Why Are You Looking For Doctors?

[Rachel--24]

Did you see cornholio's comment about the BRIGHTEST CRAYON SHIRT! That would be a reason to go to the dr! lol!

Does anyone know about the gliadin levels!??!?

Sorry I don't know about the antigliadin levels. Maybe Cornholio knows?

Each time I went to the shrink they determined within the first 10 minutes of talking with me that it was NOT in my head and I did not have psychological problems, but very real physical problems that the medical dr.s needed to figure out. I got the response from the shrink "why are you here?"

Thats the same thing that I went through! I refused to go to the shrink but since the doctors wouldnt do anything but keep recommending I go because they couldn't treat the problems that were "all in my head"....I finally went. She must have been the brightest crayon of all because she knew right away there was something physically wrong.

[CeliacMe]

I got that, "what exactly are you doing here?".

Sorry I don't know about the antigliadin levels. Maybe Cornholio knows?

Thats the same thing that I went through! I refused to go to the shrink but since the doctors wouldnt do anything but keep recommending I go because they couldn't treat the problems that were "all in my head"....I finally went. She must have been the brightest crayon of all because she knew right away there was something physically wrong.

[Guest nini]

LOL Cornholio doesn't know!!!!

ARE YOU THREATENING ME?????? I NEED TP FOR MY BUNGHOLE!!!!!!!! (having a beavis and butthead flashback, sorry!)

[CeliacMe]

Oh stop it, nobody's threatening you. you gotta be careful, the doctor loving mob will report me agian.

LOL Cornholio doesn't know!!!!

ARE YOU THREATENING ME?????? I NEED TP FOR MY BUNGHOLE!!!!!!!! (having a beavis and butthead flashback, sorry!)

[Guest nini]

Oh stop it, nobody's threatening you. you gotta be careful, the doctor loving mob will report me agian.

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!

tee hee! I was just feeling mischevious!

[debmidge]

Years ago I read the books by the veterinarian James Herriot (I recommend his books highly). And he describes a vet's life before anti biotic. In one of his books he tells about how some vets would have "poor doers" (animal patients that no matter what meds you give them or treatment, they aren't getting better) and that some vets would actually prefer not to treat them and be glad if they changed veterinarians.

So I guess my husband & you guys are the "poor doers."

It uncommon for doctors in my area to work past 5 and on any Saturday.

Last month I had strep throat & my GP was too booked to take me, I called another Dr.'s office and receptionist said that they were booked too but she'd have the Dr. call me to arrange something. I am still waiting for that return call, but never really expected him to call me back as I am not a patient (wait, don't they have a Code that they live by?"

Anyway, I begged my husband's Primary Care Dr. to squeeze me in. His office got me in and I had fever of 101 and tested positive for strep. I desperately needed anti-biotic. My Primary care doctor's office wanted me to wait to the end of the week to come in fo the visit and yes, I told them I thought I had strep. So the story keeps repeating itself, over and over.

I actually can keep going on with these stories, but since they don't involve celiac, I'll keep them to myself.

[CeliacMe]

It's sad they have an actual term for us, other than hypochondriac!

My aunt is going through the same thing. She's not of blood relation, but she has symptoms of scleroderma and they checked her for other stuff and told her to go home from the ER. Things got worse when she went home, she was getting dizzy and the skin on her legs and arms got so tight that it hurt to walk. Her hip bone is also decaying and they were really nonchalant in telling her that she would need a hip replacement soon, she's only 43! Since her whites were "a little low" they are assuming she has a virus and telling her to go home. They did that to me for YEARS! I told her what she has sounds like autoimmune and helped her "do homework" before her appointment with yet ANOTHER doctor. So, I guess they'll just keep shuffling us "poor doers" around. Rather than acknowledge that they are human, not GOD and TRY to HELP their patients.

If accountants or lawyers take on more cases than they can handle, they hire more people, and forego luxuries like lunches because they too can be sued for malpractice and have a fiduciary duty to their clients. Doctors just shuffle us around. SSDD.

