Hi everyone!
It seems that almost everyone here has run into one doctor or another who has 'wise words' to say to us Sjoggies. Surprisingly enough these aren't usually as helpful to us as they might be. Could be because they are often dismissive, of us or the symptoms we present with? Could be because the doctor has set ideas about AIs, or the 'type' of person in front of them? Do they tell us more about the medics than about ourselves?
I thought it might be fun to share our favourites. That way we can laugh/smile/chortle about them together rather than being wounded, or taking them personally. Maybe newbies would be cheered to know that they're not alone in this aspect of Sjoggy-dom?
So ... here's my current favourite: 'Go home and give yourself permission to be well'.
Please share yours!
Love to all - Chana
My first rheumy (who soon became my ex-rheumy) told me to go home and follow up with my GP even though I had positive labs and lots of painful symptoms. He then added that I should be thankful that I wasn't as sick as some people and if I got worse....I could call and he could possibly see me again....needless to say my new rheumy doesn't talk to me like that!
Chana,
I was told that I was middle aged woman and I needed to face the fact that I was going to have joint pain. >:( Funny how all that joint pain disappeared when I found the right doctor who took me seriously. I started treatment in September and I only have a few pains a day compared to the constant pain I was in. I am glad I didn't believe that a middle aged woman was suppose to be in that much pain.
SueAnn
Hi :)
An ex GP told me that I was wasting NHS time and money. He told my children I was an over anxious mother. My rheumatologist told me that back and neck pain and acid reflux have nothing whatsoever to do with Sjogren's and that my SjS is not systemic. Despite the dxs I now actually have - and the fact that my GP was concerned about my lack of balance, a neurologist told me in Dec that he wasn't going to waste his time doing any tests as basically there was absolutely nothing wrong with me. (I did not ask for a referral - or refer myself - I simply turned up for an arranged appointment)
My father, who was a general surgeon, always said he regretted the day that Univerities started only taking A-Grade students into medicine. He said they were the high flyers - the reseach people - and no good with actual people. Sometimes he's right!
Take care - Scottie :)
Oh boy... 2 minutes into first appt with my EX-Rheumy. She wagged her finger in my face and said "Just want you to know I do not offer pain meds, only PT and cortisone shots"... We weren't even discussing pain; we were still in the intro stage of the appt... Yikes... I didn't need pain pills and haven't used any yet... but I made it clear to her that I couldn't work with a doctor that wouldn't offer me comfort from time to time during 'flares'... I've moved on from her... still waiting for the appt with new rheumy... and have met some wonderful 'ologists' along the way... there are some angel-ologists out there...
At my last follow up appt. with my urologist he ask me "So how have you been feeling?" I told him that I had been feeling very good since taking the medicine he had prescribed the last time I saw him. (3 mos. ago)
He looked at my file, then looked back at me and said "Then what the h*** are you taking up my time for, I have sick people to see".
If he hadn't laughed after saying it, I would have left and never went back, but he was only kidding. Up till then I thought he was a great doctor, still do, but that remark really made me wonder.
Pooh
Ah yes, doctors and open mouth-insert foot disease...
My favorite actually come from my many back surgeries. After my first surgery to fix a herniated disk, I started having really bad pain again, all the way down my leg and into my foot. I saw my neurosurgeon on a Friday, I believe, and he said I was overreacting and that there really wasn't anything wrong. I was admitted to the hospital Sunday when my bladder shut down. A myelogram - where they insert dye into the spinal fluid to see if there's a problem - showed a large re herniation. After the surgery to remove it, he did admit that it was one of the larges pieces of herniated disk he'd ever removed from a patient.
Same doctor, a couple of years later - I called for a refill of my pain medicine one day and he said no, he wasn't going to fill them anymore. He said the pain was being caused by depression and I needed to deal with it (the depression). I went to a psychiatrist for an evaluation while my family doctor fortunately stepped up and prescribed the pain meds - the psychiatrist picked up the phone while I was there in the office, called the pain doctor and told him, "Of course she's depressed, she's in pain, you idiot!" The neurosurgeon and I soon parted company after that one.
Those are my favorites, next....
Tracy
I think doctors take a class called, putting oneself on a pedestal 101, and to get credit for the course, each student must have a 100 % grade.
