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Post by 1234 on Jun 14, 2011 18:21:46 GMT -5
ok, so I saw the GI doctor today--not the one I was originally scheduled with. I googled him and he got 0.5 - 1 star and I decided that I didn't need to deal with that. Inspired by you all, I called every GI on my insurance and asked if they had ever dealt with endo. Only one had, and I'm so so glad I did all of that research and waited to have an appt with him. It was worth being told by all of the receptionists in town that I needed to see an ob/gyn for endo, not a GI. I finally found a doctor at washington hospital center who had dealt with endo, and decided that I'd go there, even though I swore I'd never walk back in there. It was really hard to go back--I haven't even biked past WHC since they aborted the "normal" baby without asking me, while I was under for the ectopic one.
He knows more about endo than most of the ob/gyns I've been too. He agreed that I'd probably need a colonoscopy, but that I could choose to wait to see if it happened again and when in relation to my cycle. He also did a rectal exam and found nothing, which lead him to believe that what the doctor felt before were endo implants, since I'm now only 6 days or so past my period and they'd be smaller now. He also thought that my general GI issues were odd and needed investigating, so I got blood drawn to test for celiac disease and he's doing some weird test for intestinal bacteria (?). But, at any point, I could schedule the colonoscopy with him.
I'm not generally so gungho on male doctors and have never been able to be up front with them about any issue, so I was really proud of myself for talking and SO pleased with the fact that he listened.
He also, while doing the abdominal exam, noticed how tender I am on the right side and was really gentle.
So I guess I won't hate WHC from now on. I'm sort of stuck between feeling really emotional going back there, and being on cloud nine for finding a reasonable doctor whom I didn't have to fight. Thanks for all of the examples of doing research first!!!
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Post by Karen on Jun 14, 2011 18:39:04 GMT -5
Well, I can see why you'd be reluctant, but I'm proud of you for doing your research and finding a doc that knows endo! Sometimes I think that's the biggest battle!! Let us know how the lab results are and what the next steps are!!
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Post by JC on Jun 14, 2011 20:36:06 GMT -5
Aw I'm glad you found a good doctor. I sometimes shudder when I pass by that place too and I used to work there! I am sorry that you had such a terrible thing happen to you while you were there. That's really awful. This new doctor sounds promising though! And if he doesn't work out I have a pretty awesome GI doctor at Georgetown. She's absolutely wonderful. It sounds like the one you have now is working with you very well so I'm really glad to see that you'll be in good hands.
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Post by KSA on Jun 14, 2011 21:40:44 GMT -5
Good Luck with the testing. Do not get discouraged keep trying to figure out the problem. A GI doc does alot of scopes to figure things out and it sucks but worth it in the end. You will be happy you found the right doc and took the extra effort to research the doc. It is so difficult to find a good GI. Keep me posted on the celiac test. This seems to be the test that ALOT of docs are running now.
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Post by JC on Jun 15, 2011 8:30:27 GMT -5
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Post by 1234 on Jun 15, 2011 9:49:12 GMT -5
Thanks for those links! I'll definitely look into them. I got the blood drawn for celiac yesterday. I was looking at that precious blood leaving my body and hoping it wasn't enough to make me anemic again. that damn mirena has really sent me for a ride. I think celiac is now a popular disease, since so many athletes have recently been diagnosed with it and gone gluten free and suddenly been amazing--like Djokavic (sp?), the tennis player. Hopefully this means there will be more, better, and cheaper gluten free options in the stores soon.
The bacteria test is July 12-fortunately it starts at 6am so I shouldn't have to miss too much work. My supervisor knows sort of what is going on, but I don't like to share too much detail. and they look at me like I'm crazy because they assume that since I bike everywhere, there is nothing wrong with me.
and I'm really glad I forced myself to go back to WHC. After all, I can't just avoid that whole part of the city forever. I kept adding more hills to my day by trying to work around WHC. time to toughen up--it's been a year. Plus, if you hit the lights right and there aren't too many cars buggering up the road, both irving and michigan (the east-west roads that go around WHC) are banked perfectly for a bicycle and you can fly up and down the hills. It's fun.
