Finally got to see a GI doctor

October 17, 2002

The GI doctor that I was originally given a referral to by my primary

doctor for November had a cancellation. The first one was on Tuesday

but my doctor's office could not get the referral together that fast

so they had another cancellation and I got to see him yesterday

before he had to leave and go out of town. In the mean time he has

ordered the following tests done. A basic metabolic screen which was

done today. A CT scan with IV contrast of abdomen and pelvis for

Oct. 24th. There will be a colonoscopy done on Nov. 13th. I will

see him on NOv. 5th again and he said at that time he may be able to

determine from some of the test results if I need to be put in the

hospital since the colonoscopy won't have been done yet. I am also

on an antibiotic now that he hopes will help which is Metroidazol and

hehas also prescribed potinex or atinex(sp?) or my stomach but I am

still waiting for the insurance to approve this. They called from

the doctor'soffice said it had been approved but when I went to pick

it up the pharmacy said the insurance said not yet so I have to call

them back tomorrow to see if it is updated in the computer> This is

since last night they have been trying to get this for me. Sorry

this was so long. By the way I am looked at some ofthe stuff in the

files and this has been quite helpful to me and so have all the

messages so far. Still not able to eat much. I have lost 12

poundsin less then a week. Not that I couldn't stand to lose some

weight but this is not the way I want to do it. Also those of you

who have had this longer have you noticed how the first thing the ER

doctors do is assume you are an alcoholic? I don't drink except 1

drink maybe every 2 months. And they find this hard to believe or

that I am not a drug user either and that I am not just coming there

for free narcotics!!!

Thanks for letting me vent and sharing again I am open to suggestions

and input and advice and if anyone is in Florida what there

experience is? I am more limited being on Medicaid and there HMO

options.

Margie

October 18, 2002

Margie,

Good luck with the CT scan, but be careful and drink lots of water

afterwards, the IV contrast dye sent me into a terrible attack, for

which I was told it was not possible!!! It was, and I was very ill.

The drug seeker thing is all too common... again Best wishes for

great images!

{{{HUGZ}}}

October 18, 2002

Margie,

Good luck with the CT scan, but be careful and drink lots of water

afterwards, the IV contrast dye sent me into a terrible attack, for

which I was told it was not possible!!! It was, and I was very ill.

The drug seeker thing is all too common... again Best wishes for

great images!

{{{HUGZ}}}

October 18, 2002

> Margie,

>

> Good luck with the CT scan, but be careful and drink lots of water

> afterwards, the IV contrast dye sent me into a terrible attack, for

> which I was told it was not possible!!! It was, and I was very ill.

>

> The drug seeker thing is all too common... again Best wishes for

> great images!

> {{{HUGZ}}}

>

:

I already figured I might have a problem with this and so I am not

even going by myself but seeing if someone from church can take me

and stay with me til it is over and then bring me home as well. I

also did the paper work at the diagnostic center where I am having

this done at because one of my problems is I am a LATEX allergy and

she said good thing I let them know far enough in advance so thy can

make all the special preparations or the IV tubing and everything and

the gloves. I also have a lot of drug allergies like lidocaine and

most pain medications so this does present special problems. I was

able to get all my lab reports and all the workups that have been

done on me since September as well as the films they need to

compare. I talked to my stepmom who is a retired nurse about some of

the blood tests results and she can't believe that the first doctor

was ignoring them. For i.e my BUN was at 19 on Oct 3rd when I was

in the hospital with chest pains, 27 on Oct 6th in the ER and 29 on

Oct 8th. MY Lipase was 311 on the 6th and 350 on the 8th. MY HGB

and HCT was going lower and lower on all of these dates includng

during my stay in the hospital and so much more and yet it was being

ignored.

Today is the first good day I have had since this all started over

10 days ago.

(((((Hugs)))) back at you Margie

October 18, 2002