e and Pam

[Guest guest]

Hi e and Pam,

Reading your email messages I started to cry, 'cause it brought to mind the way I also have been treated. And then I started feeling such anger and yet so helpless. If there were one thing that God would grant me, it would be to relieve the two of you and anyone else who's been treated by the medical profession, in this manner, of all pain and frustration.

I know not everyone (in medicine) wears the same mask, such as yourself e. But I can honestly say, to find a Doctor who has: Integrity; Is Professional (without compromise), yet compassionate; Not afraid of the truth or their peers; One that has not forgotten the "Oath" they took; And one that has not forgotten "when" or "why" they first wanted to pursue, this chosen career, is a rare breed in our world today.

There isn't anything I can say that will ever take away your pain, anger or frustration. But, I can say "Don't give up on yourself!" and "Remain strong (very strong) in your Faith!" When all is said and done, that may be all we have! I also made a decision, that the hurt has to stop somewhere. So I decided, it stops right here, with me. I just can't allow the pain others have inflicted on me to be imposed on another.

I've so such much pain in my life, that it makes me want to erase all pain from the lives of those, like yourselves. I know, words are cheap and anyone can say anything (not meaning a word they say) and there's no reason why you should believe me. I mean, these are just words, right? But they are words that God will hold me accountable too.

Have a Blessed New Year with Blessings throughout the year 2002.

Love and Hugs..............

