How do I convince gastro to test, or do I give up?????

[Guest guest]

Its difficult to know how to get our docs to do these things.

Do you feel the Celiac test is necessary or is SCD helping so much that it

really doesn't matter too much anymore? What I mean is, you can find out for

sure but when you do will it change the protocol you are doing now?

When I need my docs to do something for me, I insist, I don't suggest. I will

say to him (my GI), " I know that you think this isn't necessary but I do and I

am asking you to do this for me. " Mine have never refused. Sometimes my

suspicions are right, other times they are not. I have found that all my medical

docs respect me greatly for the knowledge that I already have and treat me more

Iike an equal because I don't let them walk on me.

I went to a new GI when I moved and he didn't want to hear anything I had to

say. He wanted me on that table having a Colonoscopy ASAP. I never went back. I

just kept seeing the one in my old town who I can confer with over the phone if

needs be. I am in charge, not him. I don't alienate them, because there may come

a time that they have to save my life (which has already happened once) but I

still insist with all my docs.

Here in Canada, our medical expenses are paid for but if you live in the States,

he works for you. He won't like you going to someone else who will get your

money instead of him.

I hope this helps. I know its hard but I think either he will respect you and

you will keep wanting to go to him or he will remain egotistical which may mean

a change in docs.

Charlene

UC 8 years

SCD 5 1/2 years

Hello all,

I have some issues with my gastro doc. I don't know whether to look elsewhere

(because he hasn't hurt me yet, and that is a biggie) or to try one last time to

get him to do his job properly! Here is the situation:

I can't figure out how to convince (or get another doctor) to test me for

celiac disease and the hydrogen breath test. When I asked my gastro doc, I was

told since I wasn't losing weight for no reason, I shouldn't be tested for the

breath test, but when I read up on it, I felt that I should be tested, espcially

since I have not been able to digest grains and sugar since a very high dose of

anitbiotic AND he hasn't found the cause of the symtoms! You would think he

would test me just to rule it out, but no! When I asked him to check or Celiac

{he was already doing an endoscopy} but was told that I didn't have the

symptoms, but when I read up on THAT, same deal! I saw with both diseases, the

symptoms are fairly common, except for a few and I certainly quailfy to be

tested.

I am not sure whether to leave him or what, since he does have a good side, he

does not 'push Rx' on me. Many doctors do and I have to fight and go through

drama, but he doesn't. I just don't know how to get this egotistical doctor to

run the two tests to rule these reasonable things out, especially after another

doctor messed up my digestive with the anti-biotic. With this doc, if I present

an idea, and it didn't come from an MD, it didn't occur! He ignores my

suggestions, and then when I figure something out and it works (like SCD) he

acts like he knew all along, but if he did, he would have told me in the first

place! UGH!

Any advice on how to deal with an ego-doc to get him to run two simple tests

would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

God bless,

Hazelpone

[Guest guest]

> Hello all,

>

> I have some issues with my gastro doc. I don't know whether to look

> elsewhere (because he hasn't hurt me yet, and that is a biggie) or to

> try one last time to get him to do his job properly! Here is the

> situation:

>

> I can't figure out how to convince (or get another doctor) to test me

> for celiac disease and the hydrogen breath test. When I asked my

> gastro doc, I was told since I wasn't losing weight for no reason, I

> shouldn't be tested for the breath test, but when I read up on it, I

> felt that I should be tested, espcially since I have not been able to

> digest grains and sugar since a very high dose of anitbiotic AND he

> hasn't found the cause of the symtoms! You would think he would test

> me just to rule it out, but no! When I asked him to check or Celiac

> {he was already doing an endoscopy} but was told that I didn't have

> the symptoms, but when I read up on THAT, same deal! I saw with both

> diseases, the symptoms are fairly common, except for a few and I

> certainly quailfy to be tested.

>

> >>>>>>>

> Any advice on how to deal with an ego-doc to get him to run two simple

> tests would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

>

> God bless,

> Hazelpone

I would tell him I want to seek a second opinion. That is not unusual.

I never let doctors tyrannize me!

>

>

Carol F.

Celiac, MCS, Latex Allergy, EMS

SCD 6 years

[Guest guest]

Hazel,

If you have a doc who isn't pushing meds you don't need on you, hold on to

him, at least until you are able to find someone more compatible.

A book I recommend (and need to dig out my copy of, since I'm facing some

medical gyrations in the next few weeks) is Suzette Haden Elgin's STAYING

WELL WITH THE GENTLE ART OF VERBAL SELF DEFENSE.

The book is out of print, but there are copies available here and there.

It tells you, step by step, how to deal with the " God " complex so many MDs,

and some NDs, have -- and how to arrange things so you can get the

treatment you feel you need. Alienating a doctor isn't usually a good idea

-- you might need him. (Though I admit, I did fire an endocronologist last

year after he lied to me about what tests he was ordering, and tried to

trick me into taking one I said I wouldn't take.) Remember, if you're in

the States, since you (or your insurance) is paying his / her fees, he or

she is actually your employee!

-- Marilyn (New Orleans, Louisiana, USA)

Undiagnosed IBS 25 Years, SCD Five Years

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund