A New Doctor....First Appointment
Yesterday (Tuesday, November 12, 2013), I saw a new doctor for my abdominal pain. Oddly, this doctor is not at UVA, but a doctor at Augusta Health, right near where I live. Let me tell you, this was the first time in a long time, I felt that SOMEONE actually took time to hear what I feeling and saying.
Brief Background Information:
When all this abdominal pain started to get worse over the past 3-4 years, (I've actually struggled with it in college and after college but it just got worse over the past years) I underwent countless GI test over at UVA to determine the cause of the pain. When they couldn't figure out the cause of the pain, they referred me to the Pain Clinic at UVA. At UVA, I kept seeing different doctors/residents/fellows every time I went there. I never really saw the attending physician (and come to think of it, I never really saw the attending physician much at the GI clinic either). I rarely saw the attending physician at the pain clinic. I only saw her for less than 5 minutes and she concurred with everything the resident would "suggest" to do next. I was unhappy with the type of treatments (non-sedative) injection they wanted to try (and you know my absolute horrible fear of needles). My pain continued to get worse, especially when I would eat and at times the nausea would come back at full force. When I talked to the GI doctor about this pain/nausea (especially as it was getting worse and worse) or if I would email them, the doctors would just tell me to talk to the Pain Clinic doctors because there was "nothing else they could do, and that they didn't think it was anything GI related. I disagreed because how could it NOT be related? How could nausea, pain, etc increase after eating? I was SO FRUSTRATED. I have given up on both set of doctors.
THE NOW
One of my friends was referred to Dr. Lee for pain management at Augusta. I found out this doctor was a former UVA doctor who left UVA to open up a practice at Augusta. I watched this doctor work with my friend and was pleased how much he took interest in patient care. The fact that he was from UVA makes me comfortable; I also liked the idea that he will be my doctor and him only---he will be in charge of my main care, etc. Also I shared with him my frustrations at UVA and he agreed with me and understood my frustrations and also thinks that I should go back to seeing a GI doctor (he agreed there has to be something more GI related as well too); therefore, he is going to have me see a GI over at Augusta Health as well. He has several ideas of medical treatment in mind, but wants to read up on my CT stomach angiogram I had back in 2010 at UVA, as well as order some possible x-rays first. So, as soon as I know more, I'll keep you all updated. For now, Dr. Lee is going spend most of his energy and focus on my abdominal pain. He also said that he will be working with Dr. Leone (neurologist from UVA--whom I do like very much) with my head and neck pain about possibly doing steroids shots to see if that can help relax the muscles that may be the thing that is causing my head pain.
So, I'm waiting now to hear from Dr. Lee after he reads my most recent 2010 scan and to see if I do need another CT scan and/or another MRI.
I'm willing to say this is a prayer ( please pray I can get past medical records form UVA GI clinic in time; pray that there will be some answers to this pain in my abdominal area, and that, unlike the other GI doctors, the new GI doctors will see me and help me!) AND praise (finding a doctor who spends a good amount of time with you and who agrees with you and hears your frustrations. He was SO willing to help me). DON'T get me wrong. I do love almost all of my doctors here at UVA. My only bad experience was from the Pain Clinc and GI center.
Solo de Gloria!
Brief Background Information:
When all this abdominal pain started to get worse over the past 3-4 years, (I've actually struggled with it in college and after college but it just got worse over the past years) I underwent countless GI test over at UVA to determine the cause of the pain. When they couldn't figure out the cause of the pain, they referred me to the Pain Clinic at UVA. At UVA, I kept seeing different doctors/residents/fellows every time I went there. I never really saw the attending physician (and come to think of it, I never really saw the attending physician much at the GI clinic either
THE NOW
One of my friends was referred to Dr. Lee for pain management at Augusta. I found out this doctor was a former UVA doctor who left UVA to open up a practice at Augusta. I watched this doctor work with my friend and was pleased how much he took interest in patient care. The fact that he was from UVA makes me comfortable; I also liked the idea that he will be my doctor and him only---he will be in charge of my main care, etc. Also I shared with him my frustrations at UVA and he agreed with me and understood my frustrations and also thinks that I should go back to seeing a GI doctor (he agreed there has to be something more GI related as well too); therefore, he is going to have me see a GI over at Augusta Health as well. He has several ideas of medical treatment in mind, but wants to read up on my CT stomach angiogram I had back in 2010 at UVA, as well as order some possible x-rays first. So, as soon as I know more, I'll keep you all updated. For now, Dr. Lee is going spend most of his energy and focus on my abdominal pain. He also said that he will be working with Dr. Leone (neurologist from UVA--whom I do like very much) with my head and neck pain about possibly doing steroids shots to see if that can help relax the muscles that may be the thing that is causing my head pain.
So, I'm waiting now to hear from Dr. Lee after he reads my most recent 2010 scan and to see if I do need another CT scan and/or another MRI.
I'm willing to say this is a prayer ( please pray I can get past medical records form UVA GI clinic in time; pray that there will be some answers to this pain in my abdominal area, and that, unlike the other GI doctors, the new GI doctors will see me and help me!) AND praise (finding a doctor who spends a good amount of time with you and who agrees with you and hears your frustrations. He was SO willing to help me). DON'T get me wrong. I do love almost all of my doctors here at UVA. My only bad experience was from the Pain Clinc and GI center.
Solo de Gloria!
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