Re: Dr. Catastrophic

[Guest guest]

Hmm.....his name wouldn't happen to begin with a D, end with an R, have a B in the middle, would it? Cause he's thoughtfully isolated from me at all times by Tina, and Jackie.....my own personal security system Cooking is definitely not in the brochure.....in fact, it specifically states that you must come with a microwave and extensive take-out menu catalog.....so no worries there

TriciaBARBARA TORREY wrote:

Oh, Jees, Tricia.....I can't remember if I've had a brachial plexus block or not. I'll check out the description of it on-line and let you know. And okaaaaaaaaaay, I'll share our docs and nurses. You know, I've only had a negative experience with one of them and the other docs now (in a very careful way) make sure that I never have to see the "offensive" one who I refer to as Dr. Catastrophic. I'm willing to share with everyone but if they think that I'm gonna cook if they all move to Western Mass they've got another thing coming. Will call for take-out. Barbara (UPS is a very good thing)Tricia Skiba wrote:

Barbara,

I see your point about a sudden influx into Western Mass But then, if our docs and nurses can help anyone else here, I'm willing to share As for the block, my mom seems to think it was something like a brakial plexus block (no idea if I spelled that right) I'm just very unfamiliar with blocks for the upper extremities, because the arms are a fairly recent development for me. On the other hand, I know more than I ever wanted to about most of the other procedures......should've gone to medical school like mom and dad said Hope your day's had some good moments in it.

P.S. I spend a lot of time (and money) at Amazon myself......the UPS guy and me, we're good friends

TriciaBARBARA TORREY wrote:

Tricia - It sure sounds like we have been luckier than many of the folks here in terms of having great docs and nrses (Should we careful that they don't all pack up and move here? LOL) If you can get the anme of the procedure from Vieira, Id be glad to fill you in if it's one of the kinds that I've had. BarbaraTricia Skiba wrote:

Lori,

I always knew how lucky I was to have him, but listening to things that some of you have to go through, especially with that awful nurse of yours, I am even more grateful. There is one more block that my doc has suggested, but he says it's a coin toss as to whether it will help or continue the spread. And, he's left the decision up to me so I have some time to decide on it. Don't remember the name of this one, but it involves stimulation of the nerves themselves, before the injection and then supposedly, it'll numb my entire arm (cause that's the only area they're willing to try anything in right now). Sound like a familiar block to anyone? And I know just what you mean; I have to come in and out myself.....never knew how tiring typing could be Sending good thoughts your way.

TriciaAlwayzLoRi@... wrote:

Tricia,

I am happy that you have a doctor who you trust and who will do everything he can to help you. Many of us, myself included, have such a hard time finding a competent doctor. I know how hard it is for me to get out of bed with the meds, it must be 10 times harder for you, and I commend you for your positive attitude even though you are dealing with so much pain. Since my RSD spread after having a block, as yours did, I will let you know if I learn of anything new to try that might work for you as well. I'm sure others here will offer some great advice and maybe something will come up that you can ask your doctor and see if it is worth trying. Please know that although I am sometimes slow to respond I never stop thinking of everyone in the group and praying every day that we all find some relief from this pain. I have to take a break again but hope to talk again soon.

<hugs> Lori

[Guest guest]

Barbara,

Clearly someone I'll need to avoid in the future....not that I don't avoid most of the others now anyway. But, I gotta give you credit cause with a speech like that something tells me the heart failure I would've experienced would've made everything else a moot point. But you're right, with the guardian angels, "our" doc who does everything he can to make sure I don't have to deal with the "other" one, and the security system, they beat UPS hands down. My experience with the "B" man was actually the reverse.....the few times I've had the misfortune of crossing his path, he likes to downplay things that once the guardians have bypassed him and told "our" doc, have been properly taken care of. I think you might actually have to flatline to get "B"s attention.....he must be a blast at parties. Glad you've got the security system to protect you from Dr. Catastrophic.....you've got enough to deal with; no need to add someone to whom the word tact is a foreign concept

TriciaBARBARA TORREY wrote:

Tricia - ROFL.... The doc that I'm referring to would have made your average phine a basket case. I've had several nasty physical difficulties along this little RSD path. Dr. Catastrophic has managed to be "on-site" for several of them and, while correct in his belief that I was in need of some fairly urgent medical attention (long stories...probably best over coffee someday), if I hadn't had nerves of steel he would have had me going off the deep end in terror. His reactions were incredibly emotional.

