Scared and Frustrated

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
Scared and Frustrated
10
Tue, 04-26-2005 - 11:46am

I'm having some really bad pain on my lower left side and I don't know which dr. to turn to at this point. My internist is a ditz and can't get past "this must be diverticulosis" (CT scan didn't show anything) and my gyn doesn't believe it's an ovary problem (he examined me; plus CT scan didn't show any cyst). I don't know who to turn to at this point -- another internist? a gastro specialist? Assuming my insurance allows it, can you go directly to a gastroenterologist without a referral? Has anyone out there done this?

I'd appreciate any advice. I need help!

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-28-2004
Tue, 04-26-2005 - 6:10pm
Hi, my mom has diverticulosis and when she has a flair up her dr told her it does not show up on CT scan unless it is a very severe case. he puts her on antibiotics when she gets the pain in bottom left and it goes away, depending on your insurance whether you can go to a specialist without a referrel. i have blue cross blue shield and i can now go to anyone without a referrel. hope you are feeling better and find relief soon.
take care
Donna K
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Tue, 04-26-2005 - 7:16pm

I would go to the ER and have some blood work DONE, this is how my hubby found out it was diverticulitis..


Then they will put you on some antibotics

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
Wed, 04-27-2005 - 1:23pm

Thanks for the good advice. I was just at my ditzy dr's this morning because of pretty intense pain I had all night. She scheduled a colonoscopy and pelvic ultrasound -- but no blood test! She did agree that diverticulii could be lurking in there somewhere, but didn't show up on the CT scan. I must say, however, the pain is there regardless of what I eat -- whether baby bland (herb tea, no-seed toast and honey; noodles in organic chicken broth) or normal healthy (I'm an EXTREMELY health-conscious high-fiber person).

But, the dr. did say, curiously I thought, that I should go to the ER if the pain got really bad because they have all the right tests at their disposal. Doesn't she?

Thanks again, Sig

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Thu, 04-28-2005 - 3:50pm

Sig,

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Sat, 04-30-2005 - 6:07pm

Hey Sig,


You need to see a GI specialist.

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
Mon, 05-02-2005 - 12:26pm

Lynn, thanks for your thoughtful response. I appreciate your kindness and any "rules of the road" you can give me regarding the colonoscopy prep. Mine will probably be early next week. I already have prescriptions for the prep juice and one for two tablets of something else (I don't have the name of it with me).

Right now, it seems I could take inventory hour by hour as to my GI symptoms, ranging from lower left pain to sharp pains on the right and left side of my upper stomach, just under the breasts (which could be costochondritis -- an arthritic condition I've been diagnosed with in the past) AND a dull ache and fullness feeling in the upper center of my stomach after I eat almost anything -- dairy, unsat fats, meat, rice, veggies, etc. I've had a gall bladder ultrasound that showed everything to be fine, so I don't know what's going on there. ANY THOUGHTS? Oh, and I have lots of gas pains (but no bloating) too.

Yes, I know I need to see a GI, but I first want to nail down a decent internist whom I can trust and communicate with. My current one is a temporary go-to whom I got stuck with when my long-time dr. retired. She's a scatterbrained, uncommunicative, not very bright ditz. And she's contributing to my intense worry and stress about all this.

I'M VERY SCARED ABOUT ALL THIS -- just like another contributor on this board today -- I'm worried this all adds up to ovarian cancer. I am having a pelvic ultrasound tomorrow.

ONE MORE QUESTION: What would blood work actually show other than signs of infection? I don't think there's a specific test for divertic and I understand the one for ovarian cancer is riddled with false positives and false negatives.

Thank you!!! Sig

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Mon, 05-02-2005 - 6:31pm
this is what Lynn has made up on her other board..





The colonoscopy is a very versatile and useful procedure that is used for many purposes including examining for cancer, locating and excising polyps and securing biopsies that can be later examined for CD or UC. In the past, it was done on patients who were fully awake but less sadistic methods are used now, leaving most patients to ask if the procedure has started when it is already done.


thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Mon, 05-02-2005 - 9:30pm

Thanks Wren!!


The prep is the worst part of the whole procedure.

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
Tue, 05-03-2005 - 10:38am

Thank you (and Lynn) SO much for these thorough -- even fascinating -- guidelines. Colonoscopy: What an Adventure!

Sig

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Tue, 05-03-2005 - 5:53pm

2 things

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B