Unless I'm really naive, I think I was accused of being a med-seeker today.
I'm done with the medical posts as I typically find these really boring to read, so after today, I'm done posting about my health--unless I die or something. My CT scan came back normal, so the surgeon can't figure out what is wrong with me. He'll dance with the official diagnosis of Levator Ani, but he can't quite write the name on my dance card for some reason.
"Well......there is some enlargement of your liver ducts.............but............I don't think that has anything to do with your sore bottom." Yes......and???
"So, we can send you to the gastroentinologist (?) and he can put you out and put a camera down your throat to check that out. Or we can schedule an MRI....."
WHOA, Nelly! Really??? We are just gonna keep runnin' tests until the cows come home?? Yeah...NO.
And I told him so. Sorta like that too--'cuz that's how I am.
"Well, somebody's gotta keep the medical field afloat, " he says half jokingly--but see, I don't find him funny. And then the conversation sorta went south from there. I told him that he can leave all that test stuff for the old people who go out for their morning donut, get a billion tests done on them for fun, eat dinner at 3:00 p.m., and then rush home to go to bed.
I don't think he liked that.
So, pretty much he told me that he wouldn't give me any more pain pills (I got a whopping 24!) that aren't even strong like Valium or Percoset or anything, that I should just try Metamucil for 2 weeks and then come see him again.
Metamucil? For a spasmodic pelvic muscle??? Really??? That sounds like something my old Polish Grandma would suggest--nothing like a good bowel movement to solve your health problems.
"Fiber," he says. Fiber is what I need?? Really??! Because everything I read about Levator Ani had to do with massage, a tens unit, muscle relaxants and/or hot baths--I don't remember crappin' to be the answer. Criminy, if it was, I could have saved myself hundreds on all these ridiculous tests AND had my whole freaking body healed from that solution you drink before the colonoscopy!! Crappin' wasn't the answer that day.
I think it is time for me and Dr. I'm-always-in-a-freakin'-hurry-and-I-can't-answer-your-questions to part our ways. I thought about calling him and telling him so, but I figured that would just confirm in his mind that I really was out there to score more of that Tramadol he parceled out to me.
"Pain meds aren't the solution," he says on his way out the door.
"So what is the answer?" I ask him sort of sarcastically.
"Metamucil and hot baths" is his answer.
Lounging in a hot bath and crappin' the day away--yeah, 'cuz that's what I can do while I'm at work during the week to cope. It's gonna be hard to explain to my boss that I need a hot bath halfway through the day to continue doing my work.
I'm going to see my gyne on Monday. Somehow I think I'll get more out of talking to her for 15 minutes than I have with this idiot for the past month and a half. And somehow, I think the 'scipt for bubble baths and poopin' is gonna make her laugh.
If I wasn't so frustrated, I'd be laughin' too.
23 comments:
You're backed up? You're tootin' all over the place, aren't you?
Violet--Nope. Not at all. Long story--you gotta go back a few posts. It's my levator ani pelvic muscle that is spasming--can't sit down without pain in the pelvic floor. Metamucil isn't going to cure a spasmodic muscle.
I HATE doctors. You have only encouraged me in my obsession. Oh, and I HATE appliance repairmen too. Ask me.
I think you've got it right. Time to find a new doctor. And your gyne may be a better choice for this diagnosis anyway. And since she's a woman, she will likely be more sympathetic. Your man doctor sounds like a jerk.
I think you should have had your doctor write you note that your require a mid-day bath and soak. In fact, maybe I should have my Dr. write me a note.
It is good to fire a doctor. It helps to remember that 50% of them graduated in the bottom half of their class.
Sorry there are still no answers for you my friend. Hang in there, and hopefully your gyn will be able to help you out. Sometimes I think we should just take all our concerns to them...at least they seem to care most of the time. :)
i know you're frustrated...but I am laughing...for you. Yes. FOR. YOU.
time to find a new dr.
That's a shame that the doc thinks that he can go to medical school and have MD as a part of his last name and brush you off with Metamucil and warm baths?
I'm with you...the gyno will be more help than he was.
There's got to be a solution to this whole sore bottom thing.
Oh God forbid they think you want pain pills, sheesh.
I don't know if what you're experiencing is at all related to what's going on with me, but I have rather continual pelvic pain (mine is mostly vaginal) too. My gyn says nothing is wrong (as he can't SEE anything). I went to a neurologist who says I have nerve pain (like fibromyalgia) and prescribed Neurontin. A very small amount of this helped. Just saying. You might ask. Good luck!
Lin, I am so sorry. Trust me I understand. If you were male you wouldn't have the problem in more ways than one.
With women "it's all in your head" no matter where the problem is. Or it's hormones.
Been there, done that.
You need a doctor that doesn't have that mind set. Stand up to him like you stood up to the school board. You are as important as the kids girl.
And this is why I avoid doctors unless I'm bleeding from an artery! They pretty much are assholes, one and all. I don't even want to discuss some I have known and hated.
Go for the hot bath. Lock the door. Light some candles. And forget all your trouble.
Or maybe just pop a little hallucinogenic drug or two ... that will definitely dispel .... something.
You definitely need to feel confident about a doctor. And telling you to take a bath and Metamucil is probably not the answer (especially since you have already been completely cleaned out). Good luck with your gyno.
I am thinking a 2nd opinion is a very wise thing to get. I hope you get an answer and get feeling better soon friend!
xo Catherine
Sharky--I have a good gyne--she listens and actually is very thoughtful. I think you have to find the right one if you can. Appliance repairmen too. :)
Lola--I think he is done with me as a surgeon because I refused more tests, therefore I should have a diagnosis and a referral to my GP for treatment. Could he not have just said that??
Highway--If a booze it up a bit the problem sorta goes away too, so I'm thinking medicinal cocktails are a better idea than a warm bath. ;)
Chuck--This guy is just not concerned with the patient and I'm wondering if he just doesn't know what it is but is too arrogant to say so. Who knows? I'm glad to have had the tests I did to make sure it wasn't anything serious. Now I can move on to someone who cares to manage the symptoms and pain.
Sherrie--Right you are. My gyne seems to be the only person truly concerned with women's health. At least we have someone on our side!
Stacie--I can laugh a bit now too being that I know it's not anything too serious. The pain can be relieved with meds, hot baths or LIQUOR, so .......bring on the cocktails!!! :)
Chocolate--I think she'll be more familiar with the syndrome being that is her "area" of expertise. Well, I hope so anyway!
Tracy--I like his smart ass comment about Valium--like all of this is in my head. WHAT??! Idiot.
Patricia--I remember that you had this now! We'll have to touch base to see if it is similar. It's funny, but a small pain pill helps every so often--not even every day. Why would that be so difficult to dispense???
Pricilla--I did stand up to him when he started up with running more tests and I think that is where he got miffed. I love how he suggested that I was requesting Valium--WHAT??! At what point did I request that??! Idiot. Oh well, moving on to the female doctor who will at least listen.
Grace--I've had some really bad doctors, but then again, I've had some good ones too. It's just too bad that it is hard to figure out who is bad until you are knee deep in treatment with them. Ugh.
LJ--I was just asking for something one step up from Tylenol or Aleve--NOT Valium! I'm still wondering where he got that from! That's why I get the feeling he thinks I'm a med-seeker. I was totally offended. Here's my home treatment--Baths and BOOZE! ;)
Anne--Translation: "I don't know." But he can't say that for all the money he charged me. Sigh. Well, at least there was someone else who looked at the tests for the results and I can be confident there are no tumors or anything.
Catherine--I don't have many more orifices that can be checked out at this point! This is my final doctor and I'm hoping she is familiar with the syndrome. I'm guessing it is more common than this guy thinks--look at Patricia's comment.
Oh Lin I am so sorry that I am laughing my butt off right now. I really do feel guilty about that and may not even be able to sleep tonight.
Seriously though, it's definitely time to ditch that doc. He sounds like a real quack and the duck and wheel with string can do much better
Oh how frustrating to deal with a doctor like that but at least you were able to hold your own and let him know that you don't think he walks on water. Actually, he probably knows now that you'd rather he was under a body of water! Hope your gyne is able to provide answers so you are pain free soon!
I curse a lot IRL, but I rarely do it online and I never do it among nice people. But I'm gonna make an exception here. That doctor is an asshole. Sorry, but there is no other word that will suffice. You are far better off without him. I would not want someone like that coming within 10 yards of a diagnosis for me.
Hopefully you gyn will have some real world suggestions for you. And if she doesn't, perhaps she has some recommendations for a new doc to see in place of the jerk.
I have waited 24 hours to comment. I wanted to wait so I could check in and see how that Metamucil is working? LOL (Sorry Lin, I couldn't help myself)
Your experience sounds very familiar....as Pricilla said, been there, done that. Finding the right doctor is soooo hard.
You might check out a book called 'Heal Pelvic Pain,' by Amy Stein. She has a series of exercises that are supposed to relax, then strengthen, the pelvic floor.
Ann--I'm sorta with you on cracking up--after all this, he comes up with a good poop as his solution??? Really?! Arrrrggh. Oh well, at least we had the tests to rule out anything really serious.
Beaded Tail--I love how he just doesn't know, but he can't say so. At least he could have sent me back to my GP or something. Ugh. Egos can be amazing sometimes, eh?
Janiss--I think he was out of his element but his ego wouldn't let him diagnose or refer--which is scary. It is a shame that you can't see this side of a doctor BEFORE you are knee deep in care with him. Oh well, at least I got the tests run that ruled out serious stuff.
Jodi--Everything came out just fine, Jodi. NO, I didn't do the Metamucil! Somehow I don't think a good poop is gonna solve this problem.
Statch--Hi, new pally--new pally with some info!! I'm going to look into that pronto! Thank you for the suggestion. :)
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