In one situation where a simple "You need to be admitted" would have sufficed, he took it to heights unseen before ..."This could kill you. We have to operate immediately. The infection has probably already traveled up the leads and entered your spine. It may be too late."...and this is a mild version of the conversation that ensued. I have never been so grateful for my two Dr. Guardian Angels in my life. They caught my eye and supported my decision to go home, put away my groceries, and return to the hospital where "our" doc (thank God) could operate that night. One of the Dr. Guardian Angels insisted on being there for the whole thing (even after being told by me that it was totally unnecessary)....just terrific. There's a lot more to the story but after that I never had to cross paths with Dr. Catastrophic again. No, the name didn't end in an R but it did start with a D. The two Dr. Guardian Angels

and "our" doc have seen to that. Security systems are even better than UPS. BarbaraTricia Skiba wrote:

Hmm.....his name wouldn't happen to begin with a D, end with an R, have a B in the middle, would it? Cause he's thoughtfully isolated from me at all times by Tina, and Jackie.....my own personal security system Cooking is definitely not in the brochure.....in fact, it specifically states that you must come with a microwave and extensive take-out menu catalog.....so no worries there

TriciaBARBARA TORREY wrote:

Oh, Jees, Tricia.....I can't remember if I've had a brachial plexus block or not. I'll check out the description of it on-line and let you know. And okaaaaaaaaaay, I'll share our docs and nurses. You know, I've only had a negative experience with one of them and the other docs now (in a very careful way) make sure that I never have to see the "offensive" one who I refer to as Dr. Catastrophic. I'm willing to share with everyone but if they think that I'm gonna cook if they all move to Western Mass they've got another thing coming. Will call for take-out. Barbara (UPS is a very good thing)Tricia Skiba wrote:

Barbara,

I see your point about a sudden influx into Western Mass But then, if our docs and nurses can help anyone else here, I'm willing to share As for the block, my mom seems to think it was something like a brakial plexus block (no idea if I spelled that right) I'm just very unfamiliar with blocks for the upper extremities, because the arms are a fairly recent development for me. On the other hand, I know more than I ever wanted to about most of the other procedures......should've gone to medical school like mom and dad said Hope your day's had some good moments in it.

P.S. I spend a lot of time (and money) at Amazon myself......the UPS guy and me, we're good friends

TriciaBARBARA TORREY wrote:

Tricia - It sure sounds like we have been luckier than many of the folks here in terms of having great docs and nrses (Should we careful that they don't all pack up and move here? LOL) If you can get the anme of the procedure from Vieira, Id be glad to fill you in if it's one of the kinds that I've had. BarbaraTricia Skiba wrote:

Lori,

I always knew how lucky I was to have him, but listening to things that some of you have to go through, especially with that awful nurse of yours, I am even more grateful. There is one more block that my doc has suggested, but he says it's a coin toss as to whether it will help or continue the spread. And, he's left the decision up to me so I have some time to decide on it. Don't remember the name of this one, but it involves stimulation of the nerves themselves, before the injection and then supposedly, it'll numb my entire arm (cause that's the only area they're willing to try anything in right now). Sound like a familiar block to anyone? And I know just what you mean; I have to come in and out myself.....never knew how tiring typing could be Sending good thoughts your way.

TriciaAlwayzLoRi@... wrote:

Tricia,

I am happy that you have a doctor who you trust and who will do everything he can to help you. Many of us, myself included, have such a hard time finding a competent doctor. I know how hard it is for me to get out of bed with the meds, it must be 10 times harder for you, and I commend you for your positive attitude even though you are dealing with so much pain. Since my RSD spread after having a block, as yours did, I will let you know if I learn of anything new to try that might work for you as well. I'm sure others here will offer some great advice and maybe something will come up that you can ask your doctor and see if it is worth trying. Please know that although I am sometimes slow to respond I never stop thinking of everyone in the group and praying every day that we all find some relief from this pain. I have to take a break again but hope to talk again soon.

