ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Cognitive/Emotional Issues => Topic started by: Soundy on January 25, 2009, 06:22:04 pm
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I had an appointment with the neuro that has started coming to town...
I was excited and in hopes he would have an answer to my headaches and
save me the many miles and hours of travel going to Nashville ... I had
to put it off a week because I had to keep my week old grand baby
when her mom went back in hospital with complications ... but
rescheduled and happily waited for the big day
When I got to appointment it took an hour to get back in exam
room and there was only on patient ahead of me and one man
waiting ... the nurse did the usual BP ...temp and stuff like that and was
taking a list of medicines I have taken in past 2 weeks...
Doctor Quack comes in ... he looks at history that I had filled out
and starts asking questions ... questions he should have had
answers to from the charts Nashville doctor was suppose to send ...
he tells me he never got them... so I am a bit pissed off at
Nashville office thinking they had dropped the ball ... I asked
for them to be faxed to him several weeks ago... I pull out his
card to double check the fax number and the nurse tells me
they don't have a fax machine in the office yet...
so I give him oral history of past 4 and a half years and ten
details of headaches and other problems since surgery ... he asks
me to take hair down and is feeling my skull and looking at the
scar which is super sensitive in spots and feels like alcohol in a cut
and toward ends it is numb... he stands behind me and puts
hands on back of head with thumbs under and behind ears...
he says I think I found one problem... you have a defect in the
shape of your skull on the right side... I can lay my thumb in
the indentions :o... I am thinking ARE YOU FOR REAL...
he had his thumb in the dent left from removal of bone .....he
said something about they must have used the Retro-sigmoid
approach and I say no they took the Trans-labyrinthine aproach...
he said he had not heard of this way ...
he then starts questioning me about hearing ...I tell him I am totally
deaf on right side and he asks if I am sure ...I tell him the ear drum and
all cochlear stuff is gone and yes I am sure ...
he has me close my eyes and test me with tuning fork... he asked if I had tried
any hearing aids to help... I tell him with no working ear parts that it would
be useless except for the BAHA implant that conducts sound through bone
by way of a screw implanted in bone behind deaf ear...carries sound over to
hearing ear... or the Trans Ear ...he says he had not heard of this ...
and is still skeptical about my hearing ...he blind folds me and taps tuning
fork and puts handle end against my head on deaf side and asks
if I can hear it ... I say yes and he said I thought you
were deaf in that ear...I pull off blindfold and just look at him...
catch my breath and say I can hear it because the sound is going
over to good ear... he just goes hmmmmmmmmmm and
writes something down...
he asks about the tingling and facial numbness I have ... I tell him
it isn't bad just aggravating ... along cheek bone and jaw line are
most effected and I have funny feeling on right side of throat when
I swallow and sometimes choke ...also still have a bit of metal
mouth taset... he says this has nothing to do with the surgery and
I have possibly worked myself into a state of panic attacks that
brings on symptoms... and says since I smile that it has nothing to
do with the facial nerve...all in my head and may need
antidepressants and therapy to learn to not obsess with this and
cause myself injury ...
he asks about the dizziness problems and how it impacts my life
and why do I think I have problems ... I say probably due the fact
I only have one vestibular nerve... and he asks me why I am
missing one ... :o... I remind him of the AN surgery and that
it was surrounded in tumor and had to be removed ...and he asks
if I am sure ...
he then starts checking reflexes and says I didn't have good
reflexes in my kness... I tell him I know ...it was part of the nail
patella syndrome that I have ...he asks me how I know I have
this condition...I tell him I was born with it ... he says so a doctor
didn't tell you and I say no... he says so you say you have it just
because you think you do and not on the authority of a doctor... I tell
him I have had treatment for joint pain associated with it off and on
all my life , but no one has really diagnosed me ...I just have it ...
I show him my thumbs and their lack of nails and the split nails on my index
fingers ... he tells me he has seen cases where children have at early
age chewed fingernails to the point of the nail not growing and he
thinks this may be why my thumbnails are gone and I just don't
remember having them... I didn't even show him my crooked arms
or mention I have a daughter with no thumbnails and no knee caps..
