New city, new drs, and a new perspective!!

[8FillTheHeart]

Wow!!! I can't even begin to vocalize my thoughts!

We have been experiencing a whirlwind of new drs since we moved that has made me question the entire medical licensing process!! The new psychiatrist listened to what we had to say WAYYYYYYYYYYY more than any dr we have seen up to now.

These new drs think that our ds is suffering more from severe anxiety and OCD issues than bipolar (the drs in our old town would never listen to me when I would bring up OCD!) One of the drs we have been seeing brought up a conversation about Aspergers w/o our even mentioning it based on interaction. (another topic the drs in TN refused to acknowledge with the exception of his pediatrician who had an Aspie dd.) He is getting ready to undergo numerous evaluations to see if we can finally reach a definitive diagnosis.

One other direction we have been taken on is hormonal issues related to his high blood pressure. In TN he was put on high blood pressure meds w/o a thorough investigation as to why he has it other than the fact that dh has high blood pressure. (ds is not overweight nor does he have any other factors pointing to a source) We are now on this huge hormonal testing route to see if there are any hormonal (adrenal) issues that might be causing not only his high blood pressure but his emotional rages as well.

It makes me want to cry to think about all of these things. We have been living with this for so long and to think about how many different issues/causes/etc that have been dismissed w/o diffinitive testing makes me crazy!

I haven't been on the boards in a long time. I'm sorry that I am using you as a place to vent. We have had so many drs appointments this past month and when I compare it to the throwing on of diagnoses that we have experienced in the past, I just wanted to encourage others to insist on better evaluations than we had before.

[Natalieclare]

Wow!!! I can't even begin to vocalize my thoughts!

We have been experiencing a whirlwind of new drs since we moved that has made me question the entire medical licensing process!! The new psychiatrist listened to what we had to say WAYYYYYYYYYYY more than any dr we have seen up to now.

These new drs think that our ds is suffering more from severe anxiety and OCD issues than bipolar (the drs in our old town would never listen to me when I would bring up OCD!) One of the drs we have been seeing brought up a conversation about Aspergers w/o our even mentioning it based on interaction. (another topic the drs in TN refused to acknowledge with the exception of his pediatrician who had an Aspie dd.) He is getting ready to undergo numerous evaluations to see if we can finally reach a definitive diagnosis.

One other direction we have been taken on is hormonal issues related to his high blood pressure. In TN he was put on high blood pressure meds w/o a thorough investigation as to why he has it other than the fact that dh has high blood pressure. (ds is not overweight nor does he have any other factors pointing to a source) We are now on this huge hormonal testing route to see if there are any hormonal (adrenal) issues that might be causing not only his high blood pressure but his emotional rages as well.

It makes me want to cry to think about all of these things. We have been living with this for so long and to think about how many different issues/causes/etc that have been dismissed w/o diffinitive testing makes me crazy!

I haven't been on the boards in a long time. I'm sorry that I am using you as a place to vent. We have had so many drs appointments this past month and when I compare it to the throwing on of diagnoses that we have experienced in the past, I just wanted to encourage others to insist on better evaluations than we had before.

I'm so happy for you! It's so wonderful to see the clouds lift!

[Laurie4b]

I"m so glad that you are getting the opportunity of quality medical care for your child. I can imagine the mix of relief and hope from finally getting help as well as the anger/grief for not being able to get it before.

I hope that when things are sorted out, that you will let the former doctors know for the sake of other patients. Moms need to trust their gut, but doctors also need to trust moms and take their input very seriously.

[Mrs Mungo]

I know what you mean. We moved in January.

At our previous clinic (we're military) I had to throw an absolute hissy fit to get referred off-post after my son had been hospitalized in December and then kept on albuterol until March and they kept telling me it was nothing but an upper respiratory infection. The doctor I was referred to was an allergist who I think did as much as he could. The doctors here? Took one listen to my son and referred him to a pediatric pulmonologist. He has scarring in his lungs from not being treated properly in the first place. He's now on a much more agressive treatment plan and doing so much better! It's amazing the difference in quality of care.

