What do you do for an acute health spiral?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you been to a doctor since getting the bug?

Op - yes several. Gastro did endoscopy and ordered stool samples. PCP did labs and urinalysis. Lots of people have prodded my abdomen. Waiting for results for the stool samples and endoscopy to test for h pylori. It’s just the ct that is paralyzing me bc I’m a crazy person (or maybe legit fears - no idea at this point as starting to unravel and lose all perspective).

Has any dr. actually urged you that you need to get one?

When I went to the dr and told him my symptoms and concerns he said he did not suspect pc but recommended we test for all eventualities (also it could I suppose be intestinal which would require a ct) which included upper endoscopy, stool samples and ct.

OK, so it sounds like the CT is the only part you're holding out on. Since your dr. did say you should get it -- and your HA isn't making you think you should -- I do think you need to go for it. I know it's terrifying you right now, but imagine how relieved you'll be when it allays your concerns (or finds something super treatable!) and you can resume living your life. You didn't beat cancer to live in this kind of paralysis. I think you need to just take the leap and get the scan. And, truly, I think you'd feel a lot worse if you had pancreatic cancer. And, god forbid you do: Earlier you treat ANYTHING the better, and waiting and stewing won't change whatever is inside you.
I really do think you will be OK. I know how scary it is. Sometimes you just have to rip off the bandaid.

--someone who had a TVU/S recently because I feared cancer and felt better when nothing showed up

[Anonymous]

How art thou, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How art thou, OP?

I had an appt w urologist from a week ago bc pcp said thinks maybe kidney. I don’t think so but I didn’t cancel bc he has ultrasound so will start there. But absolutely scared to death overall. Super fun. I feel like a completely crazy person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How art thou, OP?

I had an appt w urologist from a week ago bc pcp said thinks maybe kidney. I don’t think so but I didn’t cancel bc he has ultrasound so will start there. But absolutely scared to death overall. Super fun. I feel like a completely crazy person.

When is your appt, OP? And are you still even symptomatic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How art thou, OP?

I had an appt w urologist from a week ago bc pcp said thinks maybe kidney. I don’t think so but I didn’t cancel bc he has ultrasound so will start there. But absolutely scared to death overall. Super fun. I feel like a completely crazy person.

When is your appt, OP? And are you still even symptomatic?

Op - was this am. V patient dr who also had parent who died of pc (I am now 2 for 2 on re traumatizing drs whose parents died of pc with my own fears) who said ultrasound won’t help you overall you need a Ct. so I took a Xanax and booked the Ct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How art thou, OP?

I had an appt w urologist from a week ago bc pcp said thinks maybe kidney. I don’t think so but I didn’t cancel bc he has ultrasound so will start there. But absolutely scared to death overall. Super fun. I feel like a completely crazy person.

When is your appt, OP? And are you still even symptomatic?

Op - was this am. V patient dr who also had parent who died of pc (I am now 2 for 2 on re traumatizing drs whose parents died of pc with my own fears) who said ultrasound won’t help you overall you need a Ct. so I took a Xanax and booked the Ct.

Good for you! Now your only job is to show up for your scan and keep yourself busy in the meantime.

[Anonymous]

Good luck OP! I am sorry you are having scary symptoms and dealing with this, but I'm confident nothing will be found and you're doing the right thing allaying your fears.

[Anonymous]

Also, could you bring a friend/partner to your scan for moral support? The nice thing is they will likely read it right away and if something is wrong (I do not think it is), they will tell you. Imagine your feeling of relief when they say you're OK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, could you bring a friend/partner to your scan for moral support? The nice thing is they will likely read it right away and if something is wrong (I do not think it is), they will tell you. Imagine your feeling of relief when they say you're OK.

Yes I’m going to bring my Dh (mildly helpful) and take a sedative of some kind. I am really spinning out which is not helping my stomach feel better at all.

[Anonymous]

OP, is your appointment soon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, is your appointment soon?

Not till next week bc they need to get insurance sign off first

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, is your appointment soon?

Not till next week bc they need to get insurance sign off first

Would you feel better going to the ER and getting a CT scan so you don't have to wait, if you have such bad symptoms and such bad anxiety?

[Anonymous]

It sounds like giardia. I had a negative parasite test, nothing in a colonoscopy but a CT showed a pocket of inflammation. 2 weeks of strong antiparasitic meds and 6 months of misery was over

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like giardia. I had a negative parasite test, nothing in a colonoscopy but a CT showed a pocket of inflammation. 2 weeks of strong antiparasitic meds and 6 months of misery was over

Op - I did a bunch of stool samples - would it show up on there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, is your appointment soon?

Not till next week bc they need to get insurance sign off first

Would you feel better going to the ER and getting a CT scan so you don't have to wait, if you have such bad symptoms and such bad anxiety?

I have sort of made some kind of peace with current state of affairs - and I think er experience might add a layer of extra anxiety tbh.
I think the pain has also lessened which is lessening my anxiety around the situation - although now I’ve said that I’m worried I’m jinxing myself and it will come back in force