Do doctors correctly diagnose food allergies and sensitivities?

I thought I'd start a separate thread on this subject. Another woman said that her daughter had suffered for years. After years of going to doctors, giving money to them (and the drug companies) all she showed for it was thousands of dollars and hundreds of scars.

The exact same thing happened to me. I went to one of the best dermatologists on Park Avenue, and all he did for me was throw an endless series of perscriptions my way. He made it clear that he was the authority, he barked instructions like he new everything. He did not, and never once asked me the question "so what is your diet like."

I don't think there is a conspiracy, but the next effect is ten minute medicine, where you go in, the doctor throws a perscription or two at you, and you are on your way.

I think we rely WAY too much on pharma, and from what I understand, pharma has a huge role in the education of doctors.

Mon. Nov 12, 11:42am

doctors are totally in the pocket of the pharma industry. The reality is that they don't really have the time to really cure you. They practice "symptomatic" medicine, that focuses on treating the symptoms not the underlying cause.

Monday, November 12, 2007, 12:16 PM

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!

I am the person who's daughter has suffered since she was 9 months old. She started with coughing violently to the point she would vomit. This would last a few weeks, then go away. She had two surgeries by the ENT when she was 17 months old because they thought it was related to her adnoids. Once they were removed and that didn't fix it, we went on to the next specialists. Then when she 5, she started breaking out on her butt, arms and legs. Again, we sought 2 pediatric dermos and they both were so quick to prescribe her steriod creams. They didn't work. Then it was off to the pediatric asthma and allergy doc. He tested her for 40 food allergies--NONE of them came up. Our doc put her on asthma medication and when that didn't work, they put her on acid reflux medicine and that didn't work. At the end of our rope, i made a free consultation with the local osteopath. At the first appointment, he asked why no one had suggested a blood test for food allergies or done a stool sample to see how she was digesting foods. We did that and guess what, she has over 40 food allergies. We either eliminate them or make it sparatic and she is on 2 homeopathic supplements for digestion. She has been cough free and breakout free for 7 months! Her color looks great, she no longer has the puffy face from all the steroids, and she is so happy now that she can sleep and not cough!

This is why i said, Drs need to be held accountable when they can't figure something out. Why should I have to pay for 6 years worth of medicine, surgeries, testing, x-rays, visits when they never found out what was wrong. They need to have a portion of responsibility as well. And if they can't figure it out, SAY IT rather than continuing to take our money and waste our time!

Monday, November 12, 2007, 12:31 PM

IF they said they couldn't figure out what was wrong, then it'd STILL be their fault.

And truth of the matter is, doctors are often LIMITED by money. For example, a doctor could easily send a patient out for every single possible test until SOMETHING was found. But those tests are expensive, the insurance company will only cover related tests, and patients complain and moan if they have to pay more than their normal 5-20 dollar copay.

Are the doctors supposed to do that out of their OWN pocket? No. And they shouldn't feel obligated to either.

12.31, they did those tests to TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH YOUR DAUGHTER. While I agree that an allergy test should have been done, perhaps the symptoms where synonymous with something else which it might just as easily have been.

So you know, steroid creams are usually used to treat problems. Doctors usually begin with the least expensive and invasive treatments before moving on to more drastic problems. You know, a rash can also be symptomatic for cancer. Would you have prefered they sent your daughter straight for biopsies of every section of her body and intensive chemotherapy?

Doctors are often left with perhaps 1-5 symptoms, like clues, and asked to put the whole picture together based on those scattered puzzle peices.

So moral of this story? STOP COMPLAINING. Go get a medical degree and see if you could do any better - but until then..shut up!!!

Monday, November 12, 2007, 1:40 PM

Oh, and

Why should I have to pay for 6 years worth of medicine, surgeries, testing, x-rays, visits when they never found out what was wrong. They need to have a portion of responsibility as well. And if they can't figure it out, SAY IT rather than continuing to take our money and waste our time!

If you're so high and mighty, then how about you stop wasting THE DOCTOR'S time? Those doctors put time and effort into trying to help your daughter, and what you're doing now is a complete slap in their face.

Doctors don't just try ad 'cover up' symptoms like you say, but they do try and treat the symptoms. Why? Because sometimes they DON'T know what is wrong and are at least trying to help by stopping the symptoms. If a person is terminal and the doctors treat their symptoms, are they wasting that person's time because they can't cure the disease?

Monday, November 12, 2007, 1:42 PM

1:40 how in the hell are tests done out of doctor's expenses? i work at a clinic and, sorry, you're absolutely wrong about that! Doctor's don't pay one frickin cent for tests they ask their patients to do. what's wrong with you? I have a 30% out of pocket expense plus a $2,000 deductable each year, believe me, those tests came right out of my pocket, not the doctors! come out of your closet and see the real world.

