Hi Everyone

[Guest guest]

A while back, I wrote about the problems I had with insurance and my

regular doctor. I ended up finding another doctor, which I tend to

feel is not the right doctor. In fact, he was an intern when I

nearly died three times from my pancreatitus attack. He came in at

the tail end after I was moved from ICU to the general floor. His

objective seemed to be geared at getting me off the pain meds. He

put me on a medicine I knew I had a bad reaction to. He didn't

believe me and said that I should give it a try, and if it didn't

work, he would switch me back. I had a bad reaction, he refused to

switch me back, and after three days I called him into my room and

told him, I didn't ask for him, I didn't hire him, but I was going

to fire him, and demanded another doctor. Then he capitulated.

I decided to give him a try because he was in the insurance plan, he

did remember my case and I felt he at least was familiar which was

better than any of the other doctors I had to choose from.

Then he prescibed Crestor and Tricor, which a lot of you,

thankfully, gave me advice on. Based on that advice, I called the

doctor and told him what I had learned, We nixed the Crestor but I

agreed to try the tricor. Within weeks, my muscles started

stiffening and I had joint pain. I called him and let him know and

he took me off the meds, and I am going back to gemfribizol. (SP?)

He wants to add another medicine that is not as effective, but is

different in that it is supposed to absorb fat.

Here is my problem. I get pancreatitus due to high triglycerides.

Over the last month, they were 1500, then the next week like 900,

and just this week, 1600. My other doctor had said if they got

above 800 I would be put in the hospital and cut off from food,

getting fed by IV.

My pain has risen. I used to be on the patch, percaset. Last year

my appendix exploded and I sat at home for two more days before I

did anything about it, I thought it might be pancreatitus. I then

thought since I toughed this out, I could try getting off the pain

meds. Besides, the other doctors were reluctant to continue that

course of action until they got all the records.

I've been managing okay, but still had pain and still

uncomfortable. I've gone back to percaset, and valum for when I get

spasms in my stomach.

Friday I go for a catscan.

My question for you is does anyone else get pancreatitus because of

high triglycerides alone? If so, what types of medicine are you

taking for it?

I've tried niaspan, which made me glow like a spark plug, and had

very bad reactions to. The doctor said it would knock the

triglycerides down. (My last attack my triglycerides were over 8000)

After 6 months, they went UP! I was really upset. The gemfrobizal

seems to not help that much, and the tricor did nothing. Seems to

me that since they believed this course of action would have an

effect, and didn't that they would be more concerned of why they

didn't and maybe be more concerned why that is. It is not diet

related. I don't drink.

I am totally frustrated and getting really depressed over this. I

am beyond going bankrupt because of medical bills. The doctor

wanted me to not work for a couple of days and I told him that I

couldn't do that. I need the money, I am trying to keep a roof over

my families heads. We are now 3 months behind on the mortgage. I

am thinking that I have to resist going into the hospital because it

is so important I work, which sounds silly, but we've been going

through this for so long now that I don't think my marriage could

take it.

Any input anyone can provide might give me some ideas on what to do.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

Bob Potter

Waukesha WI