eRene@... wrote: Pam,I am glad (not for you or any other pt that has to deal with rude, incompetent staff or rude, uncaring, incompetent doctors), but to hear that other people have run into exactly the same thing I have. I am just so disgusted with the medical profession right now, I am embarrassed to be a part of it.When I was trying to get past the "gatekeeper" at my neurosurgeon's office prior to having my MRI, CT, and xrays of my C-spine and low back done, I was explaining to her the fact that I was having intermittent numbness in my bilat legs, and it was worsening, a fact which was concerning me. Now, this is a lay person, not even a MA (medical assistant), but a sec'y for my neurosurgeon, and you know what came out of this woman's mouth? "Now e, are you really having numbness, or is it just a parathesia? Are you properly distinguishing between the two?" I just about fell off my chair!! Now who gives this woman the right to ask medical questions that she probably has no idea what they mean? And furthermore, since when does she have the right to "play" nurse and determine who takes priority over someone else? What would she do if I developed a sudden onset of paralysis because she determined that I couldn't determine the difference between "true" numbness and parathesia?AND then, my neurosurgeon has his nurse call me at work and tell me that since I'm not having a head bleed or I don't have a head tumor, I'm low priority and I will have to wait to see him. That is verbatim. And then she says, "You have had low back pain before, and your last MRI from a yr ago didn't show anything but a few mild herniated disks. So, what he wants to do is to refer you to a physiatrist for lower back strengthening since you probably just have weak muscles." I told her to tell him to humor me and at least order a new set of tests. Needless to say, we all know the results. And boy oh boy, he couldn't get hold of me fast enough, leaving me 4 msgs in 2 days. I think that for him to diagnose without seeing me was poor practice on his part, and quite possibly could have set him up for a malpractice/negligence lawsuit. Now I'm getting a second opinion (and a 3rd).But this is just one example of how doctors are so lackadaisical in their care of pts. And my rheumy is another example. I'm beginning to question the safety of his practice. He is a good doctor, but he double and triple books his pts, and it is NOTHING for his pts to have to wait 3-4 hrs to see him. That is unacceptable to me now. I have tolerated it for 2 yrs now, but not anymore. I saw him this past Mon--had a 4pm appt, and didn't get into see him until 645pm. Not okay!! As a result, I have made an appt with another well known rheumy here in Denver. When I made the appt, I asked them how long the typical wait was, and they said about 30"--if it was longer than 30" this doctor would have the appt rescheduled. But my rheumy is known around town by other physicians for his pt waiting times, and actually my previous psychiatrist has heard bad things about the waits, and she has expressed concern about burnout on his part. Anyway, it's unfair to make pts wait longer than 60" without an explanation. And yet, when he sees you, he's in and out. You're lucky if you get 10" with him. And then he expects you to run all over town to an open lab to get labs drawn!! I told him Mon that he was dreaming if he thought I was driving to the lab that night. He could wait until it was convenient for me.But there is a bright side to my angry story. I hadn't heard back from Dr. Huang about some names of docs she was going to get for me, so I called her yesterday. When I was talking to her, I started crying (the norm these days) and told her that I had asked my rheumy for some pain medication to get me through the holiday and he had said no. She was suprised. And without me even asking, she said, "let me call you in something because I know how much you're hurting." I told her I'd take some Darvocet. She said "no way--I will call in some Vicodin." So, when I picked up the rx today, not only had she called in the Vicodin, but it was Vicodin ES, and with 1 refill!! And of top of that, she gave me the names of some supposedly good neurosugeons and pain management docs who use alternative medicine in their practice.My point of this whole rant, everyone, is to stick up for yourselves. You are not simply pts---you are consumers of healthcare, and you deserve the best healthcare. You don't deserve to wait hrs for an appt; you don't deserve to have your problems/complaints/concerns downplayed; you don't deserve to be denied adequate pain control (I do believe there is a law which states that if a doctor denies adequate pain control when he knows that you are in legitimate pain, he/she can lose his/her hospital admitting privileges and possibly their medicare/medicaid reimbursement--but don't quote me on that); you don't deserve to be belittled by either the doctor or any of his/her staff; you do deserve to be treated with respect and dignity; you do deserve to have your questions answered in full and with honest answers. If you feel like your rights as a pt have been betrayed, you have every right to confront that doctor and even file a complaint. We are the consumers of healthcare and should demand the best, not settle for what is given to us. e> A few years ago I wanted a copy of Dr. Vasey's book. Not knowing his> direct phone number, I got the number of some professor at the university> from the net and called him. I told him I thought I was calling Dr. Vasey> but had evidently been given the wrong extension. He was soooo kind to not> only look it up, but to transfer me straight to Dr. Vasey's direct line,> where Dr. Vasey picked up.> > The employees in physician's offices have become rude and insensitive to> their patients and doctors have forgotten who pays their bills. My mom> never had a breast implant, but trying to get a referral from her medical> doctor to an opthmalogist for her cataracts was an impossibility. Three> weeks after the initial contact with them, and repeated conversations with> these bimbos trying to explain that as the widow of a retired military> person she did NOT have to wait for an authorization from an HMO, I told> them to give me the damn phone number and I would make the appointment> myself. They told me that once I got the appointment to please let them> know. Well, it has been another four weeks, mom has seen the opthamologist> already, and I have NOT informed that office of it at all. Yesterday she> went on a routinue diabetic office call and was put in the waiting room for> over an hour. She had not eaten because she needed blood tests. After she> was finally put in the exmaining room, it was another 30 minute wait. She> told the doctor about her racing heart and the doctor ignored her...it> wasn't the reason of the appointment so no EKG was done. The doctor was> with her less than 10 minutes. She was sent to the lab where she had to sit> in a long hall with screaming kids for almost another hour. By the time she> got her lab work done, it was almost 12:30. A long time for a diabetic to> go without a meal. If the doctor was really concerned about a diabetic> patient, they would have a standing order set up in the lab for blood work> and Mom could just run in the first thing in the morning and get it done.> They are a pit of inefficiency. After dealing with them, I wonder why they> insist on hiring only someone with experience. I think I could screw up> their offices just as much as their experienced ones do...if screwing up is> the criteria.