General What’s Your Ailment?

[Huntn]

Chap 3:
I talked to my Doctor and it did not go well. I will be looking for a new Doctor.
Just curious questions:

• If you told you doctor you felt kill you had a stubbed toes feeling , followed by an episode of extreme pain in the forward part of your foot, but it had subsided, would you expect your family doctor to examine and possibly manipulate your foot?
• If you told your doctor you had experienced a week of unusual back pain radiating up through your mid back, would you expect your doctor to say “let’s have a look at your back?”

The worst was the sinus Infection, I gave the symptoms pain, pressure in sinuses, eyebrow, eye, teeth, but they had subsided the day I saw him, but no exam for inflation. The first thing the urgent care doctor did was listen to my symptoms and examine my throat which he obsevered as inflamed. Now I’ll never know if my regular doctor would have seen an inflamed throat, and because I said I was feeling almost normal, technically he has an out, thinking that sinus infections are mostly viral and not bacterial,, but he never said the words I think you have/had a sinus infection. Nothing was said in his notes.

All in all, maybe I’m too old fashioned, but I want a hands on doctor, who if I say some part of my body is or has been bothering me they will actually examine me, not just sit and type in my history. And not that I look forward to any doctor manipulating my genitals, this is the first doctor I have ever seen who has not checked for hernia during my annual physical. Is that on outdated standard too?

 

[Herdfan]

And not that I look forward to any doctor manipulating my genitals, this is the first doctor I have ever seen who has not checked for hernia during my annual physical. Is that on outdated standard too?

Didn't do mine either last time. And apparently they no longer do a urinalysis as part of a standard physical.

 

[fooferdoggie]

I have had esophagus pain all my life everyone that it was heartburn. It has been getting worse over the years. Carbs were the worst to get it going then acidic stuff then spicy stuff and then liquid fats.
It got horrible 5 years ago after months of antibiotics and anti inflamotrories for my finally diagnosed torn rotator cuff. It took a year to settle down but it had changed me. I could get away with a few diet pops a wee but interesting last few months it got far worse. Al the meds I have tried to take in the last 3 years have made it worse. I was trying blood pressure meds and they really made it bad. Usually it would a week or more to hurt the last one was hours and wiped me out for two days. All the meds that would help made it worse.
So I am stuck the pain in my esophagus causes my high blood pressure it causes my shoulders to take my arms to hurt sometimes one sometimes both. My upper back too it has made my arms so week over the years that it hurts to lift anything more then a few pounds. It started making my upper body have hot flashes allmost anything up there can ache. I have a cyst on top of my head not real big used to hurt off and on. When I got so bad lat month it got far bigger and hurt all the time. I made an appointment to finally get taken care of a mont plate it is really small. But two days of pain it started puffing up again. A blister on my gums does the same thing but it takes a week or more of pain to cause to to swell up.
I have learned to somewhat ignore the pain but now I just how bad it hurts by what else hurts. My arm is killing me? I check my my esophagus is hurting bad.
Trying to get into an acupuncturist not sure if my insurance will help or not. She also referred me to the pain management clinic since it's all nerve that are causing this and not damage to my esophagus. My diet has been so restricted because of my food intolerances but it's so much worse now. Nothing even hinting of sour no spice nothing strong flavored. All I can drink is water or unsweetened almond milk. No liquid fats like mayo or such no juicy meat either melted cheese is out too.

 

[Huntn]

Chap 3:
I talked to my Doctor and it did not go well. I will be looking for a new Doctor.
Just curious questions:

• If you told you doctor you felt kill you had a stubbed toes feeling , followed by an episode of extreme pain in the forward part of your foot, but it had subsided, would you expect your family doctor to examine and possibly manipulate your foot?
• If you told your doctor you had experienced a week of unusual back pain radiating up through your mid back, would you expect your doctor to say “let’s have a look at your back?”