When they test for asthma and it shows she doesn't have it, DON'T F---in treat her for it! That's good medicine!

Steriods creams are used to MASK problems. The skin breaks out for some reason--they never bothered to try to figure out what that was.

If you don't like people complaining, get off this thread and shut that whole in your face....and please don't reproduce!

Monday, November 12, 2007, 1:45 PM

1:42--my daughter is terminal you moron!

so, if you go to a salon for that perfect shade of blonde, and they don't get it right 6, 7, 8 times and then they finally get it, would you pay the full price every time they didn't get it right?

Monday, November 12, 2007, 1:47 PM

And let's get something else straight. I agreed to pay 85% of the bills out of my pocket for my daughter's testing because it was worth it and they did provide a service, HOWEVER, why should i have to pay for the whole thing when they weren't the ones who figured it out! I don't think that's unreasonable at all.

Monday, November 12, 2007, 1:48 PM

correction to my 1:47 post, she isn't terminal so don't compare a terminal person to my daughter.

Monday, November 12, 2007, 1:50 PM

1,40 again

I DIDN'T SAY DOCTORS PAID FOR ANYTHING. I was responding to the complaint of "oh..so many tests....wasting my time and MONEY" that the previous poster had pulled out.

I was asking how the doctors were supposed to do the tests if no one wanted to pay for them. it would be easy for a doctor to send a patient for every single test. but insurance companies will only cover so much and patients complain if they have to pay. some people expect the doctor to pay for it. and it HAS happened. so come out of YOUR closet and learn basic reading comprehension skills.

and no, once again you prove you ignorance - steroid creams TREAT swelling of the skin and itchy, rashy skin. that's TREATING a symptom, and many times patients get that reaction for no serious reason that needs pinpointing - for example a new soap or detergent.

and i don't mind complaints. i mind EMPTY POINT YOUR FINGERS IN EVERY EFFIN DIRECTION complaints. people can't blame doctors for being imperfect.

finally, it's spelled HOLE. whole means entire. hole means crevice.

i think you're the one that needs not reproduce. the IQ of the world needs no further lowering.

Monday, November 12, 2007, 1:51 PM

11:42- there is no conspiracy, but there are bad doctors, just like there are bad mechanics. It doesn't mean they're all bad.

Monday, November 12, 2007, 1:53 PM

i was comparing the general situation of treating only symptoms to the terminal problem. and please, refarin from calling me a moron. if you have nothing more intelligent to say, you can leave.

and comparing doctor's services to a hair salonist is ridiculous. i won't even justify that with a response.

further, it is unreasonable because the doctors sent you for those tests and treatments to try and help your daughter - not because they were consiously trying to waste your time and money.

doctors get a few clues and try to go from there. do you know how often symptoms overlap? there are approximately 500-600 causes of a rash, not counting medicine related rashes. don't believe me? look it up. try to see if you can take a single symptom as broad as "rash" and go from there.

like i said - go get a medical degree and then you have the right to talk. until then you're making ignorant complaints.

Monday, November 12, 2007, 1:57 PM

"and no, once again you prove you ignorance - steroid creams TREAT swelling of the skin and itchy, rashy skin. that's TREATING a symptom, and many times patients get that reaction for no serious reason that needs pinpointing - for example a new soap or detergent"

you just said it yourself, PINPOINT the reason, not mask it. Steroid creams treat the skin rash, but don't figure out WHY it happened in the first place. Wouldn't you want to know WHY your child broke out and was left with scars all over her body? If this were your child, wouldn't you want to know WHY she coughs? Would you seriously keep masking the problem with prescription creams and medicines and watch her liver functions drop? Would you do that to your child?

Monday, November 12, 2007, 1:58 PM

1:53--i never said there was a conspiracy and i don't believe there is. It's exactly what we've been saying all this time. Doctor's don't test for this. WHY. Children and adults are being diagnosed with more and more food allergies every day. OFFER the damn test to patients and let them make the decision to pay for it or not. No risk to the doctors!

Monday, November 12, 2007, 1:59 PM

no, i'd leave her without medical care until the doctors PINPOINTED the exact toxin that caused the symptom and watch as it worsened to the point that she suffocated to death as her throat closed.

then i'd be able to pinpoint everything during the biopsy.

obviously, that's the smarter choice.

sometimes treatng a symptom is a priority - for the sake of the patient.

