with the vast amount of information available to patients, doctors need to be able to communicate with us. It's not realistic for a doctor to think that he/she won't need to have a real conversation with a patient. We're going to come to an appointment informed and ready to ask questions and get answers.
I don't think all doctors have the desire and/or ability to have productive conversations with patients. They just want to stick with the outdated "I know best and don't ask any questions" approach. Now, I'm willing to give props to physicians for their training and expertise, but taking patient feedback/input out of the equation is just unacceptable this day and age!
They say things happen for a reason. Perhaps this will result in your finding a physician that not only treats you, but also listens and takes into account your input. I surely hope so!
Hang in there and feel better!
Julie
It's funny; doctors used to just tell us what was wrong and what to take to feel better. It really wasn't a two way street; they talked, we listened. Now, however, with the vast amount of information available to patients, doctors need to be able to communicate with us. It's not realistic for a doctor to think that he/she won't need to have a real conversation with a patient. We're going to come to an appointment informed and ready to ask questions and get answers.
I don't think all doctors have the desire and/or ability to have productive conversations with patients. They just want to stick with the outdated "I know best and don't ask any questions" approach. Now, I'm willing to give props to physicians for their training and expertise, but taking patient feedback/input out of the equation is just unacceptable this day and age!
They say things happen for a reason. Perhaps this will result in your finding a physician that not only treats you, but also listens and takes into account your input. I surely hope so!
Hang in there and feel better!
Julie
Arlene,
I've never heard of a physician dropping a patient by letter, unless they no longer accept the patient's insurance. I think he's unbelievably rude and inconsiderate. I agree with Sara - I wish you could have dropped him first. But he probably would have been relieved. You should write him back and tell him that you appreciate that he's acknowledged that your case is over his head and you'll be sure to tell anyone else with IBS or MC not to see him.
I'm so sorry that you're in a two-week flare. I'd suspect something in addition to eggs. We never want to add another intolerance to our lengthy list, but my experience has taught me that it's almost always another intolerance. I hope your flare ends soon.
Gloria
I've never heard of a physician dropping a patient by letter, unless they no longer accept the patient's insurance. I think he's unbelievably rude and inconsiderate. I agree with Sara - I wish you could have dropped him first. But he probably would have been relieved. You should write him back and tell him that you appreciate that he's acknowledged that your case is over his head and you'll be sure to tell anyone else with IBS or MC not to see him.
I'm so sorry that you're in a two-week flare. I'd suspect something in addition to eggs. We never want to add another intolerance to our lengthy list, but my experience has taught me that it's almost always another intolerance. I hope your flare ends soon.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
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TooManyHats
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That's a bummer, Arlene.
I just realized that I'm intolerant to all rice. I'm grateful that eliminating it made an immediate improvement in my BMs.
I agree; there seems to be no end in sight. I wish I had a dollar for every time I thought I had found my last intolerance. Only 10 foods left now - not many left to eliminate.
Gloria
I just realized that I'm intolerant to all rice. I'm grateful that eliminating it made an immediate improvement in my BMs.
I agree; there seems to be no end in sight. I wish I had a dollar for every time I thought I had found my last intolerance. Only 10 foods left now - not many left to eliminate.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
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Gabes-Apg
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With the recent move, i have to establish myself with a new Gastro Specialist.
rang up to make an appointment and they asked general info as to the reason for my appointment, i replied that i had MC, she said the Dr will want to confirm that for herself, i replied it was medically diagnosed 18 months ago and there is no way i will agree to having a colonscopy so this doctor can confirm another doctors diagnosis.
there was further discussion (i even gave them the option of doing the colonscopy as long as there was no out of pocket cost to me including the cost of having time off work)
they have agreed to accept the records from the GI specilialist that diganosed me.
after i hung up i wondered, why would anyone without MC claim to have MC?
rang up to make an appointment and they asked general info as to the reason for my appointment, i replied that i had MC, she said the Dr will want to confirm that for herself, i replied it was medically diagnosed 18 months ago and there is no way i will agree to having a colonscopy so this doctor can confirm another doctors diagnosis.
there was further discussion (i even gave them the option of doing the colonscopy as long as there was no out of pocket cost to me including the cost of having time off work)
they have agreed to accept the records from the GI specilialist that diganosed me.
after i hung up i wondered, why would anyone without MC claim to have MC?