Years ago I read the books by the veterinarian James Herriot (I recommend his books highly). And he describes a vet's life before anti biotic. In one of his books he tells about how some vets would have "poor doers" (animal patients that no matter what meds you give them or treatment, they aren't getting better) and that some vets would actually prefer not to treat them and be glad if they changed veterinarians.

So I guess my husband & you guys are the "poor doers."

It uncommon for doctors in my area to work past 5 and on any Saturday.

Last month I had strep throat & my GP was too booked to take me, I called another Dr.'s office and receptionist said that they were booked too but she'd have the Dr. call me to arrange something. I am still waiting for that return call, but never really expected him to call me back as I am not a patient (wait, don't they have a Code that they live by?"

Anyway, I begged my husband's Primary Care Dr. to squeeze me in. I had fever of 101 and tested positive for strep. I desperately needed anti-biotic. My Primary care doctor's office wanted me to wait to the end of the week to come in fo the visit and yes, I told them I thought I had strep. So the story keeps repeating itself, over and over.

I actually can keep going on with these stories, but since they don't involve celiac, I'll keep them to myself.

You can talk about non celaic stuff on here! We hate docs, all docs, we don't discriminate!

Years ago I read the books by the veterinarian James Herriot (I recommend his books highly). And he describes a vet's life before anti biotic. In one of his books he tells about how some vets would have "poor doers" (animal patients that no matter what meds you give them or treatment, they aren't getting better) and that some vets would actually prefer not to treat them and be glad if they changed veterinarians.

So I guess my husband & you guys are the "poor doers."

It uncommon for doctors in my area to work past 5 and on any Saturday.

Last month I had strep throat & my GP was too booked to take me, I called another Dr.'s office and receptionist said that they were booked too but she'd have the Dr. call me to arrange something. I am still waiting for that return call, but never really expected him to call me back as I am not a patient (wait, don't they have a Code that they live by?"

Anyway, I begged my husband's Primary Care Dr. to squeeze me in. I had fever of 101 and tested positive for strep. I desperately needed anti-biotic. My Primary care doctor's office wanted me to wait to the end of the week to come in fo the visit and yes, I told them I thought I had strep. So the story keeps repeating itself, over and over.

I actually can keep going on with these stories, but since they don't involve celiac, I'll keep them to myself.

[Rachel--24]

LOL Cornholio doesn't know!!!!

ARE YOU THREATENING ME?????? I NEED TP FOR MY BUNGHOLE!!!!!!!! (having a beavis and butthead flashback, sorry!)

LMAO!

I miss Beavis and Butthead!!!

Maybe I'll take my doctor-hating self downstairs and watch some Beavis and Butthead tonite.

[CeliacMe]

hahha...I've been watching that stupid "flavor of love" it's such a train wreck, I highly reccomend it!

LMAO!

I miss Beavis and Butthead!!!

Maybe I'll take my doctor-hating self downstairs and watch some Beavis and Butthead tonite.

[Rachel--24]

In one of his books he tells about how some vets would have "poor doers" (animal patients that no matter what meds you give them or treatment, they aren't getting better) and that some vets would actually prefer not to treat them and be glad if they changed veterinarians.

So I guess my husband & you guys are the "poor doers."

Yeah....I'm a "poor-doer"

When I 'd switch to a new doctor they'd actually tell me to go back to my old doctor because he was more familiar with my case. I got that everytime I switched. It was so depressing. If my doctor was on vacation I'd have to see another doctor and I'd pray I'd get a GOOD one but they'd always tell me I'm too complicated...just wait till your reg. doc gets back and he can deal with it. I just couldnt get anywhere with these doctors.

Now that I'm out of the HMO and seeing the non-traditional docs I'm amazed at the time and effort they put into me. Of course I'm paying for it but at least I'm getting something for my money now. One of the doctors there actually told me she *likes* the complicated cases. I just about fell off the exam table!

[mytummyhurts]

I will honestly say that I haven't read the last two pages of this post, because I've spent the last 45 minutes reading the first 6 and now I want to go to bed, but I want to say something first.

I will start out by saying that I'm sorry some of you have had so many problems with your doctors and I'm wondering if it's the places you live or what that makes the doctors there so bad. I've only had one doctor that I felt was "bad". Most of my doctors are friendly, listen and spend more than 15 minutes with me.

