Sorry to hear of your wasted appointment Penny

[Guest guest]

I also had a similiar appointment recently. Well, frankly it seems that most of

my appointments as new patient go that way. I spent years and years trying to

get doctors to refer me to " higher level specialist " Naturally when I did

receive a referral, I was hopeful. Typically the referring doctor does nothing

more than go into his office and copy a name out of the directory. Several times

I was referred to a physician not even in the specialty that I was being

referred to. In the past five years 90% of my doctors appointments have been a

waste of time. I have been given so many different reasons for being refused

treatment that I seriously think there is a class for this in medical school. My

favorite was from a retinologist when he confirmed that there was a neurological

problem with my sudden 40% loss of vision in 30 days, but that they would not be

conducting any further testing. Why? Because he says, " If we found something, we

wouldn't know how to treat it, so we would rather just not look for it. " I guess

it lets him sleep sounder at night, and after all, that is the objective, right?

Yes, if my suspicions were ever in question, they are set in stone now. My life

is no longer my own. My role on this earth is to play a two bit walk on role in

the movie of these doctors so that their vision of what their life would be will

result in the perfect staring role of " the doctor " Ta-da.

What gets me most is that ten years ago, when I would be turned away, doctors

would not look at me and they would try to come up with some kind of plausible

excuse. But now, they are not even ashamed of their cavalier behavior in putting

the needs of the patient solidly in last place.

I've worked it out to a pattern actually. If they don't turn you away on the

first visit, then it's usually a three visit minimum. First visit is the " howdy "

visit. This is where they are the most agreeable. They draw the blood and say

that they are sure that they will be able to have answers for you next appt. 2nd

appt. is where they begin to read the lab reports. Since they haven't even

opened your file since your first visit, they have to refresh their brains with

who you are and why you are there, plus study your way off base lab results. Of

course he has no clue, so he isn't going to be able to give your those

definitive answers this appointment, but he schedules another visit and promises

to come up with logical conclusions that no one else has thought of. Now the 3rd

visit is the real theatrical starring role. He could go many different ways, but

the end results are usually the same. He drops you like a hot potatoe. Usually

he will come out swinging, accusing you of all kinds of things. But will he come

up with the correct answers? No, because it is too obvious to see that the real

problem is his own stupidity and that'll never happen.

I guess what is really pathetic is how many visits does a patient have to see a

doctor before they will remember my name? I'm on my fourth appt with a new GP

and I have to give a complete history recap every visit. I'm too sick to hold my

head up but I've got to hold up his stethescope to show him which end to use.

Penny, I am sorry. I am sorry for you and for me and for all the other HUMAN

BEINGS that aren't treated as anything more than ??? I don't even know anymore.

But it isn't humane. I don't see as the problem being these pathogens. I am

truly embarrassed for these so called professionals that can't even find or

treat a threat no bigger than a pin head. It's no surprise that man has only

been able to keep the upper hand against bacteria for less than a century. Our

arrogance shall never cease to amaze and mystify me.

Peg or lanelle

remember me?