Does anyone know?!

[Trellum]

Hi all! I've mentioned several times that I was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia recently. Well, the last doctor I saw wanted me to get a CT scan of my chest to see the hernia, since so far they just saw it when they did an endoscopy. He said after that we'd decide whether I should get a surgery or not. Thing is I'm in a lot pain most of the time now, but I'm not sure the surgery is the best choice and I'm also afraid to be exposed to so much radiation thanks to that CT scan.

Does anybody know if there is any other way to check my hernia without the need to expose me to so much radiation? I'm desperate I feel like I'm being stabbed in my upper back 24/7 lately... One doctor said I should have the surgery... but my hernia is HUGE.

 

[Siderea]

I honestly have no idea. I'm really very sorry you're suffering through this! I don't know your situation well enough, but if surgery is honestly the only option, I suppose I'd go ahead and suffer the radiation and get the surgery. Is the pain from it worse than what the radiation would do to you?

I'd give you a hug, but it sounds like that would hurt you more, so instead I'll just offer you my support and sympathy!

 

[katydid]

Can they do an MRI of the hernia? And didn't he Dr mention any other types of treatment for you? I'd probably start googling my butt off to see what I could find lol

Sometimes I feel like these Dr's are so pushy about CT scans or surgery, medications, pretty much whatever they're okay with in their head is the only option sometimes!

I once had a Dr, orthopedic Dr, I was seeing him about my shoulders because of my car accidents... Well I was having severe pain in both shoulders still do actually, but he found a separated a c joint in my left shoulder, 3 months after I was in the accident, I was so mad he didn't take me seriously the first 2 times and the 3rd visit he finally did an x-ray and found it.. He made me wear a sling for a month, and the worst part, it was too late, nothing would help because he found it too late after it had healed separated! Apparently it wasn't severe enough for surgery, so I just have to live with it! Then with my right shoulder, he couldn't find do anything wrong, so after a few tried with cortisoneiinjections, that didn't help at all, he decided he wanted to do "exploratory surgery to see if there was any bursitis / arthritis, or bone spurs! I said heck no! I'm no dummy, if there were bone spurs you'd see them on that darn x-ray you made me do! He said he could refer me to a spine specialist to evaluate me incase it was something else causing the pain, and said "once the other Dr confirms nothing else could be wrong, you're welcome to come back and we can do the surgery" seriously?!?! Well the other Dr he sent me to basically committed fraud, and I ended up reporting him but that's another story...
Anyways, come to find out months later, another Dr (neurologist) figured out why my right shoulder hurt so badly- I had 2 ridiculopathies I my neck causing the pain!
I was so tempted to go back to the 1st Dr and throw it in his face!

My point tho, these Dr's don't always have our best interest in mind.... So see what you can find, or even get a second opinion... I'd think they could do an MRI tho instead of a CT scan... I feel. Leery about CT scans too, you're not alone on that.. I've been sick my whole life and have had too many CT scans, x-rays, and MRI's to count! I get a yearly MRI just for my brian because I have to monitor a tumor I my pituitary gland to make sure it's not growing! So I definitely feel sketched out about certain types of diagnostic testing too! Lol

 

[Trellum]

Oh my Katy I hope you are feeling fine... gosh... doctors can be huge jerks! They don't seem to care anymore, back n the day doctors seemed to listen to use more, but now... it's seem we are nothing but numbers to them. Sooooooo sorry you went thru all this... you are so young! That idiot did such an awful thing... I don't trust doctors at all! Did you ever thought of suing that jerk? He shouldn't be around anymore harming more people! That kind of mistakes cant be forgiven!

Don't worry about the yearly MRI Nothing to worry about that that one! Just try to stay away from CT scans and x-rays... I know the stadistics regarding those, not good at all! Glad to know I'm not the only one who feels this way

As for this dang hernia... I heard a MRI wouldn't show it well, but maybe they meant not good enough for diagnosis purposes? I really think that they could see how that thing is positioned... in great detail with an MRI. But I don't think many doctors would consider referring me for that I'll try my best... I had a friend who is a doctor, he could tell me for sure! Sadly he had a terrible accident... he can no longer remember who he is... so sad! He was the best doctor in town... he was one of the very few doctors who truly care about his patients and doing a good job.

 

[Trellum]

I honestly have no idea. I'm really very sorry you're suffering through this! I don't know your situation well enough, but if surgery is honestly the only option, I suppose I'd go ahead and suffer the radiation and get the surgery. Is the pain from it worse than what the radiation would do to you?

I'd give you a hug, but it sounds like that would hurt you more, so instead I'll just offer you my support and sympathy!

Well, the radiation could cause me cancer later on... after let's say 10 years or 20? Maybe sooner, maybe later. Problem with CT scans is the fact they can damage DNA, this might cause some issues later on... because our cells can repair damaged cells most of the time, but if our DNA is damaged... well, we might have a bigger trouble doing that.

Sadly women are more prone to developing cancer after being radiated, they don't know why, but we are at higher risk. They know this because most people who survived atomic disaster and wars... women seemed to be more affected.

