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| Can I get over this? | |
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| Topic Started: Feb 13 2009, 04:50 PM (411 Views) | |
| Purley | Feb 13 2009, 04:50 PM Post #1 |
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For some years now I have had a problem. It involves an intolerance to foods, but I haven't so far been able to figure out WHAT foods cause the problem. Its a bit of an embarrassing problem so I will just say that I am reluctant to go walking where there are no bathrooms. Restaurant food seems to cause the worst problem, so if I go for breakfast with my son and granddaughter, I head straight home afterwards to avoid an embarrassing situation. I went to the doctor's. He mostly suggested staying away from spicy, greasy food and taking Immodium. So, not being totally satisfied with that someone suggested a Naturopath. So, I made an appointment with a woman with over 30 years experience. We got along fine. However, at the beginning of the session, she mentioned a Stool Analysis test and said that it would be very useful "if I decided to agree to it." We discussed the problem a bit more, and then a while later, again she said "If you decide to go ahead with the test". When she mentioned it a second time, I thought to myself "Why would she ask if I wanted to have the test? Anybody with this problem would surely insist on it!" However, I just left it at that. When the session was over, I went to see the receptionist, who asked me for my credit card, which I duly gave her. When I looked at the bill after I signed the credit card slip, it was over $700. I don't think the amount was on the slip I signed, but I was so shocked and astounded that I really don't remember. I didn't say anything at the time - I was getting over the shock! After I left, I was really annoyed. I figured the doctor deliberately did not tell me the cost of the test. OK, I should have asked, but if I had had any idea that it was over $500, I surely would have. She knew how expensive the test was. I did not. She should have told me. I assume that she has discovered that once she tells patients that they will have to pay $500 for the test, they don't want to go ahead with it, so now she doesn't tell. I am not mad at the cost of the test. She says she can solve my problem quite easily. What I AM mad about is that I feel she did not tell me because she thought I would not agree to take the test if she did. Mind you, I have learned my lesson. I will not pay another penny without inspecting the invoice first. I feel that she is probably the best person qualified to solve my problem. I don't see her for a couple of weeks and so I want to email her to express my unhappiness with what happened. I am worried that if I do, she will be ticked off and maybe won't be so helpful. (Kind of how you think if you complain to the waiter, he will spit in your food!) Would you write the email. Its not rude. It just says that I am unhappy that I wasn't advised of the cost before I had committed myself. Or would you wait until you saw her again and tell her in person. Or would you just say that you will be happy to get the problem solved and not say anything? Edited by Purley, Feb 13 2009, 04:52 PM.
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| agate | Feb 13 2009, 07:14 PM Post #2 |
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Seeing you want the test, and don't mind the cost just go ahead Purley. Has no one mentioned IBS to you ? It is something i have had for years and learned to live with. There are many foods that give me a problem and some of them have taken many years for me to figure out. MSG is a deadly additive for me so i avoid most all packaged food stuff. And yes I never go anywhere without my immodium oooh 02 Give IBS a google and you will find a lot of info out there. |
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| Vanilla | Feb 13 2009, 11:00 PM Post #3 |
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Liz, I recently found myself in a similar situation, went to the dentist two weeks ago with tooth abcess, he said he will make arrangements for me to see a specialist, said the consultation would be £45, I agreed to that, he knew I looked apprehensive and a little shocked, I told him things are a little tight for money at the moment for us. When I got the phone call from the specialists receptionist the other day asking if I'm ready to book the appointment she told be about the consultation fee, then went on to tell me that the treatment would cost between £400 and £550. Luckily for me my dentist had also gone ahead to make an appointment at the local Hospital ( cheaper I hope ) so I do have two options. Still not happy that my dentist didn't give me any indication as to what I could be expected to pay. I will be having words with him next time I see him, if he had explained, I would have saved him writing the letter to the specialist in the first place. Edited by Vanilla, Feb 13 2009, 11:08 PM.
