ZANNA - Doctor

[Guest guest]

Hi Zanna.....

****I left my old rheumy because the drive was getting to me....I guess

convenient doesn't always mean better****

I've waited a little bit before answering your post. I wanted to

really let this sink in before I opened my mouth.... as usual.

Most everyone else wants to see you leave the doctor and go back to your

old one. I have a little different view on this.

First, I'm not completely sure whether or not you've sat down with your

doctor and asked why you need a GP and his reasoning behind it. Maybe

this is something your insurance company requires, like mine does, and

he's caught in the middle. If it's not because of your insurance

company and he says you need one.... ask why! Ask why would you need

someone else in the mix when everything that can go wrong with you would

be and most likely is related to your PM, the meds or the IVIg. He

needs to know how you feel and you need to tell him that you don't want

to spend all your time running to different doctors for the same

problem. If your insurance company doesn't require you to have a GP,

you can simply say I'M NOT GOING TO A GP. That is your right!... Unless

of course you need a cut bandaged or something minor done.

The GP will not have any knowledge of your IVIg nor the disease nor any

of the things that can go wrong. Your way past the simple GP exam and

your Rheumy needs to hear it from you that you have no intention of

seeing a GP for this illness. I believe this is a way for the clinic to

save money because a GP is a lot cheaper to see then a Rheumy. If this

is the case, you can still request only to see a Rheumy. If you can't

get anywhere with him... go over his head to the head of the

Rheumatology dept.

Now you're thinking of changing doctors... Where does that leave you

kiddo? Back to the beginning! The point I'm trying to make is you

need to talk with this doctor and find out why he's doing what it is

that you don't like. HE works for you! If you have to get

demanding.... oh well, so be it.

How are any of us going to change the health care system as far as

myositis is concerned if you won't fight for it? Leaving him now and

going to someone else is just running away from a major problem that

needs to be addressed.

I understand your frustration in this matter, I really do. But you

also have to remember that when you were seeing your old Rheumy you had

one chest cold after another. You were a lot sicker then you are right

now.

In my humble opinion (for what it's worth) you should have been in that

ER every day until something was done for you and you started to feel

better ... staying at home and being in extreme pain accompanied by a

fever is not doing you any good at all. It's just wearing you out and

causing more frustration.

I once read an article on how doctors view patients going to the ER. It

stated that doctors judge the amount of pain their patients are in by

how fast they get to the ER. If it takes them a day or so.... the

doctor doesn't take them serious.

Going to the ER is not cheap so when you get in there make sure you tell

everyone who asks, that your doctor didn't have time to see you. Don't

think that won't get back to the head administration office and they'll

wonder why this doctor didn't have time to see his patient and save the

hospital a lot of money in the process. If my doctor can always fit me

in, so can your's even if it means he has to stay after 5pm to see you.

That's there job!

Every day the head of Rheumatology gets a list of names of their

patients who went to the ER (at least they do at Scripps) for help.

When your name keeps popping up, things will change. Seeing him might

cost $200...going to the ER probably cost around $3,000 or more. So you

see, if you're pain is persistent and you can't get him to look at

you... then go to the ER and set an example.

None of the doctors, nurses, nor head honchos will ever change unless

people like us step up to the plate and open thy mouth and YELL, as

loud as you can until you get some answers, support and treatment.

Only then will things change. By walking away from it all does nothing

to change a thing nor help any one else who follows you.

If you feel you don't want to talk with him in person then by all means

get on the computer and write the head of his department and voice your

concerns. I will guarantee you THAT will get some action. They do NOT

want anyone being unhappy with them. As a church run organization

they can ill afford to lose patients because someone is unhappy.

Nurses are there to help you... not tell you what to do. Don't take

it! There are many doctors who either don't answer there calls, forget

to call the patient back or simply are too busy at the moment to call.

It's not uncommon for a nurse to take charge and tell you what should be

done but sometimes good intentions turn out wrong.

I hope this message doesn't upset you because it wasn't my intent in

doing so. I just believe so strongly in standing up for yourself and

everyone, not just you, changing the medical community. Only you and I

and the rest of us can do this....

Please think it over, regroup, take charge and either call or write. I

don't think you'll be one bit sorry you did and the accomplishment

you'll feel will do wonders for you. I also feel that once your doctor

realizes you mean business you'll get the best of care. What else can

he do... tell you to get lost? I doubt that will ever happen...

By the way, if you're still in a lot of pain get thy butt to the ER!

Take care,

Vicki