Our baseline risk to develop cancer (not taking into account imaging radiation) is 37% for women, 44% men. I wish I didn't know any of this.

I might have to get this done, yesterday the pain was just awful and plain depressing. Thanks for listening If I hadn't had those 3 ct scans done back in 2010 and 2011, I'd surely go for it.

 

[katydid]

Oh my Katy I hope you are feeling fine... gosh... doctors can be huge jerks! They don't seem to care anymore, back n the day doctors seemed to listen to use more, but now... it's seem we are nothing but numbers to them. Sooooooo sorry you went thru all this... you are so young! That idiot did such an awful thing... I don't trust doctors at all! Did you ever thought of suing that jerk? He shouldn't be around anymore harming more people! That kind of mistakes cant be forgiven!

Don't worry about the yearly MRI Nothing to worry about that that one! Just try to stay away from CT scans and x-rays... I know the stadistics regarding those, not good at all! Glad to know I'm not the only one who feels this way

As for this dang hernia... I heard a MRI wouldn't show it well, but maybe they meant not good enough for diagnosis purposes? I really think that they could see how that thing is positioned... in great detail with an MRI. But I don't think many doctors would consider referring me for that I'll try my best... I had a friend who is a doctor, he could tell me for sure! Sadly he had a terrible accident... he can no longer remember who he is... so sad! He was the best doctor in town... he was one of the very few doctors who truly care about his patients and doing a good job.

Omg that's horrible about your Dr friend! I can not imaginenot remem bering who I am or having someone I my life not remember who they are! How awful! But this is yet another example of how someone can have it worse than you! Wow! I'm so sorry!

And about the Dr that did that to me, I didn't report the one who wanted to do exploratory surgery, but I did report (well my mom reported him) the Dr who tried scamming the insurance for money - I had to talk to a private investigator from the insurance company and everything - my lawyer was mad at us for reporting him but I didn't care because it wasn't fair!
Back in 08 I had a bunch of testing done, as they thought I has epilepsy and also wanted to see if I had any other neurologic issues going on his my brain,.. Well a year later, the PA said 'well you're going to continue your meds for migraines and also have your annual scan done for the mass' MASS? WHERE?! He then told me they had found a tumor I my pituitary gland the year before.. I asked why I was never told about this, his reply 'well I would assume the Dr wasn't that worried about it and didn't think it was a cause for concern' SERIOUSLY?! I was livid! My mom and I were so mad we stormed out that day.. I ended up 'breaking up' with that Dr a couple months later because he was a drug pusher and would push whatever drug the drug reps were giving him money or vacations for...
I swear, at age 25 I should not have this many horror stories about Dr's! Lol

I would think an MRI would possibly give even more detail to the hernia than a CT scan!... I mean I not a Dr so how should I know.. But I've had enough MRI's to know what they show /how well they show it... Especially if they use contrast with the MRI.. If it were me, I'd probably call the Dr and explain that I'm not comfortable with a CT scan and ask if there's anything else that would show it, see if he says an MRI and if he didn't I'd bring it up.. They can do so many things with MRI's now I just can't imagine that's not one of them lol

 

[Trellum]

I know, the saddest part is they never caught who did this to him, I'm not sure what happened exactly, but he was trying to cross the street.. got hit very hard by the mirror of a passing truck. He is starting to remember people, but will never the same

Woah... it sounds like you have so many horrors stories involving doctors, but don't worry... I was told I have the medical file of a 80 year old, lol. It's so thick XD What really matters here is the fact we survived But seriously... can't believe they didn't tell you that. Actually when I think of that kind of things... I get a bit scared, because I realize we are really in our own and we actually need to research more and pay a lot more attention, not just assume that the doctors has our best interest in mind. When I was younger i thought so, not anymore of course!

Yeah, I would think so as well! But I think the main issue here is that maybe the insurance company has an issue with it! Maybe, because I heard MRIs are more expensive than CT scans... yup, those cancer machines are cheaper!

 

[1sweed]

The reasons doctors do not order MRI's is the cost factor and insurance companies, that unless there is a real need they will not pay for the test to be done. There are two other tests you might consider for your histus hernia, one being an ultrasound and the other using barium solution, which means you drink that stuff and then it highlights the area and they do x-rays which by the way are mostly digital now. I have had both tests done and they are relatively painless and the cost is way less. A CT scan would show enough in your brain to determine if a problem exists and if something was found then the doc's will order MRI's to get a better look.

 

[Trellum]

Hi there 1sweed! I feel much better after reading your reply I have been feeling kinda sad because I had 3 CT scans done some years ago, well, I know they are more like the rule than the exception. Feel bad for the people who have gotten 38 ct scans done... their risk to develop cancer must be sky high! I feel sorry for the kids. I think it's really terrible they risk people's health because they're afraid of the costs, I think you g people shouldn't be exposed to ionizing radiation just like that.

I heard the brain MRI isn't that expensive, but the thorax one is. Another doctor finally gave me the referral for it, couldn't be happier, but also nervous. I've been having a very weird pain in middle of my back, the shoulder blades area, so kinda scared to see what's there... hope it's nothing!

Thanks for the advice and suggestions, you rock!