need advice about a referral

[Guest guest]

hi,

I need some advice about what to do about a referral. I want to go

see Dr. in Boston but I need to have my doctor write a

letter of referral to her. I see 2 doctors. One is my gyn who is

a " specialist " in vulvodynia and the other is Dr. Conway a Pudendal

neuralgia specialist. My regular gyn didn't think i had PN, he

thought I just had " clitorodynia " , but Dr. Conway did the emg and

thinks I have PN and has had me do nerve blocks. But, I don't seem

to be getting any better and the more and more I think about it I

really want to go see Dr. because i've heard she picks up on

things that other doctors don't. I don't know who I should ask to

write me a referral. I haven't seen my regular gyn in a few months

because I feel that there's not really anything else he can do for

me. I know he would probably write me a letter of diagnosis (but

i'm actually not sure what diagnosis he would put- clitorodynia or

pudendal neuralgia). However, Dr. Conway is my more recent doctor

but I'm afraid that if I ask Dr. Conway to write a letter of

diagnosis he will write pudendal neuralgia and put a biased thought

into her head when/if she sees me. I don't want her to think, well

why is she coming to see me if she's been diagnosed with PN and he's

the specialist and then deny me. But I haven't been to my other

doctor in a few months and I have no idea what he'd write as a

diagnosis. Today was just a really bad day (pain was pretty bad and

I found out my insurance company denied my PT that i've gone to for

a few visits because the PT isn't covered by them like I thought she

was and now I owe $500), so I've been pretty upset and I can't seem

to think straight, so I need some advice.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Hey , I just had my second round of blocks this morning. I'm so sorry about your Insurance not covering your PT sessions...that stinks! Just my two cents, but I think I'd ask Dr. Conway to write the referral, and explain to him your concerns. I think he's nice enough to 'understand' your point, I honestly don't think he'd be offended. Knowing that he's not able to further help you, I think he'd be glad to refer you. Keep in mind that since Dr. Conway has treated you for PN without success there is a good chance it may indeed be something else. I wish you the best and thanks so much for all of your help concerning the blocks....Hugs, Chelle

[Guest guest]

,

I would recommend talking to your primary care physician about

this issue to get their input. Also, I don't know what kind of

insurance you have but if it's an HMO the referral has to come

from a primary care physician unless its set up like an HMO I

had once where the gyn could be a secondary primary care

physician which means that they can write referrals for

evaluation with other doctors for gyn conditions.

The actual diagnosis should be written as vulvodynia. Pudenal

neuralgia is a category of vulvodynia.

Kristy

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.

http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

[Guest guest]

Thanks for everyone's advice. I think i'm going to call Dr. Conway and ask him to write me one. When I talked to Dr. 's receptionist she did say she treats Pudendal Neuralgia, so I guess even if he writes that it should be ok. I just don't want her to see his diagnosis and then go by that. I want her opinion because I am really beginning to wonder if it's something more on the surface like a skin issue or something since the blocks aren't helping, his very thorough pelvic exam didn't hurt anywhere, and my pt can't find any areas that are trigger points. Any ideas on what I can tell him as to WHY i want to see her? Thanks!!!

Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Why don't you tell him just what you wrote to the group. You are

searching for answers and have to try any avenue that comes to you.

>

> Thanks for everyone's advice. I think i'm going to call Dr. Conway

and ask him to write me one. When I talked to Dr. 's

receptionist she did say she treats Pudendal Neuralgia, so I guess

even if he writes that it should be ok. I just don't want her to see

his diagnosis and then go by that. I want her opinion because I am

really beginning to wonder if it's something more on the surface like

a skin issue or something since the blocks aren't helping, his very

thorough pelvic exam didn't hurt anywhere, and my pt can't find any

areas that are trigger points.

>

> Any ideas on what I can tell him as to WHY i want to see her?

>

> Thanks!!!

>

[Guest guest]

>

> hi,

>

> I need some advice about what to do about a referral. I want to go

> see Dr. in Boston but I need to have my doctor write a

> letter of referral to her. I see 2 doctors. One is my gyn who is

> a " specialist " in vulvodynia and the other is Dr. Conway a Pudendal

> neuralgia specialist. My regular gyn didn't think i had PN, he

> thought I just had " clitorodynia " , but Dr. Conway did the emg and

> thinks I have PN and has had me do nerve blocks. But, I don't seem

> to be getting any better and the more and more I think about it I

> really want to go see Dr. because i've heard she picks up

on

> things that other doctors don't. I don't know who I should ask to

> write me a referral. I haven't seen my regular gyn in a few months

> because I feel that there's not really anything else he can do for

> me. I know he would probably write me a letter of diagnosis (but

> i'm actually not sure what diagnosis he would put- clitorodynia or

> pudendal neuralgia). However, Dr. Conway is my more recent doctor

> but I'm afraid that if I ask Dr. Conway to write a letter of

> diagnosis he will write pudendal neuralgia and put a biased thought

> into her head when/if she sees me. I don't want her to think, well

> why is she coming to see me if she's been diagnosed with PN and

he's

> the specialist and then deny me. But I haven't been to my other

> doctor in a few months and I have no idea what he'd write as a

> diagnosis. Today was just a really bad day (pain was pretty bad

and

> I found out my insurance company denied my PT that i've gone to for

> a few visits because the PT isn't covered by them like I thought

she

> was and now I owe $500), so I've been pretty upset and I can't seem

> to think straight, so I need some advice.

>

> Thanks,

>

Hi

Thinking about your question of how to have your doctor

write a letter of referral, I thought of how my doctor

wrote it, and what he wrote was asking for an evaluation

of my situation. It was simply an order, written on a

prescription pad, for an evaluation of my situation. This way

no specifics are written to influence anyone as to what your

specific situation might be. I think that's how it went. I

hope I am remembering it right. He knew I was taking it

to see if I needed PT, and of course I did. PT did

help me. Good luck.

Loretta

[Guest guest]

,

Tell him that you would like to get another opinion on your

vulvar pain. They can write on the form or the letter that is

faxed: consulting for second opinion on vulvar pain or something

like that.

Kristy

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Looking for last minute shopping deals?

Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

[Guest guest]

Thanks again for everyone's advice. Dr. 's

office said they need him to write what my diagnosis

is though. So I guess he's going to have to write his

diagnosis of pudendal neuralgia...that is what

concerns me because I don't want a biased opinion from

her.

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Looking for last minute shopping deals?

Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

[Guest guest]

, the good thing to keep in mind is that although Dr. Conway may have to write his previous diagnosis, if the PN treatment was working you wouldn't need a second opinion. So that can actually work in your favor. Are you going to have the the 'new' nerve block Dr. Quesada mentioned? Keep us posted and I hope you get in with Dr. soon. Hugs, Chelle

[Guest guest]

Yes, i go for the new nerve block on monday. i will

keep everyone posted about the new block. since

nothing in the typical treatment for this condition is

helping me, maybe this will. i'm even more rare than

this crappy rare condition

--- Chelle wrote:

> , the good thing to keep in mind is that

> although Dr. Conway may have to write his previous

> diagnosis, if the PN treatment was working you

> wouldn't need a second opinion. So that can

> actually work in your favor. Are you going to have

> the the 'new' nerve block Dr. Quesada mentioned?

> Keep us posted and I hope you get in with Dr.

> soon. Hugs, Chelle

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Looking for last minute shopping deals?

Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

[Guest guest]

,

Vulvodynia is also a diagnosis.

Kristy

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.

http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs