Medical Tests Suck. And are weird.

[brioche]

Now I know that in general we all go along and have a happy fun time and except for the occasional antibiotic or our regular meds, we're good. But I've been subjected to some pretty weird stuff lately, and it's getting on my nerves.
I thought the Xrays in awkward and strange poses were bad enough, but then they shot me full of radioactive dye, had me drink 7 glasses of fluid in an hour (to "flush it out of the tissues"), strapped my arms down, and scanned me head to toe to see it in my bones. My personal favourite were the shots that took 5 minutes each. And I had to be motionless for most of this. The scan took at least an hour in total, and the whole experience cost me $18.00 in parking. Today I'm going somewhere where, from the little I was given by my doctor, they are going to evaluate the severity of my asthma by giving me methacholine until I have an attack. I'm not kidding - that's how he described it.
Next I get to have an ultrasound done of my hands. Why my hands? Well, because when you push the knuckles back and forth they hurt. I don't find this unusual.
And NONE of these are at the hospital where I have a pass for two free parking sessions. Figures.
Sorry for the mini rant, but I'm crabby, tired, and wheezy. I know that these tests will give me answers, but not for months. And I get the line from my doctor, "I think those elevated values were a fluke. We'll redo the blood tests." Yeah, right, you're sending me to have this done for fun? All I want to do is stay at school and feel good enough to help the kiddies with my usual energy.
Sigh.

 

[Kailey_86]

i'm sorry you had to go through all of that. Those tests sure do sound strange. i hope things move quickly for you. **hugs**

 

[graceanne]

I've had the dye test done, except when they did it to me the dye went out of my veins and into my arm.. I couldn't move my wrist for a week.

Either way, *hugs*. I hope your tests turn out well.

 

[myinnerslut]

sending big hugs and good wishes

 

[trojan_man_co]

medical tests are weird. but there better than what they used to be... i mean the use of leaches for EVERYTHING... and i would have hated to send my wife to the doctor for hysteria.. just so he could have sex with her instead of me.... at least they are able to detect alot of ailments so they can properly treat the problem. but the parking pass thing sucks...

 

[minx1]

Hey Brioche you are so right!

I really empathise having had a bone scan myself.

I was nervous enough to begin with...when they brought the dye in the little box with the radioactive sign on the side, I was even more scared!

'You're sure this is safe' I asked nervously

'Yes of course, by the way don't go near pregnant women or children........'

mmmm. Great

 

[brioche]

Well apparently my asthma isn't active - I inhaled higher and higher concentrations of the stuff and only dropped 9% in lung function.
So now they've run out of tests and are messing with my meds.
So I get to take less medicine right? Well, no, now I have to take more of something else.
But they'll figure out why I'm wheezing eventually!
And don't go off your puffer totally.
And it's probably reflux, so we'll double those pills.
But it might be postnasal drip, but we can't evaluate that until you've tried this for at least a month first.
Yes, I know the one Nexium worked for you even before you lost 30 pounds, but we're going to double it and try that anyway.
At least the rheumatologist leaves me alone for the most part. "Have these tests and see me in two months."

 

[graceanne]

I'm sorry, hon. *hugs* Doctors SUCK. But then everyone already knows how I feel about them.

Out of curiousity sake why were you getting a bone scan?

 

[Exogenous]

I empathize with anyone who has a chronic illness. Trying to diagnose and successfully treat illness is very frustrating. One symptom, or a group of symptoms, can be very similar for different diseases and it’s no fun for the patient to go through all the tests to weed out which disease is causing the symptoms.

My daughter was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when she was only two years old. The worst issue with this illness is, because it’s an autoimmune disease, it can attack various organs (not just joints) in one’s body…the body attacks itself. This can lead to (interior) uveitis (an eye condition). My daughter has suffered with IU for the past three years. She just turned 18 this past December. While her joints give her little pain (a remission of sorts), she has become blind in her right eye. The problem is that the interior part of the eyeball swells and causes pressure on the outer eyeball, not allowing the eye fluids (tears) to circulate properly, thus, the lens becomes dried out and the iris can “stick” in certain spots and stay open. Her lens is permanently damaged.

