Guest guest Posted April 15, 2003 Report Share Posted April 15, 2003 In a message dated 4/15/03 6:37:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time, hhessgriffeth@... writes: > Sounds like you are making good progress heidi. I wish continuing good luck and successful treatment. Best Wishes, Poncho - GA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2003 Report Share Posted April 15, 2003 Hi y'all, As many of you know, as a result of what I feel was irreversible mismangement by my former gastroenterologist, which lead to my emergency diabetic ketoacidosis last month, I have been in search of a new gastroenterologist for my local health care. After discovering in a CT-scan three weeks ago (ordered by my endo, not my GI) that my pseudocysts had suddenly more than doubled in size after many months of reduction, it's been a race against time to find a new physician quickly enough to take care of them. I just returned from my first appointment with the new GI. He's in Savannah, and an hour's drive away. So is his hospital. These are the only drawbacks to this arrangement, especially if there should be any emergencies. I have my fingers crossed that there won't be, LOL! This poor doctor wasn't prepared for the medical mess that I am to be dumped on his lap, but he took it all in stride. I hand carried my complete gastro records with me and he could only glance through them, asking me questions as we went. I told him the internist's records and complete hospital records would follow and he promised to spend his weekend " studying up " on my case. He saw the latest CT-scan report and listened to my explanation of what has happened to me in the last 4-5 months and was openly critical, saying that " this shouldn't have happened " . I could tell by the questions he asked and his expression at my answers that he was either in awe or disgust....he just kept shaking his head. As far as the pseudocysts go, he said that if any surgery was involved, he would want me to consult with Dr. Toskes, at University of Florida-Shands. He felt he was the BEST Gastroenterologist who specialized in pancreatic pseudocysts in our region, even better than MUSC. He said that any surgical drainage of pseudocysts was a very delicate, critical procedure and should be handled by the best professional one could get. He reiterated, again, what many physicians have said, that any surgery involving the pancreas was highly specialized and only should be done when other methods had failed. I was impressed by his candor, and how quickly he adapted to suddenly having this complex cp/diabetes patient in his office. I told him about the PAI and that I had researched a lot on my own about pancreatitis and pseudocysts and he asked me to bring in all my internet research for him to look over and review together. He thought the support group was a great aid and asked me several questions about it......I wished I had some cards or brochures to leave with him, but will take them when we can get something put together....(hint, hint). He asked me what my CA-19-9 score was and was amazed that one hadn't been done. I told him that they had done a biopsy two years ago with the fine needle aspiration, which was negative, but he said a CA-19-9 should have been done, too. My other doctor said it wasn't necessary......so who's right? They took blood, ouch, not without sticking me twice and getting nothing but dribbles.....it will just be another hematoma to add to my collection! He ordered that I have an ultrasound to check the current status of the pseudocysts a.s.a.p, and that is scheduled for the wee hours of Thursday morning. My hope is that they show no increase in size, (say a prayer for that) and that we can get on with taking care of them! I'm sure I forgot something, the doctor had a 2:00 deadline to meet to go out of town this afternoon and was not expecting such a lengthly appointment, so we had to rush a bit, but I left feeling reassured, and sure hope I was right this time. He wants to see me back first thing next week so we can decide what the next step will need to be. I'll keep you posted. With hope and prayers, Heidi Heidi H. Griffeth South Carolina Southeastern Representative PAI, Intl. Note: All comments or advice is personal opinion only, and should not a substitute for professional medical consultation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2003 Report Share Posted April 15, 2003 Oh Heidi! I am so glad you found a gastro that is on top of things. You certainly deserve to have a gastro who knows what the heck he is doing! Take care Kaye -- In pancreatitis , " hhessgriffeth " <hhessgriffeth@h...> wrote: > Hi y'all, > > As many of you know, as a result of what I feel was irreversible > mismangement by my former gastroenterologist, which lead to > my emergency diabetic ketoacidosis last month, I have been in > search of a new gastroenterologist for my local health care. > > After discovering in a CT-scan three weeks ago (ordered by my > endo, not my GI) that my pseudocysts had suddenly more than > doubled in size after many months of reduction, it's been a race > against time to find a new physician quickly enough to take care > of them. > > I just returned from my first appointment with the new GI. He's in > Savannah, and an hour's drive away. So is his hospital. These > are the only drawbacks to this arrangement, especially if there > should be any emergencies. I have my fingers crossed that > there won't be, LOL! > > This poor doctor wasn't prepared for the medical mess that I am > to be dumped on his lap, but he took it all in stride. I hand > carried my complete gastro records with me and he could only > glance through them, asking me questions as we went. I told > him the internist's records and complete hospital records would > follow and he promised to spend his weekend " studying up " on > my case. He saw the latest CT-scan report and listened to my > explanation of what has happened to me in the last 4-5 months > and was openly critical, saying that " this shouldn't have > happened " . I could tell by the questions he asked and his > expression at my answers that he was either in awe or > disgust....he just kept shaking his head. > > As far as the pseudocysts go, he said that if any surgery was > involved, he would want me to consult with Dr. Toskes, at > University of Florida-Shands. He felt he was the BEST > Gastroenterologist who specialized in pancreatic pseudocysts in > our region, even better than MUSC. He said that any surgical > drainage of pseudocysts was a very delicate, critical procedure > and should be handled by the best professional one could get. > He reiterated, again, what many physicians have said, that any > surgery involving the pancreas was highly specialized and only > should be done when other methods had failed. > > I was impressed by his candor, and how quickly he adapted to > suddenly having this complex cp/diabetes patient in his office. I > told him about the PAI and that I had researched a lot on my own > about pancreatitis and pseudocysts and he asked me to bring in > all my internet research for him to look over and review together. > He thought the support group was a great aid and asked me > several questions about it......I wished I had some cards or > brochures to leave with him, but will take them when we can get > something put together....(hint, hint). He asked me what my > CA-19-9 score was and was amazed that one hadn't been done. > I told him that they had done a biopsy two years ago with the fine > needle aspiration, which was negative, but he said a CA-19-9 > should have been done, too. My other doctor said it wasn't > necessary......so who's right? They took blood, ouch, not without > sticking me twice and getting nothing but dribbles.....it will just be > another hematoma to add to my collection! He ordered that I > have an ultrasound to check the current status of the > pseudocysts a.s.a.p, and that is scheduled for the wee hours of > Thursday morning. My hope is that they show no increase in > size, (say a prayer for that) and that we can get on with taking > care of them! > > I'm sure I forgot something, the doctor had a 2:00 deadline to > meet to go out of town this afternoon and was not expecting such > a lengthly appointment, so we had to rush a bit, but I left feeling > reassured, and sure hope I was right this time. He wants to see > me back first thing next week so we can decide what the next > step will need to be. I'll keep you posted. > > With hope and prayers, > Heidi > > Heidi H. Griffeth > South Carolina > Southeastern Representative > PAI, Intl. > > Note: All comments or advice is personal opinion only, and > should not a substitute for professional medical consultation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2003 Report Share Posted April 17, 2003 Heidi, it sounds like you have found a really good, caring doctor in your new GI and for sharing such good news with us. It's always nice to hear of the good doctors as well as the bad ones. I hope all works out well for you. Kimber -- Kimber Vallejo, CA hominid2@... Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed physician or health care professional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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