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Doctors office grumble
So, I got a call from my doctor's office's nurse with the results of my cat scan. Here's kind of how it went:
"The results show that you have gall stones, and _____ from our office will be calling you to set up an appointment with a general surgeon so you can figure things out."
"uh.... gall stones? So, there's no cyst? Or hernia? Nope, gall stones. So, ____ will call you to set that appointment, okay?"
"Um... okay..."
"Okay thanks, bye."
What?! I know the strain on the medical "system", but I feel that if there's a result that was never a possibility in the patient's mind (if it wasn't brought up with the doctor) that maybe the nurse should have more info. Or that a doctor would call.
Also? I hate that specific nurse. She's made me angry nearly every time I've talked to her.
The scheduler called and left a message saying, "I'm wondering if you want me to set up an appointment. There's nothing in the notes here instructing me if you should or not." GRRRRR... so, I called her back and asked for a phone call from my doctor so she can talk to me about this.
And... so, gall stones. Talk to me about your experiences.
Re: Doctors office grumble
I see in my fury, I didn't even quote the conversation the right way above. You can tell, I blended my lines and hers.
Yeah, the doc will hear about this. And so, still no explaination for the pain in the lower left pelvic area (gall bladder is upper right of abdomen). Sigh.
Doctors hate the internet because patients get freaked out (and I'm not freaked out about stones), yet they can't take the time to really talk with a patient.
How frustrating. A good "bedside manner" extends beyond the Dr. and should be something that all members of the healthcare industry works on developing.
I have no experience with gallstones so all I can say is I hope that you can get a better explanation from the doctor. Positive thoughts for relief for you soon.
Wow, that is not cool. I think that the doctor should call with test results like that. Is this the same doctor's office that we've talked about before? If so, I have had mixed results with nurses there too.
I'm sorry you're going through this. I hope you get some answers and lots more information soon. And most importantly that you feel better soon!
My mom had her gallbladder removed some 5-10 years ago. Des&MollyJones is going to be your expert on this matter though. She just went through this not long ago.
MIL had her gallbladder removed laparoscopically years ago. NBD after that.
Could the lower ab pain be what's known (I think) as "referred pain"? Some organs, when inflamed, don't actually hurt *at* that spot--the pain is referred to another location. My college roomie had spleen (or kidney, I forget) issues, and her neck/shoulders would hurt all the time.
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That's a good thought. I have experienced this as well.
Your experience with nurses sounds like mine! Mine were all completely worthless assholios. Everyone I dealt with, from nurses, to my doctor, to the ER doctors, to the U/S techs to everyone in between were clueless and unhelpful. On top of all the physical pain, it was a huge headache dealing with everyone.
I had pain all over, so it's very possible that the lower abdominal pain could be related to the gall stones.
I really only had <a lot> of pain during an attack. There was a dull, numb, annoying-but-not-painful pain during the downtime of the attacks.
Ut oh. Sounds like many of my experiences with that office (assuming we still go to the same place). I think that kind of diagnosis definitely warrants a phone call from the doctor, espicially since the outcome is to have surgery. Kind of a big deal here! I'd be frustrated and upset too! That's not a very comforting way to find out.
I have no experienece with gall stones, but had a friend get them. This is what she said:
Yes, I had them. Twice I had an ?attack?. I would get a terrible (and beyond terrible!!!) pain in my abdomen and get sick. I?d throw up during this too. Eventually the pain would subside some but I would still be sore all day. Honestly, between kidney stones and kids, the gall stones were by far the worst pain I?ve ever had. They were discovered b/c I was having stomach aches every time I?d eat, so I went to a stomach doc. They did an ultrasound and found the gall stones. I don?t think the gall stones were what were making me sick after eating, but they were the reason for the severe pain and vomiting.
Then I asked about treatment, and she said:
For me, they took my gall bladder out. IDK if they treat it any other way.
Not sure if this is helpful, but maybe.
GRSP - Have you had any attacks? Mild or severe? My attacks started out really mild - I would usually wake up at night with a stomach ache and then take some tums and go back to bed (I didn't realized it at the time, but the tums did nothing for the pain). Then they progressed to being so severe I ended up in the ER, twice.
I'm just curious because I am pretty sure if you aren't having any pain from the stones, they won't do surgery. They will usually work with you on a diet that will help prevent attacks.
My surgeon said a lot of people have gall stones in their gall bladders, but they only get removed if there is pain involved.
Thanks everyone.
I haven't had anything that I would call an attack. I had dull pain for a week that would ramp up to a sharp shooting pain for a minute or two, and then it'd go back down to dull. On a pain scale, I'd say from a 1 to a 6 and then back down to one.
I did some research last night - because I have NO info from a medical professional - and it turns out that a lot of people (bordering on most) have gall stones. And that they're most often found when doing some looking for something else, like my situation.
I asked the nurse yesterday, "so, I'll be seeing a surgeon? Does that mean surgery?!" She kind of chuckled (jerk) and said that's not all they do.
That pain elsewhere idea is interesting. Hmmm. Something to talk to my Doc about when she calls. And yes, Kasa and KerCo, same doc. I really love her, I just wish I could move her out of that system.
Ok, now I want to know the nurse! There is one nurse I saw there for my entire pregnancy that I really liked, I hope it's not her. The chuckling thing doesn't sound like her though.
There is a chick that used to work at the check out/scheduling desk (now they all sit up front) that drives MH absolutely nuts. He thinks she's so snooty.
I wish that the doc would start her own practice and ditch about half of her patient load, but keep all of us, of course. :-) You know who is a great back-up for our doc is Dr. B- - -ler. I had to see him a few times during my pregnancy and right after I had Violet b/c our doc was on vacation or unavailable. I really liked him. I thought he was just as wonderful as our doc, but I just can't get myself to go to a male doc for OB/GYN stuff.