Topic : 07/11 What’s Up, Doc?

Hello i just saw your show on mothers recieving tummy tuck's... i can relate to those mothers... ill be 19 in oct. single mother of a soon to be gorgeous 18 month old i grad early in April (CLASS OF 2007)  and will be enrolling in college for grahic design/ multi media arts by aug. I AM BEYOND TIRED OF STRANGERS OR EVEN FRIENDS THINKING OR MAKING COMMENTS OR RUMORS ABOUT ME BEING PREGNANT! At this current time im trying to furture my future for tha sake of my daughter as well as mine... im in no frame of mind and it is the last thing on my mind right now about getting prenant so i'd wish that people would stop the rumors looks and stares! ive worked hard on my own to loose as much weight naturally and have accomplished a lot but in the end im stuck with water retention as well as my new friend whom ive grown to love but will not miss " MY KANGAROO POUCH" i just would like to be able to start school with a lil bit of confidence...i have anxiety and tons of stress and i know as me being a female my body holds a big tole on my emotions and how i feel when i wake up and walk outside. I'd like to look feel and BE confident as i continue to further my furture PLEASE DR. PHIL helllllllp meeeee!!!!!!

You are the one with this issues. Unless you have research, interviewed doctors, gone through this yourself and/or with your kids, keep your opinions to yourself. Do you see how many people are putting up posting and are asking for help for their kids? Obviously this isn't an issue of just not going to the bathroom. It doesn't help these familys obtain the information and support that they need when ignorant people like you are using this valuable space for your IGNORANT opinions. I feel badly for you. I hope someday that you can be an openminded and understanding person.

What in the world is wrong with these parents? I doubt that it is a coincidence that BOTH of their kids poop their pants daily. They said they control it at school, so whats the difference at home? I think the parents just never finnished the job of potty training. Dr Phil needs to figure out what the heck is wrong with the parents before they even start to work on the kids!!!!!! WRONG WRONG WRONG

I have basically given up on trying to figure out what my real diagnoses are, besides the couple that I do know. And I seriously doubt that anyone on Dr. Phil's staff will read this & even care what's going on with me--or help me find the answers! I've written Dr. Phil many times just to be ignored.

 

So here's my story (as short as I can make it): In 1997/98 I was diagnosed by 3 docs with fibromyalgia. Of course, some docs still don't even believe it it exists. Idiots! I'm in southern Indiana, & our health care here--at least from my viewpoint, & my hubby agrees--is not even close to quality! Maybe if I had a lot of money, I'd be able to find out the whole truth about what's wrong with me. We've been bankrupted since I've gotten ill...buying medications & going to different docs.

 

And I don't just have fibro. There is a LOT more going on, but even my rheumatologist doesn't know & doesn't seem to have the ability or desire to get to the bottom of what's going on with me! And for what my insurance and I pay him, he should be able to!!  But it's just easier giving me meds to just manage my symptoms. I run low-grade fevers every single day...& my normal temp--for me (it's a bit different for everyone) is about 97.8 to 98. So when my temp is 99.8 or 100, I have a FEVER! But my primary care doc just ignores that. Also, my last sedimentation rate, which helps measure inflammation in the body, was 38! That's NOT good! Normal is 5-20. In 2004, when I went to a specialist nurse-practitioner in Florida (my friend's "doc"), my sed rate was 47!

 

I had an abnormal Pap smear earlier this year...well, I had to have a "colposcopy"; that's a biopsy of the cervix. Thankfully, it wasn't serious, but, guess what? It was inflammation! Hmm, wonder why? Because my body is full of inflammation! The only person who ever seemed to care was the nurse-practitioner (who is a specialist in rheumatology--which is the docs who help with arthritis, autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc.). I even have inflammation in my JAW! I have TMJ & have had it since the 1980s; there is practically nothing that will help that pain & nothing the docs can do about it! (I've already gone through having a splint, & I had braces for 3 years!) It's worst in my left jaw. Even my MRI in 2005 (I think that's when it was) showed the abnormalities in my jaw.