The ironic part is that they have to “experiment” with various meds until they find the right combination. They gave her steroids. Not just pills and eyedrops, but she had to have injections in her eye socket! Then, when that didn’t work, they put her on chemotherapy and Enbrel (of which she had to give herself injections, in her tummy and thighs.). That didn’t work, either. So now, she’s on Remicade which is given intravenously, in four hour sessions, every three weeks. At last! This med is working and bringing the inflammation down. However, because she was on steroids for so long she has developed a cataract in her blind eye. But lately, she has noticed she has more clear peripheral vision out of the bad eye. Yeah!

She has had flare ups in her left eye, but that has always been caught in time to stop any permanent damage. If her right eye continues to show improvement for three consecutive months they will do surgery to remove the cataract and are considering a lens transplant (because of the JRA she is not a good candidate, but the doctor seems hopeful). She is seeing very good doctors (at UCSD and UCLA), thank God for insurance!

It’s just frustrating that it took so long to find the right medications. Depth perception is the most frustrating problem. Yet, she still manages to draw horse pictures (and does quiet well) and has learned how to work around the lack of depth perception. (Try closing one eye and extending one hand out while trying to touch one of your fingers with a finger from the other hand to get a small idea of what it’s like.) This is a disease she will have to deal with her entire life and if not managed properly she could lose sight entirely in both eyes. I dread when she is no longer eligible to be on my insurance plan. The specialists and meds are extremely expensive. I admire her as she is a very positive person and doesn’t let it get her down. She’s going to graduate high school in June with very good grades! I’m so proud of her!

 

[Evil_Geoff]

It's lupus.

WHAT?

I watch "House, M.D." and have become quite the whiz at diagnosing illnesses with strange symptoms...

 

[graceanne]

I know about auto-immune disorders. I have crohns disease.

 

[Gil_T2]

Now I know that in general we all go along and have a happy fun time and except for the occasional antibiotic or our regular meds, we're good. But I've been subjected to some pretty weird stuff lately, and it's getting on my nerves.
I thought the Xrays in awkward and strange poses were bad enough, but then they shot me full of radioactive dye, had me drink 7 glasses of fluid in an hour (to "flush it out of the tissues"), strapped my arms down, and scanned me head to toe to see it in my bones. My personal favourite were the shots that took 5 minutes each. And I had to be motionless for most of this. The scan took at least an hour in total, and the whole experience cost me $18.00 in parking. Today I'm going somewhere where, from the little I was given by my doctor, they are going to evaluate the severity of my asthma by giving me methacholine until I have an attack. I'm not kidding - that's how he described it.
Next I get to have an ultrasound done of my hands. Why my hands? Well, because when you push the knuckles back and forth they hurt. I don't find this unusual.
And NONE of these are at the hospital where I have a pass for two free parking sessions. Figures.
Sorry for the mini rant, but I'm crabby, tired, and wheezy. I know that these tests will give me answers, but not for months. And I get the line from my doctor, "I think those elevated values were a fluke. We'll redo the blood tests." Yeah, right, you're sending me to have this done for fun? All I want to do is stay at school and feel good enough to help the kiddies with my usual energy.
Sigh.

Been there done that so have an idea of what your been through, 4 years ago my doc decided I needed heart tests with the radioactive gunk pumped into me & when he got the results was supprised my heart was in such good shape with so many years of illness, last year he decides to run the same tests but with more added for a possibility of making the transplant list even though he had already told me that I wouldn't be considered for one well I did all the bloody tests again & this time found a problem with my heart so of to the heart specialist who then wanted me to have even more tests in cluding being in an enclosed machine (I hate tight places) & while in this machine & injected with radioactive goop they take pics so far I'm hating it but OK as I have my eyes closed so I'm not thinking of being in the machine, next was another injection, this one gives you a FUCKING HEART ATTACK so they can watch it & take more pics ....... this made my eyes spring open & guess what my claustrobia kiks right in & a bigger heart attack hits me but they want me to remain calm .... I lost it & blew my cool abusing anyone who could hear! I was then out of the machine & then told I have to pee before leaving I have end stage renal failure so lucky to get more than a dribble so what was going to happen? they wanted me to pee so before leaving * had these morons listened to me at all? not fucking likely so with a head of steam up I walked out, this is just a small part of the joys of having health problems.

