We Need To Start A Thread On Stupid Stuff Doctors Say!

[maximoo]

this thread should be copied & sent to every stupid Dr mentioned.

[Mateto]

I have one.

Doctor: "It's probably not coeliacs but it could be coeliacs, don't worry about it"

[IrishHeart]

this thread should be copied & sent to every stupid Dr mentioned.

The sad thing is....they would not even see WHY their responses are so ridiculous!!!

I DID say something to several of the practitioners whose behavior I reported to you guys in my long post.

I got silence in return and one half-hearted apology left on voicemail that sounded like a lawyer had written it and he had practiced it. Carefully worded, no specifics and totally insincere. He was worried I was going to sue for malpractice.

The only one who was appalled by these stories was my new doc, who just shook his head sadly, back and forth while he held my hand and then he said: "I am just so sorry."

There ARE good doctors out there. Finding them is the problem.

[IrishHeart]

I have one.

Doctor: "It's probably not coeliacs but it could be coeliacs, don't worry about it"

Did you ask if he flipped a coin for that diagnosis?

What an ass hat.

[Ninja]

Alrighty

[Stu]

A few of my personal favorites:

(Loud, cackling laughter)... "VITAMINS!?... Vitamins don't do ANYTHING!!!"

"It's an extremely sensitive and accurate blood test! It doesn't matter if you've been Gluten Free for three years..."

(next visit...)

"Well, the blood test came back negative. I'm putting you on omeprazole for your Acid Reflux"

"Just because you don't have the symptoms of Acid Reflux doesn't mean you don't have it!"

(Note: some generic omeprazole uses wheat starch as a dispersant. I found out the hard way)

"Next time, I think we should start treating you for Diabetes..."

(My glucose levels have never been abnormal. That was the last visit, I'm afraid to go back!)

[Stu]

The sad thing is....they would not even see WHY their responses are so ridiculous!!!

I DID say something to several of the practitioners whose behavior I reported to you guys in my long post.

I got silence in return and one half-hearted apology left on voicemail that sounded like a lawyer had written it and he had practiced it. Carefully worded, no specifics and totally insincere. He was worried I was going to sue for malpractice.

It strikes me odd that any other business would at least offer to refund their fee, but somehow that doesn't apply to doctors, (not in the USA anyway)

[Stu]

So did you do the psych test? I would have been tempted to experiment with a psychologist over this.

IME, the best way to deal with a psychologist is to be completely open, honest, and rational with them. It drives them NUTS!

[Stu]

How is all this possible? As I read through the posts it sounds as though you have been living in a nightmare. Are the doctor duds from all over the world gathered together and shipped to the US?

The unfortunate case here is that many US doctors are basically salesmen for the big pharmaceutical and medical corporations that stand to lose tons of money when all us sick people find out we can effectively treat ourselves through diet and nutrition. You can say that I'm jaded, or that I'm some sort of a conspiracy nut, but all the same I would challenge you to find a single person posting here who hasn't wasted at least hundreds of dollars on specious diagnostic testing and useless medications before stumbling onto the truth. There's simply no profit to be made treating for Celiac, but millions to be had by calling it something else and treating it symptomatically.

That is, of course, until they invent an expensive pill that Celiacs will have to take for the rest of their lives, then EVERYONE will be diagnosed with it!

[Stu]

I think Doctors SHOULD do a nice Google every now and then. They might learn something

I know they're educated, but to tell you that it only affects digestion is quite ridiculous. Would it hurt for him to say "We'll check you for _____"?

Then again they probably wouldn't check you for the right thing and you'd have to end up getting re-tested, like myself did

Reminds me of the time I took my son with a sore throat to see the doctor. Doc was busy, so we got to see her PA instead. The PA sat in her chair and started rattling off a series of possible problems without so much as looking at my son. After awhile, I interrupted her, and said:

"He's had this sore throat for 4 days, with no fever or other symptoms. Why don't we just run a swab to make sure it isn't something nasty, and put him on an antihistamine like Benedryl?"

Her jaw fairly hit the floor for a second, then she repeated exactly the same thing I said and left the room. The swab came back negative, and they gave him some Claritin. An hour and $70 later, his sore throat was gone.

I don't know what disturbs me more, the fact that the PA was an educated medical professional, or that I'm a maintenance man.

[christianmom247]

My GI doctor said "You have celiac. Since your sister has it, ask her what to do next." Of course he doesn't even know my sister or if she's even remotely competent (she IS, luckily!).

