in the peg--need help from fellow 'tobans

one-hit_wonder · 05-25-2006, 02:56 AM

Hi!

I really need some help. I posted the following on a different thread, but thought I'd get more local answers here:

I went to my doctor last week to ask about Metformin, since she has never mentioned it to me as a treatment option. She readily prescribed it after lots of bloodwork (after fasting), but she would not do the fasting glucose bloodwork, and she wouldn't say why. She only said, "Oh, I think you're fine" (and that was before she saw any results from the blood tests). I was really frustrated: how am I supposed to know if I'm even insulin resistant, then? She wouldn't answer.

So I just bought a OneTouch Ultra kit for testing my blood sugar myself. My fasting test was 4.5 mmol/L, which seems normal, according to what I've read. Then, I downed a sugary drink (12 oz, or so), and I'll test it again in 30 min, 1.5 hrs, and 2 hours. My question, though, regards what I drank. It was mostly sugar, but I don't know if it was too much or not enough. And what kind of sugar? If you have any idea, I'd love to know.

I feel silly performing this myself, when it should be a DOCTOR doing it, but mine just wouldn't do it. I can't just go to another doctor, either, because they are so hard to find where I live. And I really want to know this before I start the Met prescription. (WHY are so many doctors against patients who are proactive about their health??? I'm starting to think I'll drop my Ph.D. studies and go into naturopathic medicine!!!!)

Any help is appreciated!

The answer I got on the Metformin board was that the test I bought will not be an appropriate indication of whether or not I'm insulin resistant (ok, so there goes 60 bucks for nothing!).

Ok, as you can all sympathize, I'm sure, a good doctor is tough to find in Manitoba (let alone ANY doctor at all). I've phoned around to a few clinics: they're not accepting new patients. So now I've called Urgent Care at the walk-in clinic in Winkler: the receptionist said that 'a' doctor would be willing to speak to me about it on Friday. However, I don't know if that doctor will necessarily perform the test.

I am getting so frustrated. I'm on the verge of driving to Grand Forks, ND, and paying the U.S. system for this *$&# test! All I want is to know whether or not I'm insulin resistant. Can anybody (somebody? anywhere?) please give me advice?

Thanks!

byatchette · 05-25-2006, 01:37 PM

Are you seeing a GP? Maybe you can ask for a referral to Heartland Fertility Clinic here in Winnipeg since you are informally TTC. I was put on met and told I was IR immediately (after having bloodwork done after my first appt). They tested me fasting, and also checked my hormone levels etc....

Worth a shot in asking? Good luck!!

one-hit_wonder · 05-26-2006, 01:18 AM

how long does it take to get a referral to heartland? i've heard it can take months. everything in canada takes friggin' months.

Canadian Kokopelli · 05-26-2006, 02:52 AM

Heartland will take awhile. Likely months.

Why don't you just go to a walk in clinic and have the doctor order it?

one-hit_wonder · 05-26-2006, 08:27 AM

Even the walk-ins are telling me that they won't necessarily order the test.

I even tried calling the Diabetes Educator at Wal-Mart, but she's not answering her phone.

This is all so frustrating. I will go to a rural walk-in clinic tomorrow to see what they say.

How on earth can a doctor give me a prescription for Met while refusing to give me a fasting glucose test????

I'm so irritated with our health care system!

Canadian Kokopelli · 05-26-2006, 02:46 PM

Met can help non-IR PCOS women, too. So even though you might not be IR, it could very well still work for you. I didn't have a fasting glucose before I started met either.

What about seeing an endocrinologist? I see Dr. Salamon at the Winnipeg Clinic and she's fantastic.

There have been times when I've ran out of met and couldn't get in to see the endo soon enough. Since a lot of doctors here don't really understand PCOS, many are hesitant to prescribe met when it isn't for clearcut type II diabetes. It took me several trips to several different walk-ins to have my prescription refilled. If you've got the time, just keep going. Eventually they'll see that it's cheaper to just give you the damn test then to see you every other day

one-hit_wonder · 05-26-2006, 06:45 PM

Cdn Kokopelli:

lol Thanks. I'm going to go nag another doctor (at a rural clinic) right now, as a matter of fact!

