I'm so sick of this (TMI)

[Deleted]

I've been feeling worse than normal for a couple of weeks now.
Mostly, I've been extremely nauseous off and on (which is nothing new) and completely uninterested in eating. I've been having to force myself to eat the minimum amount of calories I need to function. Now, today, it's gotten worse. I've spent all day back and forth from the bathroom, often enough that I haven't been able to leave the house, I hurt all over, and NOW I just burped and almost threw up. I am just so, so sick of being sick. I'm done. I quit. I don't want to feel like this anymore.

I'm really afraid that I'm going to wake up and still feel this awful.
I'm used to feeling bad, so I usually just power through it, but running to the bathroom every 20 minutes is not normal or something I want to deal with away from home. But a Monday would be the worst day of the week for me to call out sick.


There's no point to this post.
I'm just feeling really awful and really discouraged and really over it all right now. :/

[Deleted]

I'm sorry.

::pets hair::

[Deleted]

ANDPLUSALSO, I got a letter from my PCP last week telling me that they were releasing me from their practice because I'm too "complex." So now I have no doctor, and I have to figure out how to start all over with someone new. Who is probably going to tell me the same thing. FML.

[Deleted]

WTF?!?! What pansy ass doctor does that? Too complex?

[Deleted]

I'm so sorry your feeling so terrible. But can they do that without referring you to a specialist? That sounds like patient abandonment and a HUGE hippocratic violation.

[Deleted]

Jan 20, 2013 21:22:40 GMT -5 @dovey1122 said:

WTF?!?! What pansy ass doctor does that? Too complex?

I know, right? They told me I have 30 days to find a new doctor before they start refusing to see me. My PCP left the practice, and apparently none of their other doctors are willing to take me on as a patient. JUST WHAT I NEEDED RIGHT NOW.

[Deleted]

Jan 20, 2013 21:23:59 GMT -5 @kande818 said:

I'm so sorry your feeling so terrible. But can they do that without referring you to a specialist? That sounds like patient abandonment and a HUGE hippocratic violation.

They told me (via letter) that they suggest I start seeing an Internal Medicine specialist, that most insurance companies are willing to consider IM as a PCP, and if my insurance company won't then I need to find another PCP outside of their office.

[cleo29]

Have you seen a gastro doc? What you are feeling is not normal and needs to be looked at. Maybe there is a blockage somewhere. I am so sorry you are feeling this terrible. m/s nausea was enough to drive me to tears and feeling like I was going insane. (hug)

And seriously, fuck about it not being good to call it in tomorrow. Hell, call tonight and tell them you have been sick all day and will not be making it in tomorrow.

Oh and is there any chance that some of this is due to all the stress from the situation at work? When I am anxious, upset, etc, my stomach shows it.

[Deleted]

I really hope you start feeling better soon. That sounds miserable.
And your PCP can take a flying leap for that move. Seriously. I hope you can find a new and better one ASAP.

[ralphlauren]

How often did you go to the dr that they kicked you out of the practice.

Seems odd that they would do that?!?!?

[ECB]

How new is this and what have you been tested for?

[Deleted]

Jan 20, 2013 21:25:39 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

Have you seen a gastro doc? What you are feeling is not normal and needs to be looked at. Maybe there is a blockage somewhere. I am so sorry you are feeling this terrible. m/s nausea was enough to drive me to tears and feeling like I was going insane. (hug)

And seriously, fuck about it not being good to call it in tomorrow. Hell, call tonight and tell them you have been sick all day and will not be making it in tomorrow.

Oh and is there any chance that some of this is due to all the stress from the situation at work? When I am anxious, upset, etc, my stomach shows it.

Some of it absolutely is stress related. No doubt.
I mean, I understand where the "complex" thing comes from. I've been sick with constant stomach bug-like symptoms for 10+ years now, and no one can figure out why. I've been to multiple specialists and I've had just about every test done, and they always come back normal. Even when they don't come back normal, they treat the problem and it doesn't have any effect on helping my overall health. I'm just so frustrated and exhausted and burnt out on life.

I've been going back and forth on whether I should let my boss know tonight that I've been sick all day, but I think you might be right that I should. She knows that I mean serious business when I'm sick enough to not even try to come in to work in the morning.