Then my family doctor told me that some celiac patients can eat wheat once in awhile and it doesn't bother them; I'd have to play around with it and see how much I can tolerate. Hmmm . . . Think I'll be looking for a new doctor who has a clue! I'm getting WAY better information from this forum than from the medical establishment. Thanks!!!

[Mateto]

A few of my personal favorites:

(Loud, cackling laughter)... "VITAMINS!?... Vitamins don't do ANYTHING!!!"

"It's an extremely sensitive and accurate blood test! It doesn't matter if you've been Gluten Free for three years..."

(next visit...)

"Well, the blood test came back negative. I'm putting you on omeprazole for your Acid Reflux"

"Just because you don't have the symptoms of Acid Reflux doesn't mean you don't have it!"

(Note: some generic omeprazole uses wheat starch as a dispersant. I found out the hard way)

"Next time, I think we should start treating you for Diabetes..."

(My glucose levels have never been abnormal. That was the last visit, I'm afraid to go back!)

I'd be afraid to go back too! You learn more about what's wrong with you from the Shopping Channel than you do doctors, I believe.

Here's something to lighten the thread up a bit. I went to the dentist a few days ago to fill the last of my 9 cavities. This was strange, since I brush my teach out of habit anyways. Before I knew I had coeliac, she just said that some people's teeth are just not that strong, and I wasn't brushing as thoroughly as I should.

Well, when I went back a few days ago for my last filling, she asked me "Did you have any new diagnosis/change in medical history since I saw you last", I told her I had coeliac so was gluten intolerant.

"Ah! There you go, that's why you have so many cavities. Coeliac disease can cause acid reflux, which is deadly for your teeth. Now we know why".

A dentist knows more than a specialist.

[pricklypear1971]

I'd be afraid to go back too! You learn more about what's wrong with you from the Shopping Channel than you do doctors, I believe.

Here's something to lighten the thread up a bit. I went to the dentist a few days ago to fill the last of my 9 cavities. This was strange, since I brush my teach out of habit anyways. Before I knew I had coeliac, she just said that some people's teeth are just not that strong, and I wasn't brushing as thoroughly as I should.

Well, when I went back a few days ago for my last filling, she asked me "Did you have any new diagnosis/change in medical history since I saw you last", I told her I had coeliac so was gluten intolerant.

"Ah! There you go, that's why you have so many cavities. Coeliac disease can cause acid reflux, which is deadly for your teeth. Now we know why".

A dentist knows more than a specialist.

Too bad she didn't tell you that a loooonnng time ago.

I wish my mother's dentist would be so smart...and tell her to get her butt tested.

[Mnicole1981]

I called my primary yesterday to request what I assume would be a food allergy test. Her nurse called me back asking what kind of symptoms I was having to want the allergy test and basically why I wanted it. Is that relevant? I have been sick and I want to know what I can and cannot eat. Prior to getting really sick, I was eating a lot of soy, beans, grains, and oats. Now for some reason, all of that bothers me.

[mommida]

Stu,

I swear I would have been in more competant and caring hands if the maintenance man had helped me deliver my first child! Rather than the wretched nurse who went on a 3 hour tour (Gilligan's Island style) so I missed any pain management with a 8lb 5oz. 22inch long baby, sunny side up, who decided halfway out~ he didn't want to come out ~so he held on with all his might. Broke all of his fingernails from holding on!

And I had to ask for something to numb me up because I could feel all of the repair stitches after the delivery too.

I swear I would have been happy if someone would have knocked me out with a quick blow to the head!

Reminds me of the time I took my son with a sore throat to see the doctor. Doc was busy, so we got to see her PA instead. The PA sat in her chair and started rattling off a series of possible problems without so much as looking at my son. After awhile, I interrupted her, and said:

"He's had this sore throat for 4 days, with no fever or other symptoms. Why don't we just run a swab to make sure it isn't something nasty, and put him on an antihistamine like Benedryl?"

Her jaw fairly hit the floor for a second, then she repeated exactly the same thing I said and left the room. The swab came back negative, and they gave him some Claritin. An hour and $70 later, his sore throat was gone.

I don't know what disturbs me more, the fact that the PA was an educated medical professional, or that I'm a maintenance man.

[Razzle Dazzle Brazell]

Went to an allergist today and he said, "Wheat allergy and celiacs are two different things; I can test you for a wheat allergy but celiacs is the same thing as gluten intolerance and you would have to see a GI doctor to see if you have gluten intolerance".

