March 28, 2024, 03:24:58 AM

News:

"Welcome to WiseWomenUnite.com -- When adult children marry and leave home, life can sometimes get more complex instead of simpler.  Being a mother-in-law or daughter-in-law can be tough.  How do we extend love and support to our mothers-in-law, adult children, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, and grandchildren without interfering?  What do we do when there are communication problems?  How can we ask for help when we need it without being a burden?  And how do our family members feel about these issues?  We invite you to join our free forum, read some posts... and when you're ready...share your challenges and wisdom."


Tough Day......Looking For Some Support

Started by Keys Girl, April 10, 2013, 05:37:41 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Keys Girl

Hi Nik, I received an unexpected phone call from my GP's office on Monday, I expect the blood tests I did last week finally sent up some red flags and someone decided to pick up the pace.

I went for detailed blood and urine tests this week so I might be referred to a Canadian Nephrologist who needs these tests before she will see me.  I don't actually have an appointment yet in Canada.  I'm going to give it a few more days to see if I can get the appointment before I decide if I will go the US.  I might go to both and then compare the results. 

I have found out that some of the online kidney websites are actually funded by some companies that have a vested interested in steering you to their drugs or medical facilities.  Da Vita is one of these.  There are also websites that pop up with a "doctor" who will answer your questions........really?? doctors with nothing better to do than wait for folks on the net to talk to them?? these websites are pushing Chinese herbs, but I found some info that says these herbs can actually hurt your kidneys.  I'm sticking to the websites that are run by the Kidney Foundations of the US and Canada, the Mayo Clinic and other significant medical facilities that aren't trying to sell anything.  I found Rate MD to be helpful to find feedback on doctors on line. 

Re your tests, I don't know what "e.g." means, I'm getting familiar with creatinine, BUN and GFR terminology.  The creatinine levels are expressed differently in the US and Canada so this can be confusing.

Good luck, Nik, I started keeping a diary of specific dates, symptoms, etc., so I can give that to the Nephrologist, I figure better to have more background info that less.

KG
"Today I will be as happy as a seagull with a french fry." Author Unknown

nikncon

Yes KG .I think that the terminology in the States is different.My GFR is 64 which is apparently normal here but an opinion from a nephrologist next Tues will  make me feel better.I hope that you get to see a neph. in Canada.A second opinion won't hurt but you'll have to pay out of your pocket if you start seeing someone in the south.Good luck.

  Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

Keys Girl

Ok, ladies........got a call from the kidney specialist a few days ago, cancelling my appt. for end of July and moving it to today.  That would have been fine but today I got the keys to my new apartment so cancelling an appointment and rescheduling it on with almost no notice to a day I already had plans for wasn't exactly impressing me.

After going through the results from my specialist for the last 20 years that shows a marked and steady decline in kidney function that would put me in the middle of stage 3B, by March of this year, she dismissed them because she didn't know the assay number the lab used so considers those creatinine numbers useless.

She is using the blood tests for the last few months (the ring-a-ding GP's office didn't send her the tests results from last week's stick, and never asked me to go for the ultra sound she requested).  She has now diagnosed me as having no evidence of kidney disease.

Now, it's not that I wouldn't like to accept that diagnosis but logic tells me that 20 years beats out 3 months and this kidney specialist is a newbie and my specialist has been around the block for decades and is a hugely high profile physician.  I would love to be a fly on the wall of his office when he reads that she is discarding his blood work data and recommendations.

I'm going to make sure that all her conclusions are forwarded to my specialist and if he wishes, I'll get a second opinion from another kidney specialist.  Might just shuffle off to Buffalo, and have a plate of wings at the same time.

She had better not be wrong. The ultra sound that I'm going for and another test should help the puzzle but just in case, I'm making copies of everything so I can hand them over to a lawyer I know who specializes in malpractice suits although the newbie was quick to mention that in her opinion I don't have kidney disease TODAY, but next month or so might be different.

I know that now that I'm 60, my risks for kidney disease have gone up a lot.  One of the main risks is heart disease as a result and since my father died of a heart attack at 67, and passed on those genes to me, when I turned 50 and went through menopause and my blood pressure went through the roof, after a lifetime of low blood pressure.

I've had to be hyper vigilant about doing everything possible to crack the 67 year ceiling.  My former GP used to send me for all types of heart related tests on a regular basis but the ding-a-ling? not so much.  This is the first year in the last 10 I haven't gone for an EKG.  The ding-a-ling doesn't think it's necessary She better pray I don't have a heart attack on her watch.  I'll come back to haunt her dreams, every single night

Thank you to everyone for the moral support along the way, dealing with the health problems and the ding-a-lings in the white coats is enough to turn your hair white.  Getting older sure ain't for sissies.

The main thing I would like to pass on is: ALWAYS GET A COPY OF EVERY MEDICAL TEST YOU GET, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO THEM, AND IT SEEMS THAT THE STEP A LITTLE FASTER WHEN THEY KNOW THAT YOU COULD BE BRINGING THESE RESULTS TO A LAWYER OR A REGULATOR.  ANY MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL OR OFFICE STAFF WHO DRAGS THEIR HEELS DOING THIS SHOULD BE REGARDED WITH SUSPICION.

