Jen's blood sugar issue is not resolving. She is getting sick(er). She is getting one yeast infection after another, and she is eating a very controlled diet. She has a follow-up appointment with the primary care doc in a few weeks, including more blood work.

*I* think she needs to see an endocrinologist. So I call our old Pediatrician, who treated all four of my kids, Jeff and Jen from BIRTH, and Jen only stopped seeing her just over a year ago. I explained to 3 different people in her office what was going on - in detail - and told them all that I didn't think the Primary Care doc she was now seeing was equipped or had enough expertise to deal with this, and that even though Jen isn't going to her anymore, I TRUST her, and just wanted her to recommend an endocrinologist. After several phone calls and most of the day yesterday, the nurse called me back, and very snootily said *Dr. M***** said for you to find one in your provider directory*.

I have always had the utmost respect for and trust in this woman. They are the ones who diagnosed Jen with sleep apnea, which prevented me losing her to SIDS when she was 3 weeks old. We were in that office at LEAST once a week for many years, with one or more of the kids. She's the only Ped we ever used - so figure over 20 years and 4 kids, we saw her a LOT. I KNOW that she knows who Jen is.

I was hoping she could just give us a name of a good doc for Jen to see, I KNOW she knows some endocrinologists, and I feel like an idiot now for calling and I'm so hurt and disappointed to be dismissed like that.

There's no way I'm sending her to the one I went to a few years back, he has NO bedside manner. Jen's now on her dad's insurance and he faxed me 2 pages out of his provider directory, but they are all endo docs at a medical clinic across the river, which Jen doesn't have the time or desire to travel to. I guess we will truly have to just call the insurance company and pick one out of a hat, which is exactly what I was trying to avoid doing.

By Amecmom on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 08:26 am:

I would be angry, too. A ped is a partner in you child's life. I would send the doc a letter that detailed your experience and expressed your dissapointment.

You could ask around, or call your local hospital to see if they have a referral service.

Hugs to you and Jen. I hope you find an answer.
Ame

BTW - is she taking pro biotics to help combat the yeast?

Ame

By Rayanne on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 08:27 am:

I'm so sorry. I wish I knew what to say. I wanted to send you {{{{{HUGS}}}}} and I hope that you find a good Endocrinologst.

By Colette on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 08:38 am:

Good luck Karen.

When things calm down a bit, I'd write a letter to your old dr and let her know how this made you feel. Maybe the next time a former pt calls looking for help she won't be so quick to dismiss it.

By Tunnia on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 08:46 am:

What a rotten way to treat a former patient! I agree that you should write a letter. Good luck finding a new doctor.

By Karen~moderator on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 08:54 am:

Thanks - I am more than a little surprised at this reaction from her. I have referred numerous patients to her and she knew ALL the details of our lives. I wasn't asking her to TREAT Jen, just to recommend someone.

Ame, she takes probiotics and acidopholous and vitamin B and I can't remember what all else. She is getting a yeast infection like every 2-3 weeks and having to call her GYN for a script for Diflucan, because the OTC stuff doesn't touch it.

The blood sugar thing is, her body doesn't metabolize sugar, so she is on a very restricted diet which the PCP SAID would likely control it. Only it's obvious it's not. I think she has systemic yeast - my sister did, and she went through hell trying to get it treated. She had a 6 or 8 week daily course of Diflucan to get rid of it and it made her sicker than the dickens. I'm starting to wonder if this is what Jen needs. But there's only one doctor in the state that I know of that treats this condition this aggressively, and she is in Baton Rouge, doesn't take insurance and has over a year waiting list. My sister went through all that to see her a few years back.

I am starting to *really* worry - I can look at Jen and see that she is not well - she is getting headaches a lot, and feels lousy in general. It's time to find someone who can help her. Diabetes runs in her dad's family. I am starting to be afraid that she is going to need to be on daily meds or injections. But anything is better than the way she is feeling/living right now. She was crying this week that she doesn't want to have to take drugs the rest of her life. But I tried to point out to her that with her blood sugar out of control, she is also risking damage to her kidneys and other organs.

Just feeling very frustrated and sad about this right now.....

By Beth on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 09:58 am:

I would definately write the ped a letter. ((hugs)) to you and your daughter. I hope you get your answers soon!

