For Tom, With Comment on 's Response

August 21, 2004

Yeah, Tom, my doc does the same as 's. If I'm sick enough to be

admitted, I just call him and tell him I need a bed. (You will eventually be

able to tell that from experience, unfortunately. That is, if you can't

already.) My doc never questions my judgment on that. You will develop that

same relationship with your doctor over time. If you don't, or can't develop

that relationship with your doc, then you need to find one with whom you can

work in that manner. Otherwise, you just spin your wheels and try to explain

pancreatic pathophysiology to docs who are incapable of understanding. It is

very tough to find a doctor who really, really understands the pancreas and

pancreatic disease processes. They are a blessing when you do find them,

however.

For example, a friend of mine (a woman) without a history of pancreatic

disease, was recently diagnosed with diabetes. Her doctor said, and I quote,

" Your pancreas is shot, . " Well, bullticky, because she isn't even on

insulin and she has no symptoms of pancreatic disease. I told her that her

meds encourage her Islet of Langerhans cells to produce more insulin than

they are currently producing and that, obviously, the rest of her pancreas

is functioning normally.

You gotta watch these doctors at every step and educate yourself so that you

can catch and deflect their errors. It's damn near a full-time job.

Anyone who goes with you to the doctor (wife, girl friend, guy friend, or

family member) should also be so educated, because sometimes we are so

looped from our medication that it is difficult to maintain, understand,

contribute to, and remember conversations with our physicians. Your friends,

spouses, or family members will protect you from physician or nurse

ignorance. Try discussing a complex subject, any complex subject, the next

time you get 100 mg. of Demerol IV with a 25 mg. Phenergan chaser and you'll

see what I mean.

Jerry/NC

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Re: Old member with a very recent attack

> Tom,

> I have had so many attacks with normal labs that they are too numerous to

count. ... When I have an attack that I think warrants me being admitted to

the hospital, I just insist that the ER doctor call my doctor. They

typically leave it up to me to decide if I need to be admitted.

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