My letter to Dr. Conwell copied and pasted

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr. Conwell,

After my visit with you yesterday (8/28/02) I felt compelled to write you

and hope in your busy schedule you will take a moment and read it.

I first saw you back on July 10, 2002. My GI doc in Columbus had

referred me to you at my request. I had been battling attacks since August

2001.

My first visit was wonderful! You listened, explained and even drew me a

diagram of the pancreas to give me a great understanding. I had a glimmer of

hope! Even though I had to settle with loads of blood work and wait for

answers I was content. We discussed an ERCP and pressure studies and you

even understood that I would probably have an attack. Finally a doctor that

gets it!

I patiently waited the 5 weeks to see you again and get the lab results.

Then yesterday my world crashed. That doctor who cared was no longer there!

You came in and didn't even know who I was. The first thing you asked me was

if you had seen me before. I don't expect you to remember every patient you

see, but would it have been so hard to glance thru my chart before you

entered the room? I wouldn't have felt like just another number. I was also

unnerved that my lab results hadn't even been looked at before the day of my

appointment.

You also had felt at my first appointment that an ERCP would be necessary

depending on my lab results. How hard would it have been to schedule the

ERCP then since it takes over a month to schedule one? We would have been a

month ahead on treatment and if the labs had shown it wasn't necessary it

could have been cancelled and another person could have filled the slot.

I may just sound like a person who likes to complain, but let me explain

I have to voice my feelings, and you are the lucky doctor! My last straw was

finally broken. I am a 26 year old mother of 3 young children. I have 4

horses and I do dog rescue. I have always lead a very active life. Now I

can't do much dog rescue, I can't take care of my horses, and my poor

children have their lives turned upside down every time I have to be

hospitalized. On painful days I have to take pain meds and am unable to

drive or be active with my children. When I go to an ER I have to find

someone to watch the children why I go be accused of drinking myself into

this disease.

In April I was put on TPN and told it would only be for 4 weeks. My

first catheter became infected and now my 2nd one is. When I tried to

discuss this with you I was blown off. Thanks for caring!

I pray you never have to live with this disease. Besides the pain itself

you need to realize what your patients are going thru. The family upheaval

and the emotional distress. I wish you knew how many times in the past year

I have thought how much easier it would be to end my life than to live like

this. A little compassion and understanding would go a LONG way. What

really scares me is that others have this worse than I do. Ever wonder how

many have just given up? After my visit yesterday I wanted to die. Here the

specialist I went to see was having another doctor perform the ERCP on me.

The specialist I went to see didn't seem to care I was going to be miserable

for another month. Then when the receptionist told me it couldn't be

scheduled until October I lost it! I actually told her to never mind and

ran outside crying. My sister was concerned enough to stay and make the

appointment for me.

This letter is meant as a wake up call. You need to treat the whole

patient not just their pancreas. If it weren't for the loving support of my

family and friends. And the support I get from hundreds of strangers off the

internet that have the same problem, I'm not sure if I would be here today to

write this letter. I'm even struggling with the thought of keeping the

appointment for the ERCP. Why should I go thru all that if no one is going

to care about the results? I am contacting my GI doc with my concerns I

didn't get to discuss yesterday since I was such an inconvenience. He may

not be a specialist, but at least he cares and listens. I will call and

cancel well in advance my ERCP if I decide I can't go thru with it. If I do

go thru with it I hope this letter will make you understand and care about

the results. If you were just having a bad day hopefully this letter will

make you understand how you patients feel when you let it show.\

Sincerely,

Jenise Ewing

163 Carpenter Rd.

Mansfield, OH 44903

Jenise4790@...