LindsayAs you may remember from my last post, I finally saw my new immunologist last week. This doctor’s profile indicates that she primarily works as a pediatric immunologist, but also accepts adult patients, and according to her profile photo, she is young. I was hoping all of these factors would add up to a kind, compassionate doctor who was open minded.
I was sort of right.
She was nice and pleasant, but she did what, unfortunately, most doctors I’ve been to do – she interrupted me. I’m not talking about a single interruption – I mean constantly. She’d ask a question, I’d get out 3 words, and she’d be on to the next question. Generally, I don’t like being interrupted, but as a lawyer, I’m used to it. However, it especially frustrates me when doctors interrupt me. If doctors actually listened when I was talking, I would have been diagnosed with POTS years earlier because they would have heard my comments about how I felt like my heart was racing every time I would stand.
But, then again, those doctors probably still don’t even know what POTS is.
I don’t usually drone on endlessly at a doctor’s office. I don’t like being there, so I’m a here’s-what-you-need-to-know-now-get-me-the-eff-out-of-here kind of patient. So, doctors, take note: If I’m saying something, it’s relevant. You should be listening.
Because dysautonomia affects almost all body systems (i.e. respiration, circulation, digestion, etc.), I mention my condition to all doctors, even when it seems irrelevant. However, in this case, I’m certain it’s relevant. I don’t yet know how, but it is, either from the medication I’m taking for dysautonomia, or the condition itself.
Anyway, as soon as I arrived the nurse took me in a room for a breathing test because I’ve had issues with shortness of breath. I almost passed out from breathing in the tube, but otherwise it went well. The results showed I don’t have asthma. I suspect my difficulty breathing is a result of dysautonomia, but the doctor was too busy interrupting me to hear this suspicion.
After the asthma test, the nurse placed me in an exam room while I waited for the doctor. I glanced around the room and quickly became nervous about what they were going to do to me.
There were catheters, huge tubs of KY Jelly, and Dr. Kashefi’s supplies everywhere. I was somewhat worried they were going to try to give me a vasectomy before I left.
After a short conversation with the doctor, the nurse came back to administer my allergy skin test. The doctor had reviewed the results of my previous allergy test that I brought with and decided we could do the short version. In addition to the controls, the nurse pricked me six times with different allergens to judge my reaction. I asked if she could give me a tattoo while she was at it – something cool like “MOM” in a heart, or a skull and crossbones – but she refused.
The itching started almost immediately. Scratching can alter the results, so at one point I had to sit on my hands to refrain from scratching.
After the test was over, the doctor concluded that I am severely allergic to dust mites and have a moderate allergy to mold, trees and grass. Each of those allergens is usually seasonal, which is good, but with those four allergies I have all four seasons covered, which is bad. The doctor gave me a prescription for an antihistamine/corticosteroid combination nasal spray and some ear drops for my ear infection. The nasal spray makes me rather nauseous, but has noticeably helped my symptoms already. I expect I will get used to the nausea soon, or maybe lose a few pounds. Either way…. 🙂
Twenty-four hours later my hives from the allergy test were even larger and more painful. They continued to grow for a few days are are now finally starting to disappear, 10 days later.
My level of fatigue has been greater since the addition of the new medication, but fortunately I can usually be found trying to warm up under the covers anyway. All in all, not a bad visit.
And, no one tried to give me a vasectomy.
You chose to be who you now are, you came here to thrive, the odds always seem steep, the game is rigged in your favor, you knew what you were doing, your demons aren’t real, fear was part of the deal, love is all you need, you’re never alone, thoughts become things… and you still look absolutely amazing in jeans. – The Universe
Stay tuned.
– L
The defense decided that what I was doing for my allergies and chemical sensitivities wasn’t the right way so they decided I needed to see a “traditional” allergist. Same thing – he would ask me something and if I answered like I knew what I was talking about, he would interrupt me and say something. Finally I got made and told him he needed to let me finish my answer then he could talk. When I mentioned mycotoxins, he asked if I even knew what they were. WHAT? I have them in my body and certainly do know what they are. I don’t think he liked that. I humored W/C for a few visits and then told them that I wasn’t going to do his treatment and he wasn’t going to be testing me either. So I am paying for my own treatment now because they won’t pay for anything but what they say I should have.
