This debate is "hot" or "personal" because people are taking stuff that's said to heart. When you enter a debate you need to do so knowing you might get flack for your opinions and beliefs so you don't take them to heart and get hurt. When you do that it's easier to have fun
.
As a note: the name calling needs to stop.
Anyway, I'd like to put forth another viewpoint, which is personal
.
For 4 years I've gone to the doctors about the same problems, which I wont tell you all of but generally I've been known to pass out due to intense stomach pain, and I spend every second of every day nauseous. When I don't want to be nauseous, I eat until my stomach is so full I can't feel it....but sometimes I feel so sick I cannot eat, though I do and suffer through the nausea. On top of this I tend to get indigestion, especially in the mornings or when my stomach is empty (and if my stomach is empty for too long I throw up, I have since I was like 6 or so).
Now, in response to this I get asked if I'm
sure:
-It's not period pain. Do I look fucking retarded? How old am I?! NINETEEN. I think I might be used to what period pain is by now, don't you?! Not to mention, if my reproductive organs are THAT high up we have a more serious problem than was first anticipated.
-It's not gas pains. I've had gas pains, they attack my entire stomach and I pretty much have a panic attack because I think I'm dying (well after having pains in one spot for so long, you might freak out too
).
Now, each time I've gone, I've told them that the pain is to the left, right under my last rib. The pain is in ONE spot and feels like a hot knife. It's the intensity of the pain, and the fact that it's not all through my stomach that causes me to pass out. I feel like I'm not listened to.
FINALLY, after I went in screaming and crying did they decide it might be a good time for a blood test, to check for h pilori (sp?). It came back with a "healthy amount", so apparently I don't have an ulcer. I'm sitting there like "well, what about other tests. It might not even BE my stomach, it could be some other organ near it. Where's the MRI and scopes and stuff?"
I had a three part blog series which bitched about the whole experience. Anyway, my point being: medicine isnt exactly a friend in this instance. I get drugs when I don't need them (like the time I said I was having trouble sleeping and was given sleeping pills, even though the problem was due to back pain because I strained a muscle.... I just needed a few hot baths) and I don't get them when I do (like the stomach issue, in which case drugs and tests are considered the same thing).