Gatchamania.net - Print: They're Trying to Kill Me, I Swear

Gatchamania.net (http://www.gatchamania.net/index.php)
- [Speak Up!] (http://www.gatchamania.net/board.php?boardid=500)
-- Rant! (http://www.gatchamania.net/board.php?boardid=23)
--- They're Trying to Kill Me, I Swear (http://www.gatchamania.net/threadid.php?threadid=3723)

Posted by Berg Katse on 01-06-2011 at 01:24:

Angry They're Trying to Kill Me, I Swear

I've never had great phyiscal health. It's something I've gotten used to (I make up for it by being totally awesome however). So the past few months I've been having really bad migraines and vertigo. The last several weeks, my eyes started jittering back and forth. Time to head to the doctor--my mom had a stroke when she was my age and there is no way I'm letting something weird like this go on.

I'm scheduled for a CAT scan next week, one where they inject dye to check the state of your blood vessels in your head (they're checking for tumors, calcifications, abnormal vessels, clots, etc). I know that this dye is dangerous for diabetics. I'm diabetic. I get my notice in the mail and it says nothing about any preparation for the scan. I know this can't be right, and I try to call my doctor.

Long story short, my doctor is not in the office and her voice mail isn't on, and the hospital switchboard keeps disconnecting me when it tries to transfer me to radiology. I'm on the phone half the day when they FINALLY manage to contact me. And it's good that I did.

Turns out that if I don't follow strict protocols before and after the injection of the dye, my diabetic medication will not be filtered out of my body and could cause kidney failure. I have to stop taking the meds and try to balance my blood sugar on diet alone for about 3 or 4 days, while making sure that the dye passes out of my body. I'm really happy that they failed to inform me about something that could be LIFE-THREATENING! *slaps forehead*

At least it's all (relatively) sorted out now. More instructions will come the day of the scan. But seriously, don't you think that might have been a bit of an important thing to mention?

Katse

Posted by Transmute Jun on 01-06-2011 at 01:59:

I hope the procedure goes well, Katse! Huggles

And I'm glad you got the right info!

__________________

Posted by condorcandi on 01-06-2011 at 02:02:

Sigh. Spacey people who don't think... this is why doctors need to talk with their patients!

__________________
Candi

Hollywood is a land of money and cowardice.

-Henry A. Lee, Cracked.com columnist

Posted by Pufles65 on 01-06-2011 at 02:05:

It's a good thing you knew something else needed to be done being diabetic. I know I wouldn't have known had I been in your shoes. I hope you are feeling better real soon and that all your planning pays off so they find something to help you with. Sure have missed you around here, not that I've been around as much as I like. To be honest I've been worried about you since Alan told us you had to go to the hospital a few months back.
Here's praying that all will be better soon. Angel4

Posted by clouddancer on 01-06-2011 at 02:14:

I am glad you are on top of your condition Katse and are aware of what to watch for and what can interact badly with your medications/ condition.

__________________
Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

Posted by Berg Katse on 01-06-2011 at 04:42:

Thanks for the well-wishes, everyone. I actually had a second bout of bronchitis three weeks ago after suffering through span of 26 days of rain in a 31 day period! At least this time around everything cured up with a dose of antibiotics and no hospital stay.

I wouldn't say I'm paranoid about my health, but I try to remain as informed as possible. Some doctors hate patients that educate themselves, but my gp doesn't mind it at all. She listens to my concerns and always considers any alternative treatments I want to try before pharmaceuticals, which is rare. I figure it's my health, so I should really be as informed as possible so I can make the best choices for myself. My doctor is more of a healthcare partner than a healthcare dictator.

There is a joke that says that doctors make the worst patients, because they know so much about what is happening and what can go wrong. That's about the only downside to be educated about your health--you tend to worry a bit more about those rare cases way more than you should!

I'll let everyone know how my tests go. The only part I'm not looking forward to is the IV--I've very small veins and it takes a long time to get a line in, and it's not uncommon for me to have 5 or 6 attempts (or more) between both arms. It's absolutely excruciating and I can honestly say that the IV was the worst part of any of the surgeries I've had.

Katse

Posted by condorcandi on 01-06-2011 at 05:06:

Best Wishes, Katze! Hope everything goes as fantastic as possible!

I sympathize with the IV. Donating blood or getting blood drawn for tests is always interesting, because I have veins that have been called both 'hidden' and 'fragile'. It's no fun to get poked several times.

__________________
Candi

Hollywood is a land of money and cowardice.

-Henry A. Lee, Cracked.com columnist

Posted by Madilayn on 01-06-2011 at 07:36:

And then hospitals say they "don't know what went wrong"!

I'd definitely be making a complaint, tht they did not give all the information required to prepare for the procedure (at the very least - when your Dr referred you, he should have notified them of any pre-existing conditions - such as diabeties!).

You know that you're always in our thoughts, babe, and we'll be worrying until we hear from you (like when you were in hospital...)

Grouphug

__________________

"When I'm old, I don't want them to say of me, "She's so charming." I want them to say, "Be careful, I think she's armed." -G. Stoddart

Posted by Dragonsbain on 01-06-2011 at 08:51:

Dear Berg Katse,
Please always be a proactive patient. My husband was diagnosed with diabetes at 20. His kidneys started going at 34. He was a good boy and kept his kidneys going for 7 years. He went on dialysis during 2002. Got his new kidney 4 years ago.

The point of this story is that he was diagnosed with the wrong type of diabetes when he was 20. He didn't know that until he was in work ups for the transplant. It is water under the bridge. As he says now, if he had given a hoot back then, there could have been a strong possibility that he would be in much better health now.

Question anything you don't find comfortable or crystal clear. Sounds like your GP is a great one.

Best of luck.

__________________
Health and Happiness

Posted by RIgirl on 01-06-2011 at 13:11:

Sadly, with too many patients per doctor and too many overworked (and often underpaid) support staffs, everyone must be their own advocate and, yes, sometimes, their own doctor.

Basically, you know yourself and your body better than anyone, so if something isn't feeling right, or doesn't seem right, you have to tell someone ... often more than once.

Good luck with your tests, Katse ... you will be in my thoughts and I hope everything comes out okay.

__________________
"It is a rare man that is taken for what he truly is...We are not always what we seem, and hardly ever what we dream...." Peter S. Beagle

Posted by UnpublishedWriter on 01-06-2011 at 14:30:

Hoping it turns out to be something easily treatable.

Keep us informed.

__________________
Benefits, not features; benefits, not features

Posted by gatchamarie on 01-06-2011 at 15:16:

I wish you the very best, Katse, and admire you for how well you handle things regarding your own health!

On hearing what you had to say about your experience with the hospital I continue to confirm my own partial distrust towards certain places, especially after my long list of unfortunate events connected with hospitals and doctors! But, you cannot avoid seeking professional help when you need it!

The best of luck again, and please keep us informed! You'll always be on our minds! Huggles

__________________
To be or not to be a gatchamaniac - that's the dilemma!

Posted by Becky Rock on 02-06-2011 at 01:39:

I'm a firm believer in more information is better and persistence is a virtue. My thoughts are with you, as my husband has diabetes and I suffer from migraines.

Stress also causes migraines and in some people, allergies, particularly food allergies, can cause them. Good luck on your scan.

__________________
I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers so far...

Posted by AllentownDarkWater on 03-06-2011 at 22:13:

I'm really worried about you! I hope you'll be alright!

__________________
Banned