tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post8513005498310430396..comments2024-03-12T07:48:29.712+03:00Comments on Stories from the trauma bay: The REAL truth about that coffee mugDocBastardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12224592098492491365noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-38455590461824164712016-05-15T03:46:50.960+03:002016-05-15T03:46:50.960+03:00Doc,
There are a few absolute in life: taxes, dea...Doc,<br /><br />There are a few absolute in life: taxes, death, my absolute infintely deep hate for twitter and facebook. Oh, and stupidity which is competing in infinity with my hate for twitter and facebook.<br /><br />Everything else's relative ;)<br /><br />AlAlainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17081324424970483983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-56831506760926248902016-03-08T06:13:16.144+02:002016-03-08T06:13:16.144+02:00Ken, that's an awesome story. I bet those thre...Ken, that's an awesome story. I bet those three patients were so very relieved to have an answer at last!!<br /><br />Nicole, What up, fellow zebra?! Classic type here, with JHS on the side, plus some other fun stuff. Now that I'm older and know more about EDS, I can look back and make sense of SO MANY THINGS growing up, including the clumsiness! Years before I even heard of EDS I had a chiropractor tell me that I had "diminished proprioception", which is the term I've stuck with since then, but basically a fancy term for clumsy.<br /><br />About 2012 the full body pain started, and I started looking for answers and ways to treat the pain. Spent a few years with fibromyalgia as my working diagnosis and had a couple doctors almost kill me, especially with the gabapentin and the "opioid hyperalgesia" that I supposedly had so my pain meds got taken away. I stumbled across a good pain management doctor for my pain, which I now know is Intractable, not just chronic. A chunk of a year later and I was looking for specialists who knew EDS, because I already knew I had it, thanks to the research and other EDS patients I'd run across. Now I have a geneticist who is the best person in the world to handle that aspect, and I'm so happy I didn't settle and let myself believe that it was "just" fibromyalgia, or worse, all in my head. Psychosomatic is a word that is too often used as a weapon against patients. <br /><br />I agree with your last paragraph intensely. I respect the degree and the effort it took to get there. However, I spent too much time being dismissed or marginalized, and I now know the importance of finding the right doctors for my team that I can work well with. The world is a big place, and I don't expect everyone in it to like me.Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12407466438773284596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-69502994272572211062016-03-08T05:59:24.674+02:002016-03-08T05:59:24.674+02:00I would like to point out that there are times whe...I would like to point out that there are times when a doctor or even several doctors dismiss the concerns brought to them, leading to misdiagnoses and improper prescriptions and more. It's more of a common thing in the invisible/chronic illness department, it seems, because there is so much overlap in symptoms and comorbidities and so many things are clinical diagnosis rather than being immediately testable, and so on. I would like to point out that I agree that doctor shopping for someone to agree to a pet theory is probably going to hinder more than help, but there are times when it is necessary to seek second or third opinions. <br /><br />I was misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia for years, and found myself close to a total body shut down before I found a set of doctors that believed me when I said "it's NOT fibromyalgia but something else and I think it's _______ for these reasons, can we check this out?" One grueling year after a proper partial diagnosis from that experience and I'm receiving treatment that falls in line with my actual problems and doing well.<br /><br />TL;DR: Yes, I agree, but I also must say that there are times when you have to push forward and search for the right medical professional(s) to fit your healthcare team. My rights as a patient validate finding another doctor if I must, and I'm very glad I did. That being said, I still follow the rule of "express concern, explore concern with doctor, find root of problem, yay!" and it's been a good, productive principle for me. Either way, you need a balanced perspective.Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12407466438773284596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-90263110969863919742016-03-08T05:41:21.505+02:002016-03-08T05:41:21.505+02:00I heart your first paragraph so much! That sums it...I heart your first paragraph so much! That sums it up perfectly, in my mind. A good example, too.Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12407466438773284596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-18928941850700313482016-03-08T05:38:23.619+02:002016-03-08T05:38:23.619+02:00"We'll stop testing your liver function i..."We'll stop testing your liver function if it worries you"?! Now THAT is a bad solution. I would have walked out on her right then. As a zebra, I have had plenty of experience with the OP's type of doctor where the problems I was having were ignored and the non-issues were exaggerated. It happens, particularly when you are muddling about in the world of clinical diagnoses, and if you hang out in the chronic illness forums (especially fibromyalgia, it seems, probably because it's so under researched and controversial at the moment) you will see a lot of comments like Angela's. It's an understandable reaction to people who have been burned by doctors that didn't know better or didn't care enough, for whatever reasons. <br />(The rheumatologist I was speaking about asked me why I was using a walker, and when I had started. I began using it in December of the previous year, and it was now May. I'd brought it to every appointment with me, but in my record notes it states that the patient had begun using a walker though the doctor didn't see the need for it and that I claimed I'd been using it for months already and she was positive I was exaggerating. I got that word "exaggerating" from her a lot.)<br /><br />I sincerely appreciate Doc's approach to medicine, though, and his mindset. I spent too much time with the time wasting doctors at first because I didn't yet know how to advocate for myself, but now that I do, I make sure that I know all I can about my diseases and the medications and treatments I require, because knowing about my body is my job. I can't expect the doctor to memorize everything for me, but I also recognize that I do not have a medical degree. So it's a partnership between patient and physician, as long as both don't try to be tyrants.Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12407466438773284596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-21919617349965774022016-03-08T05:27:08.053+02:002016-03-08T05:27:08.053+02:00I'm pretty sure I've puked up a rainbow or...I'm pretty sure I've puked up a rainbow or two in recent months… but I'm a zebra, not a unicorn. :(Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12407466438773284596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-80948682003383468072015-12-15T09:47:10.303+02:002015-12-15T09:47:10.303+02:00Yeah, I guess that makes them feel like they'r...Yeah, I guess that makes them feel like they're doing *something* proactive about their own health, and it gives them something to talk to/lecture *others* about.<br /><br />Scarabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999961861218673544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-53252635087734908562015-12-12T04:58:49.814+02:002015-12-12T04:58:49.814+02:00it's their newest way of feeling special.it's their newest way of feeling special.Ken Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166383392696452631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-70170824981541552712015-12-11T08:14:20.005+02:002015-12-11T08:14:20.005+02:00This comment has been removed by the author.Scarabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999961861218673544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-58950853601131244522015-12-11T07:57:31.694+02:002015-12-11T07:57:31.694+02:00I sometimes have to wonder if lots of this recent ...I sometimes have to wonder if lots of this recent self-diagnosing of celiac disease is happening because so many food manufacturers, and even restaurants, are now promoting "gluten-free" products as "healthier." Of course...they're "healthier" for those who truly are gluten-intolerant. But then people read a *bit* of information about gluten intolerance and *some* of the symptoms of celiac disease. Then they reflect on the fact that they occasionally have diarrhea or constipation, heartburn, gas, headaches, or whatever, and figure, "AHA! I must have celiac disease!" So they begin self-treating, by avoiding foods that actually weren't causing them any harm anyhow, and provided useful nutrients, and taking unnecessary supplements because they *think* the digestive system isn't properly absorbing nutrients. As we know, even some supplements can be very harmful if used in excess. <br /><br />To a lesser extent, the same misconceptions exist about chelation. In recent years, we've heard and read a lot about "heavy metals poisoning," especially in regards to vaccines. So, some people think that exposure to even the most minute levels of aluminum, mercury, lead, or whatever has had a major negative impact on their bodies, and look to chelation therapy as a way to "detoxify." Unless a person has been medically diagnosed with actual heavy metal *poisoning,* which typically happens only as a result of either long-term environmental exposure to toxic metals, or a major accidental ingestion, chelation therapy isn't needed, and the risks are substantial. But people continue to want it, to treat everything from arthritis to heart disease to ASDs in their children, even though it's been proven to have no medical benefits for these conditions. <br /><br />Scarabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999961861218673544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-75479102352697965902015-12-10T19:36:31.073+02:002015-12-10T19:36:31.073+02:00I have a friend who has a one-in-a-thousand condit...I have a friend who has a one-in-a-thousand condition; and his doctor has essentially given up on ever finding it when the friend's spouse happened to see a TV documentary on the condition and its rarity. they essentially had to persuade the doctor they wouldn't blame him for the test if the specific test for the problem was negative (it was a rather expensive test) but it did return positive and they were able to establish effective treatments.