Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

[jezebel89]

Hi guys

Last weekend I was starting to have severe pains in my lower abdomen - I knew they weren't menstrual cramps, but were SHARP pains, and in one specific area very low on my front. I decided to call a clinic nurse who told me to look for my birth control (which is a vaginal ring), and when I didn't find it (it must have slipped out), I realized that I was all swollen up in there. The nurse immediately told me to go to the ER. My insurance doesn't cover ER visits, so I called my friend's mom, who is a nurse. She told me the same thing. I then decided to go to a walk-in place that was open late (this was 10 oclock at night). Lucky me, they told me there were no females and so could not do a pelvic exam. Urine was taken, I tested negative for pregnancy and diagnosed with a UTI. Now, I'm a frequent flyer among UTIs and I knew this wasn't it. I was told to take one of the many common antibiotics, but didn't because I knew this wasn't a UTI. The next day a pelvic was done and the doctor said, after he felt around, that every part of my female reproductive organs was inflammed and diagnosed me with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). After (painfully - everything he did hurt me because I was so swollen) swabbing me, he said this was most likely due to an STD. He put me on two antibiotics - flagyl and doxycycline (I had taken doxycycline before, other emets don't be so afraid, even though v* is a common side effect, I never had any side-effects at all except for becoming dehydrated because it sucks all the fluids out of you - drink lots). I tested negative and normal for everything. I then went to my normal OB/GYN who did all the same things plus an ultrasound, and again everything came back normal and negative. I'm off the antibiotics now, but am still sore and swollen. I've never had a fever. I've read that one of the side effects is v*, and I'm afraid that being off the meds might make me v* since this obviously has not gone away. If anyone else has any other info on PID too, that would help so much. I'm so frustrated and just want to feel better, I'm only 18

[SimplyMe]

Wow, that sounds horrible! I hope you start feeling better soon! I don't know much about PID but found this on the CDC website http://www.cdc.gov/std/PID/STDFact-PID.htm#howget Hope it helps you.

If you're still having symptoms I'd call the doctor and go in again to make sure it is gone. Again I hope you feel better soon!

[sage]

Wow that sounds like a terrible ordeal!
First off, don't worry about the vomiting. Vomiting is a symptom of EVERYTHING because humans are often weak-stomached creatures it seems. But emetophobes don't vomit unless they're poisoned nearly to death so don't even give it another thought. The brain's anxiety response will be stronger than any nausea from any condition or surgery or drug!

I just have to add that I'm completely gob-smacked that your insurance doesn't cover ER visits. WTH??? America is supposed to be "the greatest country in the world" GIVE ME A BREAK!
Sorry for the rant, but honestly...how backward is that?
In Canada and the UK (England) EVERYONE has health insurance and it covers EVERYTHING. The premiums are as low in Canada as zero and only go as high as $50/month/person no matter what your income. You can have elective quadruple-heart-bypass or an experimental treatment or whatever you want and go to the very best specialists in the country if you want and it costs NOTHING.

- we do have higher taxes than you, I hear
- and also, the rich and poor alike may have to wait for surgeries and specialized treatments - but if you're critical you go right in.

Sorry for the rant I just felt so sorry for you having to go through all that. I hope you guys all get out and vote in the next election and put some pressure on your politicians for a decent health-care system.

[jezebel89]

Thanks Simply! I've been cruising the CDC's site too (I'm going to medical school, so even when I'm sick I normally hang out there, lol). A lot of the articles online simply say PID is due to an STD, but I tested negative I mean, !

Thanks Sage. I noticed too that most symptoms of most sicknesses include vomiting, but as an emet I'm usually afraid of that, even though I know my control over vomiting is extremely strong. I think the excess fear is due to my mom - she gets sick from as little as a headache, but doesn't get sick from like, the flu. Go figure.
Insurance! Yes, I am very lucky to have the insurance I do - it covers nearly everything. I only have $5 copays, which I can definately do, but as an unemployed student, the 10 or 5% that my insurance does cover of ER visits (it's not that it doesn't cover it, it is just that it covers only a few bucks!) is a lot of money for me! It's interesting that you say that too, in my government class we were talking about how Canada allows everyone coverage. I think that's neat, but my boyfriend then says that people are taken on a 'most-needed' basis, and as a hypochondriac as well (I think I have EVERYTHING - which I'm working on along with my emet) I don't know how I would like that

[sage]

As far as taking people on an "as-needed" basis, that's not exactly true - but it's the way the politicians in the US and the insurance companies try to spin it. In Canada if you phone to make an appointment with your GP you get one - period. If s/he refers you to a specialist, you get the appointment. In the ER, people are triaged and the sickest/most injured are taken in first while others have to wait. So...it would depend on your hypochondriac symptoms that day I suppose. If you had chest pain and shortness of breath, you'd be whisked in immediately. Your nausea/abdominal pain might mean waiting in chairs for a couple of hours. But isn't that the same in the US? I'd think you'd have to be pretty rich to just walk into an ER presenting with anything and get taken right in.
The simple fact remains that in the US, insurance companies are corporations who make money on health care or should I say lack thereof. They have a strong lobby. In Canada, nobody makes money on health care (or insurance) - and I personally think that's the way it should be in any civilized country.
Even the systems proposed by Obama and Clinton are laughable imo. But what can you do...you're sort of stuck with all these insurance people now. As well, doctors who treat the rich make more money in the US than doctors who treat the poor. You're stuck with that now too.Edited by: sage

[SimplyMe]

Yes, sage, it is the same here in the ER. If you aren't possibly on your death bed you wait lol. I think that's probably the way most ER's work ... or have to work for that matter.

I love being an American but think you're right on about our health care! It amazes me that we are one of the only "developed" countries that does not have socialized health care. Sickening ... literally.Edited by: SimplyMe

[jezebel89]

So... the last test results came back today... and they found something! I'm so thankful that I have found a doctor I love (it's almost as exciting as finding your soul-mate therapist - a term I heard someone on here use and loved it XD).
Bloodwork showed that I have a really high level of autoimmune antibodies in my body. The norm is 40 and mine showed up at 380. This is usually the case with lupus, which is a disease found in young girls. It's when the body is attacking its own tissues and organs, confusing it with an 'intruder.' I'm scheduled for more skin biopsies, and then some medication! I'm very excited that we quickly found out what was the matter. Not only has it affected my reproductive organs, but my kidneys as well. I'll be glad to be free from kidney pain too

[grgygrl]

Jezebel: Glad that you have figured out what is going on and can now concentrate on getting things better!! Keep us posted with updates on how ur doing [img]smileys/smilies_02.gif[/img]