Oh sweetie, so sorry for your troubles. Id damn sure be calling that Dr and getting in to see him. Like you said, we all know our bodies and know when something is wrong. Be persistant. There has to be something else going on. Hope you will be okay. Hugs to you sweetie ! By the way, Ive got plenty of flab too. Not even close to a size 6 ! lol Hang in there. Keep me informed.

Lori

Crazy question, but is swelling a side effect of any medication you take? Just a thought...

Nia,
I went through a similar thing- I was on weight watchers, had lost 27lbs and suddenly gained 18lbs in a week! Of course I went to my PCP, who said he could only go by the weights from the office and that showed I had only gained 2 lbs. Translation; he didn't believe I was on WW and had lost the weight which really pissed me off. Especially after they found gall bladder disease. Still no one has addressed this weight gain.....
They want you to lose weight and when you try they don't believe you. you are right- you know your body. i'd go back and sit in his office until he comes up with at least a theory or two. Don't let him off the hook- it could be nothing or it could be something serious. That's HIS job to figure out.

Sandy

Aww sweetheart,

(((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))) So sorry you are going through this right now. You are absolutely right to be upset bc you know your body better than anyone else and the fact that you are holding onto fluid and swollen in places like your abdomen and other places is alarming despite the fluid pills. I think that it is very appropriate to either be persistent with the doc you have to check you out more thoroughly or get another opinion asap. I have learned; especially with my battles through being dismissed to the point I almost had a massive stroke that when it come to your health YOU are your best advocate!! Sending strength, love and hugs your way from me!! NEVER give up!!! We are here for you!!

I rarely go and see docs, yet in the past I have often told them what was wrong with me only to see that deer in the headlights look. A few said you're right, how did you know? Dahhhhh! Now I just merely "attempt" to be the poor defenseless, helpless patient that they expect me to be, I don't always pull that off though especially if they are one of those holier than thou characters. I tend to give those ones a bit of a reality check even though it's me that suffers in the end. It's just my nature. It has forced me to try and understand things from their point of view and as I understand it's a hard "balance" for some of them to achieve. That professional/compassionate balance. I'm sure if some allow too much into the heart, they will be carrying their patients misery home with them. Still some appear to be cold and callous, perhaps it's their way of protecting their hearts from the endless suffer they see day in and day out. I just hope you find one that has that good balance, it certainly will make things for you much more tolerable, I finally did. I truly hope you get some relief soon , HUGS, Blaine

Okay so you "called" your GP, you didn't go see him so he could examine you, he prescribed a treatment based on that phone call and it didn't work....the next step is for you to actually go in for an appt, so he can examine you.

It doesn't sound like your Dr. doesn't care, it just sounds like it's time for the next step. They can't DX you over the phone and always get it right. They try what the think it is, and if it doesn't work you call them and let them know and move on to the next step. He's not badgering you to lose weight, or you've not mentioned it...

Just go into your Dr.'s office and have an appt. try to see what's going on.

NiaBerry,

Doctors are no different then anyone else. There are good ones and bad ones and we are the ones in charge of our bodies. We know what is happening and if we aren't being heard then that relationship needs to end. It can take time to find the doctor that will sit down and listen. There are caring doctors out there and I hope you find the one you need ASAP!

Good luck,
Joanne

I went in to see my GP after my first visit to the ER. This was actually my second visit. When I went to see him, he just increased my pain meds at that visit. After this ER visit, I called because I was so swollen I could barely walk. Right now, I am looking for a bariatric doctor. I am also looking for a doctor that doesn't look like he just walked out high school. The hospitals here fill their offices with these young doctors fresh out of med school that haven't got the bedside manner of a corpse, and they think that all that book sense they have is sufficient in dealing with patients. To work in a profession where you deal with people, you have to equipped with more than what you learn in a classroom. You have be able to listen to your patients and trust that these people know their bodies better than you do. You have to believe that if a person comes into your office and says HEY look I'm swollen, there is a reason that this person feels that their body swollen. There is something about this person that is not as it should be for them to walk into your office and express this concern. Your patients are not just coming into your office because they have nothing better to do with their money. One of my legs is considerably larger than the other, the swelling in my abdomen should be apparent to anyone who has seen me in the last month because it almost looks like I'm in the last stages of pregnancy, and one of my arms is so swollen that my elbow disappears when I stretch it out. I tried taking the fluid pills. All that did was make me lose even more sleep than I already was losing because now I get up all through the day and night to pee. I am researching bariatric doctors in my area because I feel that a doctor that specializes in working with people of the plus community would be a bit more willing to listen.

Docs are never supposed to believe anything you say. They are supposed to write "patient states...blah, lah, blah" and they offer diagnoses according to the tests and "stated symptoms". They believe fevers, bleeding profusely, x-rays, MRI's, CT scans, coma, etc. Things that prove there is something physically wrong.

The best thing we can do as patients is to keep a journal. The journal is hard evidence to a certain degree.

NiaBerry, if your swelling is pitting edema, then the doc will pay attention. Press your finger into the swelling. If the indentation remains after you remove your finger, they will believe that you're swollen.

I wish there was something I could do for you sweetie.

Gentle hugs.