Ruling things out?

[turkey feather]

I should have added that was the purpose of the flyer from the local hospital. To inform of the free services available at this hospital. It did not say if they did not know about these or if they were reluctant to ask for help. I am assuming they were very depressed after losing both of their jobs and car and home etc. and moving in with dad. But they had worked in loosely related fields.

[linda/IL]

Kinda late posting on this thread of diagnosis.  I sit on a fence on this.  My mom loves the attention she gets from one on one with a physician as many older folks do.  And there are times she is there just to discuss her problems that have been diagnosed, when it's not necessary.  I tell her she is wasting our medicare $$.  BUT, she has suffered off & on with colon issues for years and after being absolutely housebound due to diarrhea I really felt sorry for her.

They could not find anything wrong on her past colonoscopies but at this point they had to try again.  The specialist really dug & found a "bug" that was causing her problem.  A rare form of colitis.  She's doing better but disgusted that it took so long for help.

Unfortunately, as my GP told me they see so many elderly people especially those alone that have nothing to do but worry about every ache & pain they have.

I'm in a situation right now that I'm in a quandry about.  Have arthritis throughout my body (tests show this).  As I spoke of earlier my knee & back are giving me problems.  Went to chiro then after 2 sessions went to GP.  Major complaint was my knee (could barely put weight on it) but my back also.  Sending me to a orthopedic spec. (Oct 1) for knee after x-ray.  severe arthritis.  My back-he barely considered; gave me an arthritis medication to try.  Now 6 or 7 yrs. ago I had to have the coritisone injections in my back, which helped and my knee was very much the same as it is now.  Switched chiro & he says it's my back.  Adjusted differently & it is much better but not perfect.

Really feel the GP blew off the main problem-my back-and I hate to just have a specialist looking only at my knee.

Definitely don't want knee surgery if not needed plus still have the nerve problem from my wrist.  As said in this post, I really feel I know my body pretty well and this all brings back memories of yrs. ago.

To Kay's question, I would say how lucky they are.  Now they can get & enjoy a new venture.

[Kay/NC]

Linda, I sometimes feel that doctors must bump up to specialists the problems they think will result in a pricey surgery or other treatment...you are probably going to start hearing about a knee replacement. Backs are more complex, I think.

Your statements about your mother run along more the lines I guess I sm getting st, too. A lot of this is about getting attention, I feel. Not dismissing that as trivial, but as you say, the $$$$$!!!!!

A symptom like persistent disrrhea certainly warrants more tests and studies. I worry that ,aybe someone who is always crying " Wolf!" Is taken as seriously...don't you?

I worked our voting precinct with a lady once who thought every age spot was skin cancer. Every minor ache was excruciating. She was a hypochondriac. You don't hear that term anymore.

[turkey feather]

This is a complex situation. I have been sent to three specialists (three problems) in the past several months and they do have a better perspective on a illness. I see this as a trend for the GP. Diagnosis and sent to specialist. But help can come in unexpected places. I was told to get a boot for my sore heel In that office, it was clear that I would not be able to walk with one. The woman suddenly remember a walk-in orthopedic clinic an hour away and we went there.  I believe this nurse practitioner knew what my problems due are to the broken femur and knows it can fixed in the clinic. A great relief. Maybe it is the old saying 'two heads are better than one'.

[linda/IL]

Glad you got some relief.  Sometimes I think these doctors are so focused in on a certain way to do things, they don't see the forest for the trees.  Back is a little better today but knee is still swollen some.  Been out weeding garden; probably something I should take it easy on but don't feel bad yet.  Really hoping this pans out on it's own but doubtful.

[Kay/NC]

There os a principle called " Ockham's Razor" , which lossely explains as " when you hear hoofbeats, think horse, not zebra".

There is a good deal of value in defaulting to the simplest explanation, and working your way up to more complex ones. There are, unfiortunately, some folks who have a hammer, so every problem looks like a nail.