I was afraid he might think she ate her knee caps ... and other daughter
with over sized elbows and knee caps...I guess she stole bone somewhere
while inutero
and I saved the best (or worst) for last ... during all this the nurse is sitting
there taking notes ... when he was doing the reflex testing he was
poking at my eyes and actually touching eye balls with a rolled up
tissue to test blink reflex... I am sitting on the exam table and he
leans in and his crouch is against my knee and he is erect... I pull
my leg back and he steps back and says sorry ... the nurse giggles...
he stops poking my eyes and moved on...
he proceeds to tell me that I probably hadn't needed the surgery but
since it had been done there was no way he could really tell... said too many
doctors are cut happy...first one I went to with AN wanted to go right in...
one who finally did surgery was of the opinion watching and waiting was appropriate
and that is what we did for 3 years
by the time I left my blood pressure was up ,my head was pounding ,
I was dizzy , ready to puke and ready to cry... he did prescribe
600 mg of neurontin three times a day which is the medicine my
primary doctor was going to try me on but was waiting to see what
the neuro had to say...this seems to be an excessive dose to me
and I have not started it ...
before I leave he tells me about this miracle juice ...XanGo or something ...
he sells it and says it is a big help to many people
with many conditions ...may help me
and he tells me that if I want to try to get disability he can probably
get it for me ... I want my head to not hurt and not to be abused
by a doctor ...although I have my doubts on his authenticity
as I am leaving the receptionist says I need to pay the co-pay ...
I am thinking why? but go to counter to pay it ... get there
and hand her my medical debit card and she hands it back and
says right now they can't take debit cards or checks only cash
because the office is not fully set up and they can't run them... I
left without giving them a dime ...don't plan on giving them any
I think at some point I went into shock because I am still trying to
figure out why I sat there the whole time ...
I met mom for lunch and didn't eat because I couldn't swallow ...she
was scared that I was going to pass out and so was I ...I was staggering badly
and head was miraculously not pounding but was kinda tingling all over as was
my face and forehead...I think from blood pressure being jacked up...mom wanted
to take me to ER but I wouldn't go ...if my doctor had been in the office I would
have gone to him but Wednesday and Tuesday he is off...probably should have
gone to see his partner ... but needed my regular who knows me inside out ...
I think I depend on him too much
I was going to try to get groceries but couldn't figure out what I needed even
with a list and left the store with milk , eggs , a box of fruit loops and
toilet paper... I came home and BP was 148/107 ... I took two Tylenol and curled up
in the recliner and slept for 5 hours...
That was on Wednesday... Thursday I had to be at school for spelling bee...
my 5th grader is advancing to County...
Friday I went in to see my regular doctor...
Complaint has been filed... made my doctor miss lunch...third
time I have caused him to miss a meal... missed dinner to catch
Hannah and was coming to check on me on his lunch break and
ended up catching Sarah who decide that it was time to make an
entrance even though we thought she would be an evening baby ...
I should get him a gift card to a nice restaurant
with enough for him and his wife to go out to eat...
anyhow.... we talked forever and laughed some ...today the whole
thing is almost unreal feeling... like a bad movie I watched...
he apologized over and over and was teary at times ... I feel
guilty sometimes for taking up so much of his time ... but I don't
guess he minds ... he calls me on weekends when I have
been having a bad week to check on me and then we just talk...
last week Hannah's basketball team was playing his sons team and we sat
together talking ...about anything aside from any medical stuff...
mostly him and my husband talking farm ...I keep him and his family in
my prayers ...without him I would be a frigging basket case...
BCBS emailed me a list of 40 neuros within 50 miles radius... didn't
have time to go through and narrow it down enough before I saw
him... so will do Internet searches through the BCBS site as to
which specialize in pain control and post craniotomy care ... then
Monday will call the 10 or so I plan on narrowing it down to ... and
get him the list sometime before the office closes to see which he
has any info on and who he thinks would be best... the one we
looked at before who wanted all the interviews now says he is not
taking new patients at this time ... search goes on ...
the quack sent a letter to my doctor saying alot of what he said to
me ... he mentioned that the patient may have hypochondriac
tendencies and thinks she suffers from a rare genetic bone
disorder...
he tells this to the man who caught my babies who have the disorder
too and saw that they had it even before I did... kinda hard to miss
the lack of thumbnails and crooked arms and such... he says I
am blaming too much on the surgery and need to get over it ... I
gave it the year the surgeon said it would take for stuff to clear up...
most things are bearable ... the headaches are not something I am
willing to just live with if we can find something to help... if we can't
cure them I at least want them manageable
as I talked to doctor my BP was going down... I didn't cry as I thought I would
and felt relieved by the time I left ...when I first got there it was 140/90 and the
third time he took about an hour and a half later it it was 127/67...
he had done some more research and thinks lyrica would be better
for me due to BP medication I am on ... he gave me 4 months worth out of
his samples... but I am not starting it for another 2 weeks ...
I am having a slight wheeze from BP medicine and he wants to see if
my body adjusts and stops the wheeze ... if it does then we will
start lyrica and see... literature says atenolol can cause wheezing in
asthma patients and that in most cases you adjust and tolerate it ...
crossing eyes I get past the wheeze and that I can take lyrica and it be
my miracle ...
A friend suggested going in to quack again with a mike... I would like to get
him on tape being so incompetent and insulting but couldn't take another visit with
him...
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Wow. What an amazing and awful story. I'm so sorry that on top of everything else you have to deal with, you had to deal with that. It sounds like your PCP is your best bet, knows you well, so good thing you have a good doctor that is on top of things. Again, I'm sorry you had to go through that.
Best,
Marci
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The man sound like an utter turd! I wish you could get to doc Freeman at the Headache Wellness Center in Greensboro. He was a miracle worker for me. I'm so sorry you had to go thru that ordeal and I hope you can get some relief from the dreaded Headache Monster soon!
Hugs,
Capt Deb
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And this man practices medicine! Not all of them are at the top of their class, and this guy must have bribed somebody for him to graduate. Wow. Sounds like something out of a movie. You can't make this stuff up, that's for sure.
You have my sympathies.
Hang in there, kiddo,
Sue in Vancouver, WA
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I've been to soooo many quack doctors that I have decided to use my nursing background/knowledge to treat myself. Much safer! I've decided that I'm not going to any hospital/doctor unless I am on my death bed...literally.....and have no other option! Soundy......you are so in-tuned to your body/problems that it sounds like you could come up with your own treatment plan and be better off.
Angie
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I'm sorry that you had so much trouble with this doc. But I have to admit...your story made me laugh at times with your side comments...("I am thinking ARE YOU FOR REAL..." ) ;)
Sometimes doctors aren't ready for informed patients. As we all know we kinda have a "minor" in medicine after we researched our AN info and decided on a treatment.
GM
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soundy,
as my friends in the UK would note... "gobsmacked! Blimey!"
This is honestly a "huh?" moment. I'm sorry you had to endure that.....
Phyl
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Soundy,
Sorry you had to go through this. I also had a local neurologist test my hearing by snapping his fingers near my ears. He was amazed that I can hear on my deaf side. Doesn't he know that the sound travels? He was also very displeased that my hearing was not saved. Who, may I ask, can save my hearing 20 years ago given a 6 cm tumor? I don't think it is possible now. Obviously, he does not know anything at all! Another doctor, a local ENT, said that dry mouth and change of taste are not the consequences of AN surgery. I was just too tired to argue. I also did not know whether to laugh or cry. What a waste of time and copays!
Eve
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I am so sorry you had to endure that jack#&&!! I hope you do follow through on writing him up. The whole experience sounds like something you would see on TV and laugh because surely someone w/ a medical degree would not act like that. And then to try to sell you some herbal remedy on the side! I would definitely check to see if his degree is real. Thank God you have a regular dr. who is compassionate and sees you as a real person w/real problems.
Wow...and wow!
Priscilla
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Soundy:
Oh boy. These arrogant, ill-informed, rude doctors are all too common. My wife, who has multiple health issues, saw a few like this guy. They make you wait forever, come totally unprepared, dismiss your symptoms and basically say you're a hypochondriac, then tell your PCP the same thing, despite reams of medical evidence proving you have whatever condition you're presenting with. I've had one or two like this (not related to my AN) and believe me, it's a one-time-only consultation. It's really unfortunate this occurs, as it just did to you, but it does help us appreciate a doctor that respects his patient's time and intelligence, is compassionate and professional (not mutually exclusive at all) and doesn't treat you like a mental case and infer you're wasting his precious time. I respect the medical profession but sometimes, rude, clueless doctors and other medical personnel make it difficult.
I can only hope and pray you'll be able to find a neuro who will not only recognize your symptoms but treat you like an intelligent person worthy of his respect and not some delusional hypochondriac who is malingering and hardly worth his oh-so-valuable time. You deserve much better care and I trust you'll find it, soon.
