I'm old. Officially.

[neweurope]

Went to see a dermatologist to-day; my doctor and I thought she could give us important hints concerning some kind of rheumatism, an old borreliosis or whatever. I have gotten extremely dry skin, red nests of burst blood vessels, ulcers at the elbows and an enormous amount of callosity; also I'm loosing hair (NOT on my head).

She took exactly two minutes time with me - in the first minute she asked me at length why I cannot work anymore only to tell me that I had to see a neurologist (which I first did in 1989) and not her. The second minute she glanced at my upper body (which is not nearly as bad as the rest) and told me that that was normal, because I'm old. Yes, OLD. And in three years time I would probably be blue-red from head to toe - I'M OLD, what did I expect? I'll be 51 in August.... left there crying.

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[jody]

1. Take two aspirin and call me in 20 years!

:hi:

[SHRED]

2. Alternative

Go see an acupuncturist for real health care.
Chinese medicines and acupuncture are wonderful.

[tavalon]

3. Well, you found yourself quite an ass for a doctor

and a lousy diagnostician to boot.

Been checked for Diabetes, hypothyroidism and Celiac sprue? Each could cause the symptoms you describe. Old age doesn't.

[neweurope]

5. My (own) doctor just mentioned another diabetes test.

Had my thyroid gland removed (get substituted), but my .... (don't know the word, another gland right next to/behind of the thyroid gland) doesn't work either, Parathormone is too high. Sprue I haven't been tested for. That dermatologist truly was an ass in every respect - AND I don't think I'm OLD at 51! That truly hurt.


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[tavalon]

6. Don't let it hurt

because she is an ass and she is wrong. Ask John Conyers Jr. what old is - it's a state of mind.

[neweurope]

8. Thank you, Tavalon!

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Bush to The Hague!

[tavalon]

10. It's called your parathyroid, BTW

Honestly, I know tons about what diabetes, hypothyroidism (I'm guessing you get regular blood work to check your TSH?) and celiac sprue can do, not so much about what the parathyroids can do.

Let me ask you another question about that dermatologist. Twentysomething or just around thirty, yes. Children can be so hurtful and some people are still children at that age.

[neweurope]

12. Parathyroid, thanks. And she was about 35.

With the endocrinologist (??) I had a similar problem... went there once - parathormone too high. She thought because I have a lactosis intolerance and therefore not enough Vitamin D. I told her even though I have the lactosis intolerance I still eat/drink enough milk products but she insisted I take Vitamin D. I did and just had my second check - parathormone still too high.

And what did she do? Wrote my doctor I should substitute Vitamin D... which on her advice I've been doing all along (and which I told her). I don't know about some people, really - and I'm pretty eloquent, it can't be that I don't make clear what the problem is.

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[tavalon]

13. It doesn't appear to be a communication problem on your end

Unfortunately, communication also requires reception and far too many doctors really don't know how to listen.

[spooky3]

29. Old is not a bad thing, but the fact is, you are not old.

And the symptoms you have are not "normal" aging. One of my best friends is 10 years older than you and she doesn't have any of those symptoms.

(on edit) oops, I meant this to respond to the OP.

[neweurope]

31. Thanks, that's what I thought, too.Have older friends

and relatives and NEVER saw anything like this.

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[In_The_Wind]

4. find a new doctor

stat ... I'm past 51. You shouldn't be having the problems you posted about.

[ReadTomPaine]

7. Given your nickname, do you realize how ironic your post title is?

;)

[trotsky]

9. You need to report her to the clinic or hospital.

Doctors are supposed to remain professional and have good bedside manners. A doctor treating patients like crap will make fewer patients want to come to the hospital, which SHOULD concern the hospital's management.

In today's world, you can't call ANY age "old." It's all in how you feel and what you're doing with your lives. I've met old 30-year-olds and very young 90-year-olds.

[BiggJawn]

11. "Doctor, my ankle hurts"

"Hmmmm....well, we COULD X-ray it, but after all, you ARE getting older..."

"Yeah, well, the OTHER ankle is 46 years old too, and *IT* doesn't hurt!"

I found a new doctor.