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| Purley | Feb 14 2009, 02:55 AM Post #4 |
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The doctor went over IBS and decided that I don't have the symptoms for that. I am not going into the gory details here!! At the moment, the Naturopath has put me on a no raw veg, no raw fruit, no sugar, no coffee, no milk diet until I take the test and we get the results back. I asked if I should use honey instead of sugar and she said that maple syrup is better. Which suited me fine because I have maple syrup but no honey! I am using Almond milk, vanilla flavoured, unsweetened. Its not cheap but it tastes really good. The other tip she gave me was about soft margarine. I use Olivina or Becel, no trans fats. But she said they are so highly processed, your body doesn't know what to do with it. She advised to whip butter together with olive oil and it will stay soft in the fridge. I have to admit as time goes by, I am less annoyed. I am prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt and think that perhaps she forgot to mention the price, rather than doing it deliberately. At the beginning of the interview she told me she was going to take my blood pressure -- she didn't do that either. Still, I will definitely say something the next time. I will also question her if she "gives" me anything else. The first time I got some calcium/magnesium liquid stuff that she said was good for cases of heartburn. Only I had told her I heard magnesium was bad for heartburn and so I had quit taking Pepcid complete. So I will also question why she gave me magnesium! I don't have heartburn very often, only if I eat late at night, but I am supposed to take that stuff every night because its good for preventing osteo. However, if there is something as good and cheaper elsewhere, I am not going to continue buying her high priced stuff. I think the reason I am suspicious about what she gives me - is a result of not telling me the price of the test! |
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| erka | Feb 15 2009, 07:40 AM Post #5 |
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Purley: I sympathize with you re IBS It seems to rear up unexpectedly and for no reason!! I found some coffee (high acidity) give me problems if taken on an empty stomach. Garlic, onions and cabbage family sometimes. re supplements from the health food store/naturopath. I found these to be more expensive than drug stores/Costco. After a paying through the nose, I read (can't find the article) that there are only a handful of supplement manufacturers in North America, only the labels are different. |
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| Purley | Feb 18 2009, 04:11 AM Post #6 |
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Thanks for the comments, but according to my doctor I do not have IBS. As time goes by, the more I think about it, the more I find that I do not trust this naturopath. I think she knows what she is talking about, but I am afraid that every time I go there I will come out with an armful of overpriced products that she sells, that I could be buying for less elswhere. She did say that when this test comes back I can take it to my doctor, and I may very well do that. After all the doctor has no agenda. He does not get a "cut" of the medications he presecribes, whereas she does. I also might ask the doctor after for the results of the test and go to another naturopath. I am afraid that being suspicious that she deliberately did not tell me the cost of the test, because she thought I would say "no" has kind of spoiled my feelings about her. Mainly it has to do with wondering whether her first priority is to make money!! |
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| Toodles | Feb 18 2009, 12:17 PM Post #7 |
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Purley, has your doctor had to tested for candida. Candida in the gut will cause IBS ... but if you get the trots with pain, then it is usually related to a food allergy. Try cutting out all yeast products, including alcohol ... cheese and anything that tends to ferment ... see if that helps. If it does, then you can suspect candida. |
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| Purley | Feb 20 2009, 02:29 AM Post #8 |
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No. No pain whatsoever. I did discover something called "Bile Salt Diarrhea" which is due to having your gall bladder out. I am going to wait until the test comes back and then I am going to see the natural medicine doctor and say I want to show the test to my GP. Then I will ask him about bile salt diarrhea. I have found lots of references to this on the Internet. Mostly on message boards - I found one woman who has it and she says if she is going out with friends, she just doesn't eat in case a bathroom isn't handy. I am not sure what the test analysis tells -- I would think things like candida and bile salt would show up in the test. But I really have no idea at this point. Edited by Purley, Feb 20 2009, 02:30 AM.
