http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10188 About six weeks ago I started having sharp pain in my right side. Like most moms, I was busy and blew it off. When the pain turned into vomiting, turned into body aches and me in bed however, I hustled to the Dr. They ran blood tests, pee tests, and took a CT scan. Nothing really came back with answers. They told me to rest (hah!), drink lots of water and take pain pills (can I get my co-pay back?) Fast forward to today and I still am having daily pain and have a GI appointment on Tuesday that scares me. I’ve heard too many stories from friends and families about the “mad scientist” style tests GI’s do and am seriously weighing if the pain is “that bad.”   Here’s my question. Why do we pay billions into health care when we as patients end up self-diagnosing in the end? I was the one who “discovered” my son had Autism, I was the one who told my Dr. I wanted my thyroid checked and I didn’t think it was “depression” (I was right on both accounts.) Now, I’ve been telling my Dr. that I’m suspecting the pain is being caused by my change in thyroid medication (the dose got upped right before this started.) It just seems like you’re trying to run in a pool of jello. I’m just so MAD! And tired of waiting! And tired of it hurting! And… well… tired! I’m tired of doing it ALL, all the time! I want someone to take care of me for a change. Apparently, that’s just too much to ask of my Dr (who I honestly do feel is a good Dr. It’s just the system that’s flawed.) I’m tired of thinking “oh well, at least I HAVE insurance. At least I’m seeing the GI (who tried to make me wait 2 months to get in.)” Why is crappy, “good enough?” If I’m still in pain and have no answers, why is that ok?   -pant- -pant- Ok… I’m feeling better now. Thanks for letting me rant a little. I’m sure you ALL have your own medical mishap stories. How about a share to cheer me up? About six weeks ago I started having sharp pain in my right side. Like most moms, I was busy and blew it off. When the pain turned into vomiting, turned into body aches and me in bed however, I hustled to the Dr. They ran blood tests, pee tests, and took a CT scan. Nothing really came back with answers. They told me to rest (hah!), drink lots of water and take pain pills (can I get my co-pay back?) Fast forward to today and I still am having daily pain and have a GI appointment on Tuesday that scares me. I’ve heard too many stories from friends and families about the “mad scientist” style tests GI’s do and am seriously weighing if the pain is “that bad.”   Here’s my question. Why do we pay billions into health care when we as patients end up self-diagnosing in the end? I was the one who “discovered” my son had Autism, I was the one who told my Dr. I wanted my thyroid checked and I didn’t think it was “depression” (I was right on both accounts.) Now, I’ve been telling my Dr. that I’m suspecting the pain is being caused by my change in thyroid medication (the dose got upped right before this started.) It just seems like you’re trying to run in a pool of jello. I’m just so MAD! And tired of waiting! And tired of it hurting! And… well… tired! I’m tired of doing it ALL, all the time! I want someone to take care of me for a change. Apparently, that’s just too much to ask of my Dr (who I honestly do feel is a good Dr. It’s just the system that’s flawed.) I’m tired of thinking “oh well, at least I HAVE insurance. At least I’m seeing the GI (who tried to make me wait 2 months to get in.)” Why is crappy, “good enough?” If I’m still in pain and have no answers, why is that ok?   -pant- -pant- Ok… I’m feeling better now. Thanks for letting me rant a little. I’m sure you ALL have your own medical mishap stories. How about a share to cheer me up? en-us This sounds painfully familiar - no pun intended. We've put my little boy through uncomfortable procedures for phantom tummy pains that he's been having for months. Now that the procedures are done he still has the pains plus he's on a laxative every day which makes me more than a little concerned. It's amazing that we have to spend the money and the time, only to go back to guessing for ourselves what the problem might be. Another health issue he has came to light thru this, and now we are waiting 3 months to get in to see a specialist for it. Albeit it's not an emergency, but it's uncomfortable not knowing for so long and wondering if this is somehow connected to the tummy pain - after all - our body is one interconnected system - if something is "off" it can throw off the whole thing. I'm sorry that you're not feeling well, and that you're so frustrated. Hopefully they will at least rule out anything serious and if no diagnosis is made, maybe you can try some more holistic alternative therapies. Good luck. Keep us posted. Lori http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10188/#c_84627 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10188/#c_84627 This sounds painfully familiar - no pun intended. We've put my little boy through uncomfortable procedures for phantom tummy pains that he's been having for months. Now that the procedures are done he still has the pains plus he's on a laxative every day which makes me more than a little concerned. It's amazing that we have to spend the money and the time, only to go back to guessing for ourselves what the problem might be. Another health issue he has came to light thru this, and now we are waiting 3 months to get in to see a specialist for it. Albeit it's not an emergency, but it's uncomfortable not knowing for so long and wondering if this is somehow connected to the tummy pain - after all - our body is one interconnected system - if something is "off" it can throw off the whole thing. I'm sorry that you're not feeling well, and that you're so frustrated. Hopefully they will at least rule out anything serious and if no diagnosis is made, maybe you can try some more holistic alternative therapies. Good luck. Keep us posted. Lori I'd much rather go through this myself, than have my child go through it. I'm so sorry Lori! I did try eating more yogurt (probiotics) and other things to see if my diet had anything to do with it. It didn't help. Today my therapist gave me some "visualization" techniques that did actually help with the pain a little. I'm so sorry your son is having to go through all this. Did they rule out Crones and Celiac Disease already? I agree about being concerned regarding the daily laxitives. That would worry me too. Keep us posted and I'll do the same. http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10188/#c_84628 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10188/#c_84628 I'd much rather go through this myself, than have my child go through it. I'm so sorry Lori! I did try eating more yogurt (probiotics) and other things to see if my diet had anything to do with it. It didn't help. Today my therapist gave me some "visualization" techniques that did actually help with the pain a little. I'm so sorry your son is having to go through all this. Did they rule out Crones and Celiac Disease already? I agree about being concerned regarding the daily laxitives. That would worry me too. Keep us posted and I'll do the same. It's so frustrating to be in pain and seeing no solution. I'm sorry that you have been so uncomfortable lately. I hope for a resolution soon for you. :( http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10188/#c_84629 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10188/#c_84629 It's so frustrating to be in pain and seeing no solution. I'm sorry that you have been so uncomfortable lately. I hope for a resolution soon for you. :( Thanks hmoeckli. I'm hoping the GI will have some answers via non-invasive measures! http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10188/#c_84630 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10188/#c_84630 Thanks hmoeckli. I'm hoping the GI will have some answers via non-invasive measures! Ouch!  Poor thing.  Did they rule out gallbladder problems yet? http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10188/#c_84631 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10188/#c_84631 Ouch!  Poor thing.  Did they rule out gallbladder problems yet? Since I had it taken out 10 years ago, I'm pretty sure that's not it! Hahaha. The symptoms are pretty similar though, so you're right to think that. http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10188/#c_84632 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/10188/#c_84632 Since I had it taken out 10 years ago, I'm pretty sure that's not it! Hahaha. The symptoms are pretty similar though, so you're right to think that.