[Stacy in NJ]

Sounds stressful but also hopeful. How's your ds making out at his new school? It's good to "see" you again, Momof7!

[Laurie4b]

I hope you don't mind an off-topic question, but your post reminds me of the fear of have of universal health care controlled by the govt. Is this typical in the military (having to throw a hissy fit and not getting quality care)? At least in the private sector, I can go trotting off somewhere else even if it's out of network. Anyway, it's something I'm concerned about and wondered about your experience in general.

I'm so sorry about the scarring in your son's lungs. I would be beyond furious. Is there anything you can do?

[Mrs Mungo]

I hope you don't mind an off-topic question, but your post reminds me of the fear of have of universal health care controlled by the govt. Is this typical in the military (having to throw a hissy fit and not getting quality care)? At least in the private sector, I can go trotting off somewhere else even if it's out of network. Anyway, it's something I'm concerned about and wondered about your experience in general.

Yes, it is typical and it's exactly my concern. My husband has a history of kidney stones. With one of them we waited six hours in the ER and we left without being seen at all for a kidney stone! Money is a great motivator. Civilian docs don't make money if they are jerks or don't provide quality care. They don't have to worry that in a socialist system. It also means that the real quality people in medicine will switch to sectors like research where they can continue to pull in the cash. Capitalism works in the medical system just like it works for retail stores.

I'm so sorry about the scarring in your son's lungs. I would be beyond furious. Is there anything you can do?

They have him on a more agressive treatment plan right now. In 6 weeks they are going to check him again. If he hasn't improved they're going to do a cat scan on his lungs and we'll go from there.

[Ottakee]

That is really great.

I have been blessed with wonderful doctors. Our psychiatrist tests for thyroid, anemia, blood sugars, lipids, orders an EEG and even MRI if indicated, etc. before starting meds. She wants to rule out other causes. When we did this we found out that my dd was anemic, hypothyroid and had seizures. Now, she still has the bipolar but without figuring out the other stuff, she would not be nearly as stable as she is right now.

[Laurie4b]

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, that's what I was envisioning.

[Cadam]

Where are you? I want to go there! I am in Kaiser insurance H*ll right now.

I am so very glad you found people who are listening to you and working hard to get the right answers instead of just an answer. How truly wonderful for all of you.

[Malenki]

It makes me want to cry to think about all of these things. We have been living with this for so long and to think about how many different issues/causes/etc that have been dismissed w/o diffinitive testing makes me crazy!

I have SO BEEN there!! I finally got over the guilt of it all but now I'm just angry at our pediatrician who ignored all my concerns until the point of major problems with our youngest son -- and then yelled at me in front of both our boys blaming me for it AND told the specialist we were finally referred to that nothing was actually wrong.

Thankfully the specialist did his due diligence and found out that something was seriously wrong (in this case, a nasty bacteria infection in his gut) and he is being treated for it right now. And now that it's being treated, he's a different child. Complete personality change for the good.

We are in the process of changing to a wonderful nurse practitioner instead of our pediatrician as she's been awesome and supportive with treating us, the parents, and is very good at listening to the whole story!


It sure sounds like you're getting more of the story for your son now and that's the big thing!! So glad to hear it!

[DIY-DY]

Wow!!! I can't even begin to vocalize my thoughts!

We have been experiencing a whirlwind of new drs since we moved that has made me question the entire medical licensing process!! The new psychiatrist listened to what we had to say WAYYYYYYYYYYY more than any dr we have seen up to now. [snip]... I just wanted to encourage others to insist on better evaluations than we had before.

Normally, I loathe the whole finding-new-doctors routine, but when it turns out as wonderfully as it's turning out for you, it's a wonderful, wonderful thing! I hope the rest of your settling in goes just as well, and that this is the start of a beautiful chapter for you guys.

And thank you for the very pertinent reminder that it's okay to push for quality care. {{hugs}}

Dy