Collie
My favorite stupid thing doctors say are:
"Your to young to have this problem." Well doc, I guess I'm just lucky.
"There is nothing wrong with you, your just getting older." I was 44 the first time I heard this and was walking lake an 85 year old.
"I think you just need some antidepressants." I didn't tell him I wanted to kill myself, so why would I want antidepressants.
"Sjogren's only causes dry eyes and mouth." I guess he doesn't read much!
"If you have what I think you have, your F###ED. Thanks doc, should a walk in front of a bus when I leave?
"I don't give of pain pills" I don't remember asking for any, but I am sure I can buy some heroin out on the street.
" Our next available appointment is 3 months from now." I may not be alive in three months.
Gosh I could go on all night long, someone stop me.
Oh boy, I've had some fun ones along the way too, including the common themed one here "I'm not prescribing any pain medication", on the first visit to the 2nd neuro within 30 seconds of him walking into the room at the first visit :o. Ah, I didn't ask for any, but he wanted to make sure that I knew, and will be seeing the third one later this month.
My favorite or the ever popular "there's nothing wrong with you" as my hair was falling out, I gained weight left and right (without a reason), brain fog was so bad I could barely find my way home, and couldn't see well enough to drive among other lovely symptoms ::). If she'd had bothered to check the latest range for TSH, she'd had seen that there was indeed something wrong, or maybe checked my throat and felt the goiter. Or how about look at the scan results she had in my file for several months but never bothered to tell me about. :o Idiot.
And what the heck does being middle aged have to do with anything? I've heard that one a few to many times, I'd just prefer that these "doctors" just do their job and get over me being middle aged already! Maybe my checkbook is middle aged too, and it'll take it's sweet time paying the bill.
Oh well, and the search for decent doctors continues.
Patze
Patze and All,
I think that I resent the "your middle aged and get use to it" most of all. I have two sisters who are older than me and do not have the pain or other symptoms. Heck my 86 year old mom put me to shame this summer on my best days when I was staying with her and I was there to help her.
When you look around you and people older than you are running marathons, riding horses, hiking, or just doing every day normal things and you ask your self why can't I do that? Then I think you know there is something wrong and you should be taken seriously.
Happy New Year,
Sue Ann
Hmm,First appt. with Rheumy he said I don't give opiates.We won't go down that road.Every med my GP gives me for sinus or other illnesses he makes a negative remark such as,I wouldn't have given that or it will cause loose stools.but if I call his office between appts. the nurse says why aren't you calling your GP with this.
Sick for months and he says your teetering on the edge of something and rushes out.Same appt. I tell him I'm exhausted and he says isn't the Plaquenil working yet?Confused I replied no and he said to give it time.I told him four yrs. is enough time.He looked back at my chart and says oh I refilled you 3mos.ago.I'm done.Next please.
I've had pretty good luck and a doctor that really took me seriously but when I came in with the swollen parotid glands he sent me home for quarentine for two weeks thinking I had The Mumps. That was two weeks wasted stuck at home.
Steve
My first appt ever with a rheumy, I knew he was not a good one. His first question was how long I had been on Singulair. I wasn't surprised when he then blamed all of my problems on Singulair!
But here's something he said that I've never heard before: He said in order to test for Sjogren's, they could remove a gland FROM MY EYELID for a diagnosis. I knew about lip biopsies but wondered if he knew something I didn't. I have yet to ever see anything regarding an eyelid gland biopsy. I think the man is just cracked.
He just thought I was some hysterical woman. When he finished the appt by telling me to stop Singulair, that everything would likely go away, I had to fight back tears as I said that I could hardly walk at times. He nodded and led me to the door. Needless to say, I never returned to that "doctor" - if he was actually one.
Hi Ruby, please tell me that you've fired this guy? You deserve so much better than this.
Hi Heyamy, wow, what a turkey!!! Did you tell your GP about this "doctor"?
A gland from your eye? Now that's a new one on me too!!!!! Really?! The eye? I sure hope one of our more knowledgable members stop by to maybe shed some light on this.
Hi Steve, the mumps, huh? That's different! :D
Take care -
Patze
Quote from: Patze on January 02, 2009, 12:36:05 PM
Hi Heyamy, wow, what a turkey!!! Did you tell your GP about this "doctor"?
