[I sure do understand the fear of tests. I refused anEMG I think it was called and lost my doctor over it because of my fear and refusal. It is OK to be cautious. You can look up the tests before you concent to them. You can ask if there is one that is less invasive too. I didn't want my last MRI with contrast. He allowed one with no contrast. I also didn't want to do a katamine infussion. My doctor talked to me and really calmed me down and promised it wouldn't hurt much. I trusted him enough to allow it. The proceedure didn't hurt, and I got good pain relief. You do have choices. Please tell your doctor what is going on with you. You can develope a repore with him that will ease your fear. It takes communication and the right kind of doctor. I also walked out of a hospital once. I am a terrible patient! I do now have those doctors that I can talk to. I hope your have a physician willing to listen to your fears, should he bring up testing. You do have choice in anything you do remember that. Be at peace and talk to your doctor. It can turn out OK even when there are tests involved. ginnie

Dear Bobby,

I hope that reading is helping you.

Mari

my doctor is a new doctor.I have only seen him once before and don't feel comfortable with him yet. the problem is constipation. i said it. I am not sure when it started. My friend got me to take something for detoxing the body so i did and i don't know if i grew dependent on that. i also went on a high protein diet which is constipating. I also take a lot of medications whose side effects are constipation. also pernicious anemia side effect can be constipation. there are just so many reasons why i have it i am afraid the doctor would send me to a doctor where i would have to have a lot of tests.\
bobby

[Dear Bobby, I too get that trouble from the medication I take. Most opiods do that to you. I do several things that work just fine to alieviate that problem. I eat oatmeal alot. I drink prune juice, and if it gets really annoying I use phillips milk of manesia tablets. Two work overnight. This is a common problem and I don't think your doctor will mind one bit if you bring it up to him. If you are afraid of a colonoscopy being ordered for you, don't be. I was older (60) so it is also around the time the docs. want you to do this proceedure. They look with a scope at your colon. It wasn't bad except for drinking quanties of bad tasting liquid. In any case, doctors are really use to hearing about that kind of problem. it will be ok, even if he is a new doctor. You have to start that communiation anyway, go ahead and talk to him, it will be oK. Don't be afraid of an exam Bobby, thats not so bad eithor. ginnie

Bobby,
With the high protein diet can you still eat fiber -- like greens and mushrooms? Ground flax seed is good and might not interfere with your diet. Are you getting enough oils? When I was on Topamax I had to take a couple of tablespoons of olive oil a day and drink lots of water.

Two of my current meds cause it. I take magnesium citrate every night because it is a stool softener.

Dr. Weil has good suggestions here: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA176926

M

I have to take 3 peri-colaces every night, stool softeners with laxatives.
First time that I have had a BM every other day what a relief!
I don't eat enough grains for fiber.
bizi
some people take mira lax daily safely.

Dear Bobby,

I am sorry that you suffer from this anxiety about doctors.

In a different world, doctors could be a source of solace.

M

Dear Bobby

i just want to say, i understand, especially with a new doctor. but it also depends on the doctor's personality. i've known my mdoc for years and i still feel uncomfortable talking to him about these things. . i'd feel better with a female doc i think. now my pdoc, i talk to about anything, even though he's male - but i've seen him almost weekly for 8 years now and we have a really high degree of comfort.

actually, once we were discussing the discomfort one feels about these intimate type issues, and he told me it is pretty normal/common and affects even doctors! so, know that you are not alone, by any means! i just hope you can somehow work up the strength to talk to a doc, so that you can feel better. you know, you already made a big step confiding in us here. maybe that will help you realize you can come through it ok in a doctor's office as well.

would you prefer to see a female specialist, specifically for this? and would that be possible for you?

love

~ waves ~

dear waves
it is so hard finding a doctor in manhattan where there are so many. i would prefer a female doctor whom i had for six years and then retired. even with her i would feel self conscious. it was so hard for me to mention it here on the forum. it was so embarrassing. now i have a lot of new ideas. I see my new doctor in a couple of weeks for a physical and i will see how that goes. He also specializes in diabetes. I tried to get another doctor but he was booked up and only took referrals from other doctors.
I really am afraid of tests. I know two people who had colonoscopies(sp) and hemmoraged(sp)
afterwards and i don't know that many people.
love you
bobby

thank you so much Mari
how true
bobby