[MuseRider]

14. Arghhhhh

That is almost as bad as the doctors who look at a woman and try to explain everything away using the old "hysteria" diagnosis (they really do still do that). This whippersnapper needs to be reported, that is entirely unprofessional for her to speak to you that way. Old my ass, there are an awful lot of us here that age and older and most of us consider ourselves just fine. Find another doctor and report this one if you can, she needs a lesson in bedside manner at the very least.

:hi: 51 and going strong.

[mcscajun]

15. Sounds like she only wants to work on the young and beautiful

with minor problems.

I echo the rest...get a new doctor.

Oh...and BTW...You're NOT Old.

[MissHoneychurch]

16. what a lovely doctor

:eyes:

Seems to be a qualification to be a dermatologist. To be an asshole and to make the appointment as short as possible

[neweurope]

17. Yes. But in every room she has big posters advertizing botox and the like

for 50 and 90 Euro per session. While my own doctor is working 12 hour shifts, even making home calls, and does not get rich...

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[MissHoneychurch]

18. I would say

go and find yourself another dermatologist as soon as possible. It is just so f* hard to find a good one.

[neweurope]

19. Thanks, everybody. Yes, I might report her because

I'm really angry. And I'll find another one. And thanks for telling me I'm not old :)

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[Terran]

20. 51 is old??

Your doctor is a jerk; get a new one if you can. That's ridiculous.

[hfojvt]

21. a dermatologist? You have acne? or a rash?

Just put some aloe vera on it.
Next.

[neweurope]

22. She actually mentioned "Melkfett" which I can't find

in the dictionary. It's some kind of pomade used when milking cows. Maybe my skin will look better then (though I doubt it) but nobody will want to touch me - and I'll have to change sheets every day.

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[amazona]

28. try Vermont Bag Balm if you can't find this German bag balm

It WILL help, people will want to touch you again, and big deal if sheets have to be changed every day. We all have health challenges. Skin is also one of mine. I'm younger than you are and I was born with some of these skin conditions. Dermatology can be very frustrating because many skin conditions don't have cures, they only have treatments that don't work very well. Some dermatologists are more comfortable in the role of beauty advisor, giving Botox, removing warts, etc. If you have a serious skin condition, unfortunately, you have to shop around. I am again currently without a good dermatologist. It just isn't easy to find a good one for difficult conditions.

Do try the Bag Balm, it has helped my hands and arms tremendously. Topical or injected steroids also help but they have serious side effects and you want to do everything you can to reduce the amount of steroids you need to use to control your skin issues.

Don't give up.

On Edit-- I can't read German so won't link to the Melkfett information I found. The only ingredients I could read were lanolin and mineral oil. I think you would do as well or better with the Vermont Bag Balm which I have used about 3-4 years now with much sucess. Here is a catalog where you can buy it, I've also bought it at Walgreens and at drugstore.com and I believe you can import it safely into the EU:

http://www.vermontlifecatalog.com/housewares/h-bagbalm.html

Try it! Before Vermont Bag Balm, I had lost the ability to handle paper or cardboard.

[neweurope]

32. Thank you very much for this information!

I will certainly try to import it. And I hope you'll find another good dermatologist soon!

:hi:

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Remember Fallujah

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[barb162]

23. I am older and am having real problems with my skin

I think I will be seeing dermatologist number 4 soon. Also seeing a rheumatologist.

[dajoki]

24. i'll be 51 in august too!!

welcome to the club;)

[neweurope]

26. Hm - we can have a birthday party here on DU, what

do you think? I'll make my world famous potato salad and supply good German beer and French red wine.

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[dajoki]

27. sounds good to me

i'll make my famous bbq country ribs and the cake. btw, i'm the 14th:toast:

[neweurope]

30. So we'll celebrate the night of the 14th into the 15th

when it's my time :) Ribs and cake sound very good!

:toast:


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Bush to The Hague!

[dajoki]

33. i'll write it down

because, speaking for myself now, my mind doesn't work as good as it used to. too much partying when i was younger?:hippie:

[neweurope]

34. *grins* I already wrote it down.

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Bush to The Hague!

[undeterred]

25. I remember having an experience like that at 37

I had some chest pain after taking an injection so I went to the ER, and it turned out to be nothing, just tightness. But the medical student and resident physician said, "Its good that you came in. This would most likely be nothing in a young person, but with someone your age, its good to err on the side of caution".

"With someone your age"? I felt like screaming "You're going to be my age before you know it!"