A gland from your eye? Now that's a new one on me too!!!!! Really?! The eye? I sure hope one of our more knowledgable members stop by to maybe shed some light on this.
My rheumy mentioned that my optho might want to do a biopsy on a gland from my eye (none have even mentioned it), but that it was not standard practice.
It can be used to determine the cause of dryness, but it is not part of the diagnostic criteria for Sjogren's. Only the minor salivary gland biopsy can prove Sjogren's.
My Dr. recommended a test. I noted he'd just done that one 6 months before. He then checked my insurance and said: "Okay, next time you'll need it is at age 65. But... you won't live that long."
I switched Dr.'s that very day. Much later I told hubby, I was really upset and couldn't talk about it to anyone. He said: "He was joking, of course." Hadn't occurred to me before then.
What a joke.
Chico
A ears,nose,throat doc took a look at me long ago before my diagnosis, and said you have pain, but no reason for it, you just will have to learn to live with it. There is nothing there that is going to kill you. >:(
Another doc, a surgeon, said that I should never listen to any doc who tells me there is no reason for my pain. He said, if you keep having pain come to me, and I will open you up, look around, and at least take out some stuff you don't need. ???
Went to a kidney doc long ago, and sitting in front of him, he says, your too fat, but I will exam you anyway. Get ready. I walked out of there. He called me that night and said he was very busy that day, and that if I will come back he will give me a free exam. No Way!!!!!
susanep :)
QuoteAnd what the heck does being middle aged have to do with anything? I've heard that one a few to many times, I'd just prefer that these "doctors" just do their job and get over me being middle aged already! Maybe my checkbook is middle aged too, and it'll take it's sweet time paying the bill.
Patze:
Still laughing over that - may I have your permission to use the "maybe my checkbook is middle-aged too and will take it's sweet time paying the bill" the next time I run into a patronizing doc?
One of my favorites is when I complained about fatigue to one incompetent doc and she said "Do you want to hurt yourself or others?" Huh?!! What?!! Where did that come from? Uh, I just wanted to get some sleep. (Ok, maybe in a fit of frustration, I picture myself slapping a self-important arrogant doc silly, but only for an instant and it passes, beside I'm too tired.)
Sue
Hi Sue,
Oh yes, please do use it! ;) I haven't yet, but I'll be very tempted next time I run into one of these turkey's - and yet, docs with attitudes gets mine going (can't tell can ya? :D).
Wow, she said that? What the heck (say I while scratching my head)?
I'm still amazed about some of these doctors, but I'll keep the thought to myself, don't want to get an x-rating for this board now do I? :-X
Patze
It's interesting that a lot of these stories include the "I don't prescribe pain pills"... My goodness... I guess it really depends on the doctor... a friends soon-to-be ExH, gets a big prescription of Oxycontin 'the highest' strength for a neck injury from 15 years ago... he sits in his bedroom crushing and snorting them... and goes back to the pharmacy for refills... this is a legit Pain Center doing this... PLEASE...PLEASE.. do not get me wrong, there are many people out there who absolutely need that amount of med for pain and should be given it.. I understand... But despite calls to the doctor by his wife and mother regarding his obvious addiction, doctor continues to prescribe... I've seen the scripts... amazing...
I'm afraid to ask for tylenol #3's... sorry for the rant...
That's such a sad story, watch, one day the clinic will cut the guy off and then watch the fireworks - I've heard of that happening too often. It's so sad.
Patze
Seabreeze,
Please forward the name and phone number of this doctor ;D
Patze,
Interesting that one person here has heard of an eyelid biopsy. I tried to find information about it but never found any. Maybe it's an old procedure as this rheumy was old and not at all interested in Sjogren's. He said Sjogren's is not worth diagnosing because there's no cure. I think he brought up an eyelid biopsy to scare me. I still see him telling me and pulling his lower eyelid way down, making a scary face. Ewwww.
I only told my GP that this rheumy was not at all interested and did not care much about Sjogren's. But of course, as we hear over and over again, my GP did not know about neuro involvement. Dry eyes and mouth - big whoopee, so may doctors think. I'm glad my dentist takes it very seriously. He is wonderful.
Take care.
Amy
My first rheumatologist told me "You just aren't sick enough to have a Connective Tissue Disease."