<br /><br />the shocker was at a follow-up about a year later - and the doctor said that thanks to their persistence, he had been able to diagnose and help three other patients with the same problem.Ken Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166383392696452631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-35951679983756750712015-12-10T19:26:03.192+02:002015-12-10T19:26:03.192+02:00edit: she was also religiously convinced that ever...edit: she was also religiously convinced that every other person in the world is suffering from celiac; even if they are completely asymptomatic and any celiac specific testing is 100% negative.Ken Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166383392696452631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-66091747650937156602015-12-10T19:24:21.343+02:002015-12-10T19:24:21.343+02:00I had contact with a person online who was an extr...I had contact with a person online who was an extreme case of that. the person subsisted on, from what information concerned people shared, rice, "reverse osmosis water" and about two cups a day of "Dr." Mercola's pills and oils. she was religiously convinced she was suffering from celiac and heavy metals poisoning, said she was undergoing chelations (it sounded like that was ongoing) and any other food harmed her stomach. the last update I got was that she had collapsed in her home, and been hospitalized. her chief complaint in the hospital was that they wouldn't let her have her supplements, and (our interpretation) the result was that in two days she had recovered enough to self-discharge and go back home to resume her self-medicating habits.Ken Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166383392696452631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-77656281247219477162015-12-09T18:02:01.598+02:002015-12-09T18:02:01.598+02:00My mother has gone to homeopathy "doctors&quo...My mother has gone to homeopathy "doctors" before for her health. I guess to their credit they put her on a healthy diet. She was doing well, until they did blood tests and found she was lacking the same vitamins they just happened to be selling that...you guessed it, their strict healthy diet was deliberately deficient in. <br /><br />The bottles were a couple hundred for a pack.<br /><br />She got off lucky in that she was just trying to get healthier, not cure a sickness. Homeopathy is about making money, not curing people. Sharkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01160474063593343683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-79434587372934534432015-12-09T09:37:49.519+02:002015-12-09T09:37:49.519+02:00I have had both good and bad experiences with doct...I have had both good and bad experiences with doctors. I suppose my bad experiences come from having some rarer medical conditions, and that doctors tend to go by the rule "when you hear hoof beats think horses, not zebras." <br />Getting me finally diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome was a long and difficult process for my mom. It started when I was three, when my mom complained of my excessive clumsiness to the doctor. After a very basic eye test, I started to walk back to the exam room, and tripped over nothing, doing a face plant. I remember my mom saying "see? That's what I'm talking about. Why does she keep doing that?" Several years, many paediatric experts, and three different tests for epilepsy later, still no real answers. Some experts seemed quite concerned with my easy bruising, one even asking if my father was a haemophiliac. Others found my excessive flexibility to be the real concern, but had no answers for it. It was finally a new GP when I was 15 who made the breakthrough. She had other patients with the same condition, and put it all together. But the first person she sent us to for the proper diagnosis didn't seem to have a clue. She had print outs from a website, and said because I didn't have all the symptoms from all the types, I couldn't have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (I specifically have the hyper mobility type). My diagnosis was confirmed by a genetic disorder expert a few months later.<br />The next issue that caused conflict with medical professionals for me was endometriosis. The problems first started when I was 17, I'd recently moved and started with a new doctor. I talked to her about my increasingly heavy and painful periods, and so started my misadventures with just about every birth control pill on the market at the time. None of them solved the problems I was experiencing, and I was either having two periods a month with them, or even bleeding for three weeks straight (but never on the week I was supposed to bleed.) Finally she wanted to put me on the shot, but I wasn't going to risk never knowing when bleeding would start and when or if it would stop. I asked to see a gynaecologist, but she told me she wouldn't refer me. That I was just being a wimp and that it was all in my head. She said I just needed to get over myself. I felt humiliated and defeated. I changed doctors, but didn't bring up my issues for a few years. During one particularly bad period, I went to my new doctor and talked to her about what was going on. She was horrified about my symptoms, and sent a referral for me to see a gynaecologist asap. She also did her best to find me some pain medication that worked. The gynaecologist was also wonderful, and finally diagnosed me after exploratory surgery. The spots of endometriosis that were found were cauterised and I haven't had problems since.<br />I've seen both good and bad in doctors, but I still have respect for the years of school it took to get the title. But I also like to take the time to look on proper medical sites now, just to get an idea of what doctors might look for if I have something other than a cold.