This is what kind makes me upset about healthcare in the US. Chronic diarrhea is totally something that primary care can start the work up and help people! There’s no need to jump right to a specialist which costs more money and specialists need to be saved for more complicated cases. Blood work, fecal calprotectin and a stool sample are the starting points. Nowhere in the work up if it’s purely diarrhea is a CT. Then after the blood work and stool samples consider a colonoscopy. OP I hope you feel better and get answers soon.
But she said her doctor is “stumped” and ordered a CT as a first step instead of ordering a colonoscopy which seems odd. Maybe that’s why people are suggesting she see a specialist.
Well, he’s “stumped” but hasn’t done any of the baseline testing. If all of that was neg a colonoscopy would be the logical next step, the CT is an odd next move. IMO, and I’m not a doctor. Lol
Last Edit: May 14, 2024 19:13:55 GMT -5 by mofongo
Ok douche, go ahead and call it mud. My husband DID have halitosis. We addressed it after I talked to you girls on here and guess what? Years later, no problem. Mofongo, you're a cunt. Eat shit. ~anonnamus
I have my CT scan next Tuesday intended to check for diverticulitis. I was able to get an appt with a GI doc on 5/28.
Many are telling me prep for colonoscopy isn't too bad. I know, I did it once in 2016.
I know I said diagnose me, but the responses mentioning pancreatic and ovarian cancer are scaring me quite a bit. Although,I want an answer to the issue and some resolution.
Thanks everyone.
You’re all good! Remember, never trust health advice from the internet - it’s always cancer 😂 I’m glad you’re getting in to be seen - it’s likely nothing, but that peace of mind is priceless.
I have my CT scan next Tuesday intended to check for diverticulitis. I was able to get an appt with a GI doc on 5/28.
Many are telling me prep for colonoscopy isn't too bad. I know, I did it once in 2016.
I know I said diagnose me, but the responses mentioning pancreatic and ovarian cancer are scaring me quite a bit. Although,I want an answer to the issue and some resolution.
Thanks everyone.
This is a good timeline, glad it’s happening fast. I almost commented on one of those comments b/c diarrhea for a month does not sound like any of those things!! There are SO many more likely causes that are very treatable/curable. For an anecdote, my friend recently had a similar thing happen, they did the basic testing to rule easier stuff out, she then had a colonoscopy and was ultimately diagnosed with IBS. They’ve changed her diet, added some meds, and she did a course of antibiotics. She is having far fewer symptoms now.
My mom also had a similar thing, and in her case it ended up being c diff. ((Hugs))
Ok douche, go ahead and call it mud. My husband DID have halitosis. We addressed it after I talked to you girls on here and guess what? Years later, no problem. Mofongo, you're a cunt. Eat shit. ~anonnamus
Yes I understand, hence my comment. Primary care doctors are overworked and underpaid. So it’s frustrating that they (for whatever reason) aren’t always doing the basic work up for things and then people think that specialists are what should be needed/expected.
Oh I misunderstood, I thought you were admonishing people for suggesting she see a specialist. My PCP also doesn’t deal with specialty - anything beyond basic stuff I am sent to GI, OB, breast speciality, orthopedic. I do find it challenging at times as I then have to pay extra copays. But I can’t blame the pcp if they have too many patients and can only give me 10 minutes of time.
No, i was admonishing the healthcare system hence my comment saying "this is what i hate about healthcare in this country."
Another example is how in many other countries prenatal care and birth is managed by midwives or family practice doctors. Yet in the US prenatal care is usually managed by obgyns who are specialists. It doesn’t need to be that way.