Lauri's trip to the doctor

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Well, Lauri went to the rheumatologist today. She chickened out of insisting that he do something more or refer her to Johns Hopkins or Duke or something but she did say she can't continue like this. Lauri did tell the doctor that lately she has had some numbness in her hands and feet, she has had trouble swallowing, she has been bruising badly for no reason (she already has a history with a blood disorder similar to hemophilia), and she has been in a lot of pain. The doctor put her on paxil two months ago to help her frame of mind during all this and upped that dosage this time, and he prescribed propox for the pain, and amitriptyline to help her sleep. She even asked the dr. if any of these was a blood thinner because her blood is already thin.

I just got back from picking up the prescriptions, and Lauri was reading the information sheets on the drugs. First, the amitriptyline is a sedative and the propox sheet cautions against being taken with sedatives. The biggie, though, is the paxil. Not only does it say to tell the doctor if you have muscle pains, trouble swallowing, or tingling or numbness of the hands and feet, but it also says that paxil should not be taken with an antidepressant and even names amitriptylene.

She walks into the doctor's office and tells him she is experiencing some of the MOST SEVERE side effects of paxil, and what does he do??? He INCREASES the dosage!!! She didn't know they were the most severe, but shouldn't the doctor????

Forget MeanLaureen .... I'm ready to go down there and ask this quack if he knows a good proctologist because he's about to have a lightsaber shoved up his all-star sports!!!

Not only that, but he thinks her appendix may be infected. They're running blood work on that right now, so we're waiting to hear about that.

Now she has a whole bag full of these drugs and doesn't know what to do.

Someone tell me exactly why I shouldn't go down to that doctor's office and have a word with him?

 

[karinmac]

Matthew,
Based on the experience of people where I work. If it feels wrong... SAY SOMETHING!!!
Get a second and third opinion!

Sending love and pixie dust to Lauri!

 

[perndwler]

Matt, not only SHOULD you have a word with that doctor, it's time Lauri changed doctors all together! She doesn't need to be this guys guinea pig, with him playing around with her drugs!

 

[Figgy]

I would Matt that is ridiculous.

figgy

 

[3kids4me]

She needs to find a new doctor.

I'm not sure what her main condition is, but if you would like to e-mail me or pm me I will try to help locate the best one for her. No one in chronic pain deserves a sh**head for a doctor (sorry about the language, but this brings out the worst in me!). We had been through the ringer on doctors here before my daughter was diagnosed properly so I know what you're going through. And you know what? Bedside manner is part of what makes a doctor good. So, don't believe any of that bulldorky about some great doctor who intimidates people.

Please let me know if I can help in any way.

 

[Flitter]

I agree with you completely. Definately go into the Doctor with her. Don't wait until her "next" appointment. Make one NOW.
Definately check into another Doctor and perhaps John Hopkins or Mayo isn't such a bad idea after all.

 

[holycow]

I too would put in a call to this Dr. and then if you don't get a satisfactory answer I would start looking for a new one!...I hope Lauri starts feeling better quickly!

PS...now i don't want to read about you in the paper tomorrow that a man wielding a light saber used it at the Dr. office! (sorry I couldn't resist)
Please know I will be sending good thoughts, prayers and what ever else you need your way right now!

Holycow
Lisa

 

[GotAnyPins]

Is that when the drug rep comes into the office, and tells them just what their drug will fix, they often neglect to highlight the side effects...especially some of the new drugs....w/all of the special problems that lauri has, they should know about these drugs they are giving her frontwards, and backwards....

She really needs another opinion...I have a Dr friend from your area..I will ask him if he knows anyone up there..

She is in our prayers...and when you send that guy to the proctologist...don't forget to ask for the largest scope..

Donna

 

[cathy1140]

Matt

I'm a medical sonographer and I've come accross many people that are being diagnosed wrong. Appendix is rare for her age and a simple blood test can rule that out. blood count is usually high (White) 22,000.

I will definitely change doctors. He seems like he just adding meds to her instead of finding the problem. All that medication would knock anyone out. John Hopkins is a great research Hospital and they special in almost every known aliment. Please let her go to another Doctor for another consult.