Jim
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I'm sorry that you had so much trouble with this doc. But I have to admit...your story made me laugh at times with your side comments...("I am thinking ARE YOU FOR REAL..." ) ;)
Sometimes doctors aren't ready for informed patients. As we all know we kinda have a "minor" in medicine after we researched our AN info and decided on a treatment.
GM
I cleaned that ARE YOU FOR REAL UP... the actual words I was thinking would get censored :)
I am treating this as a bad dream ... it already seems like it was ages ago and it has only been a week...
don't know what will become of the report that was made...probably nothing unless others complain...
a little research uncovered a lie ... he had said he got his training in India and North Carolina but when I
found him on line and got report it says he got all his schooling in Pakistan...
Had an acquaintance tell me I should just forget about it because he came from a country where women
are beneath men...dirt under their feet ... said he didn't know any better ... I am nobody's dirt... least of all
this incompetent doctor ... was insulted that someone and a woman at that would make such a comment ...
I got a list together for my PCP and will drop it off tomorrow for him to go over with a fine tooth comb...
hopefully by the time we have the BP medicines sorta out and BP down to reasonable levels he will have a
new neuro in mind ...in the mean time I am going to just go on with my life day by day and pretend an
anvil or piano fell from the sky and landed on the quack :o ... I was watching Road Runner cartoons this morning :D
I feel better wit emotions corralled a bit ... BP still a bit high but better and headaches about their normal
level...
Thanks for being here... I know I have said it before , but feeling less alone because of this forum and all of you ,
makes this roller coaster journey easier
easier...
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I've been to soooo many quack doctors that I have decided to use my nursing background/knowledge to treat myself. Much safer! I've decided that I'm not going to any hospital/doctor unless I am on my death bed...literally.....and have no other option!
Wait a minute, Angie. Aren't you currently pregnant? I hope this doesn't mean you are going to boycott your OB.
Soundy -
don't know how I missed this thread. I think your last comment about the anvil falling on the quack is a riot! Justice! ;D
Good luck with the new list of potential docs; I hope you find a great one.
Keep us updated,
Jan
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Gotta keep laughing or I am going to be locked in a padded room banging my head on the wall while drooling... ;D
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You hang in there! I do like the Roadrunner approach to justice! :D I t would make all of us feel like someone actually got what they deserved. I am just so sorry you had to go through all of this, but your own intelligence and self-worth kicked in and got you back on track. I have never been treated that badly, but I have been "patted on the head and sent on my way" and it made my blood boil. Glad to hear that your BP is approaching normal levels. That experience alone would have sent mine through the roof!
Priscilla
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Yep. I'm pregnant alright and looking at a nurse midwife for home delivery as I trust a nurse over a crazy whacked doctor anyday@ I've had my fair share! My 2nd pregnancy my OB/GYN thought I had uterine cancer and was running test for that ignoring the fact that I had positive pregnancy test!......ended up the diagnosis was "pregnant" which was the cause of the thick, overgrowth uterine lining......crazy doctor........I ended up losing this baby at 5 months gestation (little boy)...stillborn for untreated infection that overwhelmed the baby. This doctor lost his license to practice!
Guess I can do it like the old days and just have it at home. Just hope he/she isn't as big as my last baby who came 2 weeks early at a whopping 11 pounds 4 ounces!
Angie
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Angie,
One word...... OUCH ;D I'll keep my 7lb 2oz babies, thank you very much!
Anne Marie
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Oh Angie, I'm so sorry you lost a baby. I had 3 miscarriages, but nothing like that. That's hard to bear.
And Soundy, that doctor should go back where he came from, I think. Without a license so he can't do anything like this again.
Sue in Vancouver USA
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I always say trust your gut instinct.
I had a similar situation (not nearly as bad) and when the doctor started asking me dumb question I said "I am not doing this!" I was quite rude(my husband was there and looked at me like I had grown another head) and I am naturally not a rude person EVER. He pretty much stumbled on the rest of his words and we all stood up and left.
I believe in me. I am my best advocate.
Michelle ;D
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Soundy,
I am sooooooo sad for your bad experience. He really needs to be reported, he knows less than your pcp and this is his supposed specialty??? He should not be seeing people at all. I am sure there will be others reporting him from the multiple offenses that occured with just your one visit. I don't know how some of these Docs fall through the cracks! I am so glad you are blessed with a great pcp. He sounds like mine!
