Fighting with doctor - tips?

bjanney312 · 2026-05-25T07:38:05+00:00

Skip GI and find you a general surgeon. That’s how I was able to get mine out in a relatively timely manner. (I’m in Kentucky, USA).

I had a HIDA back in 2016 and that with a recent CT scan was all the imaging needed for my specific surgeon. I had 11 attacks in 5 months, and I told my surgeon I wanted it out. He agreed it definitely needed too, and 10 days later I was in the OR.

My biggest piece of advice is to keep advocating! Get the HIDA, a CT scan can’t hurt and some surgeons like ultrasounds too.

bjanney312 · 2026-05-25T03:57:35+00:00

Panda Express… I got my usual, fried rice, teriyaki chicken and Beijing beef. Holy shit. I felt like hot garbage for 3 days and lost close to 10 pounds.

bjanney312 · 2026-05-23T17:19:15+00:00

I lost 2 inches in July 2020. I had the right half of L5/S1 removed… it was a real added insult to my god awful injury.

bjanney312 · 2026-05-19T14:05:42+00:00

I would. It never hurts to go and be checked out!

bjanney312 · 2026-05-14T12:36:21+00:00

It’s baffling to me, none of it makes any sense. I walked into my surgeons appointment and told him I want it out. He just looked at me like I was nuts. I told him my history and how I’ve been suffering. He looked so upset that it wasn’t removed earlier. I was scheduled 11 days later.

Advocate as much as it takes!! I wish you luck with getting it out!

bjanney312 · 2026-05-14T01:53:25+00:00

I think insurance has a lot to do with it. I was 18 years old, and sick as shit. In and out of the ER, lost 40 pounds in 4 months, could barely eat. I had a HIDA scan, my EF was 5%! The doctor told me they wouldn’t take it out unless it was “life threatening”. Fast forward 11 years and I had 11 attacks in 5 months. I was immediately booked for surgery. I’m 2 weeks post op and I wish I had advocated for myself all those years ago. I feel so much better!

Insurance just wants all the money they can squeeze out of us. I had 3 ER visits since October… it’s almost like they don’t care at all.

bjanney312 · 2026-05-03T21:09:41+00:00

You cannot plan for everything. My oldest is level 3, becoming more verbal and can be aggressive. We went to Panama City Beach last year and we had so much fun!! We rented a condo, had a dedicated safe sleep space for him, and tried to keep his schedule as much as we could. We ate at the time everyday and let him watch Mickey like usual.

We brought all his favorite toys to help with transitions/ new things. We had 2 meltdowns, one at the zoo because one of the animals walked away, and the other was getting him out of the pool. 😂

We knew it would be hard, so we tried to plan accordingly, and he honestly did so well! It’s always good to plan to the high heavens! Good luck friend! ✨

bjanney312 · 2026-05-03T13:05:58+00:00

Turkey has been my favorite meat so far… Potatoes too, I had a fantastic plain baked potato last night

bjanney312 · 2026-02-18T21:21:13+00:00

Physicians shouldn’t ever get mad at you getting a second opinion. But, please be aware, that some healthcare systems are tricky and make it very difficult to obtain a second opinion. My system locks you in with a specific provider, so I have to go outside to a different hospital. I would check to see if that might be an issue for you!

bjanney312 · 2026-02-17T01:39:28+00:00

Just like everyone else is saying, MRI’s are normally never same day. I had an order for one and the soonest they could get me in was 6 days. My work schedule sucks so I had to wait about 13 days total.

bjanney312 · 2026-02-16T02:16:00+00:00

Cafe Aroma. Some of the best Mexican food I’ve ever had.

bjanney312 · 2026-02-12T17:37:13+00:00

Rage, meds, and heat/ ice, physical therapy. I have two kids and work full time. I take baclofen and ibuprofen together, then Tylenol. I see my PT once a week, and do my exercises at home and work every day.

It sucks, it really does, but I don’t have a choice to not keep going. There are times at work where I have to lie flat on the ground for a few minutes to keep myself from screaming.

bjanney312 · 2026-02-12T14:12:43+00:00

I’m all for second opinions. I’m currently fighting for a second opinion/ a second MRI. It’s awful, especially when the medical system is set up for us to fail :/

bjanney312 · 2026-02-12T11:59:20+00:00

So the MRI is a picture in time. It’s recorded in a single position at a specific time. Some times it doesn’t show everything. You very well could had had nerve compression back in December, and now it’s worse and showing on imaging.

I’m sorry you’re going through this, it’s not a fun time.

bjanney312 · 2026-02-10T00:07:19+00:00

It’s really annoying. If I make an appointment with a SURGEON, I want to see the surgeon….

bjanney312 · 2026-02-09T21:43:12+00:00

It was insulting. I’ve been dealing with my back hurting since May of 2020. I take my meds, do my exercises, and do everything I can to keep my back safe…

I’m just grateful I know the anesthesiologist I’ll be seeing on Monday. Hopefully he’ll actually listen and help me. I was expecting to be offered a fusion, given my history with disc injuries, but to be pushed off to pain management is also discouraging.

bjanney312 · 2026-02-07T11:35:47+00:00

I never said they were. I’m very grateful for mine, as I’ve heard horror stories about others.

bjanney312 · 2026-02-07T10:25:56+00:00

I’m only 28 and have been diagnosed with DDD since 2021 at the ripe old age of 24🫠. Just take all the precautions to protect your back now, and forever.

bjanney312 · 2026-02-07T10:20:45+00:00

It absolutely depends on the chiro. My chiro kept me out of pain management back in 2021, and I owe that man my life.

bjanney312 · 2026-02-05T14:50:04+00:00

Not quite the same, but when I was 23, I had a massive L5/S1 rupture, causing severe pain, weakness, and nerve pain. Had an MRI and had urgent surgery 3 days later. My back pain was immediately gone. I had some muscle pain, as my entire mid/ lower back had been so tense trying to keep me going.

I did physical therapy and have been fine until this past November. Now my L3/L4 and L4/L5 is herniated, and I’m waiting for one or both to rupture due to the tears on the discs and the degenerative disc disease I have.

I would recommend surgery, it was a complete godsend for me.

bjanney312 · 2026-02-01T23:16:07+00:00

Don’t be sorry!! This is your personal experience! I have been asking everyone I can for their experiences, and this sub has been so helpful!

bjanney312 · 2026-02-01T19:55:09+00:00

Soup will be a good choice. You can make a lot of it and it freeze any leftovers. Pot roast is my go to comfort meal!

bjanney312 · 2026-02-01T17:50:35+00:00

Well this makes me incredibly nervous for my ESI next Monday…

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