[Deleted]

Jan 20, 2013 21:29:45 GMT -5 letsgetweird said:

How often do you see your PCP? What's your diagnosis?

I was seeing my PCP every 1-2 months, mostly to follow up on meds.

I don't have a diagnosis. At this point, they keep picking new ones until they disprove them and move on to the next idea. The newest one has been a form of IBS, but they never actually tried any sort of treatment for it or explained why they thought that might be it, so I have no idea how accurate they've thought that might be.

[mudslide]

((Hugs))

[ECB]

Have you been tested for Celiac, and even if it's come back normal, have you ever tried cutting out wheat and gluten?

[alzi]

I'm sorry:( it's things like this that make me wish Dr House was real.

[cleo29]

Jan 20, 2013 21:31:50 GMT -5 @pixiechinchilla said:

Jan 20, 2013 21:25:39 GMT -5 cleo29 said:

Have you seen a gastro doc? What you are feeling is not normal and needs to be looked at. Maybe there is a blockage somewhere. I am so sorry you are feeling this terrible. m/s nausea was enough to drive me to tears and feeling like I was going insane. (hug)

And seriously, fuck about it not being good to call it in tomorrow. Hell, call tonight and tell them you have been sick all day and will not be making it in tomorrow.

Oh and is there any chance that some of this is due to all the stress from the situation at work? When I am anxious, upset, etc, my stomach shows it.

Some of it absolutely is stress related. No doubt.
I mean, I understand where the "complex" thing comes from. I've been sick with constant stomach bug-like symptoms for 10+ years now, and no one can figure out why. I've been to multiple specialists and I've had just about every test done, and they always come back normal. Even when they don't come back normal, they treat the problem and it doesn't have any effect on helping my overall health. I'm just so frustrated and exhausted and burnt out on life.

I've been going back and forth on whether I should let my boss know tonight that I've been sick all day, but I think you might be right that I should. She knows that I mean serious business when I'm sick enough to not even try to come in to work in the morning.

Definitely call in, you don't need that hanging over you tonight. If you can, try to find something that relaxes you. For me, it is an ice pack on the back of my neck, tension tamer tea and easy listening music OR an animated movie.

Lastly, see what your insurance can do, but I would look at trying to see one of the best gastro in the country. What you are feeling is not normal and you should not have to live this way. 

[Deleted]

Jan 20, 2013 21:35:43 GMT -5 ECB said:

Have you been tested for Celiac, and even if it's come back normal, have you ever tried cutting out wheat and gluten?

Yes and yes. I had a blood test that came back slightly positive, so I went GF for seven months with no symptom changes, started eating gluten again and since then I have had two biopsies that both came back negative. My endoscopies both showed moderate inflammation, but nothing else.

[bab]

That seems very odd.
I'm sorry you aren't feeling well

[mirandahobbes]

Oh that has to be miserable. I hope you're able to find a good PCP. WTF no one will take you? These people just want to do physicals and strep throat checks? That's BS.

[tdk2]

I'm really sorry to hear this.

Have you been tested for endometriosis? I have the "can't leave the bathroom" kind of side effects - puking and other fun. I live on immodium. (and it's not just around period). GI appts haven't shown any other causes besides the endo.

And that really blows.

[Deleted]

Jan 20, 2013 21:41:38 GMT -5 letsgetweird said:

Did you say if you've been to a gastro doctor? I can see why your PCP would think it's better for you to see another doctor.

I've been to quite a few. At least four, as well as quite a few other specialists just for the heck of it.

[Deleted]

Jan 20, 2013 21:44:50 GMT -5 tdk2 said:

I'm really sorry to hear this.

Have you been tested for endometriosis? I have the "can't leave the bathroom" kind of side effects - puking and other fun. I live on immodium. (and it's not just around period). GI appts haven't shown any other causes besides the endo.

And that really blows.

I've had a few doctors (including GYNs) mention that I probably have endometriosis, especially because I get so, so sick before and during my periods. I have always told all of my doctors that I am convinced that all of my symptoms are caused by hormones, but they always look at me like I'm nutty and start running more tests. I'm on BCP now that are supposed to stop me from having periods at all, but they aren't don't a very good job and I'm still getting sick like clockwork even though I'm on them.

