Update on doctor visits

Yes, I said visits.

Saw PCP about the anemia and he scheduled a CATscan of abdomen and also referred me to a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy and endoscopy. Saw him in the morning and had the CAT scan in the afternoon.

Scan according to one doctor shows a hernia and an intussusception of the bowel where part of the bowel telescopes into another part. Usually it requires surgery, but it's apparently not very common.

The gastro doc, however, says it may be a false reading of the scan and wants to do the colonoscopy and endoscopy as planned and add an upper GI series. So, Monday it's tubes down the throat and up the butt and Wednesday, I drink barium and take pictures. Well, at least I won't have time to be bored!

So, I'm still up in the air and still not at 100%. Hopefully soon things will be back to normal.

 Best of Luck Ken.   Hope it all comes back negatve for you!

 Bring light reading material for the bathroom and the waiting rooms.  I really appreciate how the docs rush you into an exam room and then let you wait there to be seen by the doc.  I hope you don't have to wait long since you are going for exams.  I assume you'll need someone to drive you to and from the exams.  

The only good thing that I had going for me back then was that I was already retired on disability.  My wife did have to take time off for driving me for some exams--I'd be too drowsy, too medicated, or just too sore to drive.

Yes, it is hard trying to deal with multiple visits especially when the doctors don't agree on the causes.  You'd hope they call each other to see if they can come to an agreement.  Try to get appts with doctors who are associated with the same hosp.  You may not have that luxury, but I have the choice of at least 4 major hosps in S Jersey and a whole bunch in Philly.  Doctors in the same system seem to work better together.  After seeing the specialists, you may want to discuss your options with your PCP before going on for any more operations.  I know it is hard to make a decision when your condition seems critical an you feel ignorant.  You are going to the docs for their expertise and they seem to be guessing at it.  Unfortunately, that happens a lot in medicine or in any situation requiring a diagnosis.  Just hope an pray that the docs choose the least invasive procedures first.

In addition, you probably have a patient advocate (usually a nurse) at your ins co who can help guide you through these situations.  This is especially helpful if some procedures require prior authorization.  I know the docs are only concerned with the medical aspects of our decisions, but I have to look at how much varying deductibles or co-insurances are going to cost me.  There may be less costly ways to do things and still get the same results.

Thanks for the update. Keeping my one finger crossed that you get definative results on Monday.

Monday update ... Had the colonoscopy and endoscopy this afternoon. Nothing was unusual. No problems found. Doctor will do the upper GI on Wednesday morning.

By the way, has anyone else had a "bowel prep" since RNY. I was shocked at how easy the prep was. That is to say that inreally didn't have the massive pain and diarrhea that inhad been warned about. The doc did say that the prep was not as good as he would have liked and he had to "suction quite a bit" from me. I wonder if the bowel prep passes through so quickly that it does not really have time to work or whether I was just unusual in this regard.