Anyways, here's my main point. I work in the door industry, entry doors to be exact. Now, before I worked at this company I never paid any attention to doors and when I started there I thought "doors...pretty simple, right?" Wrong! You would never realize how complicated doors are!! How many different types, how many different ways they get put together, the different options for doorknob bores, etc....and this is just steel and fiberglass entry doors, not interior, not wood. I've now worked in this industry for 2 years and you would think I know all there is to know about doors, but I don't. My boss who's been in the industry for 15 years or so doesn't know everything. The president of the company who's family has always worked in doors doesn't know everything. I'm talking about freakin' doors here people!

So, you're probably wondering what my point is by now. Think about the supposed simplicity of doors, then think about houses, they same rather simple, right? Then think about the human body? I think we will all admit it is very complex and difficult to understand. So thinking that doors and houses are simple, when really they are not, then admiting that humans are complex...can you really expect these people to know everything?? I know we want them to because they are dealing with our bodies and those are extremely important, our most important thing we own. But it's just not realistic to expect them to. If we expected doctors to know everything when they got out of school and solve our every medical problem immediately nobody would be a doctor. And then where would we be...screwed! Because a DOCTOR removed the cancer from my mom's breast. A DOCTOR pulled my bad wisdom teeth the other day. A DOCTOR patched the holes in my eardrums when I was a child. DOCTORS save lives all the time.

It's okay if you want to say bad things about them, but I don't think they should all be categorized into "the scum of the earth." Because, I don't believe that most of them are. Otherwise, they wouldn't spend 10 years of their lives in medical school and accure hundreds of thousands in debts so they could be spoken badly about by millions and risk having their lives and careers ruined everyday. I know a lot of you think doctors are money grubbers, but I will admit I'm pretty money oriented. I want a really nice house and fancy cars and a boat and fancy vacations, but I don't have the self will and determination to go to school for that long and work my butt off, which they do and I don't think it's so they can be rich, there's a lot easier ways to do that than to become a doctor. Why not start a door business? The ex-owner of my company is a millionaire because he sold the business, probably easier than being a doctor...how much is there to know about doors, right?

[debmidge]

General Warning Content of this Post Could be Offensive to those who think that this board is a support group for doctors:

#1, if you are going to participate, you must read the final pages of the posts. In order to speak with some credibility, you should read the entire thing; you might give a "pass" to doctors who don't know everything, but I don't give "passes" to those who skip a section of data just to be able to post a comment that may not have to be posted if the person read the entire section.....

Why are you still insisting on beating up on victims?

Unless you're not done picking an argument?

You deliberately came back and read the first pages and instead of just putting it to rest you continued with the inflamatory rhetoric.

Who is worse, the people who justifably dislike their doctors or the people who dislike the people who justifably dislike their doctors?

If you had read all those posts and you still don't understand the patient's side of it nor have compassion for them --that is very telling about you.

So I can only assume that your purpose here is to make us feel worse?

You point out the obvious, that there's a lot to know in life about anything. Sorry, but it's a weak argument when you compare modern medicine to the making and selling of doors. But an argument it is and that's your only purpose on this thread. Doctors are continuously going for continuing education and they do have medical software and resources to check into when they are stumped. With all due respect, your argument is too simplified.

You've been blessed that you've only had one doctor that was bad in your whole short years of living.

And your other experiences with them were successful as well. You have no right to further beat up people who haven't been so blessed.

You talk about your mom having a sucessful result of breast cancer and you're thankful. Well my father had pancreatic cancer and wasn't so blessed. He passed away at age 55. His doctor jerked around with him for almost a year before he decided that he had cancer. Even Sloan Kettering (where he finally ended up too late) said that if my father was diagnosed sooner he would have had a better chance of 5 year survival. And this first doctor wasn't just out of medical school - he had been in practice for over 30 years and never once ran a sonogram or liver scan, which he should know about. I urge everyone to look up the word "negligence"* and apply it to these medical situations.

Do you feel it is reasonable to expect to be diagnosed at 26 years of agony (my husband's celiac) or is that too immediate for you to expect a diagnosis? Or perhaps I should have just shut my mouth during the 1994 specialists visit where I pretty much told the specialist what to look for, and same specialist did not order endoscopy nor colonoscopy, which would be considered standard level of care at that time?