The worst was the sinus Infection, I gave the symptoms pain, pressure in sinuses, eyebrow, eye, teeth, but they had subsided the day I saw him, but no exam for inflation. The first thing the urgent care doctor did was listen to my symptoms and examine my throat which he obsevered as inflamed. Now I’ll never know if my regular doctor would have seen an inflamed throat, and because I said I was feeling almost normal, technically he has an out, thinking that sinus infections are mostly viral and not bacterial,, but he never said the words I think you have/had a sinus infection. Nothing was said in his notes.

All in all, maybe I’m too old fashioned, but I want a hands on doctor, who if I say some part of my body is or has been bothering me they will actually examine me, not just sit and type in my history. And not that I look forward to any doctor manipulating my genitals, this is the first doctor I have ever seen who has not checked for hernia during my annual physical. Is that on outdated standard too?

Chapter 4
i was on a 5 day regimen of antibiocs and prednisone, which ended on Tuesday. On Wednday a significant headache developed primarily in my right sinus area and behind my right eye. Because I am on the outs with my doctor, who by the way, I have dropped and am establishing a relationship with a new clinic, I returned to Urgent Care, and the doctor there was concerned about the possibility of either a cluster headache or temporal arthritis. Apparantly this Urgent Care location could not handle taking blood sample to send off which will make me reevaluate “Urgent Care” as an option. But get this, the “Elite Emergency hospital“ I was sent to, also had to send their blood sample out to a lab! What -the-hell? I seem to remember when hospitals could do their own blood work. My clinic in Minnesota had their own blood work lab. With changes in medicine, I don’t know if they still do.

So he told me he wanted me screened for for temporal artritus, which was of emergency status because it is a serious condition which can cause blindness. My regular doctor could have done the blood test and sent it out. So because of circumstances, I’ll find our what the emergency room is going to cost me on Medicare.They were supposed to get the test results back that night, but they lost internet or so was the excuse and I’m still waiting to find out.

The doctor in the emergency room, prescribed a 10 day regimen of I assume “”big gun” antibiotics Amox/Clav along with a pain killer buta/apap/caf. Taking both, it took a day for my headache to recede, and I’m feeling fairly normal. Today I’ll bug the hospital again for the blood test results.

 

[fooferdoggie]

My body becomes more and more sensitive to sugar. For years I could have all I wanted one day a week with only some Yuck the next day. then it was making me super r tired and loopy. then my epshagaus went crazy and I had no carbs for a year. since then the amount I can have and not have a reaction has been dropping fast. It used to just make me loopy because my body would grab it and hoard it for an emergency. I used to be able to get a bunch of popcorn once a week at the movies then it starts getting me really bad. last time Ihad popcorn and butter I almost lost my finger in a power tool. before that it was a crash on the tandem. these were the last of any once a week carb spurge. I used to be able to just handle a York peppermint patty a whole 150 calories. but not now. Now I could not eat enough to get loopy now it just makes me feel like crap. Now I can't even handle 10 jelly belly jelly beans. I can handle some sugar in chocolate for some reason but if it is a more sweet thing nope. even one of the mini York peppermint patties is way too much. I felt like crap the whole day after the jelly belly experiment. last year I was Fine with that much. its like the more carbs I eat the more sensitive I become bt the less I eat the more sensitive too.
one way to get a bit sweet that so far still works is I suck on a couple f jaw breakers when I ride. not too big or they taste too sweet. or a mouthful of canned whipped cream very little sugar in that for the taste.

 

[Huntn]

Chap5
Do you remenber me telling you the screening for Temporal Arthritis was urgent? The blood sample was done on Wed, I was supposed to be notified that night, but the “internet went out”. Called Thur morning no results, Called Friday, no results. Called Sat, talked to a nurse, bitched at her about is this how “urgent tests” are handled by your hospital, you send it out and forget about it, until whenever it show up?? She said she’d call the lab and got them to finally fax over a copy. I picked up the report on Saturday.

Hospital CBC test (bloodwork)

• WBC - critically high
• PLT- high
• MPV - low
• GRA- high
• Creatine high

The test to screen for Temporal Arthritis- This test if the 2 readings were low would rule out TA, but if they were elevated would not confirm, but would not rule it out. More investigation needed.

• SED RATE- high
• REACTIVE Protein— high

So more investigation needed. Remember my original Dr told me there was no test to confirm a sinus infection or an infection? WRONG! My wife had told me that had diagnosed her in a previous time with sinus infection by virtue of checking white blood cell Count. So by virtue of me within the “critically high“ white blood cell count, indicating an infection, I’m happy I am on antibiotics.

So Saturday I called my “new” clinic which has a large network of clinics around Houston, and told them despite their available appointments being a month out, I needed to see a doctor on Monday. This is another possible clue about the popularity of my former doctor, it was usually very easy to get in to see him. The new clinic tells me they have a variety of not advertised “work in“ appointments, but they were not allowed to award them in advance, and I’d have to wait and call in on Monday morning, 8am sharp. Well my alarm is set… BTW I’m not feeling completely awful. I do feel off, my lower back has been aching, and I’ve been uncharacteristically been sleeping about 10 hrs .

 

[fooferdoggie]

if I need the same day its urgent care and who knows how long of a wait. though there might be a doc or nurse yo can talk too same day. not your doctor for sure.

 

[Huntn]

if I need the same day its urgent care and who knows how long of a wait. though there might be a doc or nurse yo can talk too same day. not your doctor for sure.

I’m currently working with Kelsey Seybold clinic, at least I’ve been able to get a “work-in” appointment for tomorrow. They have a large network of clinics in the Houston area. I asked the girl handling appointments, if you’re appointments run out 3-4 weeks, how do sick people see the doctor? She sympathized, but had no answer. There is another clinic close by sponsored by a Major Hospital (Memorial Herman) and I plan on stopping in there to see who they have on staff and how far out their appointments are booked…

I often sing the praises of my Minnesota Clinic, where I could call in the morning to see a doctor in the afternoon, but I’m out of touch. That clinic still exists in name but was purchased by a large medical corporate player So I can’t say they are as good as I remember them.

 

[Roller]

Chap5
Do you remenber me telling you the screening for Temporal Arthritis was urgent? The blood sample was done on Wed, I was supposed to be notified that night, but the “internet went out”. Called Thur morning no results, Called Friday, no results. Called Sat, talked to a nurse, bitched at her about is this how “urgent tests” are handled by your hospital, you send it out and forget about it, until whenever it show up?? She said she’d call the lab and got them to finally fax over a copy. I picked up the report on Saturday.

Hospital CBC test (bloodwork)

• WBC - critically high
• PLT- high
• MPV - low
• GRA- high
• Creatine high

The test to screen for Temporal Arthritis- This test if the 2 readings were low would rule out TA, but if they were elevated would not confirm, but would not rule it out. More investigation needed.

• SED RATE- high
• REACTIVE Protein— high

So more investigation needed. Remember my original Dr told me there was no test to confirm a sinus infection or an infection? WRONG! My wife had told me that had diagnosed her in a previous time with sinus infection by virtue of checking white blood cell Count. So by virtue of me within the “critically high“ white blood cell count, indicating an infection, I’m happy I am on antibiotics.

So Saturday I called my “new” clinic which has a large network of clinics around Houston, and told them despite their available appointments being a month out, I needed to see a doctor on Monday. This is another possible clue about the popularity of my former doctor, it was usually very easy to get in to see him. The new clinic tells me they have a variety of not advertised “work in“ appointments, but they were not allowed to award them in advance, and I’d have to wait and call in on Monday morning, 8am sharp. Well my alarm is set… BTW I’m not feeling completely awful. I do feel off, my lower back has been aching, and I’ve been uncharacteristically been sleeping about 10 hrs .

Temporal arteritis (arteritis = inflammation of the artery), better known as giant cell arteritis, is a bit of an odd diagnosis. But if a doctor thinks it needs to be rule out, it's important to do that quickly. Blood tests can suggest it, but not diagnose it. For that, a biopsy is required, though ultrasound can be used as well. Hope everything goes well for you!

 

[Huntn]

Temporal arteritis (arteritis = inflammation of the artery), better known as giant cell arteritis, is a bit of an odd diagnosis. But if a doctor thinks it needs to be rule out, it's important to do that quickly. Blood tests can suggest it, but not diagnose it. For that, a biopsy is required, though ultrasound can be used as well. Hope everything goes well for you!