 

From an X-ray I had a couple of years ago, my rheumy says I have degenerative arthritis in my hips. I am never without pain! I'm going to have an MRI for that area, but first I have to have my rheumy call my insurance because it has to "pre-certified." I've had multiple trigger-point injections in my hips--even in my jaw! Sometimes they help; sometimes they don't. I've been to a pain doc, but he couldn't do much either. I'm so, SO weary of being ill, in SO much pain, and being so wiped-out exhausted all the time! I HATE going to docs, I hate taking so many meds, & I hate NOT KNOWING what's going on with me--and NO ONE cares! Even my hubby is SICK of it! Actually, he's been really supportive overall, but it gets tough for him to work full-time & have to come home & do the things around the house that I simply am physically unable to do.

The only good thing is that I am barely able to work very part-time from home. Even that can cause pain, though. I'm a freelance proofreader (no benefits, of course) for 2 Christian publishers. I have to limit how many projects I take because if I work too much, I'll be wiped out & unable to continue working. I'm fortunate if I can gross $5,000 a year. But, because we don't have kids & my hubby work full-time (at a fairly low-paying job), we're not eligible for SSI, Social Security Supplemental income. I've been waiting for over 3 years to get disability--IF I even end up getting it. I have a good attorney who specializes in disabilty (who only gets paid if I do), and now we're just waiting--interminably!--for Indiana SS to schedule a hearing before a judge for me.

 

Unfortunately, in the meantime, not only have we been bankrupted, we're living paycheck to paycheck and have absolutely NO savings. Just paying co-pays for my meds is expensive each month! I even try to sell books on eBay sometimes (when I'm able). Typing too long (like now!) puts my shoulders & neck in pain. And, of course, when a person is in horrid physical pain & has so much exhaustion, it's so easy to get depressed. And, after ten years, I'm just in too much pain & too weary to keep hunting for answers. What's the point? It just costs too much in co-pays to go to docs & to continue to have procedures done. We got rid of some of the medical debt with the bankruptcy, but then I got appendicitis in Feb. 2006 & had to have that removed--and the surgeon found some sort of tissue holding my right ovary & Fallopian tube against the right side of my body--he'd never seen anything like it in over 20 years of practice! He fixed it, of course, & that put me in a remission for awhile (a few months). So now we have medical debt again! Still, I 'm thankful for appendicitis in this instance; at least I got some relief for awhile.

 

It seems like I have some sort of connective tissue disease (since fibro doesn't show up on tests & my tests are abnormal). I'm also anemic & on iron & folic acid pills now. I had to stop going to church due to the pain of sitting in the pew for so long. I miss it. I miss having friends. I'm extremely isolated. And on June 26, 2006, the Chihuahua who was closest to me (Mommy's Girl!) just couldn't go on any longer. She was 17 & had been getting medicine for congestive heart failure for over 3 years, but we had to make the difficult decision to let her go. It was the last gift we could give her. Since I'm ill & mostly nocturnal (not by choice), I no longer have my little shadow to sleep beside me; our 2 remaining Chis are Daddy's kids. I still miss Chi-Chi SO much! At least she had a good long life & didn't suffer except for that last month. (We never had children; I left it up to God, & it just never happened, probably for the best.) I'm 46 & my body feels much older.

 

To anyone who read all this, I'm sorry to go on for so long. I really need to get offline now. If anyone wants to check my eBay books (mostly Christian fiction but other books too), my user ID there is chiandbutterflylover.

 

Since I went into another major "flare" when winter came in 2006, I may have to go on Prednisone again (which I hate due to its side effects). There are many times I'd rather just go to sleep & not wake up, but I've promised my hubby & mom that I won't commit suicide. I can't do that to my family. But when I pray I tell God that He can take me anytime. Sometimes I really think my hubby would be so much better off without having to worry about me & take care of me. I feel SO guilty for being ill, even though I did nothing to bring it on. Maybe someday, somehow someone will help me! Dr. Phil's staff, I'm DESPERATE for help! I'm going to try one more time to email the show...but I don't expect a response. So I'll just keep trying to hang in there one day at a time. I'm at a loss as to what to do. Forgive me for going on so long (anyone who has read this far). I'm really depressed right now (as anyone can tell). I just don't know how much longer I can go on like this! For those who pray, please, PLEASE pray for me. My name is Joy & I live in southern Indiana. Thank you to anyone who prays for me; I appreciate it more than you can know! For anyone else who's going through something similar to me--or worse--you're all in my prayers. I understand so well how incredibly difficult chronic illness can be, but I don't think Dr. Phil really "gets it." If he did, he'd do more shows about what MILLIONS of people have to live with every day! How sad. And, no, I'm not a hypochondriac. I have proof from my docs about that. I would never choose to live this way!  I'd love to throw away my meds & stop going to docs. We just can't afford it! In fact, I'm starting to not go to my docs as much as I need to anymore; I'm just too weary of it. I also have moderate asthma & multiple allergies. *sigh*  

 

 

Joy

P.S. For those who have chronic illnesses, a good website to go to is http://www.restministries.org. Everyone take care!

