Menopause Support Group
Menopause is the physiological cessation of menstrual cycles associated with advancing age. It normally occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55, when the body begins to slow and stop the production of eggs, estrogen and progesterone production decreases, and menstruation diminishes, eventually stopping altogether.
I have had problems with my feeling hot/cold and went to see a Nurse Practitioner who supposedly specializes in estrogen therapy.
Anyway, when I went to see her, she wanted to do a pap smear with a rectal exam. I had them and yesterday, her office called to tell me they found blood in my stool sample.
They suggested I contact my primary care dr. which I did.
My primary care dr tried to have the report faxed to them from the gyn office, but it was not faxed. I tried to get it faxed to me with no result.
Finally, my fam dr nurse said that she told him about my test and he said I should see a GI dr if it showed blood in my stool.
I was told by the gyn office that I could come by their office and pick up my test results.
While I was there, I asked to speak to the Nurse Practitioner about my results. The office girl told me I could see her in between patients and to wait.
My husband was with me, and he started to read my test results. He told me to look at the paper because on it was a detailed list of my exam including the condition of my uterus on exam. I had a total hysterectomy in 1982 and don't even have a uterus!!
It also said I have sexual dysfunction which I do not, and in one place said my vagina was normal and moist, in another place that I had atrophy and dryness.
I went up to the office girl while I was still waiting, and told her that I saw these conflicting things in my records.
She said I could still wait if I wanted to, so I did.
Then, she came out and said that I would have to make an appt and pay to see the Nurse Practitioner another time.
I was really upset by then.
I decided to write the Nurse Practitioner a letter and leave it for her to read. I told her that I had difficulty having my tests faxed for my fam dr to read, and about my report saying I had a uterus, and that I was being told I couldn't see her to ask about this without an appt when at first I was told to wait.
She called me and chewed me out really bad saying that the office girls said I was upset that I had a rectal exam and some other untrue things.
She said "I know you have a uterus", about what the papers said, and would not even give me a chance to explain my concerns. She said she will not see me as a patient again, that there are other good providers in the practice.
I asked her what a fam dr can do to help me regarding the blood in the stool result, and she said they can do a three day stool sample. So, I am going to call my old fam dr and see if he will order it before I run to a GI dr. ( I also hae hemmorhoid problems and she said it could be caused by that)
Also, his nurse had me do a thyroid test and when I asked about that,the nurse said it was fine. The report said my t4 was high! I wonder if this could be why I am getting bad hot flashes and moodiness!
In the meantime, maybe I don't want to deal withthis practice anyway!!
Anyway, when I went to see her, she wanted to do a pap smear with a rectal exam. I had them and yesterday, her office called to tell me they found blood in my stool sample.
They suggested I contact my primary care dr. which I did.
My primary care dr tried to have the report faxed to them from the gyn office, but it was not faxed. I tried to get it faxed to me with no result.
Finally, my fam dr nurse said that she told him about my test and he said I should see a GI dr if it showed blood in my stool.
I was told by the gyn office that I could come by their office and pick up my test results.
While I was there, I asked to speak to the Nurse Practitioner about my results. The office girl told me I could see her in between patients and to wait.
My husband was with me, and he started to read my test results. He told me to look at the paper because on it was a detailed list of my exam including the condition of my uterus on exam. I had a total hysterectomy in 1982 and don't even have a uterus!!
It also said I have sexual dysfunction which I do not, and in one place said my vagina was normal and moist, in another place that I had atrophy and dryness.
I went up to the office girl while I was still waiting, and told her that I saw these conflicting things in my records.
She said I could still wait if I wanted to, so I did.
Then, she came out and said that I would have to make an appt and pay to see the Nurse Practitioner another time.
I was really upset by then.
I decided to write the Nurse Practitioner a letter and leave it for her to read. I told her that I had difficulty having my tests faxed for my fam dr to read, and about my report saying I had a uterus, and that I was being told I couldn't see her to ask about this without an appt when at first I was told to wait.
She called me and chewed me out really bad saying that the office girls said I was upset that I had a rectal exam and some other untrue things.
She said "I know you have a uterus", about what the papers said, and would not even give me a chance to explain my concerns. She said she will not see me as a patient again, that there are other good providers in the practice.
I asked her what a fam dr can do to help me regarding the blood in the stool result, and she said they can do a three day stool sample. So, I am going to call my old fam dr and see if he will order it before I run to a GI dr. ( I also hae hemmorhoid problems and she said it could be caused by that)
Also, his nurse had me do a thyroid test and when I asked about that,the nurse said it was fine. The report said my t4 was high! I wonder if this could be why I am getting bad hot flashes and moodiness!
In the meantime, maybe I don't want to deal withthis practice anyway!!
Does your family doctor not want to Rx estrogen? Many will. Of course thyroid problems can be a little harder to diagnose and treat and many family doctors don't have that expertise. Have you tried checking some of the thyroid forums for doctor recommendations?
Best of luck trying to find a doctor who has some compassion and competence!
She could have given you the three cards for the three day stool sample test, omg. So sorry, it was surreal wasn't it....
So glad you can move on and find a real physician.
It took a long time for the office manager to come on the phone.
When she did answer, she also chewed me out big time. She said I had no valid complaint and was really mean.
She said they faxed me and my fam dr office my report 7 times. My family dr nurse said they never did fax it to them and said she even went through all their faxes.
The office mgr at the gyn office was really rude to me.
I am going to report this to my insurance co.
Now I have to find a new gyn office, my fam dr doesn't believe in estrogen because of risks.
He did tell me the bleeding I had was probably my hemmorhoids and because I am due for another colonoscopy in a few months, not to worry.
Usually when "blood in stool" is spotted - or if you are showing anemia signs the dr will have you go for a coloscopy. Becuase my iron was so low I landed up having both the upper and lower (dlown the throat & up the butt). They couldn't find anything and had me do iron shots.
Have your reg dr or OB?GYN dr refer to the proper "estrogen" or whoever specialist. Keep us posted.
Do not implode on yourself. You know what you know. Report this practice to the AMA, the Board of Health, whomever it is that this gets reported to... Here's a link that gives you a very simple outline of who to report these quacks to:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5106471_report-bad-doctors.html
Blood in stool? Did you give a stool sample? Or was it a digital rectal exam? (if it was just an exam, that could indicate hemorrhoids)
Sounds like modern day quackery. Best to report these people & write a review for someone else, who will be subjected to the same treatment unless forewarned !