Questions about 2nd Opinions

Good morning Sisters ~ Just a quick question - work won't leave me alone today!

When you see a doctor for a second (or third, or fourth) opinion, how much do you relay to him/her about your previous doctors or test results? I am feeling like I need to see someone, but don't want to return to my internist as I can read "Hypochondriac" all over his face. I am supposed to see him in another 3 months (just saw him last month) to see if anything new has developed.

My right hand started aching so bad on Sunday and it hasn't stopped - even typing and writing are uncomfortable. I am having some shortness of breath which I forgot to mention to my internist - this usually happens when I walk up stairs or from the parking lot into my office (a short distance). I am having more trouble holding my arm up to dry my hair and I have had a few spells of dizziness which only last a few seconds. I am still having all the other symptoms - GI, some headaches, upper/mid back pain, chest tightness, aching ALL over, hair loss, bloating and some coughing. I really feel like I have something wrong, but I don't want the same old doctors scratching their heads and saying call me in 3 months. I know some disorders take years to diagnose, but I am worried I am doing more harm than good by waiting around for THE SYMPTOM to occur.

If I make an appt. with someone else, do I take my test results, etc. to the new doctor or just start over. I really hate the thought of all those awful tests again, but would welcome a few new ones like an MRI - something I have never had and will never get with my present "specialists." I even gave in this morning and took a Celebrex that my internist gave me - so far it hasn't helped at all, but I am getting desperate. I am so tired of hurting.



Lisa

I know what you mean about old records haunting you (I have to explain all the time that I'm not really allergic to all the stuff the allergist I had in the 80's said I was allergic to), but I think if you have a good doctor for your second opinion, it's better to have them than not.

I am very worried about the shortness of breath combined with your other symptoms--it sounds cardiac to my very amateur ear. Do you think you could stand to call your GP with this? If not, do you think it's time to switch GP's? I'm probably paranoid and if so, I hate to inflict it on you. But shortness of breath always deserves serious investigation, IMHO, even if you have to smack (I mean, of course, enourage) the doctor to take it seriously.

Good luck with your dreadful symptoms. I hope you get some help soon! I worry about you.

Thanks Denise! I am thinking about calling a doctor recommended to me in the past to see what he has to think about all this (and beg for that MRI). I know I have autoimmune issues and I tend to blame the shortness of breath on that. I also had a problem with sick building syndrome at work which left me with some asthma issues, but they haven't bothered me in years. I know it isn't asthma. I even went to the ER once after having left arm pain/chest pain at work and they did an EKG, bloodwork, etc. and handed me a Maalox. That was it.

I think I'm just getting frustrated at the whole thing and I guess it's time to look up that doctor's number.

Thanks!

Lisa

P.S. Sitting at work at 11:30 am having weird feelings from the Celebrex. No more of that for me. Nothing like an anxiety attack on top of everything else. I am sensitive to meds. beyond belief. Go figure!

Lisa, I know this is a tricky one. A while ago, before I had my hyst., I went to see 'the' best Endo doc in Toronto for a second opinion. He wouldn't give me one! I was taking Lupron at the time, and it was just about killing me....when I asked him if this is what he would do, he wouldn't answer me. I swear they look out for eachother....like some sort of an MD club (not all docs are like this though). Obviously, these 2nd, 3rd or 4th opinions need to know our history....but sometimes they are quick to blame everything on the Fibro/IBS/Endo/CFS...a big catch-all as you know!

I too have the shortness of breath and pain in my arms. My Fibro doc found out that I have Carpal Tunnel in both arms....and I've just had an MRI done on my head and neck (I also have trouble holding up my arms). He believes in trying to find the cause of the pain....as opposed to just blaming everything on the Fibro ~ how refreshing eh? I just came out and asked for the MRI...and he went for it! Might be worth a shot for you! I've also found it's just the luck of the draw with some Dr's. See how you like him/her on the first couple of appointments....see what kind of action they are going to take. If you feel it is a waste of time...then you know what to do!

I wish I could offer you more ((((Lisa)))) I don't even know if I was able to answer your question If you ever want to chat, please feel free to e-mail me anytime. I just know there are answers out there....and sometime they come from an unexpected source/dr this is why I'm trying to keep an open mind.

Thanks Judy! I know when I wanted a HIDA scan for gallbladder symptoms, I asked my internist for it - and he did it (negative of course!). However, sadly enough, I have really lost all faith in him and he told me last month that he really didn't know how much more he could help me. We are just waiting for some horrid symptom to appear and shout out what is wrong.

It is very frustrating when you feel yourself falling apart and you can't find out why. As I stated before, I know it can take years to diagnose autoimmune problems and a lot of those patients are labeled "hypos" before they are diagnosed. Maybe I can try going to another doctor and asking for help. The doctor recommended is in another town, so that might help. He doesn't go to the same hospitals either, so that is also a plus. I agree that the Fibro/Endo, etc. is a handy catch-all for a lot of us and I flat out told my internist that I considered it a cop-out when they can't figure out what is going on.

Anyway, thanks so much! I am glad you are getting the tests you requested. Maybe I need to take a deep breath and make a call to the new doctor. All I can do is hit a brick wall again and it won't be the first time!

Hugs to all!

Lisa

Hey Lisa, good to hear from ya, sorry you're still having all these symptoms I know how you feel......I know what you mean about the 2nd opinion and how much do you say, my advice at this point would be "as little as possible" let him figure it out on his own......he may call the other dr's anyways.

Just a thought, but some of your symptoms sound like how I get when taking certain med's any chance that it's a reaction to something you're taking?

Having said that if I lift anything these days I have an instant asthma attack (how much sense does that make) so anything is possible

.....hang in there we're all here for ya!! 's!!!

Thanks Gidge! I'm wondering if the shortness of breath and anxiety attack is due to the Celebrex the internist gave me. I took it for the first time this morning around 7 am. If the shortness of breath is still there tomorrow, I'm gonna have to contact someone. This is starting to bother me a little. I can breathe okay, but I'm just very aware of every breath I take. Very strange. No more Celebrex for me. I can't take anything it seems.

I have been having spells of shortness of breath before now, but this has lasted all day now. Anyway, I'm hanging in there. Many 's

Lisa

same thing happened to me when I tried Celebrex prehyst for pain......the dr said it was due to my sulpha allergy , apparently if you are allergic to sulpha you can't tolerate Celebrex, I would contact my pharmacist and see what they say........'s!!!

{{Lisa}},
I have panic attacks that cause chest pain along wth shortness of breath but I do agree you need to have this checked out. I also have Carpal Tunnel and it causes a lot of pain in my hands and arms as well as loss of strength, I would be sure to mention this as well when you get an appt.
Whenever I have had a second opinon I have brought along my tests results and op reports so they could interpret them theirselves and if need be order anymore additional testing, some of those tests I would prefer not to have redone
Good Luck and I hope you are able to find a competent and compassionate Dr who is willing to take the time and get to the bottom of this for you! Please keep us posted...

Lisa,
I tend to agree with Sheri. I would give them as much info as possible. I just went to a new doc today and brought along all my pre-hyst records and whatever I had from current stuff. I also wrote up a brief history of what's been going on. She was very pleased to have all the info. I think it also may help (if the doc is, as Sheri put it, kind and compassionate) that the doc knows what you've been going through and how long you've been searching for answers.

As for the celebrex, I received a flyer in the mail (I've taken it before) that there is a law suit going on about some of the side effects of celebrex. Gastrointestinal problems was one of the things listed. JMHO if you already have gastro problems I would hesitate to take it. Funny though, my GI doc is the one that prescribed it

I'm sending some s and ers