No one has wanted to actually test me for it, though. The only way to actually find out if you have it is to do exploratory surgery, right? Are there other tests now?

[ralphlauren]

Do they think it is stress related or anxiety?

[Deleted]

Jan 20, 2013 21:41:35 GMT -5 mirandahobbes said:

Oh that has to be miserable. I hope you're able to find a good PCP. WTF no one will take you? These people just want to do physicals and strep throat checks? That's BS.

This is how I feel.

I mean, I get that I'm complicated, but I refuse to believe that every one of their patients is simple and healthy. I hate starting over at a new practice because they always want to milk my insurance and redo all of the tests, even when I transfer my records. I'd had the same doctor for a couple of years now and I'm dreading have to re-tell my story from the beginning again.

[mskitkat]

*hair pets* Would you like a funny story about how I have to find a new PCP after she tried to use Wikipedia to diagnose me?

[Deleted]

Jan 20, 2013 21:49:48 GMT -5 ralphlauren said:

Do they think it is stress related or anxiety?

Partially, but the anxiety was created by the symptoms originally. I did not struggle with anxiety until after I got sick. I know that my anxiety now makes my symptoms worse, but they were there first. That doesn't mean my anxiety shouldn't be treated, but I don't think that one side of it (anxiety/physical) can be treated while the other is left to continue festering.

[Deleted]

Jan 20, 2013 21:52:14 GMT -5 mskitkat said:

*hair pets* Would you like a funny story about how I have to find a new PCP after she tried to use Wikipedia to diagnose me?

Oh my gosh, yes, please! My last PCP used to do google searches when I asked him questions sometimes, but I sure hope he wasn't clicking on Wiki. O.O

[Deleted]

Have you had your gallbladder out? My mom had extreme nausea and even though her gallbladder looked ok on ultrasounds, she opted to take it out and that helped it. Not that I'm advocating surgery, and I'm sure you've thought of it as this point. Just thought it was worth mentioning.

[mskitkat]

Jan 20, 2013 21:55:43 GMT -5 @pixiechinchilla said:

Jan 20, 2013 21:52:14 GMT -5 mskitkat said:

*hair pets* Would you like a funny story about how I have to find a new PCP after she tried to use Wikipedia to diagnose me?

Oh my gosh, yes, please! My last PCP used to do google searches when I asked him questions sometimes, but I sure hope he wasn't clicking on Wiki. O.O

So, I was having an allergic reaction to something unknown. Hives, throat swelling up, the works. It was really unusual, too. Only appeared in the mornings, gone by lunchtime. It continued for a week, which really concerned me, so I made an apt with my PCP to ask what I should do. I haven't really been impressed with this PCP, but she hadn't done anything to irritate me enough into finding someone else.

I went to see PCP. She asked the expected questions about changes in diet, foods I'm allergic to, strange animals, etc. I said no, nothing's changed like that, but I have been working with isocyanates at work (I'm a chemist). I know they are a sensitizer, but I couldn't find any information on what specifically an isocyanate reaction looked like. As well, there's the whole "bad when I wake up, gone by afternoon" aspect of it. I just threw out the isocyanate option because I was looking for anything that could potentially cause my hives.

PCP has no clue what an isocyanate is, which I expected. It's not very common. I expected my doctor to do something like look up medical journals or
give me a referral to a chemical specialist or just tell me that a
chemical reaction either would or would not work like what I was
experiencing. So she pulls up the Wiki article and proceeds to read me the definition of an isocyanate (why not the MSDS/SDS, I don't know). Umm... yes. I do work with it so I know it's a clear liquid. But part of the definition was wrong. And didn't cover the specific thing I was working with. I told her that the Wiki article wasn't exactly correct, and she ARGUED with me. I thought it was covered in high school that Wikipedia couldn't be used as source material. Then she goes down to "exposure to an isocyanate" section, reads the list of symptoms that includes tightness in chest and red, irritated skin and says, "yep, sounds like that's what you've got! Avoid isocyanates."

She also didn't know what I meant when I said that I didn't know what isocyanates smell like because we have very strict rules about working with them under a hood. I had to explain what a fume hood was. I thought doctors had to take organic chemistry labs?