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| Toodles | Feb 20 2009, 04:23 PM Post #9 |
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Purley, I suffered a condition such as described for approx. 10 yrs. and it got to the stage I would never go anywhere or eat when we went out. Quite by accident I stumbled upon a naturpath in Vancouver and in desperation I made an appointment as doctors did zip for me. 3 months of treatment and I have been cleared now for over 10 years. I was given a list of foods I can have and cannot have, was given herbals which he provided; and then the good bacteria was put back into the gut. I stuck to his program religiously and it worked for me. One of the things he said, stay away from any foods that ferment. The good bacteria replacement was live and was refrigerated ... took it once a week. If you live in B.C. I can give you the name of this doctor. He is very good and not expensive either as he has special low rates for seniors. |
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| Purley | Feb 21 2009, 03:46 PM Post #10 |
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No, unfortunately I am in Saskatchewan. I was taking probiotics which I got from the healthfood store. I have been following the natural medicine doctor's recommendations. No raw veg. no raw fruit, no coffee, no sugar, no milk, no cold cereal. She said that cream is less likely to be bothersome than skim milk. Old cheese is less bothersome that mild tasteless cheese. However, apart from that I have been eating whatever. Yesterday, I came home. I had two oat cakes - about 1/4 thick and a piece of old cheddar and some water. An hour later - the usual happened. Today, I came home and took two Immodium. I wanted to see what would happen if I ate lunch. So I had a bowl of soup made from squash and a fried egg sandwich and some dill pickle. Half an hour later - the usual happened. Obviously the Immodium didn't prevent it. But now here is the REALLY weird thing. I have NEVER had a problem after dinner. Last Sunday we were at my son's. I had quite a lot of spinach, feta and tomato pizza. Everything was fine. It doesn't seem to matter what I have to eat for supper -- I never have to go to the bathroom until next morning. Makes no sense to me - but that is how it is. I am hoping this naturopath can come up with a solution that doesn't involve me spending a fortune every time I go there. Quite frankly, I would be happy with meds from the doctor's -- I only pay $15 each time as I am over 65. I will let you know what happens, in case its useful to others. But thanks for the suggestion about the doctor -- too bad I am so far away! I sent you a pm about this BTW. Edited by Purley, Feb 21 2009, 03:52 PM.
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| Toodles | Feb 21 2009, 04:52 PM Post #11 |
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Sent you a pm back Purley ... |
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| Purley | Mar 6 2009, 03:21 AM Post #12 |
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I didn't remember that I posted this here -- I put the update in alternative medicine! |
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| hello | Sep 5 2009, 12:48 PM Post #13 |
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017 Have you been checked for Celiac Disease? The lady across the street was having similar problems and by accident they found she was Celiac.. She can not have anything with gluten etc.. She is under 100 pounds and just found out. So now she has something to avoid etc! Good luck 049 |
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| Trotsky | Sep 13 2009, 05:00 AM Post #14 |
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Personally, I would steer very clear of naturopaths (or most any other "paths!") To me it sounds like colitis (bad) or irritable bowel (not so bad.) Why not see a REAL doctor and have any stool lab tests paid with your insurance. Stool samples are looking for evidence of parasites or fecal occult blood. You should have a barium enema and/or a colonoscopy to ascertain evidence of colitis or worse. For an at home "cure" I recommend a glass of kefir every day. It establishes a healthy flora in the intestines and repels invaders. Yoghurt doesn't survive the stomach and the dessicated probiotic pills are a ripoff...obviously the buggies are pretty well dead. I use home-made kefir but it is readily available in any health food store. It cured me of years of irritable bowel problems, with a pain in my left abdomen which amplified my bad back and caused many a run for the bathroom 527. But, see a real doctor because you don't want to be treating cancer with spooky "rememdies." If you have never had a colonoscopy, have one soon. Yes, you were ripped off by this so-called naturopath. Out of curiosity, who billed you, the lab or the naturopath? If a lab, see if you can find out who owns the lab. Oh, and by the way, magnesium is a LAXATIVE ohmy 03 ! Edited by Trotsky, Sep 13 2009, 05:14 AM.
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| ocali | Sep 13 2009, 04:16 PM Post #15 |
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In addition to taking a (generic) Prilosac every day, I am just starting to take one Align a day.It is a probiotic supplement. My gastro-enterologist suggested it. It is OTC . I've haD on and off IBS for some years now, I'm hoping toget good resultsl JulieO |
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