Im like wow i have only been learning about gluten adverse effects for a couple weeks and even I know Gluten Intolerance, Wheat Allergy, and Celiacs are three different things. I wanted to say gluten intolerance is not an autoimmune response! Whatever he ordered full celiac panel to take to the lab of my choice so i guess i am content.

[Bubba's Mom]

Went to the GI that first DXed me yesterday. I didn't stick with her because she didn't seem too knowledgeable. Saw another GI here in town..who referred me to Mayo Clinc...

She looked at my file and noted that it says I appear to have a severe case of bacterial overgrowth. She looked up at me and said.."How do you think it got in there"?

I asked my new PCP to test my iron levels. I seemed to be having symptoms of anemia that were worsening. When I checked back I was told my iron was "normal"..so I quit taking the supplement. I asked for a copy of the test results for my file. When it arrived I had raised TIBC..meaning iron deficiency anemia. When I taked to the GI about whether it could be from a glutening, or if we should question a bleed somewhere..she said"..Just take the iron supplement. Your body will cast off anything it doesn't need."

Ummm...iron overload can cause organ failure.

This isn't tricky stuff!

[SleepyBunny]

I went to a dr that someone suggested because she seemed to know a lot about celiac. I had been on levo for a few months and still didn't feel better. Actually I started sleeping more. I asked her if she could test everything having to do with my thyroid. I also asked her if she'd be willing to prescribe me t3 if the tests showed that I needed it. She pretty much said yeah and basically said she's not going to risk her job and give me something just because I think I might need it. My TSH came back around 2. something. It had started to creep back up but since it was normal she left it. Saw her once

Oh and when I mentioned my c that even draino couldn't get rid of her brilliant advice was to eat more vegetables and handed me a paper with paleo info.

[kittty]

I can't stand it when a doctor doesn't listen. The doctor-before-last let me ramble on about my problems, and didn't take in a word of it.

Doc "How have you been feeling?"

Me "Well, I have diarrhea every single day, my migraines are getting more frequent, and the anxiety is still crippling. I've tried everything I can think of to help the anxiety, but still get no relief."

Doc "Oh okay" (looks at paperwork) "And how has your anxiety been?"

DOH!!!

Her solution to my textbook GI symptoms was to lose weight. All my medical problems would be solved by losing just a few pounds. So she prescribed Phentermine, and called it "A Magic Pill". After a single dose I thought my heart would explode, and I couldn't sleep for a week. Who is training these idiots??

[Anianna]

My doc has finally gotten frustrated with the recurring debilitating blistering rashes I have had for two years now. I asked, "could it be something autoimmune?", but she just answered, "you just have very sensitive skin".

[luvs2eat]

Not having anything to so w/ celiac but still makes me shudder is when I went to my OB/GYN pregnant w/ my first (of 3) daughters and told him I was felt so sick all the time I could barely eat because I was so nauseous and barfed so often that I was losing weight rather than gaining it. He literally put his hand on my shoulder and said, "You know... I really think that it's more of an 'in your mind' kind of thing."

I was so shocked... but got it together enough to say as I opened my purse, "Yea... so this plastic bag I carry around at all times in case I barf anywhere and everywhere is surely 'in my mind' too!!"

[Anianna]

Sometimes it's in the doc's head. I once had a pediatrician go on and on about how my son would need tubes in his ears because of some fluid that dripped out when I laid him on the examining table. I patiently listened to him until he was finished and then politely pointed out that the fluid was a bit of breast milk that had dripped down my son's cheek because he's a bit of a sloppy eater.

[KnightRobby]

My Allergist said the oddest thing to me on my last visit:

"Your first visit you came in knowing that you were Gluten Intolerant. Rarely are my patients right. Usually I lie to them when they say they have this or that because 9/10 times they are wrong."

How about wait until a results are done before coming to conclusions. LOL Honestly though, I think it was the way he worded it that made it sound very strange. The thing is he never once disagreed with me, simply because I knew so much about Gluten Intolerance and was definitely symptomatic. My Allergist is a great doctor by the way - I really have no complaints. The many, many other doctors I have seen - that is a different story. I'll have to share some of what they've said.

[mushroom]

Hubs and I for a while shared the same PCP. Invariably, if either of us mentioned some new thing that was bothering us, he would say, "You know, my wife had that...." We decided his wife must be a basket case We used to laugh about it all the time.

[MartyrMom2]

My former gastroenterologist stated that my colon was quite twisty and turvy and that this was indicative of IBS! Medical jargon, you know.