When I was ready to leave his office after no further bloodwork or any semblence of a physical exam, he said "Well, you can make another appointment if your symptoms come back, but I doubt I'll need to see you again."
My response was: "I'm quite certain you will never see me again." The sarcasm was lost on him!!
Hi Amy, I could be wrong, but I figure that the doctor probably meant lip biopsy, but said eyelid instead. Ewww is right, I would have run out of there screaming. Shudder.
Hi Dotty, don't you just love the "you're not sick enough to have...." sentence, I sure do bristle when I hear that one again. He probably didn't care wether you saw him again or not as he had already made up his mind that you just weren't "sick". Sad, isn't it?
Take care -
Patze
My last Rheumy...almost two years ago...after telling him about me
driving in an area that i have driven for years and I suddenly had no idea where
I was or even where i was going said "Sjogren's only affects your eyes
and mouth and that I was looking for a free ride and probably needed
to see a Psychiatrist" all because i was following up after changing HMO's
with my doctor who suggested that I look into disability. I hope no one
in his family gets it.....
JJ
I am laughing! Great idea Chana!
My best....
1st Rhuemy "I think we need to try chemo to stop the progression in your kidneys".
Me "What chemo are you talking about"?
Rhuemy "Your a smart girl, you can figure it out."
***This is after going to him for 3+ years and NOT giving me practically anything for SJS. Maybe a bit of prednisone here and there.
For so long I haven't told drs about the pains in my feet and legs. Could it be to do with the fact that when I went to say that I was still depressed, his response was 'I'm not surprised. I'd be depressed if I was your size. Lose some weight and then come back and see me'? I never did go back ...
Harrigan,
I only go to doctors that are over weight, so when they tell me I need to go on a diet and lose 10 or 15 pounds, I away ask what diet they are on, I think I'll try that one;D
Quote from: Epson on January 27, 2009, 10:44:11 AM
Harrigan,
I only go to doctors that are over weight, so when they tell me I need to go on a diet and lose 10 or 15 pounds, I away ask what diet they are on, I think I'll try that one;D
LOL Epson, I bet they never refer to you loosing weight again ;D
Ah yes, doctors and open mouth-insert foot disease lmao oh thats so cheere dme up that has
you have a virus go home and rest......fook me if i rest much more i ll get bedsores
it could be chrons disease ... last i hjear ppl didnt seat and shiver with cold and heat and have apin from arsehole to earhole due to chrons doc nope !
you sure it aint your job ?? i mean its heavy lifting in there...im sure its not that doc as until 6 months ago i could do it standing on my head, now im like one of my patinets, bit sudden for wear and tear no ??
your just depressed you need anti depressants..... god i ahte that one !! depressed ?? iv ehad post natal depression twice doc last time i had it i had a CPN, now if i dont know the diference who the heck does ??
you look like you need 2 pints of blood ??......good so your just going to announce that and giv eme another sick line and say its endometriosis ?? well x ray vision might be in yourr epotoire but can i have a referal then ??
Nurses are alawys thinking they have this or that !!..............look doc ive watched ppl die in my work all my life, im no moaner, if i was id have been diagnosed long ago !!
so if it is SJS how would that affect your joints??..........god woman try to think before speaking , just a moments pause to get the brain cells going would be worth a try surely ??
and today..i go to fight with them again wonder what class line is awaint me today :)
Mc Haggis,
Your as nutty as me, you crack me up ;)
Epson i actually get some strage enjoyment out of being blatant witht he docs, its a wee pleasure in my life now lololol
yup nutty as a fruit cake now an international fact lolol
T x
Haggis,
Wow, I love to torture doctors that piss me off! I had one who was actually hiding from me, must of put the fear of God or Epson in him, I felt GREAT the rest of the week! ;D
I guess they are use to walking all over people, my rheumatologist thinks I'm crazy and doesn't want me to see him laugh, but I make him crack a smile and turns away so I can't see him laugh, It's usually something inappropriate. His staff busted up when I told them I couldn't understand a thing he says, they ask why I still come to see him and I told them, because he is more over weight then me and since I asked him what diet he was on, he has never brought up weight again.
That puts me in mind of my hubby goping to a doctor about psoriasis.
He hadn't met the GP before.
The GP looked at him and said "you are obese and need to lose some weight."