I love this, mimoore! - "I believe in me. I am my best advocate." Thank you for the insight. Seems obvious, but it is so easy to lose sight of.
Take care,
Mary 8)
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Got a letter that said thanks for letting us know your concerns ... there have been other complints
of him not listening and being distnat , but at this point my complaints would be my word against his ...
said my complaint would be filed for future reeferance ...
not really satisfied with that ...
on better note I hope ... I got go ahead from my doctor to start lyrica... the wheezing from the atonaolol (sp)
has stopped ...hoping the lyrica helps me ...
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Seems your pcp could back you up since he wrote him that bunch of nonsense. Would he do that?
It is most important to take care of you first, I know. Just burns me up that you were treated like that.
Take care,
Mary
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He would back me I'm sure ... he knows my health history and genetic condition the quack said
he thought I may have imagined I had
I need to move on but feel the urge to fight ...
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I need to move on but feel the urge to fight ...
Follow your heart.
Jan
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that's the problem... it is pulling me in two directions...
fight the idiot .... get myself better...
I know for me and my family working on myself is what I need most but at same time hate the idea
of this man giving anyone advice ... he has good credentials to just read them ....but they don't
match the live person
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that's the problem... it is pulling me in two directions...
fight the idiot .... get myself better...
I know for me and my family working on myself is what I need most but at same time hate the idea
of this man giving anyone advice ... he has good credentials to just read them ....but they don't
match the live person
I just answered myself :)...kinda blinded by anger... I think I should talk to my PCP about actions or steps
dealing with the other doctor but need to let it pass and deal with my current issuses...
typing things out here makes alot of things easier to see ...thanks for the prod Jan
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thanks for the prod Jan
You're very welcome ;D
Jan
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Soundy,
Unbelievable - this guy needs to be struck off as incompetant. I have been to 4 neurosurgeons - all of which I begrudged paying a fee to but nothing like what you have had to put up with.
With your headaches, i take neurontin 5*300mg per day. At the end of the day, i am rather tired but any less than that, the headaches run riot. I tried lyrica but it did nothing for me. Topomax seems to help capt Deb so thats an option too.
I hope you find a decent neurosurgeon but I'd try the neurontin maybe 3 *300mg per day to start with. I'm not aware of any side effects other than making you a little tired.
cheers
Laz
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so far Lyrica seems to just make me a bit more wonky headed ... do have less pain stemming from neck
running up right side of head so maybe this is going to work...I increase dose next Tuesday and then
again the following Tuesday and then see how things go... if there is no significant change we go on
to neurontin 3 - 300mg a day...
I saw my doctor Friday and the quack had written another report ... it was nothing we didn't know ...just
a recap of my surgery going by what I had told him ... no new observations on his part ... don't know
if he has wind of report we turned in and is trying to play nice or what but I don't care since I am not
going back to him
I feel so much better than I did when I started this post... talking to all of you and my PCP backing me up
and even though too soon to know if lyrica is going to help just happy to start trying something... and the
sun is shining and going up to around 70* ... we started the week with ice and highs of 25* ...crazy weather
here in Tennessee and my moods needed the sun to come out... probably be freezing again next week
Have a good day ...I am going to go watch my girls play basket ball on Saturday league ...
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sorry you had to go through that and you are right, after what you went through, this is not worth your emotion and energy!!! i guess that is why it is important we continue to educate and "arm" ourselves with good information - so when we had to sit down and listen to quacks like that, we can do it with a grain of salt and a grin ;D
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Wow!....Any thoughts of reporting him! What a complete jerk. I think I would have lost it...I had a similar experience, not quite as bad as yours and I gave the doc both barrels of my opinion of his arrogance and his lack of medical knowledge. Told him he was a %$#&&^% quack and asked if he had bought his degree. loud enough so that those waiting outside heard it all. I'm 6'4" and at the time I was about 270 lbs...when I'm angry I look very mean....he shrunk into the corner as I stormed out...I wasn't asked about my co-pay... ;)
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Wow!....Any thoughts of reporting him! What a complete jerk. I think I would have lost it...I had a similar experience, not quite as bad as yours and I gave the doc both barrels of my opinion of his arrogance and his lack of medical knowledge. Told him he was a %$#&&^% quack and asked if he had bought his degree. loud enough so that those waiting outside heard it all. I'm 6'4" and at the time I was about 270 lbs...when I'm angry I look very mean....he shrunk into the corner as I stormed out...I wasn't asked about my co-pay... ;)
I kinda went into shock and couldn't think or act ... if I was thinking I would have kneed the creep
... and he has been reported ... don't think much will be done ...