Yeah, I've seen from various postings on the board that Met can help both IR and non-IR women. I just really want to know before I start whether or not I am IR. I'm trying so hard to overhaul my lifestyle (I've completely changed my diet, for instance), so I want to KNOW. I want to be proactive about this. I just don't understand why so many doctors have a bad attitude about patients who take their health into their own hands and are RESPONSIBLE for their own health. More than likely, I'm going to end up costing the health care system much less $$ than the average Canadian -- because I care -- but doctors just want you to go on your merry way and to trust them because they KNOW EVERYTHING.

Anyway, thanks so much to everyone for the advice!!!!

one-hit_wonder · 05-27-2006, 01:20 AM

Ok, so I just came back from TRYING to get a doctor in an Urgent Care rural clinic to perform the two-hour glucose test. The physician refused, saying that because I'm not her patient, she couldn't refer me to the hospital for it. She said only my family doctor could do that. I repeated that my doctor would not order the test, nor would a variety of other doctors. She looked at me really sympathetically but said she would not be able to do it. I asked, "Well, what are my options? I really need to have this done." She said there was nothing else. I walked out in tears. I don't understand why this test is such a massive deal to the medical system.

I guess my next step is to call the College of Physicians to see if there are any GPs taking new patients. Maybe one of them will order the friggin' test.

I just realized that I can't get referred to Heartland, anyway, because my own GP won't do any further testing or referrals until DH provides a second sample. (And he can't do that, apparently, because he's just been on antibiotics.)

I'm gonna have one of these soon:

byatchette · 05-27-2006, 04:36 PM

That's weird....my DH didn't have to provide any samples whatsoever to get a referral to Heartland. When we had our appt at heartland, our dr. asked if he wanted to give a sample to rule him out, but in the end he didn't because we both knew it was me with the problem.

I would definitely look for another doctor, and wish you all the luck in finding one. Whereabouts in the city are you? I was able to get a doctor at the Lindenridge Medical Clinic on Scurfield as there were a few new doctors in there....

one-hit_wonder · 05-27-2006, 08:59 PM

Hi!

Well, I think my doctor wants to tackle my infertility issues herself, first. Which is fine with me. And testing dh was par for the course, as she thinks his little guys might have motility issues (from the first sample he gave). So whatever. I can't get too seriously into the ttc until I get through the coursework for my M.A.

When did you start going to Lindenwood? Maybe I'll try that clinic. I live in Fort Rouge, just off Pembina.

Later!

byatchette · 05-27-2006, 10:11 PM

It's been a couple of years....I started seeing one doctor but she went on mat leave and hasn't been back, so I started seeing another doctor, whom I'm not particularily fond of, but I need a GP so I'm just suckin' it up lol I just haven't found one that I'm completely comfortable with other than my OB/GYN.

Jezreel · 05-30-2006, 03:05 PM

I absolutely ABHOR the medical system in Manitoba. In the area I live in (Eastman) there are TWO doctors taking new patients. TWO! And neither of them speak good enough English to understand what the heck I'm even saying! The first one told me I was having a miscarriage when I went to the hospital thinking that I was hemmoraging(sp?)... the second one told me (after I got blood work done) that I was fine, and didn't need a referral to see ANYONE. I got her to at least get me in for an ultrasound (my appointment when she booked it was May 5) and that's not until August 2, and even then its an external and won't tell much anyway!

Honestly, if you have the cash, and are close enough to the border to make it feasible - go to ND, then come back and slap the paperwork in your doctors face.

one-hit_wonder · 05-31-2006, 06:03 AM

I hate the medical system here, too. My dad just went to the doc because of irregular heartbeat: the doc just said that there was nothing wrong with him and that he was as strong as a horse! WHAAAATT?

If you think of it, take a look at Maclean's current special issue. It's about how to beat the medical system by going private. Very cutting edge for good old Mac! Now, if only I had the $ to go private...

BunnySlippers · 06-03-2006, 05:07 PM

Hi one

I was seeing Dr. Helms. I didnt like the medication aspect....so i've been looking into alternative more natural therapies lately. I've been in contact with a Dr. Hill and we are going to see if she can conduct one of her informational workshops here in Brandon, she is from Sask. Dr. Helms is good and he is in the Brandon clinic near the hospital....but i want to stay away from medications at all costs, just my quirk i guess. So if you need another rural Dr. to "bug" lol I would recommend him.

Canadian Kokopelli · 06-03-2006, 08:54 PM

Dr. Helms and I sure didn't hit it off. I thought he was pretty...uhm, arrogant?

If you're looking for another OB/GYN, I LOVE Dr. Sutter. She's at the same station as Helms.