Re: Hi Barbara!

[Guest guest]

Hi Barbara,

Glad to hear from you! We were diagnosed in similar ways - both from

routine bloodwork! Were you having any other symptoms as well?

I remember the hardest part at the beginning was waiting. It took awhile

for me to be diagnosed in the beginning because I wasn't seeing my regular

doctor, and the one I was seeing was the pits! The biopsy will give you a

clearer picture of what's going on and then you can go from there. Best of

luck with the biopsy. It's over quickly which is nice. Preparing yourself

mentally can be the tough part!

I am thrilled with the quality of health care I have received here in

Ontario, and I thank my lucky stars every day that I live in Canada (not

that there aren't problems right now!). I couldn't imagine having to worry

about how I'm going to pay my medical bills on top of coping with all the

other things that go along with having this illness. I think I've been very

lucky with the doctors I have. An internal specialist diagnosed me and I've

seen him consistently throughout as he's closer to home. He answers all my

questions thoroughly and without judgement, and he monitors my blood

pressure etc. Then there's my liver specialist at Toronto Western. I trust

her completely. She monitors my bloodwork (which is faxed to her) and she

makes decisions re: my medications by phone. This has worked well in

regards to weaning the prednisone over the last year and a half - especially

since at the beginning I was getting blood work done so frequently!! That

would have meant a weekly visit to the doctor in TO which turns into a day

long affair (because I live an hour away). It was a bit of a wait to

actually see the specialist (a few months) but since then I have no

complaints. Heathcote has been studying and working with AIH victims for

almost 20 years and she's brilliant. Finally my family doctor is also a big

wig in this area. He has an excellent manner on top of being extremely

knowledgeable. He encourages me to come to him if I have any concerns, and

he explores all my concerns thoroughly. I feel very confident that I'm in

good hands and I'm feeling pretty darn good!

Let me know what doctor you'll be seeing! (if I don't respond for awhile

it's because I haven't been able to check my messages - I'm not too sure

what's in store for the coming week!). Take care of yourself, and I hope

your biopsy goes well!

>From: " Barbara Derbyshire " <bderbyshire@...>

>Reply- egroups

> egroups

>Subject: [ ] Hi

>Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2000 01:47:19 -0000

>

>Hi

>

>Great to meet you, ! I am newly diagnosed - my biopsy is next

>week. After the results are in, I will be seeing a doctor at Toronto

>General - although I don't know who it will be yet.

>

>I'm closing in on 50 - and just found out I had AIH a week ago.

>During a regular checkup, my doc ordered bloodwork, which showed

>elevated enzymes. Went to a gastro in Newmarket who ran more tests,

>which led to the AIH diagnosis. The biopsy is next week. Once the

>results are in, I'll go from there.

>

>How have you found the level of care you've received here in Ontario?

>Are you feeling good? Love to talk to you some more.

>

>Barbara

>

>

>

>

>

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