> > A few years ago, I flew to Portland to see a rheumy there. He was seeing a> lot of BI women. His staff told me to plan on three days there to take> tests. Being gone that long in a strange town, we decided all of us would> go see the sites around Portland in our spare time. Well, the appointment> was 2 1/2 hours and he sent me to the hospital for some blood work. He told> me to come back in a month and we would work on a plan of treatment. He> said he knew an attny who handled BI women and since I didn't have one, he> would get in touch with him on my behalf and have all the information I> needed the next time I came over. I asked him about any other tests and he> said he didn't see the need for any more...so 2 1/2 more days stretched out> in front of us before we could catch the flight home. The next month I flew> over by myself, thinking I was going to get some kind of plan for my health.> The last morning flight was too late to make it across Portland to the> appointment in time so I took the early flight. Since I thought he was> going to order more tests (no one would tell me the test results over the> phone), I arranged for the last flight home that day. When I got to> Portland, I had to rent a car to get to the office and cool my heals until> appointment time. 15 minutes later I was back on the street. The doctor> told me to come again the next month. All he did was give me the results of> the blood work...something that could have been done over the phone. He> said that if I wanted a legal diagnosis, I would have to pay him $1000-1200.> Did I go back the next month? NOT ON YOUR LIFE!!! I couldn't afford those> 15 minute trips to his office.> > Here is the theory I came up with. Those women who had lawyers already, got> the "good" doctors. In the beginning, hoping to be reimbursed out of settle> ments, the doctors probably gave their time free to those women with> attorneys. Those women were treated regularly and well. Their settlements> are in, the doctors have been reimbursed (at least from those manufacturers> who paid), the lawyers are paid, and now, it is onto other things in their> lives. If a woman got a diagnosis that didn't fit the grid or it looked> like the money was being racheted down, a new diagnosis came along.> Remember this is just a theory and nothing I can prove, but it sure seems to> be the case to me. If the doctors and lawyers with all their files really> wanted to end the sale and use of breast implants, they have more than> enough evidence in their files to have done so years ago. In my opinion,> that will never be done as they have all signed those confidentiality> agreements that successfully hides the evidence.> > Last June I was so mad at the young female doctor who had taken over my> daughter's diabetic care, I wrote a note to her former pediatrician called> SO YOUR PATIENT TURNED 18. He is now a visiting professor at Vanderbilt. I> haven't heard from him since. I will try to find what I sent to him and> send it out again. Not just for patients who have turned 18, but for all of> us, these doctors need to know that getting a degree in medical school is> only the first step in their education. I haven't heard from my good friend> since. Wonder why???> > Pam> > ----- Original Message -----> From: > ; > Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2001 1:56 AM> Subject: [salineInfo] Really disgusted with these so-called implant> knowledgeable docs> > > > Just thought I'd let you all know that since I'm having> > such a hard time getting the tests and treatment here in> > Denver that I feel I deserve and that I feel is> > necessary to truly find out what is causing my health> > problems, I have begun searching elsewhere. I finally> > was able to locate Dr. Vasey and 's numbers and> > managed to call them today.> >> > To my horror and dismay, when I reached Dr. Vasey's> > office, I was put on hold for about 5", then when I told> > the woman that I wanted to leave a msg for Dr. Vasey, I> > was transferred to another woman, and on and on. I was> > transferred to 7 or 8 women before I finally lost my> > temper and asked the last woman why it was so difficult> > to find someone to take a msg for Dr. Vasey? She very> > cutely told me that she could take a msg and she had no> > idea why I had been transferred so many times. When I> > gave her my name, she apparently tried to look me up in> > the computer, and obviously my name didn't come up, so> > she then promptly told me that she couldn't take a msg> > for me since I wasn't a pt and that Dr. Vasey doesn't> > return calls of pts that are not his. I attempted to> > explain to her that I wanted to see if he thought he> > could help me before I spent the money to fly out there> > and see him. She refused to take a msg, but said that> > his academic sec'y might and transferred me before I had> > a word to say. His academic sec'y had the same thing to> > say, although she did take the msg. However, she warned> > me that he probably would not return my call. She> > suggested I make an appt and fly out to see him. I told> > her that I thought this was preposterous since I was> > coming from Denver and I refused to book a flight and> > hotel reservations if he could do absolutely nothing for> > me. She said that was my decision (very rude).> >> > So, onto . Again, I was dealing with a very> > rude sec'y. She took my msg, but as soon as I mentioned> > implants, she suddenly "tuned" me out and couldn't get> > me off the phone fast enough. So, I doubt he will get> > my msg.> >> > So, my feeling towards these so called implant> > knowledgeable doctors is one of greed. They obviously> > want you to spend your hard earned money and fly out to> > see them regardless of whether they can help you or> > not. I am not going to go to an unethical doctor (or at> > least someone I consider unethical). These 2 doctors> > treat women sickened by implants and have to know that> > many of us have very little money that we can> > just "throw away" not knowing if they can help us or> > not. I at least want a phone consult, (for which I am> > more than willing to pay for) before I shell out airfare> > and hotel money. I am just appalled at how these> > doctors are practicing. I don't even know that I would> > even see these doctors now knowing the way they operate> > their practice. They're just as bad as my doctors here> > in Denver!!> >> > And to top my day off, I have not been able to go to> > work for the last 2 days because my pain has been so bad> > that I can literally barely move. I finally broke down> > and called my rheumy to see if he'd call me in a rx for> > Vicodin--something, anything. And what did he say?> > NO!! He told me that I should continue to take my> > ibuprofen and that my neurosurgeon should be rx'ing my> > pain meds. Well, my neurosurgeon can't even return my> > calls--how is he going to call in a rx for pain meds?> > Plus my rheumy clearly said on Mon that it was clear> > that I was in "excruciating" pain, some of it probably> > fibromyalgia related. So, he is simply passing the> > buck. I HATE DOCTORS!!!!! I NO LONGER TRUST ANY> > DOCTOR!!!! THEY ARE ALL IMMORAL, UNETHICAL, AND ONLY IN> > IT FOR THE MONEY!!!! MAY THEY ALL ROT IN HELL!! AND I> > HOPE THAT WHEN THEY ARE IN SEVERE PAIN, OR ONE OF THEIR> > FAMILY MEMBERS ARE IN SEVERE PAIN, THEY ARE DENIED PAIN> > MEDS, AND THEN THEY CAN SEE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE!!! SCREW> > EVERY SINGLE DOCTOR THAT IS PRACTICING OUT THERE!!! MAY> > THEY ALL ROT IN HELL FOR THE PAIN THEY HAVE MADE ME> > SUFFER THROUGH AND THE PHONE CALLS THEY HAVE IGNORED,> > AND THE LACK OF INTEREST AND CARING THEY HAVE SHOWN!! I> > GET MORE COMPASSION FROM MY LIVING ROOM WALLS THEN I DO> > EVERY DOCTOR I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!!!> >> > And you wonder why I want to die? Is this such a hard> > question to answer anymore?> >> > e, losing it here in Denver> >> >> >> >