Need a specialist in N.E. Mass... msg

[Guest guest]

Hi -

I found this group thanks to Heidi

A brief history. A little over a month ago I had an attack late one

evening of something - severe pain, couldn't even move. Went to the

doctor the next day, she suspected gallbladder and sent me for an

ultrasound and set an appt with the surgeon for the next day.

They did the ultrasound, said the gallbladder was fine, but they found

" something " on the pancreas, and arranged a cat scan for me for about

a week later. The cat scan showed nothing on the pancreas, but found

" something " on the liver. The surgeon said I didn't need him, so sent

me back to my regular doctor. She wanted me to wait a month and then

get another ultrasound to see if the liver thing had changed at all.

They thought that since the cat scan didn't show anything on the

pancreas, that it was probably nothing - probably just a gas bubble in

the small intestine sticking out when the first ultrasound was done.

So I went back this past Wed and had another ultrasound. Turns out

they still saw something on the pancreas.. they were going to compare

the two films and see if it was the same thing. They also did find

the thing on the liver, so that's confirmed too.. the only thing I

heard them say about it was that there was no blood flow through it -

but I don't know what that suggests. I was getting pretty nervous

because by the time I was done with the ultrasound there were 3

different technicians plus a doctor all crowded in the room, looking

at the screen together and mumbling to each other. Not a good sign,

eh?

So I have an appt with my doctor Monday morning to go over the test

results. I think at this point, since there is definitely something

going on, that it's time to see a specialist, and not just my regular

doctor. So I am going to ask for a referral Monday morning, but I

don't know anything about who is good, who is not. So I am hoping

that maybe someone out there is from this area and can give me some

good references. I am in Haverhill Mass, which is north of Boston on

the New Hampshire border. I've been having my tests done in Lowell

since I work near that area, so that's where my regular doctor is.

I'd prefer it to be someone along 495 between Lowell and Haverhill,

because I think if I am feeling really crummy I am not going to want

to drive forever to get to the doctor, but I guess the important thing

is finding someone who understands all this stuff, and is able to

treat it.

If there is nobody out there from this area, maybe some people know of

websites with referrals? Or listings of good doctors? I would really

appreciate any help I could get.. I'm feeling a bit lost here.

thanks!

maryg7878@...