NWR: What's wrong with FI

jennyann28

So I've mentioned in previous posts that FI's been pretty sick.  He's been bounced around to a lot of doctors & no one has been able to figure out what is wrong with him.  Mostly he's been to cardiologists, and is waiting for an appointment with a pulminologist, but he also saw a gastroenterologist & had an endoscopy done.  After his endoscopy, they told him he had some acid reflux but that was it & gave him some meds (that haven't seemed to help his symptoms any).

WELL, yesterday I checked the mail (which we don't do every day because we have a locking mailbox & it's down the street & we are lazy), and he had several medical-bill looking pieces of mail.  Turns out one of them wasn't a bill!  The stupid gastroenterologist sent him a LETTER telling him his scope was abnormal & he needed to come in immediately.  Um... who sends a letter to tell you that?!?

But anyway, it turns out FI has Eosinophilic Esophagitis.  Google tells us it's a food-allergy disease that causes inflammation of the esophagus, and it's symptoms include asthma (basically), which is amazing because this whole time FI has had problems with his breathing.  It includes all his other random & seemingly unrelated symptoms too!  So we may actually have a diagnosis!

We don't know what he's allergic too yet, but he has an appointment in 2 weeks and we will know more.  It's been a really long road to find out what's wrong, and he's felt so sick, so I'm really glad we're finally getting to the bottom of things (even though I'm mad they sent a letter instead of calling).

sarack

What a relief! I'm so glad that you might be on track for a diagnosis. I'm crossing my fingers for you that it isn't his favorite food or food group that is causing him so much ache.

P.S. Doctor's offices are so DUMB. One time I got something in the mail that said I needed a biopsy done because I may have cancer. I freaked out, called for an appointment and they scheduled me 6 weeks out. I guess if I had cancer it would have spread. It was scary and definately something they should have called to tell me. I don't check my mail except like 1 time a month for the utilities bill. I pay everything else online.

jennyann28

Yeah, doctors are idiots.  Unfortunately, the most common food triggers, are like, the most common foods.  Like milk, and wheat.  FI is a cereal-aholic!  He'd be lost without either of those things, which I'm guessing it's one of them, since he's been so sick & he eats that all the time.

KST_

Oh Jennyann! I'm sooo glad you guys have a diagnosis! Have no idea is the worst, but at least now you can have a true game plan. That must be such a relief! I agree with you about sending a letter though. Geez! What a crappy doc! I know that when I get my annual pap, they send a letter if everything is fine. The one time I had an abnormal result, the nurse called me to tell me the news. That's the way it's supposed to be done!

Chances are that it is probably something he likes. Allergies seem to go one of two ways: either a food you can't stand (your body telling you something) or oddly, a food you love.

MrsH8172010

I'm so glad you have a diagnosis, it's scary to have something wrong with you (or a loved one) but it's even scarier to not know what is wrong or what you can do about it.

Sorry about what a long process it has been that sucks oh and I agree it's very odd that they notified you through the mail??!!

Congrats on finding out what it is finally!

mudpuddlestomper

Oh wow!  Glad you finally have a diagnosis!  DR's offices can get so retarded sometimes.  Really...a LETTER?!

jennyann28

Whoa, Mud!  Why does it say your sn is 74390081250216somethingsomething?!?!

sarack

omg, i totally just asked her that in a different post. i'm slow!

sjlarobadiere

Oh my goodness! Even though it took forever to get an answer I'm glad you guys finally know what it is and that hopefully soon problems will be solved! UGH! I hate doctors sometimes. Though I imagine right now they are busy with crazy people who think they have every illness possible and such!!

karebear219

I am sooo happy they got it figured out.. What a relief for you guys. I hope he isn't allergic to something too yummy.

alyssa324

i cant believe they sent a letter. it said immediately now how is that supposed to be accomplished by snail mail? That good though that you guys are getting to the bottom him being sick. My son has an extreme allergy to tree nuts. I have to carry an epi pen with us everywhere

mma3

I am really glad that you finally have results.  Regarding the doctor sending a letter, I would call the business manager and let them know that you were never called.  They can't fix issues like this if they aren't notified.

dbraulik

What a relief.
Hopefully he's not like me- reactive to wheat and sugar.

dmw_2010

YAY for having an answer!  At least now FI can work on how to keep it under control, now that he and his doctors know what it is.

melissa82

I'm glad your FI is on his way to getting better!

picksthemusic

That's great that you have a diagnosis, finally! I think it's pretty irresponsible for the GI people to not call with that kind of information, though. I know that if the doc I work for found something abnormal like that, she'd call the patient personally. Don't be afraid to get a second opinion, though! Even if it's another GI doc. Take the letter with you, and tell them what's going on. Maybe you'll get a better responding doc. I mean, letters are fine for normal results and things, but not for abnormal stuff that needs attention. Shame on them.

Sorry, soap box. LOL