I have to change all my doctors because I had to go on the state medical program for my healthcare. I've been worried about it because I really love my doctors and they are so professional.
I have to have a primary care physician for this one. I am nearly out of all my meds and need to get to see a Rheumatologist, surgeon, opthalmolgist and cardiologist right away.
I go in today, thinking I'm all prepared. I have a full list of all my medications, my allergies, my doctors and all the things that are wrong with me. I also have a list of what I need to have addressed.
Doctor comes in. The first thing she's says is "You're fat and you need to lose weight. (By the way, I've just lost 5 pounds.) I tell her, I on prednisone. So, she apologizes. Then she starts demanding me to tell her all my physical problems. I start to tell her, but say I have a full list on the papers I gave the nurse. But she doesn't want to see this. She wants me to remember everything. This is why I have the list, it's hard to remember everything.
She kept interrupting anything that I had to say, refused to look at any of the information I brought with me. She absolutely refused to address any of my problems until she had the doctor's notes in hand even though within a week I will be out of all my meds. She did write one prescription for Vicodin.
It kept on like this. She kept saying she didn't know me and how was she supposed to believe me without the doctor's notes. She was really nasty and it was so upsetting. I grabbed the one script and just walked out of there.
I called my new insurance, arranged for a new primary and filed a long grievance against this one. I have seen many doctors over the years, but have never been treated this rudely. I told her I needed blood work for the MTX and she didn't even know what I needed tested for. I had to tell her. I have never run into this problem before. She is supposed to be a doctor of Internal Medicine. She is supposed to know.
I am going to see my daughter's doctor on Wednesday and told them about my problem with meds and doctor's records and they assured me that they will work with me on it. I'm pretty sure they will because they seem to love to give Julie referrals to specialists.
Never, never let a doctor treat you like this. If they do, file a grievance. You might not get any satisfaction from it, but if enough people do it, the doctor will eventually lose their contract with the insurance company. We are not as powerless as they would make us out to be.
I am so shaky now and I really did need to see someone today because my pain is so bad. What an uncaring, unprofessional, heartless human being! If she had even taken one look at my list of medications, she would have realized immediately how sick I am. But we never got there. She refused to do it.
It was hurting me to sit on the exam table and so I moved to the chair and she got mad about that even after I explained. She said I would have to move to exam table when she did the exam. This is a bunch of garbage. My Rheumy doesn't expect to get up on the exam table unless there is a particular reason for me to lay down.
She also said, and I would be interested in others response to this, that I must be depressed because I have Fibromylagia because FM is secondary to depression. Now, I happen to know that my FM is secondary to my RA as I believe it is with many people here.
She also said she did not believe in any narcotic pain medications, not even Vicodin. Although, strangely, she did write me a script for a 10 day supply.
Obviously, she is not the right person for me. But I couldn't believe her ignorance or her abbrasiveness.
My previous doctors have no problems writing new scripts for me, but I can't pay for them without insurance and the new insurance requires all new scripts from their doctors. I run out of my Glaucoma medincine in just a couple of days. That is at least. Then I have heart, RA, and FM meds.
I cannot believe that someone would be like that. Why do I have to keep proving I am sick. Oh, I guess I walk with the cane and braces because they are a style statement! I can't work any more, but I guess that's a lifestyle choice. I love starving and begging for help, just love it!
And, if I wasn't depressed before, now I am. And, how am I going to even celebrate losing 5 lbs when the first things she says is "You're fat!"
You think I don't know that? What a b*****!
Sorry.
Even if you were thin, do you still think could be ill?
Just thank god you don't smoke. Otherwise all your ills would come from that.
If I weren't such a fat smoker do you think I might get to be 5 feet tall?
I do have FM, secondary to my RA. I also do have some depression but depression doesn't cause FM! I suppose your glaucoma and heart problems are your fault as well!! ACK! STUPID DOCTORS!!!!
Congrats on losing the five pounds!
What a
I'm sorry that happened to you. You go girl! Filing a complaint - good for you! Some docs are just like that.... What is screwed up in their head that makes them act that way???
Just know that you are good
Yep, Yep... doctors that are provided by the state are obnoxious. I know... I have been on state medical programs all my life and about 3/4th of them did not even know what JRA was.
Just like I have to pay for my humira because my RD, I have had before I got back on the state medical program, I was not referred to by their doc to see him and get this I did not have a primary doctor from the state until Oct 1st! So, I had to give up 0 of much needed money to stupid BCBS! And then we only get 14 visits a year, and now I have to waste one of them to go see my primary doctor they provide me to get a referral to my RD I have had off and on for several years, in order to get my humira and my visits to my RD covered thru the state.
It sucks I tell ya!!
