In these days of managed health care, when a wealth of medical information is merely a click away, patients are often advised to bring a list of their symptoms to their doctor’s appointment to ensure their concerns are addressed in an efficient, knowledgeable manner.
Unless they happen to see my doctor, in which case the list is set aside and later left untouched on the counter near the throat swabs and antisceptic hand-wash. Nope, that page of symptoms I’ve been experiencing — one of which includes a “brain fog” that makes it damn near impossible for me to remember anything without a list — was useless.
My doctor, you see, wanted me to simply summarize the two main problems I’m currently experiencing (because, apparently, the other 8 aren’t important). So when I point out that joint pain has rendered it nearly impossible to sleep well, (much less walk, stand, sit or do anything beyond whimper) then mentioned the brain fog problem, he decided I needed a tetnus shot, a flu shot, and an anti-depressant.
Oh, he ordered a blood test (which, incidentally, it sucks to go through when your arm is already aching from the damn tetnus shot) and told me to come back in a month.
A month.
The very thought of another month with my legs feeling as if someone beat my feet, ankles and knees with a bat and my hands so swollen it looks like I’m wearing Mickey Mouse gloves, well now, that is depressing. And don’t get me started on the topic of the 8-10 pounds in water that I can mysteriously take on in the course of a day only to find myself hobbling painfully back and forth between the bathroom all night… if I’m lucky to be quick enough to get there. (Don’t ask.)
The constant sinus problem that nothing seems to resolve; fatigue that doesn’t disappear even if I sleep for 8 hours and which is nearly debilitating if I try to exercise to ease my joint pain; the blurred vision, eye floaters and discharge; and the little twitch that’s appeared under my left eye? Well, they were on the list, so they must not be important.
If I wasn’t depressed before, I am now.
Driving an hour to Kansas City isn’t an option due to VH’s schedule and the fact that I can’t even grip a steering wheel at this point. Besides, I want a doctor who practices near enough my house that I don’t have to plan a whole day trip just to see him if I, say, get a cold. (But, hey, I won’t be getting the flu this year, right?!!)
I’m furious. I’m looking into finding a new doctor, obviously. And, meanwhile, I am still in pain.
Thursday, November 16th, 2006, 9:21 am | 
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November 16, 2006 at 11:19 am
You’re a smart woman and none of that sounds like anything that can be treated with what you were given. And what’s up with the anti-depressant?! Praying for you to be well soon. Hang in there until you can get a second opinion
November 16, 2006 at 11:41 am
Sounds to me like you might have a medication problem. Are you on any statin? Sometimes this causes muscle pain.
November 16, 2006 at 11:55 am
Nope, no statins. Just this anti-depressant he prescribed. A year or so ago he’d put me on Wellbutrin because he said it would help me stop smoking. It didn’t.
This was right before we’d made the decision to homeschool and I’d been in a funk over what the Big-Eyed Boy was going through at school. I took the Wellbutrin and told him the next time I saw him that the funk was gone. Also told him that I’d stopped taking it because I didn’t think I really needed it — the funk had been situational.
Now he seems convinced that anytime I’m tired or in pain it’s due to depression. Seems like many doctors jump at that diagnosis these days, rather than thinking, “Gee, maybe feeling like crap without their doctor helping them might make them depressed when they otherwise wouldn’t be?”
November 16, 2006 at 12:57 pm
Time for a new doctor. He apparently now thinks that everything you are experiencing is psychosomatic. What a wanker.
Anti-depressants do NOT work unless you need them! That would be if your primary problem was depression. It’s not. You have a physical problem. Many times physical problems will most certainly cause you to feel depressed – especially if the freakin’ doctor tells you it’s all in your head (even when you display physical symptoms).
SarahK at Mountaineer Musings would certainly be in your corner – she’s going through nearly the same thing right now. She finally found a neurologist who will actually listen to her.
I’m sorry you’re having so much trouble. Hang in there and keep after it until someone listens to you.
BTW – if the anti-depressants don’t work – don’t take them. It screws up your body chemistry. I’m just sayin’…
November 16, 2006 at 2:21 pm
I agree with Theresa’s diagnosis of your doctor: He’s a wanker. Time to find another one.
I don’t have much faith in the AMA in general. My best friend had a swarm of odd symptoms and did not figure out until visiting a naturalist that his mercury levels were sky high.
Good luck. :/
November 16, 2006 at 3:19 pm
I would suggest you see a rheumatologist, a neurologist, and an allergist, in that order. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you move about a year ago to where you’re currently living?
November 16, 2006 at 3:24 pm
Right now I’m planning to wait for those blood test results to come in, then I’m going to pick them up and ask for a referral for a second opinion regardless of how they come out.
Meanwhile, I took the anti-depressant he prescribed in the hope perhaps he was smarter than I gave him credit for.
Now, in addition to pain and swelling, I can add nausea and a headache to the list of things bothering me today.
But to answer your question, I lived about 45 minutes from here for nearly 20 years before we moved to Hawaii.
November 16, 2006 at 3:59 pm
While you’re at it, get tested for mono. Yeah. we CAN pick it up as adults.
November 16, 2006 at 4:11 pm
Leaving aside some reflections which are pure inside-doctor-geekery:
1) Never let a patient go a month without hearing about results. If it was important enough to *be an acute complaint*, it’s important enough to act on in a timely fashion.
2) Never let the diagnosis of depression pass your lips as a PRIMARY diagnosis when there are clear-cut, objective, organic symptoms.
If your doctor fails either, then at the very least, a trip to the back of the woodshed seems fittin’. Followed by seeking second opinions.