 

[graceanne]

Been there done that so have an idea of what your been through, 4 years ago my doc decided I needed heart tests with the radioactive gunk pumped into me & when he got the results was supprised my heart was in such good shape with so many years of illness, last year he decides to run the same tests but with more added for a possibility of making the transplant list even though he had already told me that I wouldn't be considered for one well I did all the bloody tests again & this time found a problem with my heart so of to the heart specialist who then wanted me to have even more tests in cluding being in an enclosed machine (I hate tight places) & while in this machine & injected with radioactive goop they take pics so far I'm hating it but OK as I have my eyes closed so I'm not thinking of being in the machine, next was another injection, this one gives you a FUCKING HEART ATTACK so they can watch it & take more pics ....... this made my eyes spring open & guess what my claustrobia kiks right in & a bigger heart attack hits me but they want me to remain calm .... I lost it & blew my cool abusing anyone who could hear! I was then out of the machine & then told I have to pee before leaving I have end stage renal failure so lucky to get more than a dribble so what was going to happen? they wanted me to pee so before leaving * had these morons listened to me at all? not fucking likely so with a head of steam up I walked out, this is just a small part of the joys of having health problems.

Have I mentioned how much i hate doctors? I seriously believe that the majority of them have had labotomy's.

 

[Gil_T2]

Have I mentioned how much i hate doctors? I seriously believe that the majority of them have had labotomy's.

You'll get no arguement from me on that.

You tell them what is wrong & they ignore you & go with what they had already decided on. no wonder several have me marks as being an angry patient, they do NOT think of the patient they only hear the symptoms & go with what the book says & no thought of the patient at all.

 

[graceanne]

You'll get no arguement from me on that.

You tell them what is wrong & they ignore you & go with what they had already decided on. no wonder several have me marks as being an angry patient, they do NOT think of the patient they only hear the symptoms & go with what the book says & no thought of the patient at all.

That's cause they're smart and we're stupid. We don't really know what's going on in our bodys, we just think we do.

 

[Gil_T2]

That's cause they're smart and we're stupid. We don't really know what's going on in our bodys, we just think we do.

Oh yeah sista!

Master Gil is diabetic. Usually with diabetes pain makes the blood sugar go up. Not so with Him - it drops. Try to tell a doctor that and they don't believe us

His blood sugar can also drop rather quickly. It can be in the normal range and then half an hour later it can be in His boots. They don't believe Him when He says check it again - until they do and find out it's dropped

He's been a diabetic for 34 years, you'd think they'd listen but nooooo...........

 

[Netzach]

I know about auto-immune disorders. I have crohns disease.

And uveitis is one of the millions of fun things that might come along with that, too. At least they look at my eyes, I'm impressed.

But on the topic, yes they suck. For some reason drinking the CT scan contrast messes up my bowels worse than my CD does, it's at least 2 weeks of misery every time they want a peek. I'd rather they looked than didn't though, without CT enterography I'd probably have died or lost a ton of gut to the DVT I had 2 years ago. So I don't mind tests as much as I do the stupid med pushing.

 

[graceanne]

And uveitis is one of the millions of fun things that might come along with that, too. At least they look at my eyes, I'm impressed.

But on the topic, yes they suck. For some reason drinking the CT scan contrast messes up my bowels worse than my CD does, it's at least 2 weeks of misery every time they want a peek. I'd rather they looked than didn't though, without CT enterography I'd probably have died or lost a ton of gut to the DVT I had 2 years ago. So I don't mind tests as much as I do the stupid med pushing.

Actually I hate barium way more than contrast. Contrast messes me up, yeah, but barium goes through me like a freight train. I know if I'm getting a small bowel follow through or a barium enema I should just plan on staying on the toilet for a day or so. Of course it's no where near as bad as go-lightly, but frankly that's the whole point of go-lightly.

 

[graceanne]

Oh yeah sista!

Master Gil is diabetic. Usually with diabetes pain makes the blood sugar go up. Not so with Him - it drops. Try to tell a doctor that and they don't believe us

His blood sugar can also drop rather quickly. It can be in the normal range and then half an hour later it can be in His boots. They don't believe Him when He says check it again - until they do and find out it's dropped

He's been a diabetic for 34 years, you'd think they'd listen but nooooo...........

Yeah, I have prednisone induced diabetes. I tell that that everytime they put me on prednisone. They never believe me till my blood sugar skyrockets. (I've been over 300.) On the other hand it's funny to see their faces when my blood sugar sky rockets like it does. Serves those assholes right.

To tell the truth that's partly why I don't change doctors - even when they suck. My new doctor has seen my blood sugar skyrocket on prednisone and so I don't have to prove it when a really high blood sugar to get the damn insulin.

