New Here, Been Sick For A Year

[Gayle]

Interesting observations Tex!

I also have to wonder if the persons using this Computer/Internet method of communicating aren’t something of a skewed population -- as opposed to the general population?

Men in general are more into “machines” than women tend to be … more likely to use computers in general.

Then too, younger women in general have more likely spent some career time in the working world with computer usage and are more likely to use them than many older gals.

((But then I have to qualify that with ----, a very good gal friend of mine, who’s now in her 70’s, was/is one of the best web-site designers I know of, and has always been leaps and bounds ahead of most men (including my engineer DH whose livelihood was computers). So generalizations are just that – generalizations.))

In the wintertime we live in a “SR Community” in AR. I am always amazed at the folks that either can not, or will not, use computers for basic informational purposes. That has evolved as a vexing issue for the community -- trying to get the residents to use even their simple e-mail capacity for dispensing community information (yes, they pretty much all do have computers). Where I am in MN, ALL neighborhood and city communication/information is sent to, and received by, the homeowners electronically. Whole different mind set! GO FIGURE!!

And yep, no question about it, men are more resistant to seeking a DR’s advise, especially regarding something as “private” as diarrhea issues, than women are. But it would also seem that they are more likely to have their livelihood placed in jeopardy by the frequent and urgent need to leave whatever they are engaged in to go to the BR? Seems to me that the guys appear here looking for some specific information -- and then as quickly disappear. They can “talk” a bit using the relative anonymity of a keyboard and computer – where as they would probably be very reluctant to discuss such a topic in person. And they have likely just gone back to the work-a-day world where they would just as soon keep these kinds of health issues in a closed box??

Yes Indeedie -- people are interesting!!



My Best,

Gayle

[MaggieRedwings]

Hi Gayle,

Off topic from the subject but would be very interested in any tips you could send my way or places that one can winter at a senior community in Arizona. This is going to be on the agenda for us in a couple of years and looking for any ideas/tips.

Thanks, Maggie

[Gayle]

Hi Maggie,

I'll put on my thinking cap for you. See by your information that you are a "birder" -- and AZ is something of a birders paradise -- according to some ardent birders I know.

Probably should try to take this converstaion private but I am in something of a hurry now and haven't been able to figure out quickly how to find you on your private e-mail. Maybe Tex will help with that when he reads this?




Later,
Gayle

[tex]

Hi Gayle,

To send Maggie a personal message, (pm), or an e-mail, just click on the "pm" or "email" button of your choice, at the bottom of any of her posts. That works for any member.

But remember, there might be other members here, who might be looking for a place to go in AZ.

Tex

[shekoe]

Dear Cat,

I find it odd that some of your doctors have been quick to remove body parts (gall bladder & appendix) yet others aren't interested performing far less risky procedures as upper and lower GI endoscopies which might give you a definitive diagnosis. Your symptoms are identical to mine. I was diagnosed with MC (specifically CC) three years ago. No doubt my biopsies were performed B/C I "fit" the age/sex profile (female/way over 50). I agree w/ Tex, you should search for another GI specialist near you. Maybe you will get lucky with him/her. I am in the process of changing to my third GI in three years. Been referred by the surgeon recently called in when my nausea/pain got so severe, my PCP ( I refused to go see GI doc #2) thought I had gallstones. I did not, soooo, I'll try GI#3 who the surgeon said is his GI specialist. Hopefully, GI#3 will take my problem seriously and not see it as a "touch of D". All GI's should spent one night commuting to the potty or madly searching for one at the mall. Their attitudes toward this disease would change very quickly. Hang in there. Things should get better if you get an accurate diagnosis. At least you are in good company here. Shekoe

[Lucy]

I just have to say that I can't, for the life of me, understand why it would take 6 months to get in to see a GI. It doesn't take anywhere near that long to see a good one here. Perhaps the one you had that appointment with is just more popular in your community, or perhaps you have an HMO -- heaven help you if you have one of those -- that makes you see one of the docs on their list! If you have a capitated HMO, those should be illegal.

The first and foremost reason that I know of that a colonoscopy should be done in persons with persistent diarrhea is to rule out cancer -- that's the first thing GI's or any generalist would normally think of. Therefore, I have to question why one wouldn't be done by the GI you saw unless that person was assuming you would let him know if it didn't go away soon on it's own. Did you call back after a while to let him know it hadn't gone away? Did he know you'd had it for a year, I think you said, when you had your visit? If you did, then it just makes me think you might be in an HMO. Is that the case, and if so, is it a capitated one? If so, you are experiencing rationed care.

Perhaps you should specifically say you want to rule out cancer since your diarrhea has been going on for so long, and THEN, say you are looking for someone familar with M.C., and who will, therefore, do the appropriate number of biopsies.

Also, a surgeon will not remove an organ without the appropriate diagnostic tests beforehand, so I would imagine you had x-rays and ultrasounds of your abdomen, etc., before your surgeries. Like I mentioned above, this disease just does our organs in! No fun!

Now, I hear you about the depression, and being unable to work, both for physical reasons such as pain, swelling, stiffness, extreme fatigue and migraines as well as mental confusion and a depressed mood, not only from the lowered self esteem of not being able to work or even knowing what is wrong with you, but also, as a result of the chemical reactions running rampant in your body, including your brain.