You are right on. I spent another morning with laser headache boring my eyes, the skin of my head very sensitive, bordering on sore to touch. This is inline with inflamed blood veins to the head. Last night I took some of the big gun pain killer, no relief. Today, presented my notes and documentation to the new doctor and they are screening me for temporal arthritis.

Anyone dealing with temporal arteritis?
Not yet been diagnosed. But in the meantime, I’ve been given a 30 day RX of Prednazone, a steroid, which is a pick your poison situation, but it a choice of losing bone density vs losing your eye sight. Not a great, but a very easy choice. Any thought on supplements to reduce bone loss?

Giant cell arteritis - Symptoms and causes

www.mayoclinic.org

 

[Alli]

Any thought on supplements to reduce bone loss?

Calcium and D3. After that, you do like all us old women do and get 5 years of Boniva, followed by years of injection or infusion of something like Prolea (which my mother’s on), or Reclast (my drug of choice). Although it’s never our choice, is it. It’s a compromise between the physician and the insurance company.

 

[Huntn]

Calcium and D3. After that, you do like all us old women do and get 5 years of Boniva, followed by years of injection or infusion of something like Prolea (which my mother’s on), or Reclast (my drug of choice). Although it’s never our choice, is it. It’s a compromise between the physician and the insurance company.

Is Boniva over the counter?

 

[Huntn]

Chap 6
Yesterday saw the new doctor. Handed her a typed 3 page note, a timeline of events leading to my appointment with her, including copies of the bloodwork tests, including the screening for Temporal Artritus, which had been taken in the previous week, of which she read. She commented that it did not help with me bouncing around to different medical facilities and I explained that for me this is not the norm, and was a result of me switching doctors. She appeared ok with that.

It took some digesting on her part, but she focused on the concern about Temporal Artritus and the fact that Prednazone relieved symptoms of the headache, but that significant painkillers did not. She repeated the bloodwork screening for TA, arranged for a biopsy, and had me arrange to see my optimist to get an eye exam, dilated eyes.

I am not thrilled to be taking Prednazone for the next 30 days, but let me see, living with the top of my head on fire, living with a daily debilitaing headache focused on temple and eyes, with the likelyhood I’ll loose vision or go blind in time, or instant relief at the cost of losing bone density.

I’ve researched this a little and there is some medication on the market other than steroids that can be used to control TA. It bothers me that this is considered an autoimmune disorder. I’m looking at strategies to mitigate bone loss I need to get serious about dropping 30 pounds.

 

[Alli]

Is Boniva over the counter?

Of course not. Then again, nobody prescribes name brand, and it’s a once/month pill.

 

[Huntn]

Chap 6
Yesterday saw the new doctor. Handed her a typed 3 page note, a timeline of events leading to my appointment with her, including copies of the bloodwork tests, including the screening for Temporal Artritus, which had been taken in the previous week, of which she read. She commented that it did not help with me bouncing around to different medical facilities and I explained that for me this is not the norm, and was a result of me switching doctors. She appeared ok with that.

It took some digesting on her part, but she focused on the concern about Temporal Artritus and the fact that Prednazone relieved symptoms of the headache, but that significant painkillers did not. She repeated the bloodwork screening for TA, arranged for a biopsy, and had me arrange to see my optimist to get an eye exam, dilated eyes.

I am not thrilled to be taking Prednazone for the next 30 days, but let me see, living with the top of my head on fire, living with a daily debilitaing headache focused on temple and eyes, with the likelyhood I’ll loose vision or go blind in time, or instant relief at the cost of losing bone density.

I’ve researched this a little and there is some medication on the market other than steroids that can be used to control TA. It bothers me that this is considered an autoimmune disorder. I’m looking at strategies to mitigate bone loss I need to get serious about dropping 30 pounds.

Chap7
Oh boy, a setback. This happened last week, went to get my biopsy. I was advised that the clinic did not accept my insurance even though they had scanned my insurance card, accepted me, (someone made a mistake, not me) a doctor had seen me, and they had prescribed medicine to me, and sent me for a biopsy. Asked to see a manager was told none was available.

