blown-off by doc - LONG

[Guest guest]

Okay, I'm fine now (for the moment anyway) and able to think clearly enough

about the

events of the last two-and-a-half days to be very angry! I'm just wondering if

anyone has

any feedback about my doc's office because I'm VERY angry now that I'm putting

the whole

thing together in my head. Keep in mind that I like my doc very much, but she

is very

hard to get an appt with. I called a week or two ago wanting to get in because

of a flare

and they said my appt on Jan. 12th was the best they could do. I called several

days after

that with pain and they called-in some Darvocet. This past Thursday afternoon,

my knee

began to hurt and got to the point on Friday that I couldn't walk without

assistance and I

was in excruciating pain. I called the doc office and they were closed until

Tuesday. The

answering service gave me a very pat, matter-of-fact " we're closed until

Tuesday " . When I

pressed on, I got " the doctor on call doesn't call-in pain medications " . I

didn't even ASK

for pain medications! When I told the answering service that I was pregnant, it

was like

she was terrified to page the doctor. I wouldn't let up, saying that I wanted

to speak with a

doctor and she finally said she would have the on-call physician call me, but

that she

wasn't going to tell him that I was pregnant (presumably because he would be

angry with

her for bothering him with someone he can't prescribe drugs to, even though,

according

to her, he won't prescribe anything over the phone anyway). So, this doc

obviously sees

his role as to use a prescription pad and THAT'S ALL - that he has NO other

service,

wisdom, comfort, expertise to offer???!!! Anyway, he called and I explained my

situation.

He said I could probably take the Darvocet if I really needed it, but he asked

me NO

questions, gave me NO advice on whether or not to move my knee or use hot/cold

therapy

or increase prednisone or knee brace or ANYTHING. He said if I had to be seen,

go the ER.

He didn't mention that pregnant women can't get cortizone injections. I had no

idea about

this until my husband found this out from Walgreen's. Good thing I didn't spend

a painful

day at the ER only to be informed of that and CHARGED for it! I guess you have

to let them hear you in your full dramatic, screeching

agony before they " get it " . that's sad. i plan to

tell my regular rheumy all about it, along with my

frustration about not being able to get appts with her

when I really need them. i like her so much, but i

cannot con't to use a doc that i can't see when i'm

most in need. i'm also going to talk to her about how

i tend to be doing really well when i see her in the

office and that i'm so conscious of drug-seeking (I

work in psychiatry) that i'm downplaying my own pain,

at times when i really should make quite a fuss,

because i'm so worried they'll think i'm just

drug-seeking. anyway, what do any of you think about my on-call experience????