I have had people, even fairly recently, more or less imply that what I had wasn't as bad as what they have, because they have cancer or maybe rheumatoid arthritis, but the thing is that, particularly the ones with cancer, at least, know what's wrong with them, and they tend to feel pretty good once things are under control. I NEVER felt good, EVER, for years and years and had problems for decades, but I was alone in this as I just quite talking about it. I felt like I was dying for years, yet had to keep on living, just feeling like I was dying. This is what happened to me, and it's a very lonely feeling, I can tell you. You have every right to feel the way you do.

On a more positive note, you should see me now! I'm completely free of all the symptoms I just mentioned, and I've been feeling GOOD since November of 2004. My treatment is dietary.

We all tend to have food sensitivities, but gluten seems to be the biggie to start eliminating first. Even though I had to do some fine tuning, the pain, stiffness, swelling, and suffering part went away in just a few days along with alot of the diarrhea which had been significant. The other foods gave me bouts of diarrhea until I found out which ones they were, and eliminated them one by one, but compared to what it was like before I got off just the obvious sources of gluten, like breads, pastas, cereals, breaded foods, etc., I felt like life might be worth living again after THREE days or so. I think that if one has mostly large amounts of diarrhea with few other symptoms, particularly without much malabsorption of nutrients, one wouldn't notice the rapid improvement just by removing gluten like that, so in that way, my discomfort and multitude of somatic symptoms really helped me in that when they left, I KNEW I was on the right track.

When the swelling in my feet went away, that was a big clue as they had been that way for a solid year up until then, particularly in the morning. The swelling was in the bottom part of my feet, not the ankle area where most people experience swelling. I have know people with other types of immune reactions like allergies who have had that type of swelling. It was one of the latest symptoms I developed. I had had migraines as far back as I can remember.

I know you may not have exactly the same symptoms or co-occurring problems that I had, but we're all different. Your desparation just took me back to when I felt as you described, so I want you to know, if it's M.C. you do indeed have, you have come to the right place, but you need to get a real diagnosis.

When you find a GI with a good reputation, if he is too backed up to see you within a reasonable time, you might ask if someone who works with him might be able to see you a little sooner as you are acutely ill. I have had pretty good luck seeing specialists this way in the past who turned out to be just as good, and younger to boot! Another route is to ask a primary care doc you like who he would see if s/he were you with this problem. If s/he does a referral, and you seem in a hurry, perhaps s/he could try to expedite your getting a little quicker appointment. That being said, there may be people just as sick in front of you, but do the best you can to get the colonoscopy with biopsies.

Talked your ear off -- sorry about that, but glad you found us, and keep us posted on how you are doing in the meantime.

Yours, Luce

[Gas Bag]

Also tell the receptionist if there is a cancellation to please call you immediately.
I was able to get into the GI about a month sooner that way. Where I live it is extremely hard to get into the GI, we only have one in the local area.

And about being depressed, this is damn depressing and scary. A few folks know I have a "a problem" but nobody gets it, understand just how bad it can be, physically and mentally, unless they have it themselves. And that would be nobody on my side of the screen.

Deb

[Gayle]

Hi Gayle,

To send Maggie a personal message, (pm), or an e-mail, just click on the "pm" or "email" button of your choice, at the bottom of any of her posts. That works for any member.

But remember, there might be other members here, who might be looking for a place to go in AZ.

Tex

Hi Tex,

Well yesterday when looking for those icons you are talking about -- they do NOT appear on my computer screen at the bottom of posts as they seemed to in the past. Truthfully, I never payed much attention to them, other than to go look at a members profile occasionally. That's why I couldn't figure out what was going on yesterday.

Something must have changed?? Is it on our computer here? Also, I used to get an automatic reply screen, but now must log in each time. Have I done something that has changed something? Or have you changed something down there?

Is anyone else experiencing this??

Hi Maggie --- get to your question soon!



Befuddled...
Gayle
Cheers,

[MaggieRedwings]

HI Gayle,

NO hurry on the answer and when you get the time I will really appreciate it. Is a ways off for me but I am known as the Queen of Organization and Preparedness so I want to really research this. AZ or TX seems to be our destination but have kind of ruled out FL.

Thanks and Love, Maggie

[tex]

Gayle,

It sounds as though the cookie that this board uses for identification and navigational purposes in your browser, has become corrupt. You can either delete it, (or clear your cookie cache), in your browser, (if you know how to do that), or simply click on the link at the bottom of any page on this board that says, "Remove cookies set by this forum", and follow the directions that the system gives you, from there.

Basically, what you need to do is to delete the existing cookie, and then close your browser, (including all tabs, if you are using more than one tab), and then when you re-start your browser, and try to access the board, the system will be forced to set a new cookie in your browser, when you log in. As long as the old, (corrupt), cookie is still in place, the system will continue to try to use it, (unsuccessfully). You don't see those member contact links, because they are hidden from anonymous viewers, and since the system doesn't recognize the authority to view those links, in the cookie in your browser, (due to it being corrupt), it is hiding them from you. It's also the reason why you have to repeatedly log in.

Let me know if this doesn't solve the problem.

Tex

[Gayle]

Thanks Tex, cookie problem solved. Gayle

[tex]

You're most welcome.

Thanks for the confirmation,
Tex