Re: So frustrated, I want a new doc!

[Guest guest]

Dear Jen,

The way I see it, the next move needs to be yours. I can understand your

frustration with

a doctor who hasn't seen you since May and is now letting the weeks pass by

while he

" thinks " about what he needs to do about your medical care. He's already

rejected the

advice of another professional, meaning that he thinks that " he's " the only one

with any

right answers. The problem with this is that he doesn't seem to " have " any

right answers,

except to increase your narcotics, which obviously doesn't seem to be helping

you that

much. In my book, that would mean it's time to move on.

The added stress and discomfort of more symptoms is worrying, also. Granted, it

may be

caused by IBS as you said, but then again, without follow up testing, how do you

know for

sure? The fact that this doctor isn't moving faster, even with some " new "

symptoms, is a

cause for concern. Even if the only thing that can be done is to increase your

pain meds, I

think you owe yourself the security of another opinion to confirm this.

I'm sure you are very confused, especially when you've got a specialist in

Toronto who says

that surgery may help you, and a doctor here that says " absolutely not " . I'd be

curious to

know what the surgery is that might help, and exactly what the objections are of

the

doctor you haven't seen since May in regard to this surgery. Maybe the feedback

from a

third specialist may lean either pro or con of one treatment or another, and

give you some

direction to go in.

I'm not sure how the medical system works in Canada, but are you free to choose

whatever

physician you want and make appointments directly with that physician? If so,

if it were

me, I'd be searching for another opinion, and trying to find a doctor that

showed some

agressive interest in my situation, had a positive plan of action and one that

was willing to

see me whenever I had a legitimate need for care. I think you do, and I hope

you can

make the right decisions and act on them. Please let us know what you plan to

do.

Think good thoughts,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or opinion, and

should

not be substituted for consultation with a medical professional.

[Guest guest]

I see that they told you that you have IBS too. I am starting to think that

docs use IBS when they just dont know what is going on and they are just to

afraid or cocky to say " Hey I dont know. " Has anyone else here been diagnosed

with IBS and think that it was just because the doctor didnt know what was

actually going on?