I never take one doctors advise believe me. I've been through a terrible spell for almost 20 years and finally I found a doctor that was able to cure me. But it took all those years for someone to find out what I had and I never gave up. Just keep going to doctors until I found some that listen to me.

Hope lauri feels better and she in my prayers.


Also the web is a great source of information Doctors can be looked up according to specialties.


Cathy

 

[Mickey7811]

Hey Lauri,

I will try this one more time.

I tried to PM you today and your box was full and then I tried to post this afternon and the boards were busy.

I work for a doctor who is a professor at Hopkins so I will ask him for some names for you tomorrow and let you know.


You are having neurological symthoms there too - the numbness - you need to go and have someone else check you out - and all that medicine - sometimes that makes thing worse.

I think Matt is right - the light saber thing is a good idea.

Darlene

 

[KathiWithAnI]

Hey Matt
Rick says he will be Qui-Gon Pinn ( he really didn't die in Episode I) and go with you to see this doctor person.
Just tell him where and when!

Sincerely,
Qui-Gon's wife ( you didn't know he was married either did you! )

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

Looks like a case of PolyPharmacy to me. Yes, there is such a thing and it's dangerous!!

Get a pharmaceutical consult on all those drugs and DEFINITELY get a second opinion. That doc sounds like he is one short of a six pack!!

~Nancy~

 

[BeautyLLM]

LIke I said in chat last night..please go for a second opinion. If there are any doctors reading this, don't get too offended, but doctors are NOT gods. They make mistakes, they mis- diagonose and mistreat patients! I am not saying that they are all idiots, but they are not all geniuses either. If nothing else, you have lost confidence in this person haven't you? It's time for someone new....

 

[3kids4me]

I think the entire Boa Brigade should go with her to the next appointment...fully decked out!

Oh wait...then they might up her Paxil....

 

[suzanneb]

and so are all the folks commenting...I'm soooo glad Darlene KNOWS some docs at Hopkins...that's a super start....I agree that you, Matthew, should show your awareness of all the contraindications of ALL the drugs the doc put her on, and go there INFORMED and ASSERTIVE...the light sabre could be used later....
Hopkins here y'all come...hopefully SOOONNNNN...

 

[MeanLaureen]

Sharon.. I was going to stay away from this thread because of how upset I am over the whole mess but I just had to tell you..

When I read your reply I busted out laughing. I came close to having tea shoot out my nose (yeah.. I know.. gross )

Thanks for the laugh this morning

 

[3kids4me]

Glad I could help in some small way! I know that, for Rachel, humor (and pins!) are great medicine.

For adults, making fun of doctors behind their backs is good too....

 

[atlnewf]

Ha! If not the boa brigade, how about as many pin traders in the area with full lanyards and threaten to turn him INTO a lanyard if he doesn't cooperate..

Good luck and pixie dust your way, Lauri. I'd take support with me next time I confronted a doctor like that just to make sure I wasn't bullied or otherwise made to back down. I had a disagreement with my son's doctor about a vaccine and we changed doctors just after.

Ashley

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

I started my career in health care....

I continue my life receiving health care....

So here's my fairly educated opinion.

Lauri (& Matt),

<b>YOU NEED A NEW DOCTOR!</B>

Being "tops" in his field, often just means he's been around too long, so everyone thinks he must know a lot of stuff, but hey don't realize that he's so old he forgot half of whatever he once knew, and he's too impressed with his own reputation to open up a journal or do an on-line search and actually learn something new that might help one of his patients.

Not knowing your drugs' interactions is a <b>red flag</b> to me. And anyone who hands out Paxil so you "feel better" about your medical condition should be light-sabred and then some.

By the way, did you know that a fully loaded lanyard makes a really dangerous bolo?

If you want some referrals in the Washington, DC area -- just 90 minutes up the road from Richmond -- please let me know. You can't be seen at NIH without a referral, but I think the local docs here stay very current on what NIH is doing, and know who to call to figure out if you're a good candidate for a current study, and how to get you in.

Please let me know if I can help in any way.

In the meantime . . . I'm going to put some heavier, pointier pins on my lanyard....just in case.

 

[JudithM]

Wow! I am sorry to hear all this not so good news for you two. Gee, both the doctor & the pharmacist did not catch the drug interactions. Do whatever you need to do - my thoughts & prayers are with you both.