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05590071720270443572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-19881370220053089162015-12-09T07:06:03.631+02:002015-12-09T07:06:03.631+02:00Jonathan, both you and Mom are a good example of w...Jonathan, both you and Mom are a good example of what being involved and informed *should* be. You expressed a concern, doctors tested for the condition you mentioned, and ruled it out, then went on to find the actual source of the problem so it could be properly addressed. Whatever the final choice for treatment turned out to be (surgical or physical therapy/naprapathy/chiropractic), you moved on to seek that treatment, instead of further delaying Mom's recovery by trying to doctor-shop for someone who would agree with you. Scarabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999961861218673544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-55851451698637720262015-12-09T06:55:06.077+02:002015-12-09T06:55:06.077+02:00That's too often the sad consequence of "...That's too often the sad consequence of "self-treating," whether via Google "research" or deciding that non-traditional, "natural" or homeopathic treatments are best without proper medical assessment or advice. Conditions that might have been treatable either remain untreated, or medical treatment is finally sought too late to make a positive impact on health. Scarabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999961861218673544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-67852701552542744512015-12-08T23:41:22.431+02:002015-12-08T23:41:22.431+02:00Just to add an anecdotal story to Doc's premis...Just to add an anecdotal story to Doc's premise... I played (use of past tense - interesting!)tennis with a man in his late 50s. He had not been feeling well and at one match, I talked to (mildly confronted) him about his health. My suggestion was he should see a doctor perhaps tomorrow morning. He really looked that bad. He told me he took care of himself using Google and unless he decided he needed a prescription, he didn't plan to see a doctor. Turns out I was just the last in a long line of friends who had had this same conversation. Well, you know how this turns out - I attended his funeral less than a month later. He died of something preventable had he not bestowed a medical degree on himself. Sad, as he left three teenage children behind. Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15774136748160249961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-90376904847121388982015-12-08T21:21:00.167+02:002015-12-08T21:21:00.167+02:00Angela, can you tell me the difference between vic...Angela, can you tell me the difference between vicryl and monocryl? The difference between 0 and 4-0? The difference methods of suture dissolution? Until you can and until you know why I use different sutures for different applications, I will ignore your recs.<br /><br />I don't tell my carpenter father which nail for which job. Same basic idea, my experience lets me know what works well in different situations.ER's Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03203520439121823165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-6122564152355858002015-12-07T19:45:48.265+02:002015-12-07T19:45:48.265+02:00Anomic aphasia is the correct term.Anomic aphasia is the correct term.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-42637352689980940892015-12-07T19:30:59.620+02:002015-12-07T19:30:59.620+02:00Ken, I stand corrected! :)
Ken, I stand corrected! :) <br /><br />Scarabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999961861218673544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-37707149970573774502015-12-07T09:13:50.583+02:002015-12-07T09:13:50.583+02:00One suggestion for doing research on your own: Don...One suggestion for doing research on your own: Don't cling to the theory you've developed through your online reading and refuse to consider alternatives.<br /><br />Last fall my Mom started to experience numbness from her feet up, eventually reaching to her ribs. I was concerned that it might be Guillain Barre, since she had recently had a flu shot, and that can apparently precipitate the condition. <br /><br />The ER doctors listened, and did a spinal tap, but the spinal tap didn't support the GB diagnosis. At this point I didn't throw a tantrum, insisting that I was right.<br /><br />Cat scans or MRI showed an impingement on the cervical spinal cord, which turned out to be the cause.Jonathan Hendryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11969795168617852589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-42049572797929846322015-12-06T21:51:03.457+02:002015-12-06T21:51:03.457+02:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-51458454282760195172015-12-06T20:48:53.861+02:002015-12-06T20:48:53.861+02:00Thank you, Ken. I kept thinking ataxia, but I kne...Thank you, Ken. I kept thinking ataxia, but I knew that wasn't it. I hope it is just a side effect. With my wonky immune system, though, it needs to be evaluated by the doctor.Grandma Skepticnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1809371631407381115.post-25923971115310680682015-12-06T19:29:47.949+02:002015-12-06T19:29:47.949+02:00For some tangentially related comic relief, see th...For some tangentially related comic relief, see the YouTube video "Homeopathic A&E". It is brilliant. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com