KG

"Today I will be as happy as a seagull with a french fry." Author Unknown

Keys Girl

Forgot to mention that I am going to find myself a new GP but getting moved into my new apartment (which was my Mother's Day gift to myself) is higher on the priority list.  Another negative review showed up this week on Rate MD, she's got a real habit for misdiagnosing significant problems. 

KG
"Today I will be as happy as a seagull with a french fry." Author Unknown

Pooh

Dang KG!  She sounds like a real charm.  So let's just disregard 20 years of history?  Sorry girl. 
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. -
Joseph Campbell

luise.volta

We are all walking the walk with you gals. To think you have been charged for such incompetency and neglect makes my blood boil!
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama

Keys Girl

Short update - I've moved to my new apartment, had a lot or problems getting the internet set up, had someone break in and steal a few items while I was away for a few days.  Not a great welcome to the neighbourhood.  "It's always something" as Gilda Radner used to say.

It's been just over a month since I saw the "wet behind the ears" kidney specialist who said she would make arrangements for the tests to be done that the GP didn't.  Of course, no follow up, no tests were done.  I was counting on getting the data from the ultrasound of the kidneys to give me a definite answer on whether or not the blood test that put me up into Stage 3B was accurate, but they weren't done.

I eventually remembered this is the first year in the last 10 that I haven't had an EKG, despite the fact that I am at high risk for cardiac problems.  Guess the GP forgot to order that too.   

When I get everything unpacked, I'll be on the hunt for a new GP, and will widen the net and drive a couple of hours to a larger city if necessary. 

Thanks for letting me vent here,

KG
"Today I will be as happy as a seagull with a french fry." Author Unknown

luise.volta

What a mess! I'm so sorry KG! Sending love...
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama

Pooh

Well yuck!  Sorry KG...but keep on fighting!
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. -
Joseph Campbell

Keys Girl

Oh blazes.......wouldn't you know it.......I've been sorting through my stuff now that I'm in my new apt.  I cannot find the binders that held all the data about my bank statements, credit cards, contracts, legal stuff, every important document from the last 10 years was in those binders.  I could tolerate but not like someone stealing the small items that I'm missing but now we are into the realm of possible identify theft.

I'll go talk to the Banks, etc. tomorrow, not keen to get the Police involved if the perp is living in the building with the keys to my unit.  I've come across this before and I'm not concerned that anyone would come in while I'm in the unit, I think the aim is to intimidate and show me who owns the turf.

Since the grease monkey who is the maintenance guy lives in my building, I'll have to go talk to the Police, I assume.  I got this new apartment as a Mother's Day present to myself and it's starting to resemble being a parent...........more headaches than you expected along with the good stuff.

If this is a sign of things to come, next Mother's Day I might just have to give myself a new apartment!

KG

"Today I will be as happy as a seagull with a french fry." Author Unknown

luise.volta

I get they are going to show up. Sending love...
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama

Pooh

Oooh I hope you find them, just misplaced.  Pain in the hiney to have to go through canceling and changing everything if someone does have them.  And the even worse news?  (You probably already know but I deal with this at work every day now), is that you can cancel stuff all day long, but if they got your social security number off of any of that, they can just open accounts in your name left and right.  Please file a report KG if you can't find them, just in case so you will have an official record of when they were taken.
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. -
Joseph Campbell

Keys Girl

Thanks, Pooh.  That's a big help.  I don't know if the police can make a report but I'm going to talk to them today.  I'm certain they were taken, I've turned this little place upside down in the last 3 days.  They are big and heavy and stick out like a sore thumb, but they aren't sticking out cause they aren't here.

I catalogued the boxes when I moved, with the contents in each.  My catalogue shoes the box holding the binders was emptied.  I emptied all the boxes, sent them to recycling, locked the door and then went on a well deserved holiday.  Came back to find this. 

I'm not unpacking anything else and am actually re-packing some stuff that I don't use day to day.  It's obvious that I'll have to move, I'm just going to deal with the paperwork first and then determine my options.

KG







"Today I will be as happy as a seagull with a french fry." Author Unknown

luise.volta

It sounds less and less like your legal stuff could have been misplaced or overlooked. I'm so sorry KG. Even a lost wallet is a big issue...this has got to be huge. I would check with a good attorney to find out what needs to be done, how and when. Sending love...
Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama

Pooh

Yes.  Unfortunately my brother had his house broken into last year and they took his little safe lockbox.  Inside of it was his birth certificate and social security information (tax returns and such).  He cancelled everything but they were able to open all kinds of credit card accounts with those things and he started getting calls a few months later because he was behind in thousands of dollars worth of credit cards that he never had.  It became a huge legal battle and his credit is in the toilet.

We have this reported (identity theft) daily here now.  It's really sad.  The new thing is stealing mail out of mailboxes and obtaining all your information in order to open accounts.  That's making it even harder because how do you know if your mail has been stolen if they only take a couple of things?  They are not finding out until the bill collectors start calling.

The police should very easily make a report on this with missing items.
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. -
Joseph Campbell