 

[Evil_Geoff]

To tell the truth that's partly why I don't change doctors - even when they suck. My new doctor has seen my blood sugar skyrocket on prednisone and so I don't have to prove it when a really high blood sugar to get the damn insulin.

Speaking of doctors and insulin and diabetes... my endocrinologist finally came around to the idea of my weaning off the insulin! YEA!
Now ALL of us (me, my GP, cardiologist, and endocrinologist) are working on the same sheet of music. My being a good patient and aggressively taking charge of my own health has been a help though. Keeping my A1c levels in the 5.5 - 6.3 range for the past 6 months (all the while steadily lowering my daily insulin use) convinced her I was one of the few who can control it with diet, exercise, and oral meds.

I still have a ways to go... But I actually like and trust my docs. They may be unusual, but they LISTEN when I speak.

And to keep this on thread... They did a sleep study on me to see if I have sleep apnea causing my high blood pressure. WTF?

 

[graceanne]

Speaking of doctors and insulin and diabetes... my endocrinologist finally came around to the idea of my weaning off the insulin! YEA!
Now ALL of us (me, my GP, cardiologist, and endocrinologist) are working on the same sheet of music. My being a good patient and aggressively taking charge of my own health has been a help though. Keeping my A1c levels in the 5.5 - 6.3 range for the past 6 months (all the while steadily lowering my daily insulin use) convinced her I was one of the few who can control it with diet, exercise, and oral meds.

I still have a ways to go... But I actually like and trust my docs. They may be unusual, but they LISTEN when I speak.

No way. That is like so . . . perverse. A doctor that listens to the patient? Isn'tt hat like the biggest oxy-moron there is?

And to keep this on thread... They did a sleep study on me to see if I have sleep apnea causing my high blood pressure. WTF?

Oh yeah. How'd that go?

 

[Gil_T2]

Speaking of doctors and insulin and diabetes... my endocrinologist finally came around to the idea of my weaning off the insulin! YEA!
Now ALL of us (me, my GP, cardiologist, and endocrinologist) are working on the same sheet of music. My being a good patient and aggressively taking charge of my own health has been a help though. Keeping my A1c levels in the 5.5 - 6.3 range for the past 6 months (all the while steadily lowering my daily insulin use) convinced her I was one of the few who can control it with diet, exercise, and oral meds.

I still have a ways to go... But I actually like and trust my docs. They may be unusual, but they LISTEN when I speak.

And to keep this on thread... They did a sleep study on me to see if I have sleep apnea causing my high blood pressure. WTF?

After my rant yesterday I've been doing a lot of thinking about the medical profession, my main bitch is that with several health problems I have to see several clinics & some of those clinics you don't get the same doc each time you go but one thing rings true in that they all are only interested in their area & NOT ONE EVER is willing to look at me as a person with multiple issues or at me as a person !!!!! they only look at the blood tests, health problem in front of them, they don't see a person EVER it's like they have been given a set of health problems *in their field* * decide on the treatment with out a thought about the impact on the patient....Oh he has **** so this is the standard treatment so that is what he gets regardless of the impact it has on the other health problems.
My father is in hospital as he had a turn, he has parkinsons disease, a brain aneurysm *sp*, lewys body disease & have told my mum that they have put him on a "do not resusitate" on him but when he was at his worse he devoloped an infection so they dragged him for 10 different tests in 3 days mum has pleaded with them to just make him comfy & let him go as he no longer recognises any of us, can not move by himself, can't eat * they have stuck a tube in his gut that they feed him through, another tube in his bladder so he can piss & some thing up his but so he can shit... mum said that the doc finally sat down & listened to her about a month ago & she pleaded with them to make him comfy & let him go, no more operations, no more unnecessary treatments etc etc, the doc listened intently then ordered a whole range more tests "TO DETERMINE WHAT IS WRONG" ................

Some time ago I was sitting in the sun out side the ward block on one of my stays & a lady came over near me crying & I mean crying, she asked for a ciggy as I am sadly a smoker so I offered her one & she told me she had given up smoking years earlier but just had to have one because it no longer mattered as she had just been told she has cancer & they have made an appointment for her in 2 weeks time to come back ???? they dropped a brick on her then see you in 2 weeks... such caring soles they are, I did understand how she felt as have had similar happen to me as well.... they drop your whole life is screwed but see ya later with no "Do you understand what I've told you, would you like a minute to think about it, would you like someone to talk to about it, let me explain simply what this will involve for you" NO FUCKING WAY it's here is the news now get the fuck out!

