Primary doc in Vancouver?

[Mishka]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone in Vancouver could recommend a good family doctor in the Vancouver area, preferably one familiar with IC and how to manage pain etc. My doc at the moment is NOT cutting it. Thanks!

[bluekar]

Hi Mishka..I'm in the same boat. Just tried a new one on tuesday & she seemed better but recommended the same stuff (Phenazo)my other GP did & really didn't seem to know alot about IC either nor help with pain management. Also would not sign some sickforms for me..yet. So,i'm waiting until i recommend her to anyone. I went through the College of Physicians & Surgeons and their website..unfortunately their info is not the most current so half the names are not taking new patients as they indicate. But I am now willing to also try male doctors as I'm not too impressed with the female ones so far...and I heard from a young woman yesterday that has IBS, that her male doctor has been fabulous and supported her hugely. I don't know about you but i'm not looking for great heaps of compassion and/or empathy...just a little but mostly knowledge & some understanding of the disease or desire to know and help. I'll let you know though if I do have any success!

[Kahlen - Sue]

Hi Mishka and Karen,
I am so fortuneate to have a great GP, and when he was sick the Doctor that took over for him was great to. They don't take anymore patients but why not ask Dr. Fenster for any ideas. I'll keep my eyes and ears open if I hear of anyone. Don't give up, I think at this point it is up to us to help keep the GP informed of IC of its ups and downs. Because its not so common, they dont' really get a chance to treat many patients. My GP has only had 1 other patient with IC besides me, and that is over 20 years. All I kept hearing from the nurses in the hospital is how horrible it is, and they are so sorry. Some Doctors have a colder approach, if it isn't life threatening, its no big deal. If only they knew. So I guess its up to us to teach them. That is our problem, no one knows enough about the disease and we get caught up with thier approach to treating the sysptoms with different drugs. Chronic Pain Clinics are good too, maybe they can suggest a Dr with some empathy towards IC. Good Luck and I'll let you know if I hear anything.

[bluekar]

Thanks Sue.. I agree with what you say although i had no idea the condition was so rare. My urologist (Estee) did say however, that most insurance companies won't look at it as a serious long term illness thing but I also have IBS which the two seem to play off of each other and although I was only looking for short term disability till i got a handle on this, my GP was so incredibly incompassionate and flippant about it all that I could not believe it (in the whole 10 mins I had to explain my symptoms!) But your explanation now does makes more sense..they really do have no idea. I guess we do have to educate them. I want to get back to work and be fully functional in life but when one only gets very little sleep & wakes up in pain/nausea/ and with either urgent urination or diareah trying to get the energy to get yourself to work and stay nourished while living on ones own is quite challenging. I will keep trying to find a decent doctor..one who will listen & give me the time of day. thanks for your feedback..are you in the Vancouver area? Are there such things as chronic pain clinics here do you know?

[Mishka]

Hello,

I found a fabulous new doctor about a month ago. His name is Dr. House, he's at the Seymour Medical Clinic in Van. I'm very happy with him so far!

[Kahlen - Sue]

Hi Karen, It must be very frustrating to find a Doctor and then find a compassionate one who understands IC or at least cares enough to help. I am very fortuneate. Dr. Fenster is the expert in this field, and then we have each other for support! I was doing this all on my own for the past 3 years until I happened to fall upon the site. It feels so good not to be alone. That is how you feel, and you feel like you have to constantly defend yourself, to family, friends, bosses, co-workers, and even the Doctor. It is the silent disease that is hardest to understand and get any compassion for. So haleluha!!!we finally have each other. That to me is huge!!! I have great family and some friends and now I have other IC friends too. You asked about a Chronic Pain Clinic, I go to one called the Hanna Health Clinic on Boundry and Canada Way. Awesome but expensive. I do the Biofeedback and that is 45.00 per hour. you can get a referral from your GP and the first hour is 60.00 but it is worth it if you can do it. You learn alot that you can do from home to help. I can't do it anymore cause I lost my job and my disability Insurance, and I don't qualify for EI, so right now I'm on Medical Insurance through EI and that only lasts for 15 weeks (at 55% of my earnings, YUK!). I hope that my lawyer is able to settle my case of wrongful dissmissal before that runs out. Oh well, stress aggrevates this disease, so I try to worry about it when it happens and leave it alone until then. Ok, at leaset I try! Ha Ha. Gook Luck in your search for a compassionate Doctor, when you see Dr. Fenster maybe ask him if he knows of a GP you could go to. We all have to be strong a patient (no pun intended) and this too will get the recognition and respect it deserves. Until then, we have each other and this incredible support of this site. Cheers!!!! Sue