A Day At The Docs Ahhhhhhhhh...

[Shari]

     Can I get in trouble for killing my new Doc?  How about if he kills me?  This was the worst appointment I have had in a long time.  This medical practice has been in the process of a major overhaul .(docs leaving and new coming in) I saw this new doc who I have only seen two times..and will see one more time before yet another takes over...I get him or her.

     In the meantime this doc (was suppose to be a blood pressure check) who decides to change my whole program of treatment that everyone including myself has worked hard for years to establish. He says counceling will make my fibromyalgia go away along with anxiety and depression issues.  Well, 52 and I will become a whole healthy person body and mind..and who trained to do this??

     Pain meds.....I take one percocet in the morning and one at night. It does not take away all my pain, I would have to be a zombie for that. It helps enough to make things tolerable...sort of....I am happy with it anyway.

     I have osteoporosis, Fibromyalgia, Sjogrens, spondylosis in my neck,and what my internist calls a yet to be diagnosis of a mixed connective tissue disorder, and Interstitual cystitis.  I repeat, my pain is managed to the extent I want without being a zombie.

     Part two of his plan is to send me to the pain clinic to get me on Methodone!!!!  Excuse me but...the #@!# idiot!  It would kill me to mix my seizure med (let alone seizures themselves).  Methodone is not suppose to be used by those with anxiety, depression or have had any head injuries. (sever concussion)

     At first he wanted me to have my pain med through my internist.  I would have to travel two hours to pick it up as it cannot be called in. I told him I could not afford to travel there once a month.He said did'nt I travel there anyway.  I said no.  He said, sure you do, I go at least 4 times a month. Well, lah de dah with your big pay check.

     He said dissability would drop me because there was no diagnosis of any mental disorderes which is part of my dissability .He said, "And then what will you do"  I told him that I did not know where in my records he had in his lap he could find the info but it was thereand that I would bring in the final decree to prove it.

    He also wants me to pay out of pocket to see a dermatologist..who the surgeon wants me to go to after a less than perfect mole biopsy.  $80.00 first visit.....which he said that I must admit is a good deal!  I said, "It won't happen!"

     I was in tears several times...was in with hi for a solid hour..no exaggeration...being battered with his sceptisism ect.

He is out to upset the whole program that took sooooo many years to work out.  I am so PO"d!

I have to go back to him one last time for urine and drug tests which I have no problem with......if I don't I will be labeled with being non complying......then with what he says...with his reccomendations...I will see a NEW doc who will decide my fate!

     ...so on this next and last visit when he brings up Methodone again I will shock him with the news, "Not gonna do it!! "

Thanks for listening..had to get it out..you know how that is...thank!


THE only thing I will add is that my intentions are to tell him that i do feel as if he is undermining everything that Dr. McDermott has established that is working well. 
This was a disturbing meeting to say the least......Take good care   Shari  (sorry..the spell check will not work))

[Sjenny]

Shari:

My heart goes out to you - you are in real pain and this horse's back end of a doctor thinks it can be solved with counseling? 

He should live in our bodies for an hour or two and see how he likes it!

I really hope your new doctor has some compassion and enough smarts to ignore the biased recommendations and help you.

Regards,
Sue

[Scottietottie]

Hi Shari

That sounds just awful. Is there a practice manager you could write a letter of complaint to? I've sometimes been in situations that I haven't been able to cope with at the time but once 'cold anger' sets in I'm really good at writing vitriolic, icily polite letters that always get replies and sometimes action. They make me feel better too.

I'm sorry a doc put you through this.

take care - Scottie 

[eyeamdry]

Shari-in which city does this doctor practice so we can avoid him?  What a  *&++^%$!!!!!!!!!

[irish]

Shari, I would go to the manager of the clinic about this. He has no business upsetting your treatment plan when he is an interim physician who will not be following you over an extended period of time. I can't believe he didn't learn this in training, but then who am I to second guess the training of doctors these days. Maybe he just wasn't present when God handed out "common sense".

Also, if you don't get any help this way let the manager know that his plans to interfere with your treatment is serious business that could do you harm and that if common sense isn't used in your treatment you may have to call the Medical board in your state. I don't remember exactly what they call these boards but I would think it is listed in the phone book or a google search might find it for you.

There is nothing worse than a doctor trying to change everything that a person has worked so hard to fine tune. And then to say that couseling will cure your fibromyalgia-----I don't know what he knows but he knows little about fibromyalgia.

Let us know how this comes out. Will keep you in my prayers over this. Irish

[Annj5]

Hi Shari,

Just wanted to second Irish's advice - go get 'em girl!!
((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))

[Linda196]

Just try to remember one thing...just because a doctor tells you to do something , doesn't mean you have to! Especially when the doctor is a temporary intrusion into your life, his recommendations mess up a system that has been working, and you will be settling in with a new doctor soon anyway! I would go to the new doctor prepared to straighten out any mess up he managed to put in your chart, though, because your new doctor shouldn't be influenced by his skepticism and poor practice technique.

I'd go to a regulatory board about him, too, just so his behaviour is documented.

[Shari]

     Thanks everyone.....The doc before this one..who had been at the practice for eons..is the vice president of the state board. He had too much on his hands with the clinic and heading up the ER dept as well as being on numerous boards so he had to choose betwen the clinic ans ER to be able to have more family time.  Everyone misses him.

