another case where the testing guidelines fail

[Gabes-Apg]

Another example where the testing guidelines fail......

unless you have been overseas they dont test for this parasite, patients were told they had 'IBS'.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-n ... 6052075801


does this sound familiar?

SYDNEY mum Amity Smith was told repeatedly by doctors that the cause of her distended stomach, extreme pain, cramping and fatigue was irritable bowel syndrome.
For four years, Ms Smith, of Lilyfield, spent thousands of dollars visiting leading gastroenterologists, naturopaths, dieticians and GPs.
"I'd look six months pregnant. I couldn't wear normal clothes," she said.
"It was gradually getting worse and worse and affecting my life more. I'd get a little bit of pain, and I felt lethargic and irritable."
As a last resort, Ms Smith, 37, went to a specialist clinic, the Centre for Digestive Diseases, in January.
Tests revealed she had two parasites, dientamoeba fragilis and blastocystitis hominis, in her gut.

[tex]

I'm kind of surprised that none of the medical experts used the excuse that such a condition is "rare" in a developed country.

Tex

[harma]

well the good news is, is that it is not the same everywhere, when I, in 2009, visited my GP the first time with my D complaints (didn't know than it was CC), the first thing they did was a test for the common viruses, bacterias' and pararsites. In Holland it is called a TFT test, it's a faeces test in which you have to collect three days in a row stool samples and put them in small plastic tube and than is send by post (in a special package) to the lab. It is really a shame, in this example, doctor's didn't do that. First of course for the sake of this woman (in the end you may think you're mad or something) but also for the health expenses, one test with a positive result is cheaper than all that doctor visits. How do they say it in english penny wise, pound foolish?

For the same reason I keep not understanding why, especially in Holland GP's are so hesitating ordering a Celiac blood test. It's simple, it's cheap, and only if they catch one in 20 tests, it's a big relieve for that person. I mean as long as, they don't have to cut you open, or any expensive machines or things are involved, what is the problem with some simple blood and stool tests?

[natythingycolbery]

well the good news is, is that it is not the same everywhere, when I, in 2009, visited my GP the first time with my D complaints (didn't know than it was CC), the first thing they did was a test for the common viruses, bacterias' and pararsites. In Holland it is called a TFT test, it's a faeces test in which you have to collect three days in a row stool samples and put them in small plastic tube and than is send by post (in a special package) to the lab. It is really a shame, in this example, doctor's didn't do that. First of course for the sake of this woman (in the end you may think you're mad or something) but also for the health expenses, one test with a positive result is cheaper than all that doctor visits. How do they say it in english penny wise, pound foolish?

This is pretty much what happened with me when i was first in my GP with my D complaints... only it was a stool test every week that i took back to the GP

[ant]

Harma wrote

I keep not understanding why, especially in Holland GP's are so hesitating ordering a Celiac blood test. It's simple, it's cheap, and only if they catch one in 20 tests, it's a big relieve for that person. I mean as long as, they don't have to cut you open, or any expensive machines or things are involved, what is the problem with some simple blood and stool tests?

Hear! Hear!

Best ant

[Gabes-Apg]

or even in this case that they widen the scope of testing, it cant be that more expensive ..................

when i first starting having weird symptoms, (which i now know to be the MC) the immunologist kept asking had i been in any caves in Papua New Guinea where there were bats, as his only guess as to what was wrong with me was a condition that you can get from bat urine, we did the test and sure enough it wasnt the issue.

As i wasnt sick enough to be in hospital they just shrug their shoulders and say, we cant help you.

[sarkin]

Gabes,

Funny that bats were a potential scapegoat in your case. I had a friend years ago with weird vision problems, and she was told she must have picked it up from bat guano in caves. Um, or else maybe they were wrong? (In her case also, there was shrugging but no helping.)

Love,
Sara