I, the patient, who didn't know what I was talking about!
Started with epigastric pain (severe). Was at work...fellow nurses wheeled me down to ER. Doc ruled out cardiac. I said I thought it was my gallbladder. Per physician, no couldn't be that, the pain was in the wrong place. Sent me for f/u to family doc. I said I thought it might be my gallbladder. Per physician, no no, couldn't be that. Pain in the wrong place. I asked for a referral to gastro. Told doc I think it is my gallbladder. Per physician, oh no, couldn't be the gallbladder. Pain in the wrong place. Scoped me and said I had esophagitis and reflux.
2 weeks later (after several bouts of severe pain) I had to go the ER again. GUESS WHAT! It was my gallbladder! The surgeon said it was shredded from the stones and fluid was dripping into my abdomen!
Specializes in OB, Telephone Triage, Chart Review/Code.
Yea, that's the point I was getting across. Doctors don't listen. And if they don't listen to us, think of all of their other patients who are going through this w/o the knowledge that we have! It's a shame. But I guess I can't put all of the blame on physicians. The insurance companies have tied their hands behind their backs. I guess the insurance companies would rather pay for tragedies. Go figure....
Something similar happened to my mum when we were on vacation and she came down with severe abdominal pain, nausea, etc. It took the ER 15 hours, a battery of tests and two docs to finally "decide" that it was appendicitis and even then, the surgeon didn't believe her. Told her before she was wheeled into surgery that if it wasn't her appendicitis he was going to be pissed because they believed she was making it all up.
They ruled out gall bladder by doing one of the tests where you drink the "dye". can't remember what it's called. At one point the even told me after a sonogram that she had numerous tumors all throughout her abdomin and I had to get her to an oncologist in Pittsburgh immediately. They originally ruled out appendicitis many times because the pain "wasn't localized and piercing" it was more of a constant ache.
Well, low and behold it was appendicits and she didn't have any tumors! Unfortunatley, she was in a lot of pain for about 24 hours because they would not believe her.
You'll feel MUCH better now that it's out. I had pain in the wrong place for a year, I hurt in my back in the left just below my scapula. No stones, mine just died. Had 8% function on the HIDA scan but normal U/S. You're right, they don't listen. My surgeon said it took him 30 minutes to fish it out of my navel, it was falling apart as he pulled it. GROSS!!
LilgirlRN , I hate that you had to suffer so long. Any time someone has left back pain the way you did needs to have thier dr explore further. It is not uncommon AT ALL for problems in the abd to be refered to the left scapula area. I have found that many drs don't realize this. glad you are better.
My doc says, you never do anything right, meaning that I don't ever have "normal symptoms" for whatever is ailing me. I say listen to what I'm telling you cause I KNOW my body and 9/10 times I can diagnose myself!! Most nurses CAN!!
I have now gotten a family practice MD that actually listens. Had to shop around for a while thou. did go thru some real wieners. Think Minor Deity is a required course to become a doctor.
It is the same for pediatricians. When my daughter was about 6, she had a bad sore throat and was visibly ill, but the doc says she has a viral throat infection, I dont think its strep. Well, I know my kid, and I insist on a throat swab and a quick strep test....guess what ...its strep. Office staff was smiling at my expression of triumph as we left with our amoxicillin scrip.
webbiedebbie
632 Posts
Yea, that's the point I was getting across. Doctors don't listen. And if they don't listen to us, think of all of their other patients who are going through this w/o the knowledge that we have! It's a shame. But I guess I can't put all of the blame on physicians. The insurance companies have tied their hands behind their backs. I guess the insurance companies would rather pay for tragedies. Go figure....