From Huskies To Husbands

DH brought home the CT scan report today from the hospital.  I needed it picked up so that I could fax it off to my GI specialist down in Denver and to the new doctor that I am trying to get in with over in Saratoga.  I looked it over and I am appalled at what I read.

• The report states that there should be further evaluation with ultrasound for the mass on my kidney.
• The report states that there are findings consistent with sacroiliitis and that follow up with the patient should be done about this issue.
• The report states that there is a focal sclerosis along the inferior right SI joint.  (sclerosis = bony formation, SI joint = hip joint)

What the heck?  OK, I am not a doctor but I can read obviously… So why when the radiologists report clearly states that there should be follow up with the patient and with an ultrasound for further study did the doctors office tell me that it isn’t a big deal and to basically stop bothering them??

Just over the phone my GI specialist without having the report and based on the information I had via the nurses at the other doctors office said that I needed an ultrasound on the kidney…

Waiting for the doctor over in Saratoga to get back in the office from vacation and take a look at things.  I think that she will order the ultrasound ASAP and probably some blood work too.  I just hope that she can get on this sooner rather than later because I am tired of waiting and being put off.  My first doctor visit about this issue was on February 3, the second doctor visit was on February 6, and the CT scan was done on February 6.  Then the doctor dropped the ball even though I was calling and asking for help!!

Some information about sacroiliitis and why I believe that the radiologist could be correct on this diagnosis.  (Information found at the Mayo Clinic Website)

•  Sacroiliitis is an inflammation of one or both of the sacroiliac joints, which connect your lower spine and pelvis. With sacroiliitis, even the slightest movements of your spine can be extremely uncomfortable or even painful for you.
• Sacroiliitis symptoms may include:

• Pain and stiffness in your lower back, thighs or buttocks

• Pain that worsens with walking because the motion of your hips strains your sacroiliac joints

• Inflammation in one or both of your eyes (uveitis or iritis)

• Psoriasis, an inflammatory skin condition

• Pain radiating down your leg

• Limping

• Decreased range of motion

• A fever that appears quickly

• Complications:
  Delayed treatment of sacroiliitis — either because of an incorrect diagnosis or because you’ve put off going to your doctor — can cause serious harm to your sacroiliac joints.

  Sacroiliitis may be part of a larger inflammatory arthritis condition known as ankylosing spondylitis. Complications of this condition can be very serious, including difficulty breathing, spine deformities, lung infections and heart problems.

• Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily causes pain and inflammation of the joints between the vertebrae of your spine and the joints between your spine and pelvis (sacroiliac joints). However, ankylosing spondylitis may also cause inflammation and pain in other parts of your body as well.
• Initial symptoms - Early signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis may include:
• Chronic pain in your lower back and hips, especially in the morning and after periods of inactivity
• Stiffness in your lower back or hip area

• As your condition progresses - Your condition may change over time, with symptoms getting worse, improving or completely stopping at any point. Over time the pain and stiffness, which usually begin gradually, may progress up your spine and to other joints. You may experience inflammation and pain in these other parts of your body:

• Where your tendons and ligaments attach to bones
• Joints between your ribs and spine
• Joints in your hips, shoulders, knees and feet
• Your eyes

• Symptoms of advanced stages - In advanced stages, the following signs and symptoms may develop:

• Restricted expansion of your chest
• Chronic stooping
• Stiff, inflexible spine
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Eye inflammation (uveitis)
• Bowel inflammation

Great sounding, huh?  I really wish that doctors could get there act together…