Doctor reduces me to humiliating tears over a simple blood test - yet again

General General TN & GPN (Old Site)
21

Hi VIP,
I hope you don’t mind the acronym and double entendres that goes with it. :slight_smile: I’ve just become more active on this site and though you wrote this a long time ago, I’m thinking about you. I remember what the beginning was like- very scary and the internet barely existed, much less a site where I could go for support. However, even with this site, I would’ve felt alone and kind of scared, and sometimes reading the sad tales here is NOT a great idea at the beginning since this (often undiagnosed) diagnosis seems pretty grim for most people.

How is life going now? Any better? I’m curious if the VA is helping more; I know they implemented a new program for Vets here in AK recently, expanding their benefits and giving them more choices for living situations, but it might be a national expansion program. If you haven’t checked with them lately, now might be a good time.

I responded to your original post but was so new to the site that I didn’t place the response somewhere you would clearly see it. I really relate to having to pay the bills for docs and meds, but not eating. I’m down to 106lbs. I eat one meal/day. I’m in medical debt up to my ears, and this is after quitting my teaching job in 2010, moving to AK (I have friends that are more like family up here), and claiming bankruptcy once already in 2011, as a result of all my medical bills and a house I couldn’t afford on my own during the housing crisis.

Recently, I finally took a job with less pay and less stress that put me into the Medicaid bracket. Having the gov’t control my meds and doctors can be frustrating but, holy cow, what a difference financially!! I used to have $500-$600 in medical bills each month, with one med costing me $300/month! That med is now $3.50, the generics are 50 cents, and the co-pays at doctor appointments are also $3.50! I almost fell over the first time I went to the pharmacy to pay for the $300 med. Basically, it’s like I got a raise for working less hours and having less stress in my life. If you can afford to make such a small amount each month, I highly recommend this route. The other route left me panicky when I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to afford my meds and cost me tens of thousands of dollars and lots of extra pain over the years, through increased stress and increased work.

I hope you’re doing better and have figured some things out that work for YOU. Regardless, I’d love to hear an update. I wish for you remission or many pain-controlled or pain-free (ha!) days!

Regards,
~Christy

22

I know this is an old thread but just a quick note about blood tests, especially chemistry. The refrerence rage is just that, It means that roughly 67% of people having the test have results that fall in that range and roughly 16% have a number either above and another 16% have a number below. (statistically its is one standard deviation) Having a number that is either above or below that range doesn’t mean its abnormal only that it is outside of what 67% of folks get on the test.

It is really frustrating I know to be looking at a blood test and hoping for “answers” to see that little (L) or (H) after your result and have the doc say its “normal” but more often than not it is. Like like in the case of an lgA the number .2 IS the point at which a deficiency is indicated. It doesn’t mean a number out side of the normal range but above the deficiency level isn’t saying Something is going on, but generally there has to be more evidence and other chemistry out of wack.

Blood chemistry varies widely throughout the day depending on diet, activity, and a host of other variables. One of the biggest is supplementation which is why they always ask.

TJ

23

Hi TJ, I hear you on the ‘what’s normal?’ problem. I always go by the other symptoms. If there’s an indication that something that is related to the test in hand is out of synch then I think that’s good enough cause to retest or test. In my case, many months after this event, I was diagnosed with IBS and as part of that I went on the FODMAPS diet. Notably, the doc had never heard of it, I found out myself, but interestingly one of the things you have to give up is wheat (it’s a high fructan food) and lo and behold my IBS improved. I don’t think I have coeliac disease but I do believe I have non-coeliac gluten sensitivity and my partial IgA deficiency would certainly make me a very likely candidate for the condition. It’s this that bothers me, there ARE indicative symptoms but the doctor isn’t interested in hearing about them, so you do the research and work yourself, THEN you have to fight them for the tests that really they should be picking up on in the first place. It’s adding insult to injury!