Can't family doctors order this?

[elizzza811]

A couple of weeks ago I went to a new family doctor (internal medicine). Because my neurologist didn't seem to think my day/night sporadic 'sweat attacks' were seizure-related, I asked this doctor to order a (female) hormone panel on me. He wouldn't do it though? And I remember in the past multiple family doctors checking my female hormone levels for fewer symptoms, so I'm trying to figure out what's up?

I know this doctor (during my appointment) thought I had Medicare (since the receptionists hadn't updated my insurance information in my chart, only in the computer), and this doctor had tried to dissuade me at first by saying my 'insurance might not pay'. But when I persisted he smiled and went on to play dumb by saying, "I wouldn't even begin to know which panel to order on you anyway since there are sooo many." Huh? If I remember correctly estradiol, progesterone, and I specifically requested he check my testosterone levels for certain 'sex-related issues'. I would think that sweats combined with trouble climaxing would certainly medically justify these tests?

He ended up referring me to a gyno, and quite frankly I don't feel I should have to spread my legs to have my hormone levels tested (sorry), especially since I don't even have a cervix anymore. And when I got smart with him and asked him why they keep doing PAPs on me when I don't even have a cervix, he fired back, "Well you should ask them!"

 

[SeizingSince88]

Yes, your family doc can. it is a matter of insurance though or you will be paying a pretty penny. You can get anything done through your family doc if you want; it just might cost you a bit more money and may take some of convincing. If you haven't already... I would do some serious research online to makes sure you are ordering the right test before you potentially spend a lot of money on one test that may reveals nothing.

You might just need a blood work up from an endocrinologist. They can tell you what you lack in your diet or have too much of and you can begin supplementing for a healthier lifestyle. a poor diet can cause night sweats. I'm not suggesting you have a poor diet, but most people take in too much of one thing or don't get enough of another.

I had a dietary workup and an supplementing now and feel much better and actually have more control over my seizures.

 

[elizzza811]

Thanks for confirming what I thought. Thing is I would have appreciated if he would have just been blunt, "Because you have Medicare, these tests would likely not be covered." Then I could've informed him that I no longer was using Medicare as my primary since I was now covered under my husband's employer-sponsored coverage or I could've opted to pay for the tests myself.

But to lie to me and tell me that he had no idea which test(s) to order? How in the world did he get a medical degree? I'll never go back to him because he lied. I've experienced situations similar to this with other doctors and tests I've requested (since having Medicare). Bottom line is Medicare stinks and doctors should just be honest about that, rather than leaving a patient to feel like they are asking for or expecting too much of them. That I could respect. Lying I can't.

 

[nicholas:)]

Thank goodness for the NHS (National Health Service) in the UK. I've had eegs, mri scans, two different neurologists and and free medication for heart and seizure all because the money comes out of our national insurance contributions.

Wish you luch

 

[Emee]

My GP (internal med) did a hormone panel on me. He also told me I didn't need a PAP test since I don't have a cervix. Every dr I've ever gone to has done a PAP test on me & I haven't had a cervix in 30 yrs & they all knew it.

 

[elizzza811]

Yea, same here...one reason I stopped seeing a gyn. The other reason was because the last gyn I saw told me my symptoms were all in my head, and as it turned out, not only was I having seizures all along, but doctors had found Lyme Disease and some sort of staph infection in my bloodstream.

I'm actually thinking of writing this family doctor a letter. I'd just leave a message with his nurse, but since I never plan on seeing him again and I want him to hear everything I have to say, I might just go ahead and flip in a letter. Then he can call me back and I can flip on him again. At least I'll feel better since I'm sitting here at 3am sweating...again.

 

[ssidah]

Lyme co-infections will cause night sweats. If you have lyme, you probably have co-infections too. Lyme also causes seizures. My first seizure was within one year of getting lyme..... Something everyone with seizures should check out. It is quite a common cause but is never diagnosed.

 

[elizzza811]

I've actually been diagnosed with both babesia and bartonella, two of the coinfections. High titers of parvo and EBV too. I've had some treatment, but finding a doctor willing to keep me on long-term antibiotics has been such a struggle that I've given up. Clarithromycin was one that helped. Rocephin too.

 

[ssidah]

I have all the things you mention plus some. I was bitten by a tick in 2002, had my first seizure in 2003, and then no more until 2009 when I started having grand mals every couple of months (no fun). Have spent all of that time trying to determine why I had so many things going wrong (brain problems galore, fibromyalga, chronic fatigue, back, hip and of course the seizures). All the problems came on at different times and also came and went periodically. Not one doctor ever asked about lyme, but I finally started adding things up and self diagnosed in summer 2011. In Jan. 2012, I saw a lyme specialist and he tested for and diagnosed all the infections that are currently going on. I had my chiropractor muscle test for all the infections and then later he gave me rife treatments for six months. That definitely worked and I may go back to them at some point. During this time I ran across someone who had cured lyme and seizures using a biofeedback machine called Bioscan2010 The site won’t let me post the web address but you can probably find it at energetic- medicine. It has a net extension and then a backslash. End with bioscan2010 and lastly html. This is the treatment I’m currently using and the recommendation is for a very high quality Colloidal Silver, immune support and one other probiotic. I’m seeing him every 6 wks at which time he re-evaluates and changes my meds based on the results of the machine. I’m only taking what he recommends.