Of course, what do *I* know? I am only the ER schmuck who ends up seeing tons of patients whose primary docs failed #1 and/or #2. (Why the ER is a good place to find counsel… well, it still staggers me.)
November 16, 2006 at 4:55 pm
New Doctor needed.
November 16, 2006 at 5:54 pm
I did some more research this afternoon on the anti-depressant my doctor prescribed, Cymbalta. Turns out, it’s been FDA approved not merely for treating depression, but also as an anti-neuralic. (Meaning that it might help with the pain.)
Some clinical trials also indicate its effectiveness for patients with fibromyalgia and others indicate that it helps with SUI. So, although I have manifested symptoms similar to both conditions (the actual cause of which we have yet to figure out), it’s possible this pill might alleviate some of the problems, at least temporarily while we figure out the true cause.
Which is not to say that my doctor isn’t an idiot. A smart physician would’ve explained that this was why he wrote the prescription, rather than letting someone he believes to be depressive walk out under the impression their doctor thought it was all in their head.
I’d like my last 24 hours back now, thank you.
November 16, 2006 at 6:29 pm
Well you need the antidepressant so you don’t get depressed over the stupid advice he gave you. What a nitwit!
November 16, 2006 at 8:36 pm
As your symptoms appear to be so significant (I know, its probably an understatement) have you considered just going to an ER, digging your heels in and tenaciously insisting on a more comprehensive exam? Given the direct rational statement of DeDoc above, I would think there you might at least get a proactive doctor instead of a dismissive idiot. Some things are worth making noise over.
November 16, 2006 at 10:16 pm
On the smoking note, Wellbutrin didn’t work for me either. What did work (and it surprised the heck out of me) was laser acupuncture. Totally amazing. My appt was at 2 back on April 24th. I smoked right up to that appt time. I had about 5 left in the pack in my pocket when I went in. Halfway through I gave the tech the pack and the lighter for her to trash. I have not had a cigarette since. There have been no cravings. You’ll think about having one, or wanting one and the desire goes away right away. I’ve even dreamed about smoking and in the dreams I want one but still don’t have one (even in dreams). It’s pricy but covered under health savings/reimbursement accounts. With the current price of cigarettes and the number I was smoking, I figured two months of not smoking and the treatment was paid for. Everything since then is money back in my pocket (or, in our case, into our retirement fund). End commercial for laser acupunture!
November 17, 2006 at 3:49 am
Why is it taking a month for blood test results? Are they outsourcing the vials to India? Also, nothing says you can’t use a “real” doctor for real pain, and a local person for the sniffles.
Good luck– nobody should be feeling this bad, this long, without somebody, especially somebody getting PAID, caring about it!
November 17, 2006 at 5:51 am
Have you been tested for Lyme Disease? My husband has it and had all the symptoms you describe. For months. Finally an orthopedic specialist thought of Lyme, tested his knee fluid (it had swollen up like a balloon) and it tested positive. Now on the proper medication, he is recovering, slowly.
I hope it all clear up for you soon – the symptoms and the diagnosis.
November 17, 2006 at 12:02 pm
I haven’t been tested for that yet, Dana, but I’ll ask at my next appointment. The nurse just called to say my blood work’s in and everything’s “normal.”
So the doctor wants me to continue on the Cymbalta. It makes me queasy as all get out, but hopefully that’ll improve.
November 17, 2006 at 2:20 pm
Getting off Cymbalta was a horrible experience for my ex wife, she kept saying she had brain flashes, or sparks. It took her 6 months to get off of it.
November 17, 2006 at 2:51 pm
Kate – try varying the time of day you’re taking it. If you normally take it in the morning, try it just before you go to bed, and/or vice versa. My wife takes Cymbalta, and that’s worked much better for her.
November 17, 2006 at 2:53 pm
I can take it at night? When he’d put me on Wellbutrin to stop smoking, he’d said it might interfere with sleep. I figured Cymbalta might, too.
November 17, 2006 at 4:20 pm
ARG! Tried to leave a comment last night and for some reason everything came to a screeching halt.
After vast experience with trying meds for my migraines, may I suggest you try the Cymbalta for 3 weeks max. If you see no change at all, then it’s a good bet it’s not going to work and you can stop or do the gradual decrease in dose depending on how you’re starting it.
Well, that and if the stuff simply doesn’t agree with your system. Always remember, it’s supposed to make things better – if it helps the joints but you’re sick as a dog, then what’s the point.
As for the ER – if DeDoc was the doctor – I’d say it would be a good thing *grin* but after last year’s debacle, I’m not so sure… Do you have any local Walk-in Treatment Centers near you? They are generally located away from hospitals, but are affiliated with them. They are like an ER for the “non-lifethreatening” issues. The service is generally much faster and I’ve had very good luck with them over the years.
November 17, 2006 at 7:41 pm
You been taking Tamiflu?
November 17, 2006 at 7:51 pm
No, why do you ask?
November 17, 2006 at 8:30 pm
Was just reading that it causes confusion. Probably was only funny in my head… which would explain why all those voices started laughing.
November 17, 2006 at 7:37 pm
Look on the bright side. You could live in Canada (where the wait is a month long on a _good_ day).
November 17, 2006 at 7:38 pm
*grmbl mbl*cantevenspellmyownname*grmbl*
November 18, 2006 at 11:32 am
’twas a joke. At least it gave me a chance to correct my URL. (That would be ‘duh’ twice…)
November 18, 2006 at 12:04 pm
But evidently, not your spelling.
November 18, 2006 at 3:46 pm
I know not this “spelling” of which you speak.
November 19, 2006 at 10:54 pm
Venomous
Hope you’re feeling better, but after reading your post I’m not!