By Cat on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 10:09 am:

I'm so sorry, Karen. My doc growing up was great (family doc, not a ped). I even went to visit him one time when I was home after moving away (I'd been gone about a year). He squeezed me in between patients just to chat for a few minutes. How disappointing. I'd write a letter. You never know--maybe the nurses just told you that to get you off their backs. Good luck and lots of hugs for both you and Jen.

By Debbie on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 10:12 am:

{{{Karen}}} Ditto, about writing a letter. I am so sorry that Jen is feeling bad. Sounds like she definitely needs to see a specialist. I hope you find one that you like and trust.

By Missmudd on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 10:38 am:

Are you sure they even talked w/ your doc? I would more suspicious of the staff than the doc. I am think that Dr X. was super busy and they decided on their own to blow you off because they kept missing Dr. X between patients. I would write a letter too.

By Happynerdmom on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 10:45 am:

I was thinking the same thing as Missmud. I would also write a letter, or maybe ask if you can be transferred to the doc's voicemail and leave a message directly? You could express your disappointment with how you were dismissed, and repeat you request *in case* she didn't actually hear it from the staff. Voicemail would likely bring a swifter response, if it is possible.

By Ginny~moderator on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 11:17 am:

More important than Dr. X is changing Jen's present primary care physician. Ask for recommendatons from friends (I think you have some friends who work in medical fields) and check to see if they are in her provider book. Yes, I agree, she definitely needs to see an endocrinologist. It is absolutely outrageous for her to be so sick off and on for so long.

By Karen~moderator on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 12:35 pm:

I had the same thought about them possibly not even asking the doctor. That response is just so out of character for this doctor. I LOVED her, and even when we moved over 20 miles away, I continued using her because I TRUSTED her and she was so good with kids.

Ginny, Jen's PCP is the one I use, I just don't think she can adequately treat this. She's fine for normal stuff, but this is obviously past *normal*. I WILL find someone, I was just hoping for a personal reference, rather than just picking one out of a book, because you never know just *what* you are getting that way.

Thanks for all the support.

By Eve on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 01:01 pm:

(((Karen))) What an awful experience. No advice for you, but please know I'm thinking of you. I'm always an email away...

By Andi on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 01:40 pm:

Sorry no advise here, it can be so frustrating dealing with doctors and the fact that you saw so much of her you would think she would atleast take the time to talk to you on the phone!

(((KAREN)))

By Amecmom on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 01:55 pm:

Karen I just read about some homeopathic treatments that might help. I have no personal experience with them, but I thought I'd pass them on. Concentrated Oregano oil capsules, a capsule or powder made from the Japanese mushroom called Maitake, or a boric acid suppository (this may need a prescription and will have to be made by the pharmacy).

As i said, I have no experience with these remedies, but I thought I'd pass them along. I hope she feels better, soon.
Ame

By Karen~moderator on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 02:08 pm:

Ame, my oldest DD, Jules has actually used the boric acid thing for yeast infections. I'll mention the other stuff to Jen as well. Thanks!

By Tayjar on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 02:15 pm:

I have never used this site before but there is a site called www.healthgrades.com It might help you find a dr in your area. It's worth a try. Do you have a university in the area that trains doctors? They might be able to help direct you to a good one. If an endo is a staff member there, he may also have a private practice.

Also, I don't know if a local support group for diabetes patients could help you or not. They might have some insider knowledge on good drs. in your area.

Good luck.

By Jann on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 03:04 pm:

Could you call back and just ask for the doctor to call you herself?

By Karen~moderator on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 04:12 pm:

Jann, that is what I asked for yesterday - to actually speak with the doctor. It's obvious they either aren't bothering, or she doesn't want to be bothered. We will find one. Jen wants to have her blood work at the scheduled time, see the PCP and then see an endo. So I guess I'll just have to wait on her..... she *is* almost 21, and I can't force her..... though I'm going to keep talking to her about it.

I just don't think she comprehends how serious this *could* be.

By Jelygu on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 08:21 pm:

Ugh... that stinks that this happened. I agree that it may have been the staff though.
I hope you all find out what is wrong with Jen, and that it isn't too serious. Good luck finding a good doctor, and I will keep thinking of you both.

By Pamt on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 12:32 am:

Sure hope she can find a good endo and get herself taken care of. Sorry about the disappointment with the ped.

