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JR2000

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  1. Other than being totally unprofessional, and incorrect about getting a job without benefits, at the very least she was extremely insensitive. Under group health insurance plans for employers, health questions are not allowed to be asked, so it is totally wrong on her part to say you can't get a job without benefits. Furthermore, you may have rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act if you feel that you were laid off due to some perception on your employer's part that you are disabled. The ADA is pretty wide in its scope. You don't have to be what most of us would consider being disabled to qualify under the ADA. Employers are required by law to make a reasonable accommodation for their employee's health concerns. Even if your employer's perceptions about you were totally correct, none of what she described sound to me like grounds for dismissal. The employer has to prove that your disability makes it impossible for you to perform your job, and it definitely does not sound like this is the case for you. In fact, it is the employer's responsibility to accommodate your needs to a reasonable extent to make sure you can perform your job. I don't know whether you have the desire or the resources to take this situation to an attorney, but if you do you would want to contact an employment atttorney. You will also want to document everything your employer said to you in writing so you don't forget anything over time. You can also contact the EEOC if you are in the United States at www.eeoc.gov. They have the regulations, guidelines, policies, and information about filing a claim if you wish. I hope that helps, and I'm sorry you went through this. JR
  2. Emily: I haven't actually tried them yet, but have heard so many good things about them that I think I'm ready to give them a try. Thanks for the input on the flavors. I'll let you know how it goes! JR
  3. I totally agree with Emily. While it is difficult to make the decision to go with meds during a pregnancy, sometimes it is what is best for both you and your baby. Your baby and you both need good nutrition and hydration The good news is that there are a lot of women suffering hyperemesis gravidarum who are put on Zofran during pregnancy, and it does appear to be pretty safe. I hope you feel better soon. I do know what nausea every day is like. I have had severe nausea every day for the last three years. It is soooo miserable. Please do keep us posted on how you are doing. Emily: Which flavors of the preggie pops do you find work best? JR
  4. It worked great for me for the nausea I suffer with constantly, but I had a lot of side effects. Of course, I can't take anything without side effects, so this isn't too surprising. It gave me a migraine, and made me feel really spaced out and sleepy at the same time. During pregnancy, I would only take it if you are suffering with hyperemesis gravidarum, and you are getting dehydrated and unable to eat at all. There is so much that is unknown about medications and individual pregnancies, and I think it should really be the last resort. I hope you feel better soon. I hear that a product called Preggy Pops works wonders. JR
  5. Merrill: I didn't see your other post, but I will definitely look for it. Thanks!! JR
  6. Hi Merrill: I know what you mean about the anesthetic. I think it is because dental anesthetics contain epinephrine, which we are probably much more sensitive to. I look forward to your update. Chocolate cake sounds great -- I'm having a craving now. JR
  7. I too have had the pain in the upper right quadrant. I had the HIDA which found my gallbladder doesn't contract very well. I decided not to have surgery because I have found I can mostly control the pain with diet. My doctor thinks it is all related to the IBS problems in that the whole GI neuromuscular system can be affected when IBS is present. It doesn't always just affect the colon. I also am coming to believe that the GI problems are also related to the cardiac symptoms and migraines. JR
  8. Merrill: Yes, you are right. I actually seem to have located a cardiac electrophysiologist which is the next stop to try and figure out a dx. How are you doing? Thanks for your support and input. JR
  9. Thanks for your reply. It makes it all so complicated to try and get it all sorted out when there is so much overlap between problems. I guess the treatment regimens are similar though, so maybe making the distinction isn't all that important. Thanks again, JR
  10. Herdswoman: Great information and account of your experiences. I would concur from what I've seen that patient anticipation is so key in getting through procedures well. That is what was so surprising for me. When I had my colonoscopy, I had heard from everyone what a totally easy test it was so I went into it with literally zero anxiety and thinking it was going to be nothing after getting over the prep. In fact, the sedation didn't sedate me, it knocked me out until the scope reached the transverse colon when the pain became unbearable. I think that doctors also need to recognize that not all patients react the same to procedures that are generally well tolerated. My current gastroenterologist (a gem) has had all sorts of patients come to him with similar histories with their colonoscopies, and he takes a much different approach from the physician who performed my colonoscopy. His attitude is all about making the patient comfortable and adjusting the type and amount of anesthesia that may be needed for an individual patient, especially one who has had problems with the procedure in the past, and particularly those individuals with severe IBS. Having been a former medical student myself (unable to finish due to my own health problems), I saw how future doctors are trained, and it is no wonder that it is difficult to find physicians who are willing to look outside the box of what is generally expected when a patient walks in the door. JR