Monday, November 12, 2007, 2:01 PM

1:57 you don't want to answer the hair color, then answer this one. If you took your son or daughter to the dentist for a tooth ache, they removed the tooth that was effected, to later find out there was nothing wrong with the tooth, that it was actually the sinuses putting pressure on the teeth, would you want your money back for the removal of that tooth?

Monday, November 12, 2007, 2:01 PM

absolutely not because they did what they could and solved the problem. it would also be the patient's fault for not stating they had a sinus migraine/headache/pressure.

Monday, November 12, 2007, 2:03 PM

2:01--thank you. You've now admitted it's a priority, but getting down to the bottom of it is essential--they didn't do that.

When your children have gone through what my daughter has spent years going through and as a parent you've done everything you can do and nothing works and you feel helpless, you can disagree with me at that point and i will understand. until then, don't presume to know what you would or wouldn't do in this situation. it's my daughter, my baby, and i have every right to be upset with the doctors for not finding this sooner and putter her on medicine for problems she didn't have.

Monday, November 12, 2007, 2:05 PM

what if you did tell them there was sinus pressure, headaches, migraines. then what?

Monday, November 12, 2007, 2:06 PM

2.05 - i told you, what happened to your daughter was regrettable, but NOT the doctor's fault. please, for the sake of this argument, google the words "symptom: rash" and see how many hits for a possible diagnosis you get.

i've said this in another thread. it's basically as if every moment of a doctor's life for the rest of their career is a pass/fail test. very little partial credit and if you fail, all fingers seem to get pointed at you.

you have no right to be upset at the doctors. you have the right to be upset, but not with the doctors. it wasn't their fault.

Monday, November 12, 2007, 2:08 PM

2.06 - then you've found ONE bad doctor and you can sue for malpractice. but you still pay for the procedure and take back what is decided you deserve in court.

but that is different from the case currently being discussed. the mother came in with "rash and cough" for symptoms. like i've said..over 500 reasons for a rash, 400 for a cough, about 200 for both together and 900 if each was caused seperately (which can most certainly happen)

Monday, November 12, 2007, 2:11 PM

Wow, quite a back and forth. I just wanted to address my original intent of this post. My experience at a dermatologist was identical to this woman's. My point was that he NEVER addressed issues that might be considered a "root cause" of my skin issues. And my beef was not with the doctor, it still isn't. My beef seems to be with how they approach diagnosis as a whole.

I guess what I am saying is that I'd like a more integrative approach to my medical care. Something more intelligent. Maybe the doctors can form their own mini-internet, and network their intelligence together.

Monday, November 12, 2007, 2:24 PM

The only way I was diagnosed with a gluten allergy was through a urine sample that my chiropractor had me do to see if we could determine why I'm so tired all the time. I'm 39 years old and never knew I had an allergy like this. I don't think I would have even thought to ask a doctor to test me on this allergy as I honestly never saw any signs that I would have it.
Oh, and my tiredness is actually due to a hypo thyroid condition...

Monday, November 12, 2007, 2:52 PM

2:24- not to pass off all the responsibility on the patient/you, but it is our responsibility to tell our doctors "hey! I think you missed something!"

When I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, I spent a lot of time talking to my doctor about what side effects I was and was not willing to accept with my medication. We worked together- he would prescribe a 2 week run of something, I'd try it, he'd check my BP, I'd report any side effects. Together, we found something that gives me almost no side effects and effectively lowers my bp.

Earlier this year, I was taken by ambulance to the ER for severe dehydration due to the worst case of food poisoning I've ever had. Every time anyone asked, I told them EVERYTHING I was feeling- Apparently, insisting that I was yawning uncontrollably let them know that I needed oxygen.

It's been my experience that doctors work best as a team with their patients, rather than as adversaries. If you've got a doctor who won't work with you, it's time to get another.

Monday, November 12, 2007, 3:43 PM

I believe that most doctors are wll intentioned people who desire to help people in the ways in which their education has prepared them. The flaw I see is with the focus of the medical profession and government on treatment rather than prevention. Just look at the Dean Ornish program, John McDougall, The CHIP program or Wiemar Institute. These people/programs have been able to go far beyond any medicine or cream in changing the coarse of disease. We don't have to be sick, in the vast majority of cases we choose to be by following the western lifestyle. In my country we can't pay for allergy tests etc.. Neither are we able to get another doctor if we aren't happy. There is a shortage of doctors and we don't have much say in how we are treated. Bottom line- I am educating myself in prevention and lifestyle changes in treating my problems. It's the only way to go.
By the way- the hostility expressed in some of these threads...very detrimental to the immune system for the expressor especially! True!! Life is really too short folks and unless we are truly better than someone else, ( never!) we should be more kind and forbearing! We're in this together if you really think about it.(:

Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 4:53 AM

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