Without missing a beat, hubby said "Your breath smells."
I think he sees someone else now. ;D
rotflmaooooooooooooo
ahahhahahahahaha !!
god i love this thead !! Epson i think they should do a study , see if sarcasm comes as standard with sjogrens lololololol seems we must be more predisposed to it lolololol
scottie oh thats fab !! i just love it lmao
i remember when i worked day shift and i had a man who needed drugs badly for comfort , i paged the on call doc and she said.. im busy i ll be there later, i gave her an hour and paged back saying look he really needs frusemide IV, when you coming ?? I will be there directly !! ..another hour i paged her senior, said look im not having this man suffer needlessly she wont come to the ward and i hear she is sat in ward $% with a cuppa in hand ( good to be friendly with the porters eyes and ears they are) ..well within 5 minutes she was on the ward and that man got his meds, she then reported me to my ward consultant, who said to her, if you find a way of stopping that one standing up to us all when were wrong, you let me know, ive been trying to shut her up for a year now, seems to me you got off lucky , she must have been having a good day !! lolololololololololol
Then he came looked at me said your never going to be popular are you ?? i said well i am with the patients doc ;)
T x
Me, me, me!!!! Oh, I got another one!!!!! I've told this story before, but it sure fits this topic.
I went to see a retina specialist to get a baseline to make sure that I don't lose any of my sight because of Plaquenil. Well this doctor (skinny as a rail) told me that I would not have to worry about Plaquenil causing any eye problems for me because I have extra fluff, he mentioned this four times in ten minutes (the last time was the kicker though). As we were walking out to the main desk, he grabs an information sheet that points it out that the only people that might have an eye issue with Plaquenil are thin people; this was said around several other patients. :o Talk about wanting to be swallowed up by the floor! Dang! Nope, never went back. I wish that medical schools would make sure that their graduates would have some basic people skills.
Take care -
Patze
Last weekend with GP he was lecturing me about getting out more to exercise and be with people.My DH piped in saying yeah I tell her to go with the neighbor ladies and she won't.I looked from one to the other and said I'm 55yrs. old.Been there done all that and don't want to do it again.They both shut-up.At one time raising my kids alone while DH was on the road I played softball,volleyball,bowling ,4 card clubs,and walked evenings with friends give me a break I deserve to do as I like, read.
Ruby
Boy this is hard as there is so much to choose from when you have AI disease, "the lazy physicians scapegoat of stupid comments disease"...however I think I shall pick...from the mouth of Dr Arthur Bookman, Toronto Canada....I was about 38 years old, had seen him a few times and had to drive 2 hours to get to him....my last visit he stated, "you are not getting any younger....and you don't get it for free"......
I was dumbfounded darn it and couldn't even get my head around what he said so I could reply....I sure could now and have in my mind many times since which has been several years now.
I haven't gotten anything for free healthwise my entire life and since when is 38 gettin' old? Actually I think he didn't like me because of my last name, married name to boot, the good DR thought it was German, little did he know it's Swiss!
Great thread, Sandra
Sandra:
"You don't get it for free" - what the *#@% was he talking about? The medical bill? His charming company?
If he was talking about the wondrous glory of his very presence, I'd be compelled to demand my money back promptly since it wouldn't be worth my hard earned two cents.
And you are right, 38 is young and I wish I was 38 again.
Sue
Last winter I told one of the GPs in the practice that my feet were very cold. I even took in with me a pair of sheepskin boots I had to wear in the office. She said, It's wnter, my feet are cold too!' Roll on a year and I got to see the senior in the practice. Cautiously, I told him that my feet were cold. He told me to take of my things and when he saw that my legs were pure white from the knees down, he nearly fell over. He examined them and before the end of the appointment my feet had turned the dusky blue and then red. He had no doubt I had Raynauds, as well as peripheral neuropathy. I wonder if the young doctor got a flea in her ear - I sincerely hope so.
Kathyx
The stupid shrink that did my social security interview commented on my written comment that my brother beat me up when I was a kid. He said, "well, thats what big brothers do". Yeah, cringing whenever he got near to me is perfectly normal I guess. All little sister do that! If a Dr. isn't just a bonehead, he/she is a legend in his/her own mind! I'm surprised they can hold their heavy ego filled heads up! :o