<hugs> Lori

[Guest guest]

Barbara- I can imagine that they were. Thank God "our" doc seems to be the one having the greatest effect on them. Heaven forbid they turn out like one of the others. Tricia (who'd love to get that coffee with you sometime )BARBARA TORREY wrote:

Tricia - I never even had to tell "our" doc about Dr. Catastrophic. Apparently the two Angels were ballistic and told him themselves. "Our" doc, having the integrity that he does, brought up the incident with me himself. He apologized profusely for what had occurred and explained the politics involved, assuring me that he would see to it that it never happened again. All of this with my not even raising it. While I minimzed the discomfort the situation had caused for me, I offered that my guess was that the situation would have caused undue anxiety (to say the least) for some of the others patients that are seen there. Barbara (who thinks we really should do coffee sometime)Tricia Skiba wrote:

Barbara,

Clearly someone I'll need to avoid in the future....not that I don't avoid most of the others now anyway. But, I gotta give you credit cause with a speech like that something tells me the heart failure I would've experienced would've made everything else a moot point. But you're right, with the guardian angels, "our" doc who does everything he can to make sure I don't have to deal with the "other" one, and the security system, they beat UPS hands down. My experience with the "B" man was actually the reverse.....the few times I've had the misfortune of crossing his path, he likes to downplay things that once the guardians have bypassed him and told "our" doc, have been properly taken care of. I think you might actually have to flatline to get "B"s attention.....he must be a blast at parties. Glad you've got the security system to protect you from Dr. Catastrophic.....you've got enough to deal with; no need to add someone to whom the word tact is a foreign concept

TriciaBARBARA TORREY wrote:

Tricia - ROFL.... The doc that I'm referring to would have made your average phine a basket case. I've had several nasty physical difficulties along this little RSD path. Dr. Catastrophic has managed to be "on-site" for several of them and, while correct in his belief that I was in need of some fairly urgent medical attention (long stories...probably best over coffee someday), if I hadn't had nerves of steel he would have had me going off the deep end in terror. His reactions were incredibly emotional.

In one situation where a simple "You need to be admitted" would have sufficed, he took it to heights unseen before ..."This could kill you. We have to operate immediately. The infection has probably already traveled up the leads and entered your spine. It may be too late."...and this is a mild version of the conversation that ensued. I have never been so grateful for my two Dr. Guardian Angels in my life. They caught my eye and supported my decision to go home, put away my groceries, and return to the hospital where "our" doc (thank God) could operate that night. One of the Dr. Guardian Angels insisted on being there for the whole thing (even after being told by me that it was totally unnecessary)....just terrific. There's a lot more to the story but after that I never had to cross paths with Dr. Catastrophic again. No, the name didn't end in an R but it did start with a D. The two Dr. Guardian Angels

and "our" doc have seen to that. Security systems are even better than UPS. BarbaraTricia Skiba wrote:

Hmm.....his name wouldn't happen to begin with a D, end with an R, have a B in the middle, would it? Cause he's thoughtfully isolated from me at all times by Tina, and Jackie.....my own personal security system Cooking is definitely not in the brochure.....in fact, it specifically states that you must come with a microwave and extensive take-out menu catalog.....so no worries there

TriciaBARBARA TORREY wrote:

Oh, Jees, Tricia.....I can't remember if I've had a brachial plexus block or not. I'll check out the description of it on-line and let you know. And okaaaaaaaaaay, I'll share our docs and nurses. You know, I've only had a negative experience with one of them and the other docs now (in a very careful way) make sure that I never have to see the "offensive" one who I refer to as Dr. Catastrophic. I'm willing to share with everyone but if they think that I'm gonna cook if they all move to Western Mass they've got another thing coming. Will call for take-out. Barbara (UPS is a very good thing)Tricia Skiba wrote:

Barbara,

I see your point about a sudden influx into Western Mass But then, if our docs and nurses can help anyone else here, I'm willing to share As for the block, my mom seems to think it was something like a brakial plexus block (no idea if I spelled that right) I'm just very unfamiliar with blocks for the upper extremities, because the arms are a fairly recent development for me. On the other hand, I know more than I ever wanted to about most of the other procedures......should've gone to medical school like mom and dad said Hope your day's had some good moments in it.