I did not realize at the time how time critical it was to get this biopsy in a timely manner and in hindsight, I believe the clinic is liable.

I may talk to a lawyer for advice, but I’m not planning any legal action because ultimately, my understanding is they put me on prednisone which is the primary method of dealing with Temple arthritis and that no harm was done other than the time critical aspect of getting a biopsy could be nullified because if you’re on steroids for too long, the inflammation, the biopsy is looking for may be suppressed, which will require another avenue of determining the best path forward.

After that, went to a new doctor, found Rheumatologist, watched him get angry about how long this had dragged out, and have arranged for a biopsy this week.

 

[Huntn]

Chap 8- A day trip to the emergency room. (Just a log, not fishing for sympathy. )

Yesterday, a little adventure for me. I have been dealing with a Temproral Arthritis diagnosis before that. seeing a Rhumalogist this week to discuss continued treatment… my impression is basically take steroids forever.

In addition for about 2 weeks, my back, right side has been bothering me when sleeping at night, a sensitivity centered on my right waist area, regardless of position, but minimized when sleeping on my stomach. I even changed to sleeping on the floor and a futon. I experienced several bouts of pain, centered on my right side and abdomain. I had an appointment set up with my primary doctor for this week to look at it, but after a significant onset of upon pain upon rising from bed. yesterday, I was worried about an appendicitis and was not going to wait until Tuesday, so drove to a local hospital emergency room.

They CT scanned my abdomen, and I was suprised by the result, a significantly enlarged right kidney with a large cyst in it. The Emergency Room physician tried to admit me into this hospital, but I was told, there was a kidney guy, but not a urologist available that day at the hospital, so they were going to send me to another hospital.

I told him, if that was the case I wanted to go to my primary hospital, (Houston Methodist) 20 miles away. He told me that was a diferent system, and that it would be a drawn out to “get approval“ and if he just put my name in for this Hospital System (HCA) that likely they would send me to a hospital 36 miles away. I told him no.

Plan B was because I was stable, low pain, not debilitated, he could discharge me, as long as I proceeded to my preferred hospital, which we did. This is where things get exciting.

I’m driving a Mini-Cooper which is a small car. On the way over to, I noticed tension building in my side-back, we pulled into a fast food place so my wife could grab a bite, she had not eaten that day, and I barely made it out of the drive through, into the parking lot, where I advised her, she would have to drive the rest of the way due to increased pain in my back.

As I stood up, I barely made it to the passenger side, when what I can only describe as an attack/event hit me with the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life. My right side was churning, pulsing with spikes of 10/10 pain, I did not puke, faint, but I may have screamed a little ending up on my hands and knees.

My wife was asking me, for her to drive me or call an ambulance. I said Ambulance, as I imagined something in my guts might explode and a fade to black. Fortunately that did not happen. I remembered that standing up after any discomfort associated with this condition, usually meant relief. So still on my knees. I straightened my torso and hung onto the roof the the car, which made no difference at first but eventually my raging kidney started to calm down.

The paramedics found me hanging on the side of the car, and assisted me to getting to me feet, got me into a stretcher, and by that time, my kidney had calmed down, as the event was over, gave some florinal which was appreciated, and they drove me to the hospital.

The previous hospital had given me a typed report and a CD copy of the CT Scan, which was handed over to the new Emergency Room physician, and now I was at my preferred hospital for the rest of the afternoon.

To wrap this up, of possible interest are the following:

• The initial read from the first ER doctor was this was the largest kidney he had ever seen 2x+large, it was full of cysts, with one particularly large cyst.
• He was not a urologist, but I asked if this condition was operable, and he seemed to think it would result in a likely kidney removal.
• However, at hospital No.2, I was advised that this condition was usually fully operable (after the ER physician consulted with a urologist), that the kidney could be drained, cysts could be removed and maintain kidney function, and it was normally handled as out patient!
• There could be cancer involved, but that remains to be discovered.