For those who want to maintain this feeble argument here's the definition:* 1) the quality or condition of being negligent a) habitual failure to do the required thing carelessness in manner or appearance; indifference 2. an instance of such failure, carelessness or indifference 3. Law: to use a reasonable amount of care when such failure results in injury or damage to another.

Definition #3 is what is used in malpractice cases. It's the law that says the doctors have a duty to provide reasonable performance in their duties, not the people who dislike or mistrust doctors.

Hugs to all!

Have a Wonderful Day!

[ebrbetty]

Deb, so very sorry you had to take the time to defend yourself, shouldn't we all be allowed to give our opinions without getting attacked?

many of us have been through hell trying to find out what is wrong with us, I like many others here have suffered much longer than necessary because of my Gastro Dr telling me Celiac cannot cause severe stomach pain, and recently told after 4 weeks on the gluten-free diet I should be feeling much better, I'm still having lots of trouble, spent this weekend in bed with terrible pain, praying for death. I almost ordered a sub and said "screw it" I'm eating Gluten. the only thing that kept me on the diet is some of the wonderful support here on the board, knowing others took longer than 4 weeks to stop the stomach pain.

we're all in this together, lets remember that

Betty

[Rachel--24]

I will honestly say that I haven't read the last two pages of this post, because I've spent the last 45 minutes reading the first 6 and now I want to go to bed, but I want to say something first.

I will start out by saying that I'm sorry some of you have had so many problems with your doctors and I'm wondering if it's the places you live or what that makes the doctors there so bad. I've only had one doctor that I felt was "bad". Most of my doctors are friendly, listen and spend more than 15 minutes with me.

I have to agree with Debmidge. Please read ALL the posts before continuing to tell us we are wrong for our feelings. If you had read the posts you would have seen this:

It's weird, I don't blame them about not knowing about Celiac, I blame them for being such jerks. Even if they would acknowledge that having "weird throw up with a side of IBS" isn't normal, and admit they are human and there is no explanation so far for my abnormal symptoms, than I'd be somewhat cordial to the profession.

and this:

Exactly how I feel. I'm not angry about not being diagnosed...I'm angry at the way I was treated. No human being who is sick should be treated in that manner. It was humiliating and infuriating to be told over and over my problems arent "real".

Please read our stories before stating your opinions. You cant possibly know what we've gone thorough...you were diagnosed on your FIRST visit! That is not the "norm".... you are very fortunate and instead of criticizing us....just be thankful you didnt have to suffer the same....ok.

I am not upset because the doctors here are clueless....I'm upset because they treated me like crap. They insulted me, belittled me and did nothing to *try* and figure out a cause for my illness. Why? Because in their opinion I *looked* fine. I looked as I do in my avatar....soooo they *assumed* that I must be healthy and need a shrink instead of a doctor. It took 2 years for everything to take its toll on my body and by that time I'd lost 25 lbs. and clearly was NOT healthy. Do you think they changed their opinions about me....no they didnt. They told me to go home and eat and schedule with the shrink.

That was a nice story you told about the doors but I dont see how it *fits* in with the complaints we're making. When a customer comes to you for a new door do you turn around and tell them (without even looking at their door) that they don't NEED a new door....the one they have is fine. Do you then tell them if they don't like what you're telling them to go somewhere else? Do you tell them when they become upset that they are just upset because you arent telling them what they want to hear about their door? I dont think so....If you DID act like that you would no longer have a job. Your example about doors has nothing to do with my situation...its comparing apples and oranges.

Also, my experience with doctors has nothing to do with where I live. I dont live in some rural place where there are only a few doctors. I live in CA...San Francisco Bay Area. This is one of the most populated areas in this country and there are plenty of doctors to choose from. I havent found a good one yet in the mainstream. None were interested in figuring out why I was sick...they just don't CARE. They DO have God complexes and they have little time to deal with "complicated cases". If I had broken a bone...and they could actually *see* what was wrong....then yeah....I'm sure I'd find some great doctors to fix that broken bone. When it comes to a case where they might have to put a liitle time and effort....they just dont want to be bothered.

