Things doctors say

[Chana M]

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

[lynnmarie219]

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!

[SueAnn]

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

[Scottietottie]

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  

[SeaBreeze]

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...

[Pooh]

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

[ktfabian]

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

[Collie]

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

[Epson]

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.

[Patze]

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 .  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.   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

[SueAnn]

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

[ruby52]

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.

[Billydude]

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

[heyamy]

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.

[Patze]

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!

Take care -

Patze