So I’m scheduled to see a urologist the beginning of this week to start resolving this issue. Later in the week, I’ll be seeing the Rhumalogist about the Temporal arthritis. I have not been significantly sick in my life,muntil I hit 70…
I’ve been preoccupied, typed this up here first for you, but will be throwing it into the What’s You’re Ailment thread.

A day trip to the Emergency Room yesterday, a little adventure for me. I have been dealing with a Temproral Arthritis diagnosis before that. seeing a Rhumalogist this week to discuss continued treatment… my impression is basically take steroids forever.

In addition for about 2 weeks, my back, right side has been bothering me when sleeping at night, a sensitivity centered on my right waist area, regardless of position, but minimizedcwhen sleeping on my stomach. I even changed to sleeping on the floor and a futon. I experienced several bouts of pain, centered on my right side and abdomain. I had an appointment set up with my primary doctor for this week to look at it, but after a significant onset of upon pain upon rising from bed. yesterday, I was worried about an appendicitis and was not going to wait until Tuesday, so went to a local hospital emergency room.

They CT scanned my abdomen, and I was suprised by the result, a significantly enlarged right kidney with a large cyst in it. The Emergency Room physician tried to admit me into this hospital, but I was told, there was a kidney guy, but not a urologist available that day at the hospital, so they were going to send me to another hospital.

I tood him, if that was the case I wanted to go to my primary hospital, (Houston Methodist) 20 miles away. He told me that was a diferent system, and that it would be a drawn out to “get approval“ and if he just put my name in for this Hospital System (HCA) that likely they would send me to a hospital 36 miles away. I told him no.

Plan B was because I was stable, low pain, not debilitated, he could discharge me, as long as I proceeded to my preferred hospital, which we did. This is where things get exciting.

I’m driving a Mini-Cooper which is a small car. On the way over to, I noticed tension building in my side-back, we pulled into a fast food place so my wife could grab a bite, she had not eaten that day, and I barely made it out of the drive through, into the parking lot, where I advised her, she would have to drive the rest of the way due to increased pain in my back.

As I stood up, I barely made it to the passenger side, when what I can only describe as an attack/event hit me with the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life. My right side was churning, pulsing with spikes of 10/10 pain, I did not puke, faint, but I may have screamed a little ending up on my hands and knees.

My wife was asking me, for her to drive me or call an ambulance. I said Ambulance, as I imagined something in my guts might explode and a fade to black. Fortunately that did not happen. I remembered that standing up after any discomfort associated with this condition, usually meant relief. So still on my knees. I straightened my torso and hung onto the roof the the car, which made no difference at first but eventually my raging kidney started to calm down.

The paramedics found me hanging on the side of the car, and assisted me to getting to me feet, got me into a stretcher, and by that time, my kidney had calmed down, as the event was over, gave some florinal which was appreciated, and they drove me to the hospital.

The previous hospital had given me a typed report and a CD copy of the CT Scan, which was handed over to the new Emergency Room physician, and now I was at my preferred hospital for the rest of the afternoon.

To wrap this up, of possible interest are the following:

• The initial read from the first ER doctor was this was the largest kidney he had ever seen 2x+large, it was full of cysts, with one particularly large cyst.
• He was not a urologist, but I asked if this condition was operable, and he seemed to think it would result in a likely kidney removal.
• However, at hospital No.2, I was advised that this condition was usually fully operable (after the ER physician consulted with a urologist), that the kidney could be drained, cysts could be removed and maintain kidney function, and it was normally handled as out patient!
• There could be cancer involved, but that remains to be discovered.
• I have not been significantly sick in my life, until I hit 70. I get an annual physical, kind of wondering why this was not caught sooner. It could be my worthless primary care physician who was hesitant to actualy examine his patients.
• I don’t see a urologist on a regulat basis, but maybe I should.

So I’m scheduled to see a urologist the beginning of this week to start resolving this issue. Later in the week, I’ll be seeing the Rhumalogist about the Temporal arthritis Diagnosis.

 

[Herdfan]

Sorry to hear.

I am not sure all these medical conglomerates are a good thing. Sure it's handy to have all your records in one place, but balls seemed to get dropped.

Best of luck to you!