I have never taken antibiotics as I heard they don’t work too well in the long run and if you’ve had the infections long term. I heard they were great if you haven’t had the infections too long. I have heard that Rocephin was good for some but I don’t read much positive about antibiotics and lyme as they say they drive the spirochetes into a form that resists the antibiotics and ultimately produces more of the spirochetes. So ultimately you get worse.

You might want to read about the salt/c cure which gets good reviews and there is something else called the Marshall Protocol. Bryan Rosner is a good author with an overview on these. If my current treatments don’t get me well in a year, I will probably try the salt/c cure but don’t want to be doing more than one thing at a time.

I have paid out-of-pocket for all of my treatments and medicines as I’m on Supplement to Medicare and am not going to get help with any of the treatments I’m choosing. I’ve accepted that and am moving on as I don’t believe conventional treatments are going to cure me and I don’t want to beg for help from the insurance and doctors any more. Hopefully, the lyme advocates will make some headway on all of the complex issues that thousands of people are facing due to lyme.

Sorry to go on so long but I think your night sweats are probably caused by your infections and getting rid of them is going to help.

 

[epileric]

Please be advised that colloidal silver has no known use to the human body & can be harmful.

Colloidal silver isn't considered safe or effective for any of the health claims manufacturers make. Silver has no known purpose in the body. Nor is it an essential mineral, as some sellers of silver products claim.

Colloidal silver products are made of tiny silver particles suspended in a liquid — the same type of precious metal used in jewelry, dental fillings, silverware and other consumer goods. Colloidal silver products are usually marketed as dietary supplements that are taken by mouth. Colloidal silver products also come in forms to be injected or applied to the skin.

Manufacturers of colloidal silver products often claim that they are cure-alls, boosting your immune system, fighting bacteria and viruses, and treating cancer, HIV/AIDS, shingles, herpes, eye ailments and prostatitis. However, no sound scientific studies to evaluate these health claims have been published in reputable medical journals. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration has taken action against some manufacturers of colloidal silver products for making unproven health claims.

It's not clear how much colloidal silver may be harmful, but it can build up in your body's tissues over months or years. Most commonly, this results in argyria (ahr-JIR-e-uh), a blue-gray discoloration of your skin, eyes, internal organs, nails and gums. While argyria doesn't pose a serious health problem, it can be a cosmetic concern because it doesn't go away when you stop taking silver products.

Rarely, excessive doses of colloidal silver can cause possibly irreversible serious health problems, including kidney damage and neurological problems such as seizures. Colloidal silver products may also interact with medications, including penicillamine, quinolone, tetracycline and thyroxine medications.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/colloidal-silver/AN01682

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=http://youtu.be/ahihGKZC5Kk

 

[epileric]

Also there has been no proof that the salt/c cure works either. All "proof" has been anecdotal.

"Salt & Vitamin C Protocol", which seems to be quite popular, despite the fact that the primary source of this protocol, the site http://www.lymephotos.com, contains a lot of questionable information and strange pictures, accompanied by wild speculations; and despite the fact that the authors of lymephotos.com wish to remain anonymous.

http://www.lymeneteurope.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=56

They also recommend very high intakes of vitamin C when the RDI is only 60 mg per day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reference_Daily_Intake

 

[ssidah]

Response to epilepsy police : lyme treatments

Perhaps when someone has lyme and seizures, and they have not been helped or taken seriously by their doctors, pharmaceuticals, and insurance companies for a long enough time, they look for other cures. Common people don't have millions of dollars to do controlled studies so all they have is their word and the word of those who have been helped by the protocol. Each of these protocols should be used with care. There are always varying opinions and not everyone is helped due to the complex nature of the disease. I disagree with the comment on colloidal silver and the salt/c protocol. I think colloidal silver comes in many different qualities so it is possible to get one that doesn't work. I think the evidence is there that if made properly, it kills various organisms and is less harmful than antibiotics. If you don't want to use it then don't. The extreme cases put forth as to turning someone blue were all due to someone taking high amounts over a long period of time. You can take too much of anything and hurt yourself. I personally know that it works topically and also internally but I take a high quality product and not very much. I'm not blue.

Regarding the salt/c cure, again, it is up to the person if they want to try it. There is a book by M. Fett which covers it extensively. There is also a blog on yahoo that has some anecdotal postings. M. Fett is very knowledgeable and well known for his knowledge and cure from lyme due to this treatment.