P.S. I spend a lot of time (and money) at Amazon myself......the UPS guy and me, we're good friends

TriciaBARBARA TORREY wrote:

Tricia - It sure sounds like we have been luckier than many of the folks here in terms of having great docs and nrses (Should we careful that they don't all pack up and move here? LOL) If you can get the anme of the procedure from Vieira, Id be glad to fill you in if it's one of the kinds that I've had. BarbaraTricia Skiba wrote:

Lori,

I always knew how lucky I was to have him, but listening to things that some of you have to go through, especially with that awful nurse of yours, I am even more grateful. There is one more block that my doc has suggested, but he says it's a coin toss as to whether it will help or continue the spread. And, he's left the decision up to me so I have some time to decide on it. Don't remember the name of this one, but it involves stimulation of the nerves themselves, before the injection and then supposedly, it'll numb my entire arm (cause that's the only area they're willing to try anything in right now). Sound like a familiar block to anyone? And I know just what you mean; I have to come in and out myself.....never knew how tiring typing could be Sending good thoughts your way.

TriciaAlwayzLoRi@... wrote:

Tricia,

I am happy that you have a doctor who you trust and who will do everything he can to help you. Many of us, myself included, have such a hard time finding a competent doctor. I know how hard it is for me to get out of bed with the meds, it must be 10 times harder for you, and I commend you for your positive attitude even though you are dealing with so much pain. Since my RSD spread after having a block, as yours did, I will let you know if I learn of anything new to try that might work for you as well. I'm sure others here will offer some great advice and maybe something will come up that you can ask your doctor and see if it is worth trying. Please know that although I am sometimes slow to respond I never stop thinking of everyone in the group and praying every day that we all find some relief from this pain. I have to take a break again but hope to talk again soon.

<hugs> Lori

[Guest guest]

Tricia - Name the time and place for the coffee.....If you can't drive I could even pick you up en route home from Northampton. Good grief, we are lucky.....Gotta tell you though, I'm a bit worried about how I will fare after my security system leaves at the end of June for Wisconsin. I get upset even thinking about it. BarbaraTricia Skiba wrote:

Barbara- I can imagine that they were. Thank God "our" doc seems to be the one having the greatest effect on them. Heaven forbid they turn out like one of the others. Tricia (who'd love to get that coffee with you sometime )

[Guest guest]

Barbara - I actually go to see "our" doc tomorrow afternoon, so depending on how that visit goes, I'll have a better idea of what the rest of my week will be like It will be difficult once they leave in June, but there are always the nurses. For the most part, they are all wonderful and while they might not have as much leverage as Amy and Doug, there are a few who will literally "go to the mat" for you. Most especially, Tina and ......whenever they're in, I know I can be sure that my protection from the "others" will remain firmly in place. They all know what's really going on --- once they get to know you well enough (which happens when you feel like you live there ) they're not shy about letting you know that they know. There are only a few who haven't told me at one time or another, that when it comes to RSD "our" doc is the only one they trust. It's the best kept secret that everyone except the "others" is in on. So, try and take some comfort in that And, I'll

get back to you about the coffee, once I've lived through tomorrow afternoon.....one way or another

TriciaBARBARA TORREY wrote:

Tricia - Name the time and place for the coffee.....If you can't drive I could even pick you up en route home from Northampton. Good grief, we are lucky.....Gotta tell you though, I'm a bit worried about how I will fare after my security system leaves at the end of June for Wisconsin. I get upset even thinking about it. BarbaraTricia Skiba wrote:

Barbara- I can imagine that they were. Thank God "our" doc seems to be the one having the greatest effect on them. Heaven forbid they turn out like one of the others. Tricia (who'd love to get that coffee with you sometime )