Lyrica is still doing just a little as far as headaches but fibromyalgia pain is better...maybe by the time I get
up to the level my doctor wants me on my head will ache less...
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Soundy,
does the quack have any resemblance with the doctor in "Canonball Run" with Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLouise?
It is terrible not to be taken serious, especially with our condition, but he sounds like he is ridicoulos. It is actually good training for a non-native speaker to try to write something about him without swearing ;)
Hope your headaches resolve soon.
Kenneth
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Dr Van Helsing ...well not so much in looks but in competency yes there is a resemblance ... I got a
letter yesterday saying that I really needed to come back and see him on the 25th and not just stop
the Neurontin suddenly...they have called and I told them I was not coming back and that I never
started the Neurontin and please do not call me again so I guess they mailed me the letter instead
of calling again
Lyrica is helping headaches I get during the night from rolling over and laying wrong and also headaches
I get from too much activity... I was at school all day Friday and only came home worn out and took a
3 hour nap... but no headache...
I got choked on a nacho at the kids basketball game yesterday and coughed hard a couple times ...instantly
got the hammer to the back of the head pain ... took two Tylenol and waited after 30 minutes had to take
half a hydrocodone ...my doctor was there with his son and told me to go on and take a whole one but told
him I did half and the other half after 15 or 20 minutes if I needed it ... so we waited and it worked ... I did
have to go kinda hide so people wouldn't see me teary looking and think something was wrong ... doc came
and looked at me a couple times and we talked about lyrica and if I thought it would be enough... gonna wait
til I am up to full dose and be on it for a week or two before I pass full judgement... but I told him I am happy
with improvement so far ...things are so much better ...
and the added bonus of my legs and shoulders not hurting as much makes me even more happy ...it still makes
me a bit wonky after about 30 minutes and I see what looks like the heat ripples you see coming off a road in
the summer ... but they pass and I go on ...
the sneezing ,coughing ,bending over fast jerky movement headache I get may be something I just have to deal
with as they come up... we have the others that were the main problem and almost 24/7 about licked ..hope it
continues to get better when we get to full dose and that I can tolerate a full dose and function day to day...
getting better in Tennessee
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Soundy, have you ever tried Topamax? At the ANA Symposium Dr Silberstien, who sees many post AN surgery headache patients, point-blank told me that that was the medication that he had had the greatest amount of success with. I told my doc that and he immediately wrote me a script and stopped all this trial and error crap. It worked. Pass that tidbit on to your doc.
Capt Deb the Topamax Cheerleader
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All I have up until lyrica was Tylenol and hydrocodone for any thing Tylenol wouldn't esase...and
the shots of Demerol and Demerol pills I was sent home with after a couple brain wrecks sent
me to the hospital on three occasions
my surgeon who decided to write music instead had told my doctor not to prescribe anything til a
year was up other than hydrocodone fro bad time .....let things heal good before deciding there was
a problem... I honestly don't think he knew what to do with me post op and was hoping things
would just go away...
my doctor is mad at himself fro not going on and prescribing the lyrica earlier ... upped it today to 3
times a day ...stay at this level two weeks and see what happens ... headaches are way down in number ...
I subbed from 11:00 today until school got out and aside from getting irritated at a couple of kids who
were trying to see how far they could push me I just got tired and no headache... a couple weeks ago a
half day would have meant at least tylonal...and more than likely half a hydrocodone... today it took a 2 hour nap
to get strength up to feed my family ... may be able to go back to subbing again... small victory...
I will mention topamax to him ... don't know if it would help with the headaches I get from the sudden
unavoidable things like sneezes and coughs... if we could lick those I would have it made ...well other than the
swagger in my walk ... and that just adds a little character :D
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three days on the full dose he wants me at and I am in a fog ... dragging feet and so tired I could lay
down on the ground and sleep... but cleaned house and moved some furniture today as planned ... doctor
said to try to go about as usual and not give in immediately to sleep... did take an hour nap and had
family wake me up... he says I should adjust and be able to function ... the every 12 didn't bother me
much taking it in the evening several hours before turning in and then after I got up from sleeping ...
this dose is kicking my butt ... may need to shift timing ... right now I am at 10pm , 6 am and 2 pm...
doctor said to space it as close to every 8 hours as I could ...
headaches still held at bay ... was out in wind and it only made me a bit dizzy and uneasy... put hat over
head to keep wind out of good ear but allow me to hear ... high winds usually make me stay in ...
