Does he think I'm crazy?

[JMitch]

I am still undiagnosed, and I'm beginning to think my doctor may not believe in the honesty of my condition. He, during my most recent appointment, said I have functional diarrhea. Is this saying I have IBS, in other words? He started me on a depression medication saying the side effect causes constipation and that didn't work. He then put me on Cymbalta (another depression medication, citing it was stronger and it should work). With no luck, I am on yet another depression medication in hopes to 'back me up'. I just don't think he is taking me seriously. I am having accidents (almost daily, because the urge is very urgent and impossible to hold even in my own home) and have lost complete control of my bowels. I even explained to him that I am paying out of pocket to come here (Cleveland Clinic), driving 3 hours for each appointment, I'm not able to work with the current symptoms and that I'm not seeking pain meds to try and convince him I'm not making it up. I only want to control myself. I also explained to him the only meds to work thus far is Prednisone and Imuran, but he refuses to put me on 'such strong meds'.

He continues to run tests, but on all the recent films (CT, MRI) they show clear, but I was inflamed on all previous scans. They keep running the Celiac test (the third time for this doc) and they say normal except for high IgA levels.

I guess I'm rather frustrated as well as I thought something would be figured out by going to the Cleveland Clinic (second best in America for GI), that it's been 4 years and I'm forking out a lot of money.

I guess I'm asking for suggestions; what would you do if you were in my situation? I've been to a number of 'good docs', and feel like the next one will do me no good.

 

[David in Seattle]

I agree, the Cleveland clinic is a good resource. I think I would tell him I want a 2nd opinion from someone else on staff there. If he hesitates, insist.

I know what you mean about going from dr. to dr. It's as though each succeeding one does less and less, assuming their predecessors probably covered all the bases.

And don't worry about what he thinks of your "sanity". You know the truth. He is your paid consultant, HE is working for YOU. YOU call the shots.

BTW, when I lived in central Ohio, I used to date a woman who, some years earlier, had driven her mother from Newcastle, PA where they then lived to the Cleveland Clinic several times a week for her mother's end-stage kidney disease, and you have even more of a drive. I can appreciate that you don't want to waste your time & money, not to mention doing all that traveling with your present limitations.

 

[beth]

What tests have you had done; colonoscopy, small bowel follow through?

If none, then move doc's PDQ!

 

[Astra]

Hi JMitch

I concur!
Get a new doc, a 2nd opinion, ask for a scope or a sigmoidoscopy, you shouldn't be suffering like this!
If you know the Pred and Imuran worked for you last time, demand for it again,
I had to put up with this crap for 15 years, so can totally empathise.
A scope found my Crohns straight from the off
good luck, hope you get sorted soon
Joan xx

 

[crystal5520002000]

I have been suffering for 4 years and the only thing i have really come to realize is you must be persistent with your doctors, they gave me every excuse in the book on how i was too young for anything to happen to me like this until every blood draw kept showing lower and lower vitamin levels and me having a major breakdown in the docs office. Still working on my diagnosis which i think they have came down to microscopic colitis now just waiting for treatment go back to the doctor tomorrow though so I have my fingers crossed

 

[teeny5]

Got to get a new doctor and be very persistent. Tell them all of your symptoms and be very specific.

 

[Keona]

I feel for you JMitch - seems like there are a lot of doctors out there that find it easier to treat people as if they are crazy than to do the work and find the problem. I think good helping professionals are few and far between... keep searching... I know I will be
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