Migraine

I've been posting about this in the Tea Room so I'll give a little info to catch those up that don't know what is going on. About 3 1/2 weeks ago, I went to the ER for severe lower abdominal pain. I've also been having pain in my mid abdominals and back. The ER doctor ran severe tests including blood, urine, CT scan and ultrasound. They couldn't determine why I was having the pain, other than my liver function tests came back elevated.

I was sent home that evening after 8 hours and told to follow-up with my PCP. It happened that my PCP was out that week so I saw another dr. in the same practice. BIG mistake. He was a quack. He diagnosised me with shingles, told me to take my Hydrocode for the pain and redid my blood work (this is Wednesday of that week). On Friday of that week, I speak with the his nurse and she tells me that one of the live functions is back to normal but the other one is elevated more from the test that was done at the hospital and I need follow up with my PCP on Monday.

I follow-up with my PCP. She does more blood work and tells me to stop taking the meds for shingles because I do not have it. (I didn't think I had it, either.) Wednesday, I get a call from her nurse and she said my doctor wants me to come in for additional labs. My liver function test that has been elevated is slightly elevated from the test done the previous week.

I saw my pain mgmt doctor on Tuesday. He got upset because they had taking the Hydrocodone and that can cause damage to my liver. He ended up giving another pain med that won't harm my liver.

It takes a week to get those results back. Mind you, I've been having the pain in my mid abdomin and back for almost 3 weeks.

I was able to get an appointment with the specialist (gastroentrologist). Originally, they told me the first available appointment wasn't until December 1. I about flipped out. Then, I told the lady that my doctor had faxed over some paper work. She put me on hold to speak with the nurse. When she came back on, she told me that she could get me in to see the doctor on Nov. 10 or 17.

I pleaded with her to see if I could get in any sooner. I explained that I have been in pain for three weeks now. She said that appointment is a work in appointment. After I hung up the phone, I started crying out of frustration.

I called my primary doctor and left a message for the nurse to call me. I'm going to see if they can get me a sooner appointment with the specialist.

I just don't know what to do any more. I don't know how to get it through these doctors' heads that I AM IN PAIN! You can bet if it was one of them or their family member they'd be seen a lot sooner.

I can definatley sympathize Heather. I had the same problem when I had to go to a GI last year for stomach problems. But I wasn't in constant pain so that is different.

Is there another GI you can go to who can get you in sooner?

I really feel for you. I really really do. I hope you can get in to see someone and get some answers soon.

Kat, My PCP's nurse called me back. She said she was going to try to speak to the GI doc's nurse to see if they could get me in sooner.

She ended up calling a little while ago to tell me she got me an appointment with another GI doc in another practice. My appointment is for next Tuesday. I was so thankful to her for doing that.

It is still frustrating that you have to get someone else to intervene. I hope this will be the end of my frustrations.

All I want to do right now is go to bed.

Heather,
I'm glad your PCP's nurse found you somewhere to go sooner. I hope they find out whatever is really wrong with you so you can have the right treatment and get a break from all the pain.

I'll be thinking of you.

Meli

That's so frustrating when you're at wit's end with something and can't get in to get it checked out quickly. I'm glad the nurse was able to help find you somewhere to go as early as Tuesday. droolie talons are firmly crossed in hopes that the doc they're sending you to is aces and has you on the med in a jiffy!