Which Doctor?

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
I've been dealing with moderate abdominal/pelvic pain since Sunday afternoon. I am not one to rush to a doctor for every little discomfort. I believe the body is best at healing itself. I take some ibuprofen and that helps a few hours. Usually these things pass within a day, but this has gone on now several days. Difficult to tell if it's a urinary, gastrointestinal or a lady parts problem. My GP is only doing "virtual" visits which I am not equipped to use. The specialists I use are booked up for weeks. I've been considering the emergent care facility, but I've been there numerous times only to be given a perfunctory exam then told to see my own regular doctor. Any suggestions?
 

I would admit myself to emergency, and demand to be tested thoroughly.

Have you tried to backtrack the days leading up to the signs and symptoms you started experiencing as of Sunday, as a way to rule out possible causes?

- Have your bladder/bowel functions remained the same?
- Has your appetite changed?
- Is there anything you may have ingested that could have caused your symptoms?
- Have you suffered from the same symptoms in the past?
- Have you done anything to bring the discomfort on? i.e. A fall, twisting wrong, etc?
 
Of course. I eat about the same things from week to week. Like I mentioned, I've had the same type of pain before, but it passes quickly. It started out low and center and I did suspect cystitis, so I peed into a container and it was clear and light colored. I also have urine test strips and nothing came out unusual. Then it moved kinda to the right, now is kinda all over my abdomen but not quite as sharp. Monday was the worst day - sharp pangs about every 30 minutes. I was never pregnant, but it almost seemed like labor pains, but that cause is totally out of the equation. Also took a mild laxative, but that didn't get much moving - just a few little rabbit pellets. I also suspected a prolapse since I have been shoveling a lot of snow. Can't diagnose that, though.
 

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debodun said:
I've been dealing with moderate abdominal/pelvic pain since Sunday afternoon. I am not one to rush to a doctor for every little discomfort. I believe the body is best at healing itself. I take some ibuprofen and that helps a few hours. Usually these things pass within a day, but this has gone on now several days. Difficult to tell if it's a urinary, gastrointestinal or a lady parts problem. My GP is only doing "virtual" visits which I am not equipped to use. The specialists I use are booked up for weeks. I've been considering the emergent care facility, but I've been there numerous times only to be given a perfunctory exam then told to see my own regular doctor. Any suggestions?
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Call your doctor's office and tell them you can't do a virtual visit, then describe your symptoms thoroughly.
 
Do they have walk-in clinics where you are? I prefer them over ER’s. Are your covid numbers so high there that your doctors aren’t physically seeing patients???? The only thing I would suggest is Miralax or something over a laxative. Metamucil?
If you can, I would really push them to let you see a doctor. Or go to the ER. All they are really allowed (or supposed) to do, is treat the symptoms you present with. But I would think they would at least do some blood work and x-rats to rule out obstruction etc
Keep us posted ok?
 
Abdominal pain that lasts for more than a few hours should Not be taken lightly. It could be something fairly simple, like constipation....or, it could be the onset of things like a kidney stone, liver problems, appendicitis, etc. In such a case, a visit to a hospital, and tests like an MRI, or CT Scan should certainly be considered.
 
What you are describing might possibly suggest an intestinal obstruction especially given the description of bowels. Based on my own experience in having had one, I’d suggest you do go to an ER!
 
I did have a HUGE fibroid embolized in 2006. Mayaps it is on the warpath again? Called my GYN for appt. today. Nobody answered. Left message. Still waiting for a callback and that was 2 hours ago.

I know from experience that polyethylele glycol treatments don't work on me for some reason. I did get some mineral water today when I was up near Saratoga which is known for it's digestive tract cleansing properties. I am still awaiting results on that, also. I has a colonoscopy about a year ago. Then I was "squeaky clean".
 
The doctor's office sent me an email saying they had scheduled an appointment for March 11th. Even then it said the doctor would be "on call" that day and to call ahead to see if she's available. Guess I'll either be dead or all better by then.
 
Hospital Emergency room today, is my suggestion debodun,
it might be appendicitis, you don't want that to be ignored
or to turn in to peritonitis.

I had similar pains in the early 1970s, when the doctor saw me
he sent me to the hospital saying, "get somebody to bring your
pyjamas and shaving kit, do not go home, go directly to the
hospital", I was operated on that night.

I hope that I am wrong, but don't take a chance.

Mike.
 
I think if it was appendicitis, I'd have a fever and be really sick, but I appreciate your concern. My self-diagnosis is a prolapsed internal organ. Not a medical emergency. I am just reticent about a doctor I am not familiar with poking around my lady parts.
 
I just noticed this thread, Deb. I'm thinking of you.

I'm glad you got an appointment, that I hope the doctor will keep.
 
debodun said:
One week to my doctor's appointment. I don't know what I'll do if she says I need a hysterectomy. At my age and weight, it would be more risky than for a young, thin woman.
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Depends on how they do it, there are different ways.
 
debodun said:
One week to my doctor's appointment. I don't know what I'll do if she says I need a hysterectomy. At my age and weight, it would be more risky than for a young, thin woman.
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Thinking of you too Deb. Abdominal pain must always be investigated, always. If you google a picture of the organs in the abdomen you will see why an early examination is so important.

The abdomen contains all the digestive organs, including the stomach, small and large intestine, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. These organs are held together loosely by connecting tissues (mesentery) that allow them to expand and to slide against each other. The abdomen also contains the kidneys and spleen. That's in addition to all your reproductive organs.

You are worried about a hysterectomy, my wife had similar anxieties when she was in her early fifties and was suffering serious abdominal pain. Her's turned out to be a fibroid tumour, thankfully, fibroid tumours are benign, but it still had to come out and that could result in a hysterectomy.

Laparoscopy is a type of surgical procedure that allows a surgeon to access the inside of the abdomen and pelvis without having to make large incisions in the skin. This procedure is also known as keyhole surgery or minimally invasive surgery and that is what my wife's surgeon did. He was able to inspect all her reproductive organs, found no sign of any cancerous cells, left everything in tact, bar the uterus. He severed the fibroid with the laparoscope's scalpel, retained most of the uterus by stitching the wound and brought the tumour out through the ******l passage. She was back at work within two weeks.

At the time she was fifty-two and still experiencing her monthly cycle, that stopped. To celebrate and to tease, I bought her a bottle of Martini. Back then, Martini ran an advert: "Anytime, anyplace, anywhere." I'll leave you to work out the pun.
 
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