Here's One Of The Things About Doctors that Really Bugs Me

[tex]

Hi All,

I'm talking primarily about GI docs here, but doctors in some of the other categories are not totally immune to pulling similar medical "pranks". Okay, here's my beef:

GI docs know damn good and well, (if they bother to read the literature about trials, that comes with meds), that budesonide, (and prednisolone, and any other med, for that matter), is not a "cure" for any IBD. In most cases, a few weeks after the prescribed treatment ends, when the med "wears off", the symptoms will return, and the patient will be just as bad off as they were before the treatment was started. Here, for example, are the conclusions from a typical trial where patients with collagenous colitis were treated with budesonide, (Entocort):

Eight of 10 patients had relapse of symptoms within eight weeks after stopping treatment.

Conclusions: Budesonide is a highly effective and well tolerated treatment of collagenous colitis. There is a high risk of relapse after stopping eight weeks of treatment.

That's from this report:

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articl ... id=1774966

Well DUH! What part of that information are doctors unable to understand? And yet, most of them continue to go merrily on their way, prescribing a fixed-length course of treatment, and then pretending to be surprised when the patient relapses, a few weeks after the treatment period ends. They play their little "doctor games", while the patient suffers, and pays exorbitant fees, for so-called "expert" help. That bugs me - a lot.

Now that I think about it, there are a lot of things about GI docs that bug me - maybe we should set up a forum just for this topic.

Love,
Tex

[mini]

Hi Tex

LOL...............LOL what can I say but, I totally agree with you and I for one after my experiences would be up for a forum on 'naff docs'' that could be very interesting, funny and even quite stressful lol.

[Matthew]

I , if only one, would much prefer to see a forum that was all about the positive things that members have found. It is way to easy to accentuate all the bad things about this disease. The old “Gluten Free Kitchen” was a great place where members posted about new foods and if they worked or not . I, as most of us have, found that the medical profession was not of much help and, being who I am, found my own way.

I am not asking for a Pollyanna approach but I would much rather see a forum about what can be done as opposed to harping on what is done so poorly by the establishment. I suspect that there is not a member here that does not already know that. And not a member here that would love a forum where they could find positive results from what does work.

Some new members may think that positive feed back is not a possibility but many, many old members could tell you different.

My 5 cents worth.

Love

Matthew

[tex]

Matthew,

My comment about setting up a forum which would be dedicated to airing the "things that bug us about GI docs", was strictly a tongue-in-cheek remark. I seriously doubt that we will ever see a forum here aimed at that specific purpose. LOL. You are quite correct in pointing out that negative comments are generally counterproductive. However, when those negative comments are directed at a certain group of GI docs who continue to frustrate us with obsolete methods, and cause us to suffer unnecessarily with improperly designed treatment programs, some of us find that such remarks can provide a degree of comedy relief, which, of course, is not such a bad thing.

You have raised some valid points, but when I look down the long list of forums that are already in place, those issues appear to me to already be adequately addressed. For example, the topics covered in the old "Gluten Free Kitchen" are already covered in two forums: this one, and the "Recipes and Cooking Tips" forum. Have you checked the "Recipes and Cooking Tips" forum lately? It's much more active than it used to be.

The current arrangement of the treatment options discussions, and the separate "recipe room", is no accident. The advantage of the current arrangement over the old "Gluten Free Kitchen", on the old board, is that this setup is not so likely to polarize members who choose different treatment programs - there is something in this forum for everyone, not just dieters.

On the old board, the GFers tended to form a clique, who hung out in the kitchen, and everyone who chose to pursue an alternate treatment path, felt left out. (I'm not pointing fingers at anyone here - I was just as guilty of doing that as anyone else.) Granted, it may have primarily been a problem of perception, but after all, perception is what usually counts, in the end, so that makes it a valid problem, by default. When we initially set up this board, eliminating that problem was one of the primary goals, (at least it was one of my primary goals), and so far, I think we have been pretty successful at achieving that goal. Any and all treatment methods that help to bring relief from the miserable symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease are welcome here, and everyone is free to choose their own preferred path to recovery.

As for positive things that members have found, those are already posted virtually every day, in either of the two main "General Discussion" forums. The "Personal Experiences With Treatment Options" forums are also available, of course, but not many members choose to post there. Also, in that group of forums, we have a forum dedicated to positive comments about helpful doctors - notably, it has only one post. Evidently, saying something positive about your doctor is not as easy as it should be - especially when you have uncontrollable diarrhea, and you're getting no help from your doc.

Love,
Tex

[Dee]

When this forum was set up it has all of the pluses and has covered everything for people that have been diagnosed with microscopic colitis.
Diets that are working for some.
Meds thats that are working for some.
Answering questions for the newly diagnosed and when some are in complete desperation wondering what is taking place within their bodies.
Giving everyone the opportunity to make "their own personal choice" to treat this diesase ..
We all know that there is not "1 founded way" to finding remission, as we are all different.
As far as the "Gluten Free Kitchen" I understand that it is still standing, but if I'm not mistaken, there hasn't been any posts for over a year now.
When I posts recipes, it is in hopes to help all, not single out certain people. I try to take into consideration the people that are just gluten/dairy free, and others that have multiple intolerances, or people that are eating a somewhat normal diet. If someone has a question in the recipe forum, whether it be pertaining to gluten, dairy, corn, soy, yeast, eggs, or other, I will do whatever it takes to help them find their answer.
I feel, "Don't fix something that is not broken".....
There is "no bias" on this forum and I'm sure others and myself hope that will never change.
One more thing!
Instead of nit picking "Contribute" !!! Who knows maybe the path you have taken, that is working for you, may help others along their journey.

Love
Dee~~~~~

[starfire]

I think the site covers all the bases more than adequately.

Love, Shirley

[crranch]

I know only one thing.......I would be totally lost in trying to find what will work with Rick if it had not been for you all and this site. Not one doc has helped in all these years... only strung him along with the same ole song and dance, but my new internet family residing here has helped us at each and every turn......so the doc's are never going to be on my Christmas card list But each and every one of you all have a place in my heart forever....

Hugs,
Carrie

[annie oakley]

I was on the old site and this one, I think everyone here is pretty positive unless one of us is having a crisis. The that is when we support each other. I agree with dee that we all have our own way to contribute and it;s great. I for one like this site the way it is. But I can bend and adapt so what ever changes are made we will all be fine. Love Oma