How Do You Spell Clueless? D.O.C.T.O.R.S

[wmonique2]

Hello Friends,

I haven't seen my GI doc since I joined this board nearly 2 years ago so I went for the obligatory visit (now that I have insurance--bless you Obama!) mostly because my liver enzymes are elevated from the mesalamine I take and I wanted to know if this is cause for alarm.

I know that the guy is a sweetheart, a good listener, kind, patient but the poor slob can't help it if he is ignorant. Just sayin'

I came armed with Tex's book, my enterolab results tests, my anti-histamine diet list and a list of questions I had for him.

He let me talk. A good thing. He didn't oppose any of my views about diet.

I mentioned that I thought I had mastocytosis in addition to LC. He nodded.
I mentioned that I take anti-histamine in addition. He nodded.
I mentioned that I am thinking of taking histame or DAO. He nodded and asked what it was. I spelled the word histame for him and he had no clue what DAO was.
I mentioned this board and told him that many achieve remission with diet. He nodded.
I asked for the pathologist to restain the bio sample for mastocytosis with a tryptase-based stain. He looked puzzled then said that the colonoscopy was done 3 years ago and he wasn't sure if it could be done but he'd ask.

He looked at Tex's book. Looked at my enterolab test results and took notes. He is a good note taker, I give him credit for that.

So, in the end we agreed that I haven't achieved remission because I had a serious infection about the same time my LC flared up (for those of you who don't know, I ended up in a hospital near death from the infamous flesh-eating-bacteria (aeromonas) that I got from a piece of salmon I bought at Publix. For 8 solid days they assaulted my body with powerful antibiotics. They saved by life, but left my body destroyed.)

I ended up with the piece of paper I came for: I am scheduled for an ultrasound for my liver next week.

So I gave him a great lesson. He learned a lot today and he got paid pretty damn good for it. Doctors know everything they know from their patients.

What's wrong with this image?

Monique

[JLH]

Sorry but I sure understand. I have said previously that my GI should be paying me for what I have shared with her from this forum.

[tex]

What's wrong with this image?

For some weird reason or other, when I read your post, I visualized a strange correlation between our doctors and our pets.

We think the world of them, and can't do without them. We keep them well fed and happy (by means of a fat paycheck), and even though they sometimes give the impression that they feel that our time isn't worth much, except for the time that we spend with them, we're virtually always willing to interrupt or change our schedule in order to accommodate their wishes.

And what do they have to do to earn all this attention and respect? Just wag their tail (or nod their head) and lick our hand or face (or write a script) now and then, and we're happy campers.

Tex

[DJ]

Hi Monique, Your salmon story is a nightmare.
I hear you about dreading going back to the doctor. My GI had a few MC patients in the past but my journey to stability is new to her. I told her that there is a book on MC and that many with MC have mast cell issues. I also explained my dietary issues. She shook her head a lot and smiled during my visit but did not offer opportunity for questions. She felt my belly and requested that I get off of Entocort in the next two months or so. She requested that I see her again in three months. I really think she wants to help and will do further reading on MC. I think that she was also very careful to rule out other things before placing me on Entocort. That's important. I wish I had been diagnosed sooner so that the relationship between LC and my coughing could have been identified but now is better than never.
My story and journey are both long but the short of it is - I searched everywhere for decades for an answers and the most revealing findings came from my own investigation. On the other hand, I would not have a formal diagnosis or connection with this group if my doctor had not put a name to my illness. Life is a constant search for balance. My word for today is "homeostasis".

[wmonique2]

Tex,

Good analogy, Tex.

I don't have pets, I have doctors. And I always get the script.

Love,

Monique

[tex]

Monique,



Love,

Tex