By Feona on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 07:31 am:

Hope she feels better. I feel bad for her.

Here are some little things I know about yeast infection.

The pro biotic - you can stick one in the vaginia also at night everyday. Someone told me about that. Get the beneficial bacteria to the source.

Also the garlic - triple coated from gnc - no smell... Dh said my breath doesn't smell. That stuff works. It also dropped my blood pressure by 6 points also. (I already have low normal blood pressure. But that is amazing anyway.)

Also my friend said the doctor said not to use soap down by the vaginia. She uses just water in the special bottle they give you after you give birth. Doctor said the soap can cause problems for some people. I am sure there is something that you can use that won't cause problems but soap can cause problems for some people. My friend had some sort of reoccuring problem. (infection type problem)

Also cotton underwear...

That is the only thing I can think of...

By Feona on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 07:49 am:

http://www.askdocweb.com/yeastinfections.html

That is a really good article.

By Kim on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 08:31 am:

Karen, I would go into the office and ask to see her face to face for five minutes. Wait if you have to! DON'T call ahead! I also think it is the nurses. This has happened to me before. And then, even if it was her, explain again and tell her you really value her opinion. My guess? She had no idea you even called.

By Dana on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 09:52 pm:

I had a severe yeast infection for about a year. I was in tears about everyday and the itch was something I could barely make it thru the day with. There was a dr in St. Pete (I lived in Tampa FL at the time) that had written a book about systimatic yeast infection. In very short description, it says to go on a macro biotic diet (you will find lots of info on the web) and to not use birth control pills. Along w/ diet, I was treated me w/ Nystatin both rectal and vaginally. Oh, I am so glad this time of my life is over.

I tried the macrobiotic diet for about 2 wks and just couldn't stand to eat such bland stuff. After getting sicker and sicker and finally ending up in the hospital, I had exploratory surgery finding a ruptured ovarian cyst. After that I have never had another infection. No reason at all for that to have made a difference but that is how it happened.

The two biggest changes that I made during that time? I broke up w/ my fiance (hmm, was he cheating on me?) and I quit taking BC pills. I have no clue why I suffered for a year (and even missed weeks at a time of work). I have no clue why it stopped and never happened again. I was about 21 when I had the problems.

If you have any questions about my bout w/ this feel free to email me, Karen.

By Marcia on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 11:22 pm:

I strongly believe in and have seen great results with garlic and acidophilus treatments. It takes a month, but it works wonders. Mega doses of garlic at night, and mega doses of acidophilus in the morning.
If you want more info, let me know.

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 08:49 am:

Thanks again! I'm going to print this out for Jen. She doesn't take garlic, I know that for sure.

Some of this may help, but her blood sugar thing is a very real problem.

I am just not going to bother with the Ped. I trusted and respected her for many years, but I'm not going to bother with that anymore. If I were to just show up and sit and wait, I could literally be waiting for hours, and I can't miss that time from work. If I try to call again, and ask to speak with her (again), I will likely have the same result. I don't know what the deal is, but I'm just going to give up on that angle. I'll just have to get over my feelings about that whole thing.

Thanks for all the support and replies and info and ideas!

By Jann on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 09:18 am:

A girlfriend of mine kept having horrible yeast problems. She cut out ALL yeast products (bread, pasta, cakes ect) and added acidoohillus to her diet and it worked. She has to be really careful about eating wheat now.

By Amecmom on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 09:36 am:

Has she been checked for Candidiasis (systemic yeast infection)?

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/31092.html#diagnosis

Blood sugar issues put you at risk for it. It may just be that the vaginal yeast is where she's seeing it, but just treating it vaginally won't help if it's systemic.

Ame

Ame

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 09:54 am:

Ame, I posted above that I suspected she had that, my sister went through that. She eats no wheat/pasta/bread whatsoever now, and no sugar. There is very little she can actually eat at this point. And the fact that she does not eat meat limits her diet even more. I think it's just a couple of weeks until her next blood draw and PCP appointment. I've spoken with my X and asked him to please talk to her too, about setting up the appointment with an endocrinologist.

By Amecmom on Monday, July 25, 2005 - 02:39 pm:

Sorry, Karen, I guess I read it a few days before I posted that and forgot. Glad you are looking at all the options.
Ame