What Action Woulld YOU Take? | Arthritis Information

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I had a very unusual thing happen recently and want to find out what YOU would do.

 
BACKGROUND:
After using MTX for 17 years, it's begun failing me, so my rheumatologist wants me to go on Enbrel or Humira. The reason I've postponed all these years is because as a kid I was exposed to TB and tested positive in school. [I'm in my 60's now, but TB can be latent forever.] Since my chest xrays have always been negative and I've never had TB symptoms, no INH treatment was ever recommended. In fact, at my age, INH treatment is specifically not recommended unless you come down with full-flown active "here I am" TB.
 
VISIT TO INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST
Rheumatologist sends me to infectious disease specialist who prescribes a Quantiferon-TB-Gold blood test, which comes back negative.  [There are false negatives of course.] He promised to call me after he reviewed my radiology reports and got the blood test results.
 
He never did.
 
There is no such thing as calling his office and getting alive person on the phone. So since the beginning of September, when he would have received the results, I've been leaving messages on his office voicemail to call me back. I've left 5 so far. Not one response. I sent him a certified letter asking for his recommendation in terms of using the antui-TNF, given my past exposure. No response. He works 30 miles away from me and I can't spare the time to drive there to see if his office burned down.
 
I related all this to the rheumatologist and he called the infectious disease specialist and got the same bloody voicemail.
 
Frankly, I think this is totally unprofessional and reeks of negligence on the ID specialist's part.
 
What do you think? What action would you take regarding the doctor? File a complaint?
 
[As an aside, I ended up seeing another infectious disease specialist earlier this week.]
Where did you have the tests done?  At a hospital?  What lab did he process with?

I would start calling there to get the results..

The heck w/ the infectious disease doctor...he is obviously not going to be a benefit to you one way or another..

You have a mystery there, Sam.... I would start trying to find out some of the pieces and find the solution!!

Very good luck to you
Wow....what a way to run an office.
Is it an independent clinic or is it associated with a hospital.  I agree with Babs-call the hospital if need be.  But, I would definitely let someone know the grief he has put you through!  Not only is he being rude, but he is prolonging a treatment change.
 
BTW-I hope your tests continue to comeback negative.  That and I hope a new med ends up being your "magic bullet".
Maybe I wasn't clear:  I had a "cc to pt" and had the results as soon as the doctor did. But I have questions about the possibility of false negative, especially in light of previous positive testing. 
 
At this point I don't care what his recommendation would be as I already saw another doctor about this. I'm just mad that he never tried to get back to me to give me his recommendation.
 
As rocckyd stated, "I would definitely let someone know the grief he has put you through!  Not only is he being rude, but he is prolonging a treatment change.'
 
I agree. But who should I contact?  [This really isn't grounds for a complaint with the LIcensing Board.]  He's in practice by himself.
 
My real hunch is that the office staff neglected to give him the first couple messages and now they're just avoiding them. I mean really, what if a patient DID have an infectious disease in full bloom. His neglect could be catastrophic.
 
But again, I thank my lucky stars that I have a "cc to pt" on every lab.
 
Still, I really feel like shaking that doctor.
aren't there websites that take complaints about physicians?
Google his name..

post your discontent...

I would if a doc ignored me like that.



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