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Gabes wrote:after i hung up i wondered, why would anyone without MC claim to have MC?
I'll bet that precious few hypochondriacs have even heard of MC. 
It's not exactly what I would consider to be a glamorous disease, so there's not much prestige connected with claiming to have it. 
I'm glad you finally lined up a GI doc, and negotiated a satisfactory understanding with her.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Way to go, Gabes - sounds as though you've got your new doctor and her staff started on an excellent training program for how to take care of you.
Gloria, your letter to Arlene's doctor is better than mine. Heck, let's all write to him. I'm sorry to hear about the rice. Of course it's great news that you're feeling better without it (which also means you've eliminated the right thing... but still.
Arlene, I hope you get this flare out of the way soon. Sending you healing thoughts,
Sara
Gloria, your letter to Arlene's doctor is better than mine. Heck, let's all write to him. I'm sorry to hear about the rice. Of course it's great news that you're feeling better without it (which also means you've eliminated the right thing... but still.
Arlene, I hope you get this flare out of the way soon. Sending you healing thoughts,
Sara
Arlene,
If you are having a mast cell/histamine flare it may take time for your histamine levels to drop and symptioms to subside. It generally takes me a few weeks to get over a flare. Also, do you have any other allergies that could be contributing to your histamine load? What are you eating . . . what are the basic 12? I would suggest getting on a very strict low histamine diet. Histamine intolerance is different than other food sensitivities as it is "dose response", meaning we react when our levels are high, not to a particular food per se.
The list for low histamine diet vary somewhat but to be on the safe side you should be avoiding all seafood, eggs, anything fermented, leftovers, canned foods, all alcohol, all preservatives/additives, sulfites, dyes/flavorings, BHA/BHT, spinach, pumpkin, tomatoes, avocado, banana, mushroom, cheese, aged meats or sausages, pineapple, yeast, vinegar, chocolate, nuts, berries, cinnamon, cloves, anise, chili powder, curry, nutmeg, paprika, apricot, cherry, dates, nectarines, peaches, plums, citrus, dried fruit, papaya, mango, soy, red beans, lecithin, tea, cider and carbonated drinks.
Hope your flare ends soon.
Mary Beth
If you are having a mast cell/histamine flare it may take time for your histamine levels to drop and symptioms to subside. It generally takes me a few weeks to get over a flare. Also, do you have any other allergies that could be contributing to your histamine load? What are you eating . . . what are the basic 12? I would suggest getting on a very strict low histamine diet. Histamine intolerance is different than other food sensitivities as it is "dose response", meaning we react when our levels are high, not to a particular food per se.
The list for low histamine diet vary somewhat but to be on the safe side you should be avoiding all seafood, eggs, anything fermented, leftovers, canned foods, all alcohol, all preservatives/additives, sulfites, dyes/flavorings, BHA/BHT, spinach, pumpkin, tomatoes, avocado, banana, mushroom, cheese, aged meats or sausages, pineapple, yeast, vinegar, chocolate, nuts, berries, cinnamon, cloves, anise, chili powder, curry, nutmeg, paprika, apricot, cherry, dates, nectarines, peaches, plums, citrus, dried fruit, papaya, mango, soy, red beans, lecithin, tea, cider and carbonated drinks.
Hope your flare ends soon.
Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
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TooManyHats
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Mary Beth,
You said carbonated drinks. Would you include seltzer in this? I had no idea there would be histamine in that.
There could also be a stress factor involved here. I've been on 2 interviews already this week, and I have another one today. I have no choice, I have to get either another part time job or a full time job. My youngest son starts college in the fall.
You said carbonated drinks. Would you include seltzer in this? I had no idea there would be histamine in that.