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lyrica still working good and less foggy ... so satisfied ... now on to my real reason for posting
quack sent me a bill and I said I was not going to pay it ... I was told he was in network which
would have got me a discount but not any payment on the trip since BCBS thinks I should be fine
by now ...but turns out he was not in-network... so I have a $257.00 bill that was sent to collection
almost the instant I told them I was not paying it and the reasons why ... after arbitration or what ever
they called it I was found responsible for it and ordered to pay...it is my word against his and his nurse
the only witness and she says that if anything happened it happened while she was out of the room...
I was never alone with him...she was there for the whole show ...
I asked what the minimum monthly payment by law is and was told it was $5... so for the next 51.4 months
he will get a $5 money order from me ... I can get free MOs at my bank and don't want them to have
one of my checks on the chance they could use the info to get full balance ... my husband said just pay it
but I ain't over being totally pissed off and not ready to turn over $257 for being insulted ,abused ,harassed
and whatever else the incident can be described as ...
and no I am not stubborn ,vindictive , hold a grudge or anything like that :)
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I do like how your mind works!! I'm with you. Make him wait for it as long as you can!
Vindictive? no. Just minding your budget ;).
Priscilla
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Soundy ~
I think you're absolutely right. Because this quack did spend time with you I suppose, legally, he can charge you for the 'office visit'. However, paying the contested bill in five-dollar monthly increments is brilliant. It'll take over four years for the quack to get his unjustified payment and while he may not care, you'll have the satisfaction of making him collect it the hard way. I think the money order method is wise, although I doubt a collection agency could seize money from your bank account without a court order, but why take the chance? What a sad end to an awful experience. I trust you'll spread the word far and wide about this doctor. That - and the $5. monthly payments - are about the best you can do.
Jim
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I'd take it a step further...500 pennies delivered personally...not rolled...just dump them on the desk and ask for a receipt. Make it obvious to waiting patients what your opinion is of this quack. Maybe even go further than that. Given the behavior this guy exhibited its likely that you aren't the only one to be abused. You might try and find the nature of the complaints against this jerk...if any are sexual in nature. Find a lawyer willing to take a suit against him. Guys like this shouldn't be practicing medicine.
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I'd take it a step further...500 pennies delivered personally...not rolled...just dump them on the desk and ask for a receipt. Make it obvious to waiting patients what your opinion is of this quack. Maybe even go further than that. Given the behavior this guy exhibited its likely that you aren't the only one to be abused. You might try and find the nature of the complaints against this jerk...if any are sexual in nature. Find a lawyer willing to take a suit against him. Guys like this shouldn't be practicing medicine.
I like your thinking ... 8) ... pennies are so nice and shiny and jingly
I was told I was not entitled to know the nature of other complaints ... but have spread the word of the visit
far and wide,,, and at least my doctor and his partner have taken him off their list of local doctors for referals...
may ask my doctor if he know channels to get to the root of other complaints that others have against him
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Being a banker, I love the pennies ;D ;D ;D ;D hehehehehe ;D He'll probably get his nurse to roll them up. I'm sure that job would be way beneath him :P.....so sorry I have a headache and I'm nasty...hehehehehe
Anne Marie
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500 pennies! Great idea, Stoneaxe! :D
Jan
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Soundy, What a terrible experience that must have been. I am glad you are feeling better now and getting some sunshine today. It is sure a tough call, when you need to focus your energy on your own well being, yet feel the right thing to do is to report and follow up to protect others from similar treatment. Wishing you the very best. Kate
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Soundy~
I've come along late in the game here and just today read this story of yours. I've had similar experience(s) w/neurologists minus the erection (I think!) A headache neurologist for example last fall half listening to my story and truth but copiously writing more of a legal type brief rather than taking down a health history. They can be very snarky and I've found 'act out' unprofessionally themselves and throw you off while you are already feeling vulnerable. IMHO they take full advantage of your vulnerable state and desire for good pain management and go about manipulating the truth in their approach. They get away with manipulating the exam and your interactions with them because you want help so badly and you somehow think they might have the answers. Some of these so-called neurologist really don't like treating headache patients and simply focus on finding away to factor in a headache co-morbidity --hence their most inersted in judging your character. Because they have this authority its very difficult to call back and call them on their acting out. Its maddening. Hope this makes sense.