Am I pissed at the entire medical profession YOU BET YOU LIFE I AM as well these days our once fantastic health system has turned to crap & we can no longer go to see specialists covered by every Australians right Medicare because none of the specialists will accept payment with it so have the money of forget getting to see them & prices have escalated & you only get a pittance back from Medicare because the cost of their mansions & luxury cars has risen.

 

[Gil_T2]

Originally Posted by Evil_Geoff
Speaking of doctors and insulin and diabetes... my endocrinologist finally came around to the idea of my weaning off the insulin! YEA!
Now ALL of us (me, my GP, cardiologist, and endocrinologist) are working on the same sheet of music. My being a good patient and aggressively taking charge of my own health has been a help though. Keeping my A1c levels in the 5.5 - 6.3 range for the past 6 months (all the while steadily lowering my daily insulin use) convinced her I was one of the few who can control it with diet, exercise, and oral meds.

I still have a ways to go... But I actually like and trust my docs. They may be unusual, but they LISTEN when I speak.

And to keep this on thread... They did a sleep study on me to see if I have sleep apnea causing my high blood pressure. WTF?

Oh forgot thie sleep thing I suffer insomnia so went to the sleep clinic & after almost a year of bullshit their only solution was high doses of sleeping tablets ???? but hey I have to operate a machine that keeps me alive! how the fuck am I meant to keep that happening bombed out on sleepers plus I did try them & still couldn't get much sleep which had me almost a veg sitting around, the sitting aggravated my back problems & I had no chance to be able to think clearly because on the pills.... anyway back on track I went to the sleep clinic because of not being able to sleep so they instantly wanted to do a sleep apnea test on me because of my high blood pressure * my renal failure is the main cause of my high blood pressure but they refused to listen to me, I'd have under stood if I was sleeping why I might have needed the test but FUCK does anyone listen..........

I'll go have a valium now & settle down with a cup of herbal tea.

 

[graceanne]

I tried to get some sleep aid, and the stupid ass doctor told me that i just needed to sleep more regularly.

So lets get this straght, sleeping will improve my abilities to sleep? I CAN'T SLEEP YOU MORON! So now I take benedryl before I go to bed, it works well enough.

Master_Gil: When I first found out I had crohns disease I was still in recovery from my colonoscopy when the dr showed up in my room, handed me three scripts, said 'you have crohns disease' AND LEFT! Kenny leaned over and said 'what's crohns disease'? I was like 'i dunno'. Then this nurse kept telling me don't let them take your colon, you fight! And i was like WHAT IS CROHNS DISEASE?

 

[Bandit58]

I tried to get some sleep aid, and the stupid ass doctor told me that i just needed to sleep more regularly.

So lets get this straght, sleeping will improve my abilities to sleep? I CAN'T SLEEP YOU MORON! So now I take benedryl before I go to bed, it works well enough.

Master_Gil: When I first found out I had crohns disease I was still in recovery from my colonoscopy when the dr showed up in my room, handed me three scripts, said 'you have crohns disease' AND LEFT! Kenny leaned over and said 'what's crohns disease'? I was like 'i dunno'. Then this nurse kept telling me don't let them take your colon, you fight! And i was like WHAT IS CROHNS DISEASE?

Hi grace - Master Gil has gone for a lie down after His rant

I'm horrified at that doctor - but after three years of close contact with doctors and hospitals I'm not really surprised now. I had a wonderful doctor (GP) in NZ, he was one who took his time with every patient to explain exactly what was wrong with them and what treatment was going to be best for them. Waiting times to see him were long, but the appointments were worth the wait. It was a medical centre in a small country town where whole families went to the same place, and the hospital was right next door.

Since I've come to Sydney I've found it's really impersonal here. Master Gil and I go to the same medical centre, and I accompany Him to doctors appointments, clinics and to the hospital for dialysis 3 mornings a week. The doctors here don't seem to see you as a person with a medical problem (or several). They see you as a disease or a symptom first. I've been to a gyno clinic twice, never saw the person I saw the first time, and was told just to carry on doing the kegels and that I may need surgery some time in the future....lol I find out more from google than I do from the doctors