Fluid retention

Ok... the deal is pretty simple....  I've told every doc who would listen and they look at me like I'm just a fat person trying to justify my weight so they don't look further.  I'm in no mood to ride 10 hours to see my doctor in Florida, or 7 hours to see Carl (a friend of mine who owns a small med facility in North Florida).  At least Carl BELIEVES me.  I hate this crap. I took 1/2 the dose of lasix and I'm pushing fluids... if nothing happens by the time I'm out of the gym, I'll take another 40 mg.  Nothing else I can do.. I can't FORCE a doctor to believe that I've gained this much in a few days.  :(  I was so close to being under 220 that I could practically taste it.. so this just irks me to no end.

How about driving up to Charlotte to see an endocrinologist, Dr. Gary Rolband?  I haven't seen this doctor yet but I have an appointment with him this month. He requires that you get a referral from your PCP because he intends on working closely with your PCP to get things fixed.  From what I understand he is very understanding and works quite hard to figure out the underlying causes of your symptoms.  Before he was an endo he was a PCP. I am seeing him for my thyroid but I imagine your problem could be endocrine related as well. Here's the info I found on him on the web. I found a few negatives but most of them seemed like people who are negative about everything and are ill-informed. http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/northcarolina.htm

Rolband, Gary Charles, MD

3535 RANDOLPH RD STE 300 CHARLOTTE, NC 28211 704.365.0760

Dr. Gary Rolband, Endocrinologist, Mecklenburg Medical Group, Randolph Road Office, 704 365 0760.

A reader writes: "After 'knowing' that I had a thyroid problem for more than 3 years, and being treated as a hypochondriac, I saw Dr. Rolband. He listened to all my symptoms, and did numerous tests to find that I had a B12 deficiency as well as a thyroid disease problem. Six months later, my Grave's disease was in full flower, and I had RAI therapy soon after. He made a huge difference by actually listening and saying that, " obviously something was making me feel this bad, and we were going to wor****il we figured out what that was." Another reader recommends Dr. Rolband: "He listens & is truly concerned!! He is willing to research if answers are not immediately clear." (added 1/04) More praise from a reader for Dr. Rolband: "I saw Dr. Rolband for a thyroid goiter and hypothyroidism that had been treated poorly in the past by 2 family physicians. Dr. Rolband was wonderful! He is working with me to treat my disease and listens to you. He doesn't make you feel like a constant complainer. He did numerous tests and spent over an hour with me. He is great!" (added 1/04) Another reader writes: "Dr Rolband has been by doctor for over 10 years. He listens! I have several diseases and he has been helpful with 90% of them. If he doesn't know the answer he is more than willing to help find a source that will help. He is always open to questions and new information. He is without a doubt the best physician I have ever encountered." (Added 6/05) Another fan: "Dr. Rolband really takes time with me every time I go and my thyroid condition is minor. He is the only doctor that I truly look forward to seeing. He has a very pleasant demeanor, and a good "bedside manner" as they say."(August 2007) Note: Some readers report that he has become so busy that it's difficult to get appointments, and followup/callbacks are slow. (August 2007)

http://www.carolinasmedicalcenters.com/body.cfm?id=168&oTopI D=168

CPN physicians recognized for clinical excellent in diabetes treatment include the following:

Dr. Robert E. Almquist, Carmel Family Physicians Dr. Daniel A. Aquino, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Matthews) Dr. Allen D. Brantley, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Endocrinology) Dr. Wanda S. Crowley, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Uptown) Dr. Charles E. Ferree, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Pineville) Dr. Lisa D. Houchin, Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes Specialists Dr. Norman J. Kramer, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Endocrinology) Dr. Eric T. Landis, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Pineville) Dr. Andrea Memmen, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Pineville) Dr. Mark W. Parker, Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes Specialists Dr. James W. Plonk, Charlotte Medical Clinic Dr. Charles B. Rich, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Uptown) Dr. Douglas B. Robinson, Charlotte Medical Clinic Dr. Gary C. Rolband, Mecklenburg Medical Group (Endocrinology) Dr. Donald J. Russ, Mecklenburg Medical Group (SouthPark) Dr. Marlah M. Tomboc, Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes Specialists Dr. Stuart W. Tucker Jr., Eastover Internal Medicine

OH Link:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+professio nal+profile+Gary+Rolband+csnd.html

Ahh cool I found a medical article/journal he (Rolband et al) wrote. http://endo.endojournals.org/cgi/reprint/133/3/1437.pdf

There's no way I'm getting a state to state referral like that and I don't have a PCP here.  The last one I tried to see basically let me know I was too fat to be his patient.  Do I really want to subject myself to that humiliation again?  NOT!  I do weigh nearly 100 lbs less, but I just don't want to deal with these strangers passing judgement on me.  I fixed my own diabetes.. I'll just have to fix this too.   I just gotta knuckle down and do a lot of research like I did with the pancreatic disorders....  I'm just a little confused as to where to start with this...   Carl thinks it's nephropathy, but he wants me a the Mayo down there to confirm.  Well... must be nice to be a rich doctor.....

Lori...I completely understand your frustration!!  Do you get short of breath at all with the fluid retention?  Where is it....mostly in your legs and feet?  Are your eyes and hands puffy too?  What kind of x-rays did they take?  Did they take any urine samples or just bloodwork? Chris's idea of an endocrinologist sounds good....you certainly need someone to get to the bottom of all this.  But there again, it's getting that referral..unless maybe your PCP in Florida would do that for you.  I swear, today's medical system is enought to drive you crazy!! Before, when you gained this much fluid all at once, did it just seem to leave as quickly?  Did you do anything specific to get rid of it? I know I have lots of questions....just trying to make some sense of all this.  We all know it's not what you're eating that's doing it to you.  Does it correlate at all with saltier foods?

Right now it seems to be in my abdomen... feels and looks like I'm pregnant..lower abdomen.  I don't know if this is shortness of breath, but I got up to go to the bathroom a few times last night and it felt like I got the wind knocked out of me and had to stop and hold onto something to catch my breath again.  I don't know if one has to do with the other.  I was getting like that when I first started exercising too.... back in August.  He took blood only.  He's looking for an autoimmune disease... duh.. I'm a diabetic...   :::shaking head:::  I can diagnose that one with my high school diploma.

The fluid doesn't leave as quickly as it comes on.  It took me about 2 weeks to dump it the last time.  I tried taking less lasix and pumping in extra fluid to get the kidneys pumping again.. and it worked after a bit.

YOU may know it's not my food intake.. I MAY know it's not my food intake.. but convince a doctor of that....  again.. they think I'm justifying a weight gain from overeating.  ****** me off BIG time.

 

I'm surprised  you feel such bias from docs when you're not that overweight.  I mean, even at 320, I felt some bias, but not across the board.

SOME BIAS?  I was 315 when I tried to find a pcp and he said "OMG LOOK AT YOUR WEIGHT".  How's that for judgment.

That doc should have been fired. Lori, you're such a strong woman, I just find it odd that you get humbled by this.  I guess what I'd expect from you is the response:  Yeah, it's high, what are you gonna do to help me with it!   But some docs just don't get it.  Fire them and move on.

Question, what is Lasix? I always see you talk about it...I guess I could google it lol. I know you will get under 220 soon. I hope you find a doctor that will believe you. Hang in there!