Again, you are very lucky to have been diagnosed on your first visit but those of us who were NOT that fortunate arent on this thread to discuss door treatments. Thanks for your analogy though.

[jerseyangel]

I thought I'd add my experiences with doctors and being diagnosed. Looking back, I realize that my symptoms took a turn after the C-section birth of my younger son in 1984. Prior to that, I had always had a sensitive stomach, but was able to live with it and thought that these things were just normal for me. I was becomming very nauseous, dizzy, tired and achey. My dr. told me I had a sinus infection. Put me on antibiotics. When that pill didn't do anything, they prescribed another, and another--when I would call and say I didn't think I was getting any better, they prescribed the antibiotics over the phone! I then went to an ENT--because I thought I had sinus problems. There, I got antihistimines, decongestants and steriod injections. I want to add, at this point, that I had no nasal symptoms--the dr. told me that the problem was in my sinus -- I didn't know, at the time, that those steroids would cause long term side effects that I am dealing with today. I am also allergic to all but one class of antibiotic. As time went on, I was given a CT scan which showed normal sinuses. I also began having panic attacks. The anemia made me lightheaded, I would pass out if I stood for too long. In 2004, I had surgery that was supposed to take care of my anemia by stopping my heavy monthly bleeding. It had no effect on my anemia. After this surgery, my symptoms became scary--my dr. did blood tests, and o & P tests and when nothing turned up told me I might just have to live with it. The only reason I went to the gastro. who finally Dx me is that I had seen a Kineiseologist who told me I should never eat gluten. From there, I did my own research and went in armed with at least some information. I saw a variety of doctors--we moved several times, due to my husband's job. I had access to lots of doctors, as we have always lived near major cities. Looking back, I really do find it odd that no one ever thought to question the fact that no matter what tests or treatment was done, I was getting worse--why didn't someone think outside the parameters of what is considered standard? I am having a difficult time now working through the anger and resentment I feel due to the years of misdiagnosis.

[floridanative]

I continue to be horrified reading all these unbelieveable posts about all of you who got so sick, without getting the proper help. Obviously compared to all of you, I have nothing to complain about. My journey has been a walk in the park in terms of length of diagnosis. Never though I'd be happy to say that only two doctors made me feel like they thought I was a hypochondriac.

Docs don't learn enough about Celiac in school and that's not in question, I don't think. This however doesn't make it okay for them to treat people with little or no respect - as many of you have been. My poor Grandmother suffered at the hands of an HMO (think it's where Rachel use to go) and she had mental illness which we think was present all her life, but got much worse as she got older. Side note: my mother's sister is a dx'd schrizophrenic. Anyway, we eventually found out that the Dr. my GM was mandated to see (when let out of pshche ward) never saw her after the first visit. She went every week and saw the nurse only. By the time we found this out, my GM was spending thousands of dollars on hotels a month. Keep in mind this woman would not spend $12 to go to the gardening show once a year which is fantastic and she loved it IF I paid for her ticket. As for the hotels, she was running from 'the bad people' who lived in her attic, poor thing. Once she came to my house and brought over 20 boxes of 'valuables' as she said someone who was going to rob her and they'd called to let her know it. I know it's funny to read but she was dead serious. I could go on but the bottom line is, my GM didn't get the proper mental health care she needed and now she's living in an assisted living place near my Mother in FL (she lived near me when she started having serious problems). Her living expenses are so great that fairly soon all her retirement money (and there was plenty to start) will be gone and she will be moved to a state nursing home. Many people told my Mother she had a good case to sue the HMO but she would never do such a thing. For all I know, my GM may have untreated Celiac which manifested itself by attacking her brain. And of course now there is evidence to support that some shcizophrenics greatly improve on a gluten free diet (study released in 2004).

In the end yes- there are a LOT of bad doctors out there (in my opinion) and unless there is a major overhall in the insurance and medical communties in this country, we should only expect it to get worse.

[key]

It sounds like it has taken alot of people years to get diagnosed. I was anemic in high school and then never got diagnosed until I was 31years old. My symptoms were nausea, frequent stomach aches, being down on and off alot, anemia, fatigue. I went to many doctors over different things. I had the nausea for years, but just thought it was "me". I really never sought out being diagnosed with alot of things, as I thought they were my genetic makeup. In College once I ended up in the ER with dizzyness and thought I was dying, but they labeled that a panic attack. I don't believe it was. I was also nauseated and felt as if I was going to pass out for six months in college(went to an urgent care center and they gave me meds for it). I had to sit at my desk and fight the feeling I would pass out. I had many stomach aches that I thought were just something I ate. I had chronic yeast infections for about six years after my first son was born and sinus problems. I too had CT scans of my sinuses, all of which were normal. My mom had labeled me a hypochondriac too, because when I went to the doctor there was never anything to diagnose me with. I was also very athletic, running and gymnastics, etc., but always felt quite rundown.

When my third son was born and he had "classic Celiac" symptoms, well I figured out he had celiac and I had it. Due to the word being mentioned at his GI visits. Which, since his levels weren't off, minus one, they said he didn't have it at first. So he suffered for at least 4 more months.

I really believe the problem has been the lack of knowledge in celiac disease to being the problem with undiagnosed celiac. It wasn't considered as common until the blood tests became more accurate, etc. I know a girl recently that was anemic and that was her only symptom and fatigue and she was diagnosed with celiac disease right away (she had no GI symptoms). So had they known this when I was 15, well I probably would have known then and not ended up with two kids that had birth defects, plus the mental suffering for years, thinking I was just given a real bad lot in life. I always wondered why i felt cruddy so much and why some of my pregnant friends felt great, and I thought I was going to die of fatigue.

I do wish that alot more doctors could get the training they need to diagnose celiac. I guess we could write some letter to some board somewhere! Not sure what that would be. SOme of the docs are getting it, but some of them aren't.

As far as those of you that were vomiting and having classic celiac symptoms, well I think those doctors are idiots. There is no excuse to see a GI doctor even twenty years ago with those symptoms and not get diagnosed.

Ok, I am done now.

Monica

[floridanative]

Monica makes an excellent point. My worry is that we'll end up getting the media exposure to Celiac that we're all hoping for and still doctors won't listen to the people who hear our message. I'll post a topic later on Publicity thread asking you for ideas on how to get the word out to the doctors - seems they need it as much (if not more) than the patients.

[Susan123]

I hate to say but without doctors the disease does not get researched so instead of bashing them maybe we should support the promotion of good doctors. Who's our enemy the doctors or gluten?

[Rachel--24]

I hate to say but without doctors the disease does not get researched so instead of bashing them maybe we should support the promotion of good doctors. Who's our enemy the doctors or gluten?

I think you have it wrong.

Without a *drug* to precribe the disease goes unnoticed and no money is put into research. My doctor told me himself that Celiac is on their top 10 list of misdiagnosed diseases. Well...thats not surprising since he nor any of the other doctors never even MENTIONED celiac in the 3 years I was sick. My own GI told me that the doctors who *are* looking for Celiac and diagnosing it are doing so because they are more *familiar* with it. Meaning that they have a family member with Celiac or know someone who has the Disease. Great...next time I get Celiac I'll remember to see one of *those* doctors.

I had lost 25 lbs. and was constantly complaining about bread and other foods making me sicker and causing me to lose more weight. All they could do for me was suggest I see a shrink and tell me to eat more of the foods that were making me sick. I went to an Infectious Disease specialist and I explained to him that I was feeling much better and most of my symptoms improved after changing my diet to meat and vegetables. He laughed at me and told me that it meant nothing....it was just a placebo effect and all of my symptoms are in my head. No diet will help....just go see a shrink.

The doctors are not only incompetent but they are RUDE and DISRESPECTFUL to their patients. I would never fault a doctor who gave his all and truelly cared but was unable to come up with a diagnosis. In my situation the doctors WERE my worst enemy because they were doing everything they could do to NOT help me.

[key]

floridanative,

I agree. LIke my mom went in and told her doctor that her daughter and grandson had celiac. Of course the first arrogant remark out of his mouth was, "that doesn't mean you have it". He is obviously clueless. Then she has been diagnosed with IBS with C in the past, another doctor said it sounded like she had fibromyalgia. So she has suffered with all sorts of things for years that could be celiac. It took me nine months of harassing her to go to a doctor and this is the response he gives. He asked her if she has diarhea and she says, "no" and he says, well it isn't celiac then!! I was ticked. I told her he doesn't have a clue, so go to a new doctor. SHe needs to see a good GI doctor. If she could find one that was up to date on celiac. It will take me another nine months to get her to go back. SHe doesn't have a whole lot of faith in any of them anymore. Although she tells me still everytime I say I got gluten somewhere, she says, "oh, maybe it was something else you ate, like spices, etc." I think I know my body and what gluten does to me!

Ok, I am done, but I agree. I think the public is going to be more educated then the docs pretty soon.

MONica

[Guest BERNESES]

Misdiagnoses are one thing- my second GI who is probably in his fifties said Celiac's was really rare and he wouldn't test me for it. Granted, he's probably been out of medical school for over twenty years and CLEARLY NOT keeping up with current research. My primary care (who is about my age- 38- said, "It's one of two things- Celiac's or your thyroid." She was right.

But being disrespectful and telling ANYONE that it's all in your head is BS. My 3rd GI set up my endoscopy knowing I had been gluten-free for two months already. The "agreement" we had going in to the test was that since I had been gluten-free my biopsy would more than likely come back negative, so in his words it was academic, and we would just call it gluten intolerance. I felt like this guy was in my corner. So I do ten days of a gluten challenge for the hell of it. And hell it was.

Coming out of the anesthesia in the recovery room (I do not do well under anesthesia or sedatives), he walks in, tells me there's no damage and I don't have Celiac's. I say, "OK, well that's what we figured would happen anyway, right? So, we're just going to call it gluten intolerrance." He says no, we would have found damage with that too. He tells me I have IBS. So, i asked him why I became violently ill during the ten days of the gluten challenge. His reply- "Mind over matter." Turns on his heels and walks out.

misdiagnosing is one thing; disrespect and ignorance are a whole other ballgame. I was devastated. Luckily, i didn't listen to him either.

[tiredofdoctors]

As you can tell from my name, I'm a doctor-basher, myself! I guess my frustration lies two-fold: 1) I'm a physical therapist, and I used to own my own practice. I got so TIRED of listening and then diagnosing patients whose doctors didn't give a rat's hiney as to what they were saying, then yelling a ME when I had the nerve to tell the patient something different (my cousin was told she had rotator cuff tendonitis -- it ended up that she had two discs in her neck so herniated that she required immediate surgery -- the pain in her shoulder was referred, NOT due to tendonitis) then I would be told that I'm not allowed to "diagnose" -- and have to defend that, in our practice act, we are allowed to provide a "physical therapy diagnosis" -- those stories could go on and on and 2) as a patient, I am so tired of being shrugged off because the doctor couldn't figure out that antigliadin antibodies, in some patients with NO CELIAC, destroy the brain and retinas. I'm so tired of hearing that its PTSD. I have had that much traumatic stress to warrant that diagnosis. I was told that I had no specific gait pattern (other than I walk like a drunk and fall) and Johns Hopkins went so far as to falsify the results of the tests. Pretty scary stuff, huh?

I talked with a doctor who said that a study was done on the listening skills of physicians. It was an "on-site" type of study. It said that, on the average, a physician listens to a patient for seven seconds before interrupting them. SEVEN SECONDS! Perhaps that's because they double-book each 15 minute segment, banking on someone cancelling or not showing. Then, when all the patients show up, the physicians don't have time to examine you, much less listen to you. It's appalling.

Okay, I guess I'm finished doctor bashing! Sorry for going on and on.

BTW: I read the whole thread!

[jerseyangel]

B--What that dr. did to you was downright mean! I'm so sorry that happened to you.

[Guest BERNESES]

You know- I have to say that there have been many times when I have found nurses, physical therapists and physician's assistants to not only be more supportive, but in many cases, MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE! My Pc's physician's assistant diagnosed me with eczema in my ears after an ear, nose and throat doctor and a dermatologist said no way- really rare (why is everyuthing really rare?). Duh!