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Re: Question for Dr. M, Pain & FMS
From: Gina (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 29 Dec 1999 08:42:18 -0600 (CST)
Hi Dr. M,
Thanks, love your sense of humor, helps me laugh at myself when things
get too bad, let's some of the pressure off. I deeply appreciate your
sense of humor in answering questions.
In any case, I see I will want to consult with a rheumatologist. LOL I
can even self-refer for that if need be. I'm going to give it 2 weeks
since I have an ERCP planned next week.
My GI doc thinks I will need surgery again, he's thinking it is
adhesions and they are interfering with my bowels and ligaments and
tendons, etc. He wanted me to go back to the original surgeon but I'd
rather not. There are well known great colon rectal surgeons here I'd
rather see for this.
My GI doc says I don't have IBS, and he doubts FMS as well.
(Can you believe my PCP actually called the GI and tried to tell him not
to do the ERCP next week? My PCP thinks too much is being done & I
should give it a few months, where is this guy's brain?).
Dr. M, how do I find a good doctor in this world of HMO?
It seems the good doctors sold out to the HMO's now and are employees of
them rather than advocates for the patients. I am so fed up with
looking for doctors who will act on my behalf, and being disappointed
every time. Any idea how I can get out of this cycle and still get the
care I desperately need?
Thanks,
Gina
At Tue, 28 Dec 1999, Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D. wrote:
>
>At Tue, 28 Dec 1999, Gina wrote:
>>
>>Hello Dr. M,
>>I finally got in to see my PCP about this severe pain that is moving
>>around. He told me he thinks I have fibromyalgia (FMS) and IBS. He
>>didn't do any tests to come to this conclusion, and I felt totally
>>brushed off by him, he even told me I would have to be responsible for
>>my own solutions to these flare ups/pain. He also said I will have
>>chronic pain like this and have to learn to deal with it--all this with
>>no work up to find out what the pain is from and whether it is a problem
>>that can be treated.
>
>I would recommend a consult with a rheumatologist to evaluate you fully.
>
>>Also my toes have been turning purple and I showed them to him and he
>>said it's a sign of GOOD circulation??? I don't believe this, since I
>>know I have very poor circulation in my legs (have had a vein stripped
>>that had filled with over 100 blood clots, in 1995). I also had a deep
>>clot in that leg as well a few years ago. When my toes and feet turn
>>purple, it is a sign that my blood is pooling up and isn't able to go
>>back up. Wondering what your opinion is on this?
>>
>All I'm saying is - consult with a rheumatologist. :-)
>
>>Also want your opinion on my lack of reflexes in feet/ankles and
>>patella's. My PCP said it's normal and not to worry about it. Is it
>>normal to not have any reflexes from the knees down??? Couldn't this be
>>related to the other problems I am having instead?
>
>NOt the most common set of symptoms - I'm gonna sound like a broken
>record but "rheumatologist".
>
>>He also said it can't be a nerve compression because I can move my toes
>>up. Is this true?
>
>There's a difference between sensory (feeling) and motor (movement). You
>can have a pinched nerve in your back and be able to move but be in pain
>or have reduced sensation.
>
>>I'm at a loss as to what to do now about my pain. I feel it is way too
>>early for my PCP to just give up and call it something without even
>>doing the diagnostics needed to rule out other problems first. He feels
>>that by having done a colonoscopy, and EGD and a CT scan, he's done with
>>diagnostics. He also told me he would not refer me for an MRI because
>>he didn't think my insurance company would approve it--I don't see why
>>not at this point, since the other tests were done and din't find
>>anything, wouldn't an MRI be in order now???
>
>Maybe the rheumatologist will order some tests. ;-)
>
>>This is my 4rth PCP this year, I like him generally, I am just
>>disappointed in yesterday's visit with him and the lack of action on his
>>part. He doesn't even want to see me again for 3 months--talk about
>>leaving me hanging :(
>>Gina
>
>Let me know how it goes at the rheumatologist.
>
>--
>Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D. FACOG, FACS
>Great Neck, New York
>
>**Note: Opinions expressed here are for educational purposes only
>and, as such, do not constitute a physician-patient relationship.
>This information is not intended to supplant the need for you to
>consult with your physician prior to choosing therapeutic options
>and/or interventions.
>
>**Private emails cannot be entertained due to time constraints,
>consequently no private emails will receive a response.
>
>**Thank you for your understanding ;-)
>
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