Angry with my doctor

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Thu, January 03, 2008

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So I had my appointment yesterday. 2 hours in public transit each way and all I get from it is being frustrated, and it was 7F, -13 with the wind. We agreed I am gonna stay on the Sibelium for a little longer, since it was only a month. But then, when I asked him about Pseudotumor Cerebri I got the "typical" treatment: my MRI was normal (in his opinion it would show - Wacko ), I am too young and my neurological exam was fine (what the hell? Mad ). I kept telling him that from what I've read, the MRI must be normal and so on... He just stuck with his no. It looked a little like he wanted to wait for the second opinion doctor, what his opinion is gonna be. BTW after I asked him about it he left the exam room and went to his office and didn't come back for at least 5 minutes, I bet he was looking at what it is.

It is frustrating, there is this condition, a really simple little thing, and if I have it I can be helped, my headaches might get better so why not try it? Why let me suffer, he himself said that I cannot live this way and yet, he doesn't want to help. If the second opinion doctor won't agree to looking into it, I will ask my GP.

And on top of everything I started getting these horrible, really painfull spasms in my esophagus, they can last hours. Yesterday I couldn't even eat breakfast because it hurt so much. Today I am little better. When I asked the pain specialist (my GP is on holiday till monday) he said to take something for acid reflux. It has nothing to do with acid reflux, I don't have it, when I eat things that should make acid worse it doesn't get worse. I think I will have to make an appointment with my GP, I am not looking forward to it, the required tests don't look so appealing.

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Nancy Harris Bonk

1/ 3/08 3:54pm

to hear your appt. was a disappointment. Can you ask your GP for a referral to another doctor to do an LP for PTC?

Eva

1/ 3/08 11:30pm

Hey Nancy, most definitely I can. My GP and I have a really good relationship, so I don't think it is going to be a problem. But for now, I want to know what the second opinion specialist will say regarding PTC when I ask him.

nutcracker1

1/ 3/08 8:44pm

I also have esophageal spasms. I get my user name from my esophagus condition--nutcracker esophagus. Is is the tests for the spasms you are not relishing? Indeed, an esophageal manometry should not go on anyone's list of top ten fun things to do. But it's definitely survivable.

I'll tell you what the nurse who carried out my manometry did. It worked great. First she numbed my nose. I sat up while she ran the tube into my nose and down my throat. She stopped just before the gag point. Then she handed me a glass of water with a straw, and told me to drink the water hard and fast, and not think about anything else but drinking the water. While I was busy with that, she rushed the tube past the gag point, and I didn't gag at all!

They gave me a lot of reflux meds, too, and it is true that reflux can trigger a nutcracker esophagus, but I don't have reflux. We know that for certain from a 24-hour Ph test. So I sympathize with your being asked to take reflux meds when your problem is something else.

A gastroenterologist treats me for the nutcracker esophagus. Good luck with your migraines and your esophagus.

Eva

1/ 3/08 11:34pm

Hi Nutcracker,

I was actualy thinking a lot about you in the past couple of days. I remember you asking about smaller pills (magnesium or something), boy do I have a problem with swallowing pills now. In the past I could swallow a grapefruit without any issue. Now my 17 suppplements and pills are scaring me.

Well of course I am not liking the idea of any form of endoscopy (any form of -scopy), but it is not something that would scare me from talking to my doctor. And btw thank you for explaining a few things, it did help.

I hope you are feeling well.

nutcracker1

1/ 5/08 12:17pm

An endoscopy is a different test. If you have an endoscopy, you will probably be sedated so that you won't know anything from the time your doctor says, "Lie on your side and open your mouth" to the time he/she says, "Wake up!" After that test, I felt fine, except a little tired, but the endoscopy center wanted me to have a ride home (not drive or conduct important business the rest of the day) and rest for the remainder of the day.

If the endoscopy comes back normal, ask your doctor about the esophageal manometry test, which is the test I described. In fact, your primary doctor may not have heard of it, but the gastroenterologist should have. You must be alert for the manometry test. As I said, don't put it on a top-ten-fun-things-to-do list, but it's survivable.

Anonymous

2/ 4/09 8:53pm

Hi, I just found your post doing a search on Sansert. More on that later. However, I wanted to address your esophagus pain - it can very well be acid reflux. I have very bad migraines, and I also have a condition called Sjogren's Syndrome (you can google it). It causes esophageal spasms and pain, and can cause acid reflux as well. I ended up having to have surgery to make it better - it did make it better for a year or so, the symptoms are coming back a little now. But don't freak out, that's probably not what yours is (Sjogren's).

Angry with my doctor

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