 

 

I had three children in three years my youngest two are 15 months apart and I workout every single day and can understand Casey completely.  I go to the gym, I take my kids for bike rides and walks and I have the same problem.  I've lost 25 pounds but the skin problem will not go away no matter how much biking, waking, jogging, or how many sittups, or crunches I do.  I eat healthy and take care of myself. 

 

There are some things that even a healthy lifestyle can't change. 

 

Confused Fan

I can not believe that there are that many people out there that can judge someone, and put blame on those parents when they do not know what it is like. I too have a son who suffers from this and it is very frustrating, but it is not his fault. Just imagine if you lost the feeling that your body gives you when it is time for you to go. How would you know when to go? Also, just think about something that hurts you to do. I would like to know how many of you still do it. I agree with many of you but not in the same way has you put it as these boys are being abused. There are being abused by each one of you by calling them names, making comments about keeping them away from your children, and downgrading their parents. I hope that one day you or someone you love does not go through something like this, because I hate to see how you would feel by people's ignorance and rude remarks about something they are not aware of.

 

My son has this disorder and it did not come to light until he was 6, he was potty trained and it went normal until then.  It is not as severe as the boys on the show, he has pretty good control of it at 10 but the symptoms are still there.  I have taken my son to the best childrens hospitals and phycatrists to help him get through this.

 

I can assure you, my children have never been abused and are very happy children. 

 

If a child has has cancer or diabetes does that mean they were abused?  This problem is a medical condition.

 I can't believe people that have children would talk about someone elses childrens medical problem so negative. The only thing I have to say is what if it was their children with the same problem. It is a medical problem. My son had the same problem and took medication and the problem went away. 

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE LADY WHO IS TRYING TO CONCEIVE THAT I WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING.  AFTER 6 MONTHS OF TRYING IT FINALLY HAPPENED. THE FIRST 3 MONTHS I WAS JUST LIKE YOU. CONSTANTLY WORRYING, THINKING, DAY DREAMING,TALKING ABOUT IT. I ALSO TOOK PREGNANCY TEST FOR NO REASON WASTING MONEY. A FRIEND TOLD ME I CAN GO CRAZY ACTING THIS WAY BECAUSE I CAN START BELIEVING I WAS ACTUALLY PREGNANT.

 MY DR. SAID I SHOULD STOP STRESSING AND DWELLING ON IT, LOOSE 10-15 POUNDS, DRINK MORE WATER, MORE EXERCISE, NO MORE DRINKING ALCOHOL LIKE I WOULD ON WEEKENDS.  FIRST I STOP DRINKING, LOST OVER 10 POUNDS, STOPPED DWELLING ON IT. I HAD TO REALIZE THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT IF IT WERE MEANT TO BE.  FINALLY I MISSED A PERIOD 3 MONTHS LATER AND ON CHRISTMAS DAY I GOT A POSITIVE PREGNANCY TEST. WE WERE SO HAPPY. NOW I'M 8 1/2 MONTHS PREGNANT WITH THE GIRL I ALWAYS WANTED. DO WHAT DR. MASTERSON SAYS AND I'M CONFIDENT YOU WILL HAVE A CHILD.  GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS.

I generally do not read, nor have ever replied to message boards like this due to the ignorance I thought was on there.  As a matter of fact, I had to sign up just to make this comment.  I would just like to say thank you to all who to prove my theory, and fear for those of you who are living in such ignorance. 

The show today hit close to home for me.  I have a daughter who is six that is fighting this problem.  My husband and I have tried everything to fix this issue, including several sessions of therepy.  I have no intentions of defending my parenting or my potty-training skills, as I also have a three year old that has been potty-trained since 2 1/2.  My goal is to show support for those that know what we are going through.  This issue can definitely put a huge strain not only on a marriage, but the relationship you have with your child.  However, with my and my husband's support, I have no doubts that we will break through this with our daughter, and she will grow up to be the happy, healthy girl we have always wanted her to be.