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Post by JC on Jun 15, 2011 10:19:37 GMT -5
yeah! I used to bike to work from Silver Spring. I enjoyed Irving. lol I didn't enjoy Georgia ave though.... eessh! My local Giant has a whole organic and mostly gluten free isle. I really like it. This celiac disease thing is getting to be more and more common. I wonder why so many people can't handle it properly. It's interesting.
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Post by Karen on Jun 15, 2011 14:03:51 GMT -5
There's an article somewhere in here about celiac being more common due to very little diversity in our current agriculture. I think I read there are only a few types of wheat that are used for mass production?
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Post by omaklackey on Jun 16, 2011 23:32:16 GMT -5
So how many of us who have bowel issues have celiac disease though? I was tested and it was negative, one of the first things my PA checked because her family all has celiac disease. It would be an interesting question?
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Post by JC on Jun 17, 2011 5:49:44 GMT -5
Hey Karla, what test did they do for celiac on you? I've had two tests now, that antibody and an actual stomach biopsy. I'm starting to learn that there's more than one test because apparently celiac disease manifests itself differently in some people, like me for example! yikes...
My neurologist did mention that they can do an allergy test for this. My stomach biopsy was negative but my antibody test was positive. I need to dig a little deeper and see what various tests are available for celiac. Celiac is definitely becoming very common but I don't think people realize that it's not just a GI issue. I certainly didn't know until that sh*t attacked my brain!
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Post by Karen on Jun 17, 2011 6:13:28 GMT -5
I know Celiac is at the root of a lot of GI problems, but I've seen a lot of articles about research on GI issues and a lot of it is pointing to the bacteria levels and types in the gut, too. If that balance is off, things can be hell!
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Post by JC on Jun 17, 2011 7:10:29 GMT -5
Hey Karen, check this out: "Gluten and Gliadin are very hard to digest and this poor digestion can encourage the growth and presence of bacteria or yeast in the intestines. This growth contributes to diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas and irritable bowel symptoms. Other gluten allergy symptoms are brain fog, fatigue, insomnia, chronic fatigue, skin rashes, numbing and tingling, joint pain, weight loss or weight gain, anxiety, hyperactivity, pain syndromes, depression and weight gain. " source: www.foodallergytest.org/celiac.html
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Post by KSA on Jun 17, 2011 7:40:30 GMT -5
Right on Karen about the bacteria. I was tested first test incomplete bc they didnt run the full panel second was the negative but I took gluten out by docs orders anyways. Hpolori is a bacteria also? My sis was insistant they check me for that my first go around with the dumb GP she said oh I could test everyone in the parking lot and it would be positive doesnt mean you are sick from that. So to this day I have no idea if what ever happend with the H polori test. I should investigate it but for now diet, supplements and life style change is my route. If I did have it I am sure all the antibiotics I was given when I went septic killed it off. Celiac is the test they want to run on my baby niece and the Lupus ANA panel she is 10 months old I see so much of me in her it is scary. My other two nieces are showing signs too and I wonder is it that or possible endo. Kayla my oldest niece is a carbon copy of me when I was 15. If we are born with it then Ava def has the gastro issues like me and my sis. It is hard to see her struggle after eating. Poor little baby girls should not have to have pain like that.
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Post by arizonagirl on Jun 17, 2011 11:46:47 GMT -5
I have a niece and nephew with celiac disease and KSA, you're right--it is awful to see the pain. Once it was diagnosed, though, they've been doing so well on their new diets. That is the one thing to be thankful for--celiac disease is highly treatable once you figure out that its there!
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Post by hellsbells on Jun 17, 2011 11:51:00 GMT -5
H.Pylori isn't the end of the world, in a lot of people it doesn't really cause symptoms, but in other people it can cause horrendous GI symptoms, and it's present in the majority of people who have stomach ulcers. Testing for and eradicating H Pylori is now (or at least should be) standard treatment for stomach ulcers. It can also be blames for some cases of stomach cancer. Your doc is an ass. Keri, the antibiotic regime has to be very specific, and you have to take an acid suppresssant to allow the oral antibiotics to work. I would deffo follow up on the test result babe!
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