How do I know if my MD is good?

[Monika76]

My urologist is the third urologist I have in a span of a year. I think the first two were just specializing in 'men' stuff and although this new one is also a man, he seems to at least be more compassionate and claims he attended some conferences where the topic of IC was discussed.

He is also the first one who leaned towards IC after others toyed around with the idea of ovarian cysts pressing on my bladder and therefore creating the IC symptoms, blah blah blah, I am myself tired of all the theories I've heard so far.

I am going to see my urologist next week, following my cystoscopy w/hydro, and I am concerned as to the competency of my doctor. HOW DO I KNOW IF HE'S REALLY GOOD? Are there any questions I should be asking at this point? He mentioned to me that he wants to put me on Elmiron, is there anything I should be worried about at this point? Side effects? Shouldn't I have more 'tests' done, whatever they are.

:hmm:

[applebetty]

I had the same problem you had but not with the uro doc. It was the primary and gyno ones who kept telling me cysts or I had endometriosis and I needed to have a hysteryctomy. I had the hydo/cystoscopy and biopsy done all at the same time and then I was put on the elmiron. I can't say if your uro doc knows anything but this is what I did in the beginning. Good luck to you.

[Betsie]

I would grab a copy of Dr Moldwin's book if you don't have it already. I can't think of a better explanation and therefore things you'd want to know/ask. It is available here, but you could also overnight it, maybe here, but either Barnes and Noble or amazon.com...I got mine in a bookstore, before dx and 18 months prior to finding this site....it was my bible and really framed my approach and understanding.

Also, you will just "know" as it will be how you relate. give him a chance beyond your first visit....unless he is a complete arrogant jerk, it does take a bit of time to establish a good relationship.....I think we expect miracles...that will not happen for sure, and what is unclear, unprescribed etc....like me perhaps your PCP can help fill in the gaps.

So keep an open mind and just learn a lot on your own....it is helpful and empowering, but I would also tell you to try to not make this your entire life...seek other means of living....laughing is my favorite.

[Monika76]

Apple, did you have hysto? I'm only 29 and no kids, this would be the end of my life for me.

[Betsie]

Monika,

There is no reason here to suggest you would need a hysterectomy. No uro would do this without your permission prior..I had a laparoscopy at the same time to rule out endo, but I am well past my child bearing desires....so I hended up with some gyn surgery, my tubes tied and then the hydro/cystoscopy with biopsy.

The GYN part was an emergency situation and they elected to have the URO scrub in for the H/C with biopsy after...I was due to have one anyway and this saved another anesthesia procedure.

Monika, it was presumed from my early 20's that I had endo (finally r/o @ 46 yrs old) and I had no problems concieving and have 2 healthy grown daughters.

So please don't worry, especially as this is not the URO's concern.I am not trying to misunderstand, but I hear fear and am trying to soothe your nerves...what you are having is quite routine and I am sure the two previous UROs haven't helped your concerns. Hang in there, it's gonna be fine. :kissing:

[applebetty]

No I didn't have the hysto. Sorry I should have told you that. I cried for a long time because then I was in my early 30's and no kids. (Still have no kids). Then I found my great URo doc I'm with now. I thought for sure he would tell me nothing wrong and go away but he didn't. I wasn't the nicest patient in the beginning either. I had to fight my way to get there. I can remember the nurse practiner (that is who told me I would need the hysto) that she knew more about woman things then the male doctor. :biglaugh: I really ticked her off when I asked her if maybe he would have an idea what was wrong. Things went down hill big time from there. THen I left after things went ok with my now uro doc and I found another primary doc who is good. I won't see the nurse practioner there. After the last one I just can't do it. :toilet:

[Portia17]

MONIKA

I know you are upset but let me tell you my experience

I went to the primary who sent me to the gynocologist. Gyno did blood work and pap smear and sonogram. All that was there was tiny fibroid. I kept saying I have pain so he did a laproscopy and saw nothing but a tiny fibroid and did a biopsy and everything came out clear.

He was a great gyno because he said I am not doing a hysterectomy for no reason so I want you to go the uro first and see if you have i.c. So I did and after hydro-cysto and biopsy he found the i.c.

I just thank God I had a great gyno that did not pull out my parts for nothing

[charmedx3]

I had the hysterectomoy because the fibriods were the cause of my discomfort. I do have 3 great kids but i am dealing with ALL my issuses again. I think i went through all that for nothing.
I am hoping to get this all figured out. Good luck!

[ICNDonna]

If you've already had a cysto with hydrodistention and have an IC diagnosis, I'm not sure what more you would want in the way of testing. And elmiron is a standard for treatment of IC. If you want to know about side effects, ask your pharmacist to be sure to include the printout with your prescription. If you do happen to have side effects, they almost always disappear when the drug is stopped.

Donna

[Monika76]

Well, no, Donna! I may have IC, my doctor suspects it but hasn't officially said it because as we all know IC is a condition of exclusion and in my case we haven't ruled out everything else yet. For example, I may also have endo, ovarian cysts, thyroid problems and some other things because a few of them would be genetic (from my mother). So, no, it isn't as simple as just having IC, there are probably other things going on with me as well, they just share symptoms. So I am keeping my mind open. Also, I watched Oprah show about medical errors and missdiagnosis and that's why I became concerned about my current doctor's credibility. Yes, IC is a terrible diagnosis but I am not in denial, as you are suggesting. As a matter of fact, I will be seeing a top European specialist in Geneva this summer to be able to determine further as to what I am really dealing with here. And I never had abdominal pain (thank God) so right there my version of IC is in a different version than most cases. There are so many incompetent physicians out there, no wonder I'm freaking out.

[DanaW]

Hi,

I think that your Uro. may be fine. The fact that he is leaning towards IC , is doing the Hydro. (which should help dx IC) and is already suggesting Elmiron means that he has treated IC before. So far so good. I think all of us wonder at the beginning how good our Uro. will be. That's ok. Now, after the Hydro. and your follow-up you don't like him or whatever, it is your choice whether to stay with him. Great suggestion to get that book that Betsie mentioned....that will help. As far as some other conditions that you may have. Do you have a Primary ? I went to my Primary when I started having symptoms of Hypo-Thyroid and he did the blood test. (also family history of Hypo) So, I guess take it one step at a time? What are your symptoms with the suspected IC? I am sure that the Uro. would not order the Hydro if he didn't think there was a good chance you might have it. I hope everything goes well. Let us know the results, ok? :)

Dana W.

[Monika76]

Well, he wanted to do the cysto w/hydro because he said, and I'm quoting: " I don't like the office cystos, they are very basic and don't show much" so that's why we went ahead with the whole deal, although I still don't know what the difference is between the one I had and the one which is done at his office. My mother had hers done at the office (hydro and all) and they took pictures and the whole nine yard. I know she must have been more uncomfortable, though. :cussing: She said she didn't want to go through that again.

If anything, I'm afraid my urologist may be jumping to soon into Elmiron because for example, my ovarian cyst actually has been bothering me somewhat ( I feel mild to moderate stinging pain on my right ovary), so I quess I would like it to be taken care of before anything else (don't they surgically remove them?). My primary seems to think that it could be the cyst pressing on my bladder that causes the discomfort.

Don't get me wrong, but being pretty pain-tolerant myself, I'm trying to figure out if I have that one symptom of IC that many of you have and just not realizing it: abdominal pain. What's it like? Does your entire area hurts? Can you function without thinking about it?