The fact that you arm continued to grow means you could be a delayed reactor and more allergic than they think. Just a thought. And I, too, have all seasons covered and everything in between. ha ha
It’s so frustrating when doctors won’t listen to us! How do the ever expect to give an accurate diagnosis when they don’t hear what we’re saying?
I think I am more allergic to mold than they thought. It was a small hive when I left the doctor’s office, but within the next two days it tripled in size and became hard. Kind of gross!
Oh Lindsey! I can SOOO relate. I’ve been making my rounds to all sorts if specialists these past couple of weeks due to my newly diagnosed and insidious autonomic disorder. I bring printouts of my issues, meds, history and questions to every doc in hopes that they will READ what I have to say since they are ALWAYS pushing me out the door 5 minutes after I get there. The results? I have TWO different sets of instructions to follow for the basic treatment of this crap, one from a neurologist, one from a cardiologist. Neither has addressed the miserable chest pain and problems that I have breathing daily. How odd. The gastro doc I saw for my delayed gastric emptying (thanks dysautonomia) blamed that set if symptoms a med I have been in for 8 yrs! What-suddenly, it started causing all these problems? I think not! I flat out asked (in my best dumb chick voice) if my dys could be the cause if the problem…”Ohhh noooo!” He said. Not at all! Bullshit!!! Read the freaking basic literature. Duh. Why is it that people like us have to dance extra fast and sing extra loud to try and get a doc to LISTEN??? It’s rude, expensive and disrespectful for docs to treat us like this. Please consider voicing your opinion in other forums such as the Healthcare Connection, which is aimed at docs. I do all the time, and often have my comments deleted by the snobby blog authors – I’m not the target audience, so they feel, again, they can just did me, even when the articles I comment on are about improving doctor-patient communication!! Go figure.
Lori
Hi Lori, thanks for your comment! I’m so disappointed with how many stories I’m hearing about doctors who just don’t listen! I’m paying for 15 minutes, I should receive every second I pay for.
Do you mind me asking what nasal spray he prescribed? Also, any advice on how to handle the allergies? I saw the allergy doc before I started my blog, but I still have the photos- you’ve inspired me to write a post about it. 😉
My doctor prescribed Dymista. Unfortunately it’s not available as a generic here in the U.S., but my doctor gave me a sample that included a coupon, so it hasn’t been too expensive (yet!). It has helped tremendously! I still get allergy symptoms, but they’re much better than they used to be. Because I am severely allergic to dust mites, my doc recommended getting allergen covers for bedding. For mold issues, I need to figure out better ventilation in the bathroom – our fan is awful!
I had to do all the same stuff for dust mites. if you want to know what I bought, let me know- all on Amazon. Doc gave me Pantanase nasal spray and Nasonex. I never took the latter because I’m paranoid of disabling my immune system in any way, but the antihistamine spray seems to help the stuffiness and runniness. Expensive, though! $60 after insurance. I only take half doses to make it last. Happy (but sad) to hear someone else is going through the same sort of investigations…!
Gah I hate docs who don’t listen! And…who have horrifying offices….
Your sense of humor is awesome. Great post. Allergy tests sound awful, I’m glad I’ve never had one….yet.
Hi Linds, I must have missed this post. Gosh your poor arm still flaring after 10 days! Did you show your immunologist? I had Ige (RAST) allergy blood test the other day as I’ve been getting an itchy throat but it came back fine. I know I have a dust mite allergy though from a skin prick test about 20 years ago and I’m worse now. Just wondering 2 things? Was your allergy blood test positive before they did a skin prick test? And secondly, what antihisthamine and nasal spray are you taking?
the allergy blood test showed allergies to the same substances as the skin prick, but as just minor allergies. the prick test showed that my allergies to mold, dust mites and grasses are stronger than the blood test indicated.
this time of year my allergies worsen, but lately the h1 (zyrtec) and h2 (zantac) blockers and cromolyn help keep them under control. i was originally prescribed a nasal spray called dymista, which helped a lot. however, i’ve since run out, and haven’t been back to the doctor to renew it.