There could also be a stress factor involved here. I've been on 2 interviews already this week, and I have another one today. I have no choice, I have to get either another part time job or a full time job. My youngest son starts college in the fall.
Arlene
Progress, not perfection.
Progress, not perfection.
From what I have read carbonated mineral water is fine, but avoid any additives in carbonated drinks, which really can vary by brand.
The list I posted is a compilation of many sources and I can't vouch for the accuracy of all items on the list. There really is very little info about the diet available.
Mary Beth
The list I posted is a compilation of many sources and I can't vouch for the accuracy of all items on the list. There really is very little info about the diet available.
Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
Just been reading this post.
1. The ultimate role of the military is to defend citizens' lives.
2. The oath of all Doctors (including GIs) is, in my view, similar - where the "enemy" is disease rather than a military foe.
In Case 1 'Dereliction of Duty' results in a Court-Marshall.
In Case 2 they can do what they want........IMHO something is wrong with this picture.
Best, ant
1. The ultimate role of the military is to defend citizens' lives.
2. The oath of all Doctors (including GIs) is, in my view, similar - where the "enemy" is disease rather than a military foe.
In Case 1 'Dereliction of Duty' results in a Court-Marshall.
In Case 2 they can do what they want........IMHO something is wrong with this picture.
Best, ant
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"Softly, softly catchee monkey".....
"Softly, softly catchee monkey".....
Hi Arlene,
Personally I think, that in the long and the short of it, … this Doc did you a great big favor.
Well I suppose he might have taken the route of recommending that you see another Doc who may be more knowledgeable about your (?Mast Cell?) issue. But that of course would have demanded that he actually knew about this condition, and then also, that he knew of a person who is well versed in this issue. And then also ..... a referral note must be generated. He may just not want to be bothered with any of these things – depending on?? Might such an action have been welcomed?
There is really no point in continuing to see a Doc … when Doc and Patient can’t arrive on any kind of common ground or understanding. That is time consuming for both Patient and Doc, to say nothing about money being spent --- for nothing. I’ve known folks who (IMHO) have hung on to a Doc for to long even when it is quite obvious that their needs are not being met. Somehow, someway -- inertia seems to keep them from moving away to find another Doc.
I have to repeat, I believe (and would bet big) that he actually did you a great favor.
Wishing you the BEST of luck in your search for new Doc.
Gayle
Personally I think, that in the long and the short of it, … this Doc did you a great big favor.
If he is not knowledgeable about mast cell issues, nor the approach of using Chromolyn to treat GI mast cell issues – then it is in both your, and his, best interests that he does not prescribe it for you. I personally would not be comfortable taking a medication prescribed for me by a Doc that said he knew nothing about using said medication. My druthers would be to find a Doc who does have some understanding of this type issue (suspected Mast Cell GI involvement) and the approaches used to manage it.Unfortunately, he isn't comfortable prescribing that medication.
He is withdrawing his professional services.
Well I suppose he might have taken the route of recommending that you see another Doc who may be more knowledgeable about your (?Mast Cell?) issue. But that of course would have demanded that he actually knew about this condition, and then also, that he knew of a person who is well versed in this issue. And then also ..... a referral note must be generated. He may just not want to be bothered with any of these things – depending on?? Might such an action have been welcomed?
Is this CYAM, you bet, and there is good reason for this. He may have had a discussion with an attorney about how best to dis-engage from a patient. (That sentence about withdrawing his professional services was bare bones and to the point.)Personally, I think he's practicing "Cover Your Ass Medicine".
There is really no point in continuing to see a Doc … when Doc and Patient can’t arrive on any kind of common ground or understanding.
That is time consuming for both Patient and Doc, to say nothing about money being spent --- for nothing. I’ve known folks who (IMHO) have hung on to a Doc for to long even when it is quite obvious that their needs are not being met. Somehow, someway -- inertia seems to keep them from moving away to find another Doc. I have to repeat, I believe (and would bet big) that he actually did you a great favor.
Wishing you the BEST of luck in your search for new Doc.
Gayle