     I do feel, if possible, that I will do this last appt. for the urine drug test so that I will not be considered non compliant.  I don't want to mess up my meds.  Hopefully I will be more prepared to not let him get to me. I will also request a copy of his office notes as I feel they probably do not reflect what is really going on with me.  Again I will wait until after this last appt. as it will be on notes that I did request a copy.  With his manner I would be worried he would take offense (tho he should not)..and add more inaccurate info on his last report for my records.

     He is in a place where he has power..unless someone else listens..so I must be careful.  I just need to get through the last appt.
      After that I will contact a few people....especially the doc who did my heart testing.  As I said, I went in for a blood pressure check.  It had been high so was put on meds which brought it too low as it allways had in the past.  After getting off it (the med)  It is dropping to low when exercising.  This is happening everytime..I get very weak, shaky, and a cold sweat.  He says it is suppose to drop that low..huh?   I don't think the heart guy will appreciate what is going on.

     Anyway, I am torn between changing this appt to some one else there....but then I will get the new doc anyway on the next visit......trying to play a game of avoiding damage...but I do not know how to play games well and don't want to have too....one day soon hopefully I can breath a sigh of relief.

Thanks again.....Shari

[Seeker]

mmmm, Tarzan say me doctor you not.  You have bad Ju, Ju.  Me know best, just ask Cheeta.  Unguwa Jane me need another banana.  Who next?  Shari obviously that doctor does not have a clue.  He did not read your record throughly.  To him your are not a patient but a pay check.  I hope your provider will give you a better doctor. 


Seeker

[pudmott]

Shari,
What a supercilious piece of S*&^!!!!!!!! I think you are on the right track. Do the last visit, tell him to shove his methodone where the sun dont shine and defer anything else to the new doc. Hopefully the new one will have a brain andnot cotton wool in in his/her head.
Then if all else fails write those icily cold but polite letters and get your cardio on board. Stupid son of a taxi drivers armpit.

Irish,
Do they train doctors in your country? I don't think they have that here. They just pull babies out of day care and plonk them in hospitals with MD after their name.

Pud

[Shari]

Morning all...the last day of summer so get your warm woolies out if you live in the cold country.  Linda, is it cold up there??

Well, thinking...the doc for sure put in his records that he questions my disability so I decided I could at least correct that now and put any questions out of the soon to be new doc head before he?she even sees me.

so I wrote this....3 of the pages were documentation from various doctors backing up my disability as evidence...wonder if that will be enough for him!!!!!

"Please find enclosed a copy, (in part( (4 pages) of the Social Security Administration Office of Hearings and Appeals decision handed down by U.S. Administrative judge, Ira M. Fundy dated December 17th of 1999.

Dr. Head questioned my disability and documentation to back it up, hence my sending these copies.

I do hope that this is sufficient as I have never had to produce documents showing the decision to any other physician and wondered to what depth I should delve into all the pages of this, "Fully Favorable" decision handed down.

Thank you very much and hope you are enjoying your day!!


I think that may do....as far as the methodone goes......I really know very little but do they really use that for pain...or was he messing with my head?
He will get an earfull when he brings THAT up again...I am prepared for that with the knowledge of drug interaction etc.

Enjoy your day everyone!!   Take good care....Shari

[Linda196]

The weather here is beautiful...cold at night (near freezing with a heavy frost most mornings) but warms up quickly to about 20^oC 68^oF

To go into the treatment option you were given (and in no way excusing the "doctor's" attitude); methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic, antitussive (cough suppressant) and a maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients on opioids. Although chemically unlike morphine or heroin, methadone also acts on the opioid receptors and thus produces many of the same effects. Many people who have reached a plateau in narcotic pain management, get relief from Methadone.

IMHO he should have explained that to you, and asked if it was an option you were willing to find out more about. Here's a site that has excellent information about the drug, including warnings, contraindications, interactions and side effects; http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/methdone.htm

[pudmott]

Shari,
It is used here in Australia too as a pain relieving drug. When other avenues have been used. The doc wasnt messing with your head but as Linda said he should have explained it better to you.

pud

[Billydude]

As I said to you before in my personal e-mail.  You should tell the office manager of the clinic about this if there is one.

[Shari]

Thanks all for keeping up with me......Linda...weather same here for the most part but not frost every morning....just a couple so far.

I just feel my pain is managed well on the regime we have going now...most meds do not agree with me so it has taken soooo long to finally get to a place that is tolerable with the least of side effects.

When I first got ill YEARS ago...I was difficult to find someone who would listen to me.  How many times do you need to hear....find a physc.  Well, now, that is where he is trying to take me back to...the beginning again.

My internist..who I am using instead of my rheumy is the one who deals with the immune problems/fibromyalgia anyway. I think this doc needs to go back and actually learn a few things....I don't think he really paid well enough attention.  Plus...he needs to change jobs.

I don't think there is an office manager but a manager somewhere.  They are affiliated with the hospital..no waves for me until after the last visit with the idiot.

Hope you all had a good Sunday..I have been in bed all day asleep...not feeling well..stress just flattens me...the doc helped with that..I was having a fairly good spell.

Take care..Shari