Experience of a 26yo New Zealand-based male.
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2018 4:39 am
I have been to 3 GPs in the past 2 years in my effort to obtain a diagnosis for my numerous symptoms. Since late-2016 I have been in hospital at least 10 times and visited my doctors countless times at a huge financial cost.
My symptoms for late 2016 were:
Reflux
Flank pain
Heartburn
Indigestion
Alternating constipation & diarrhea
I went to my GP numerous times, based in Green Island, Dunedin, and on not getting a satisfactory diagnosis after many visits there, I admitted myself to Dunedin public hospital after waking up in the night with excruciating flank pain and a feeling like my stomach and heart were going to explode.
My GP and the doctors at the hospital agreed it must be kidney stones but a scan and x-ray ruled that out. The symptoms eventually went away and that was the end of that saga.
Fast-forward to mid-2017 and I’m back at my new GP office and the hospital with a return of these symptoms with the addition of:
Ongoing nausea
Chronic constipation and diarrhea
Over several GP visits and hospitalisations I was subjected to many uncomfortable rectal examinations, an oral enema, laxative routines (sachets, tablets, powders etc), dietary changes, vitamin supplements (MVite pills) and an excercise plan.
I stuck to everything 100% but the symptoms never improved.
This back-and-forward between the GP and the hospital continued well into this year as well, with many new symptoms, blood, urine, stool tests and X-rays “ruling out” a massive list of mis-diagnosis made by multiple doctors including:
IBD
GERD
Chron’s
Gall Stones
Kidney Stones
Thyroid issues
Celiac disease
Glandular fever
In the end my GP just kind of gave up and settled on IBS as a default. We wasted time trying multiple, expensive diets and foods that either didn’t help or actually exasperated the problems.
It wasn’t until I started having black poo that my GP started re-engaging with my properly and made an effort again. However, the emergence of a
My symptoms for late 2016 were:
Reflux
Flank pain
Heartburn
Indigestion
Alternating constipation & diarrhea
I went to my GP numerous times, based in Green Island, Dunedin, and on not getting a satisfactory diagnosis after many visits there, I admitted myself to Dunedin public hospital after waking up in the night with excruciating flank pain and a feeling like my stomach and heart were going to explode.
My GP and the doctors at the hospital agreed it must be kidney stones but a scan and x-ray ruled that out. The symptoms eventually went away and that was the end of that saga.
Fast-forward to mid-2017 and I’m back at my new GP office and the hospital with a return of these symptoms with the addition of:
Ongoing nausea
Chronic constipation and diarrhea
Over several GP visits and hospitalisations I was subjected to many uncomfortable rectal examinations, an oral enema, laxative routines (sachets, tablets, powders etc), dietary changes, vitamin supplements (MVite pills) and an excercise plan.
I stuck to everything 100% but the symptoms never improved.
This back-and-forward between the GP and the hospital continued well into this year as well, with many new symptoms, blood, urine, stool tests and X-rays “ruling out” a massive list of mis-diagnosis made by multiple doctors including:
IBD
GERD
Chron’s
Gall Stones
Kidney Stones
Thyroid issues
Celiac disease
Glandular fever
In the end my GP just kind of gave up and settled on IBS as a default. We wasted time trying multiple, expensive diets and foods that either didn’t help or actually exasperated the problems.
It wasn’t until I started having black poo that my GP started re-engaging with my properly and made an effort again. However, the emergence of a