I asked this crazy doctor I saw about the area where my craniotomy bone flap used to be. (It had to be removed when it became infected) I wanted to know if the scaring is likely adhered to my dura. He just looked at me like I was crazy and told me I still have the bone flap. He said it was impossible for me not to have the bone flap. He tapped where the bone flap once was and said its hard there and if I didn't have the bone flap it would be soft. I told him I could show him images and reports from my neurosurgeon and he could see/read for himself I no longer have a bone flap. He just rolled his eyes directly at me. In fact rolling his eyes is something he constantly did when I was explaining anything or asking questions. Basically he talked to me childlike and acted like I was crazy. I am ashamed to say I actually saw this quack three times. My Primary care doc and psychologist I was seeing made up excuses for his poor behaviours. But soon they too realized this guy was off the wall.
Its a good idea to ask for records from doctors like this. Write a note and ask for a copy. You might have to pay a small fee. The act of doing this might work 'em up a little plus you might see the nurses notes while she sat in the room during your exam. Anyway, you might see how they are framing your case by making big deals out of small behaviours via acting out themselves so you react which gives them something to manipulate in your health histroy report. They'll purposely use key words that raise red flags towards a potencial mental disorder or personality disorder for example. Plus sometimes these records will follow you through your care onto other doctors. And IMHO if they ignore or dismiss your craniotomy history and make stuff up about co-morbidities they don't have to take responsibility to actively help you manage your headaches. I'm certain this is the case as far as this doctor I saw last fall.
Its great you reported this guy. Hopefully to the medical board. Even if it doesn't go any further now and no actions are taken by the board at least you've marked his record in the event a case is built against him in the future. You could post an online review on yelp and Angie's list.
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Update .... I am still sending him his $5 a month... he no longer comes to town once a week ... he still
has an office next county over and I guess I could drive over there to deliver pennies but it is a 30 minute
drive there and then 30 minutes back and he isn't worth that much of my time
never did get a full transcript of the visit and neither did my doctor ...it is vague and doesn't say I am making
up problems but maybe exaggerating them ... I still would like to cut a hole in his head and shove his brain
about and him have no lasting effects ...
I never had a bone flap... they drilled through and sewed muscle over the hole and then my scalp over
that ... I have a sunken spot that used to be soft but is now firm and not exactly hard but not real soft either ...
Lyrica still working and thankfully my doctor and his partner are keeping me in it through samples ... haven't had
to buy anymore ... I can't afford it ... I do have 2 one hundred dollar bills in my wallet just in case ... been tempted to
spend it a time or two but keeping headaches at bay is more important ... so they sit there and gather dust
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lyrica still working good and less foggy ... so satisfied ... now on to my real reason for posting
quack sent me a bill and I said I was not going to pay it ... I was told he was in network which
would have got me a discount but not any payment on the trip since BCBS thinks I should be fine
by now ...but turns out he was not in-network... so I have a $257.00 bill that was sent to collection
almost the instant I told them I was not paying it and the reasons why ... after arbitration or what ever
they called it I was found responsible for it and ordered to pay...it is my word against his and his nurse
the only witness and she says that if anything happened it happened while she was out of the room...
I was never alone with him...she was there for the whole show ...
I asked what the minimum monthly payment by law is and was told it was $5... so for the next 51.4 months
he will get a $5 money order from me ... I can get free MOs at my bank and don't want them to have
one of my checks on the chance they could use the info to get full balance ... my husband said just pay it
but I ain't over being totally pissed off and not ready to turn over $257 for being insulted ,abused ,harassed
and whatever else the incident can be described as ...
and no I am not stubborn ,vindictive , hold a grudge or anything like that :)
old old topic but adding to it ... I was looking for this post because my daughter now nearly 15 wanted to read it after my mom asked what ever happened to the bad doctor ...anyway ...
wanted to add that after 20 payments of $5 they sent me a letter that they were writing off the bill and apologized for any inconvenience the payments had caused me ...I think it was them that was inconvenienced by sending me bills monthly and me waiting until last minute to get it to them by due day but not a day earlier... since then I have learned he has left office in next county ... not sure where he went ... Bhatti was his last name ... can't remember his first
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Thanks for the update, Soundy.
Great news about the write-off :)
Jan