  11. I hesitate to post my experiences with colonoscopy, but as I have met with and discussed my experience with others on GI message boards, I have found out there are many (including myself) who didn't tolerate the test so easily. The prep is unpleasant but not intolerable. I did have a lot of palpitations with it, but not that big of a deal. I didn't have a lot of problems with the drugs (Versed and Demerol), which was a surprise given that I usually can't take anything without having horrible side effects that are always considered rare. The problem was the colonoscopy itself. After very generous amounts of Versed and Demerol, I still can remember the pain of the test; it was excruciating for me. After it was over, I thought it was great that it was such a relief that it was over. Little did I know that my nightmare was just beginning. My intestine went into what was described as a chronic spasm or charley horse and stayed that way for six to eight months with no relief. I lived on Ensure because I couldn't eat solid food at all. The pain for those months was unbearable. My abdomen was hard as a rock as you could feel the spasm from the outside. I have come to find out from other boards on IBS and IBD that my experience isn't as uncommon as I initially believed it to be. I share my story not because I think people should not have colonoscopies ( in fact it is the best test medicine has to diagnose colonic disease, and by far the majority of people do tolerate it fine), but rather only to present the information that not everyone tolerates the test so easily, and particularly those who have heightened visceral sensitivity to begin with (usually sufferers of IBS). JR
  12. Hi Gena: Thank you for your reply. It is so frustrating sometimes to have to do so much on our own, isn't it? Anyway, years ago when I first started having GI problems ibefore they had antibody testing the subject of celiac sprue came up for me with a doctor I was seeing and I went on a very restricted gluten free diet for over a year. At the time they weren't too quick to do small bowel biopsies. The diet was horrible but I was really good about following it, and had no improvement in my GI problems. My doctor now thinks that I have neuromuscular problems with my GI tract since so many parts of it are affected. I am going to undergo capsule endoscopy (where you swallow the camera that is the size of a vitamin) so that we can get a good view of my entire small intestine. It will be interesting to see what that shows, if anything. Again, thanks for your input. It is really helpful to find others who share the same challenges. I moderate several message boards myself on endo. and bowel problems, etc., and the help that people get from them is immeasurable. JR
  13. Thanks Etoly: I actually haven't heard the greatest things about her from patients on other boards, but calling them to try and get a referral closer to O.C. might be a good idea. JR
  14. Hi Merrill: Thank you so much for posting. It is amazing when you find someone who has almost the exact things going on!! I'm glad you don't have the gallbladder trouble though. That started for me about two years or so ago, and I am largely able to control it by avoiding certain foods. I really liked your comment about doctors moving on as long as your heart is beating. How true. I live in the Orange County area of Southern California. I guess what is so frustrating is I have had to go through this with my other problems as well; trying to find a doctor who knows what's going on. Getting diagnosed with the endo. took years and when I finally had surgery for it, I actually finally felt relieved because my pain finally had a name that I could pin to it. I think we all have intuition about our bodies and what is going on with them, and doctors need to learn to listen better!! I notice this doctor I have seen asks me the same questions over and over and over, and then repeats back to me the wrong information I just told him several times. I'm also usually unimpressed when a doctor takes calls in the middle of an appointment. Thanks again for posting. It really helps to know you all are here. JR
  15. Mighty Mouse: Interesting because I have the same problem. I still have my gallbladder, but have been diagnosed with biliary dyskinesia (related to Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction). Interesting that this too may be related to the problems with the autonomic nervous system. I just wish I could find a doctor to tie all of these problems together. They all seem to take their system that they specialize in and don't see any connections between the other problems going on in other parts of the body. I hope you are on the road to feeling better!! JR
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