It would be nice if a person could go to a source for truthful information about every protocol that exists. It isn't going to happen. Even government sponsored sites have erroneous information. Medical sites are sometimes the worst since they don't give more than one view of a protocol. I don't trust them on everything and I personally research things myself rather than take the word of anyone else. I think the postings are misleading because they don't give the other side of the issues. Obviously, there is something to them or so many people wouldn't be saying they helped them. :twocents

 

[epileric]

Perhaps when someone has lyme and seizures, and they have not been helped or taken seriously by their doctors, pharmaceuticals, and insurance companies for a long enough time, they look for other cures.

I have no doubt that is what happens & I feel it is for that reason that we are more likely to believe things that are less likely to be valid. That tends to attract more villainous people to the supplement & pharmaceutical industries and why we as patients should be skeptical of anyone who can profit from our illnesses.

Common people don't have millions of dollars to do controlled studies so all they have is their word and the word of those who have been helped by the protocol. Each of these protocols should be used with care. There are always varying opinions and not everyone is helped due to the complex nature of the disease. I disagree with the comment on colloidal silver and the salt/c protocol. I think colloidal silver comes in many different qualities so it is possible to get one that doesn't work. I think the evidence is there that if made properly, it kills various organisms and is less harmful than antibiotics. If you don't want to use it then don't. The extreme cases put forth as to turning someone blue were all due to someone taking high amounts over a long period of time. You can take too much of anything and hurt yourself. I personally know that it works topically and also internally but I take a high quality product and not very much. I'm not blue.

You’re right that controlled studies are very expensive. It is for that reason that trials are only done when there is a possibility of it having positive results. You are allowed your opinion but biological fact states that the human body does not require silver in any capacity to function & that silver molecules can have negative consequences on certain organs regardless of the “quality” of the colloidal silver.

Colloidal silver is LIKELY UNSAFE for use. The silver in colloidal silver products gets deposited in vital organs such as the skin, liver, spleen, kidney, muscle, and brain. This can lead to an irreversible bluish skin discoloration that first appears in the gums. It can also stimulate melanin production in skin, and areas exposed to the sun will become increasingly discolored.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-779-COLLOIDAL%20SILVER.aspx?activeIngredientId=779&activeIngredientName=COLLOIDAL%20SILVER click “side effects” tab for quote

Regarding the salt/c cure, again, it is up to the person if they want to try it. There is a book by M. Fett which covers it extensively. There is also a blog on yahoo that has some anecdotal postings. M. Fett is very knowledgeable and well known for his knowledge and cure from lyme due to this treatment.

Very true, I think it is up to the individual what they want to try, I also feel that people should be as informed from all sides before trying anything. Exposing only one side (no matter which) and not the other is not good either. I don’t think it is right to tell someone to take a dose of anything above the accepted appropriate levels and not mention its excessiveness.

It would be nice if a person could go to a source for truthful information about every protocol that exists. It isn't going to happen. Even government sponsored sites have erroneous information. Medical sites are sometimes the worst since they don't give more than one view of a protocol. I don't trust them on everything and I personally research things myself rather than take the word of anyone else. I think the postings are misleading because they don't give the other side of the issues. Obviously, there is something to them or so many people wouldn't be saying they helped them. :twocents

Actually, if you search the science sites you can usually find the study/experiment that they claim proved their treatment to be safe & appropriate. That right there gives us an idea of how likely they are to be misinforming us.

For that reason I think that science & medical sites are better than others. They do deceive but it is much harder for them when their process of proof can be examined. There are numerous ways that they may slant things to their benefit but in scientific sites they legally have to show that their products have been tested as objectively as possible. That doesn’t mean that pharmaceutical industries don’t try to make as much money as possible. That is actually why I was so interested in the book Testing Treatments which discusses how various treatments & pharmaceuticals are tested, how to read them & how parts of the system need to be modified to make it more functional & harder to deceive.

I have found the most honest scientific sites have been those of colleges as there is not any need to slant results, the teachers get paid what they get paid regardless of experiments outcomes.

 

[Birdbomb]

Oh I just LOVE a man in uniform!

uh no wait...I'm in uniform too. Dang! Gotta love me too!

All kidding aside, I am fully aware of the prejudices some so-called medical "professionals" have towards patients with Medicare/Medicaid. I am also aware there are avenues of recourse when we believe those medical "professionals" have not treated us with the same considerations. You are sent an evaluation sheet after each visit,so that is your time to be open and frank. I nailed an eye doctor for treating the Medicare/Medicaid patients like shit. And I still to this day, will find my recourse's any time I feel slighted by any doctor.
Patient affairs is a great service provided by every hospital. I damn neared died after my last surgery and the hospital staff totally neglected me. My complaint blew that ward apart. There are ways of getting the medical treatment you need and deserve. I hope this has been helpful to you. (hugs)