Congrats on losing the 5 lbs. I know how hard it is to lose even 2lbs and keep it off when you are on pred!
Deanna,
I'm so sorry you had to have that experience. I probably would have told her what a *&^*& she was being. Nothing makes me madder than the whole weight thing (being a big girl all my life). I agree with the other poster, we should put a curse on her.
Anyways, hold your head high. We've got your back
Phatgirl Oh Deanna, I'm so sorry that after going through the whole disability experience you now get stuck with an insensitive and abrasive docter. I think you are right in filing a grievance and asking for another doctor. I always take a list of my conditions and drug sensitivities with me when I go to a new doctor and they are always glad I do and so Am I. When you have as many things going on as you do, how else are you going to remember it all. About the fibro, that does not come from depression. Depression comes from having RA and fibro and all the other things we get and having to deal with stupid doctors. Congratulations for losing 5 pounds. I'd like to see that doctor on prednisone for a few years and see how she'd look. Deanna, Firstly, congrats, on losing 5 lbs, esp. when you have been on pred. And if after that session with the uncaring doc, you didn't go out and stuff yourself with some comfort foods, you deserve a double lot of congratulations
It is incredible that someone from the medical profession should treat a patient in such an uncaring manner. One would think she would be delighted to have the facts all written out to look at and perhaps then check with you for further information required. If she lives long enough she is going to find out just how it feels to be disabled in some way, and depending on meds - and on others for help.
I trust that the docs you see on Wed. will look after you and you get the medication you need asap. Lorraine It helps to have your support. I was so desperate to see a doctor again. I cannot pay for the meds myself. There isn't any money left to pay to see my previous doctors. This doctor never even let me get to an explanation of anything. She wasn't about to listen to me and pretty much called me a liar since what I had to say didn't matter, only the doctor's notes. You can only transfer your medical records once for free, then you have to pay for it. My Rheumatologist have 4 thick files on me alone. The Cardiologist and Pulmonologist are near as bad. Her attitude is directly affecting my health. I was so upset all day. I am rapidly running out of medications. I desperately need surgery. My doctors were in the middle of other diagnosing serious problems. But it really helps to have everyone's comments.
I am so sorry about your doc visit. That
Who did you file a complaint with? I would go all the way to the hospital board that she has privileges at. And if she is a member of the AMA I would file a complaint there too.
This link will provide basic info on many licensed doc in the US. http://www.ama-assn.org/aps/amahg.htm This so frustrating. I went to see the next doctor. But they said my medical conditions were too complicated for them to treat. They were very nice but said they were not set up to treat me. I need to see a doctor of Internal Medicine. That might be worth noting for others if you have to look for a new primary. At least they were very polite. So, I try another one on Friday. Would your favorite old doctor give you the name of a good dr who does take Access? btw If a doc does not treat former private pay ins patients who end up on Access because of miserable health..I don't really think they are so 'Good'. The least they could do is help you find someone. AZ is sure a rotten stingy place to be ill. I always try to vote for people who CARE about other people. I don't know why folks don't get it... most people are 1 paycheck and a single health crises from being in your shoes. You're right Marian. Most people are just a paycheck away. But they really think disability is going to be there for you. Even my smartest, most informed friends who don't have RA haven't got a clue. I just don't understand this new law that is going to give our Social Security away to illegal aliens when they don't provide for most people anyway. I find that a bit confusing. I am frustrated with my former Rheumy. I keep thinking just that, if he'd done a better job, I wouldn't be in this situation. But he has tried most of the standard meds with me and I seem to be maxed out. Only this last year, I've felt like he has really let me down. On top of that, they charge me for every piece of paperwork he signs regarding my disability except for Social Security and DES. So, each time they request more paperwork (they didn't believe the doctor the first time around) for my car disability insurance or LTD, I get charged another -35. I thought about asking them for a referral, but that's going to add more time to me seeing a doctor and I need to see someone right away that can at least write me some scripts. Last time I asked for a referral it took several days. And, no they don't treat former private pay ins patients (well, if you have the cash they will) and the last time that I was in there, they hassled me in front of everyone about an balance that they wanted then and there. I've already been put on disability at this point. And, I've paid them 00s of not covered services over the last 6 years. Made me feel really good. Not! I have dealt with such wonderful doctors. But this week is putting a real strain on me. The nurse I saw today said she would have slugged that doctor if the first thing she had to say to her was, "You're fat!" But the office today just kept apologizing for not being able to help me. I don't mind that. At least they were honest and they immediately believed what I had to say. I see the new one on Friday. I found out I can go to Urgent Care to get my meds if I run out before this is resolved. It's always an adventure. I'm sure when it gets worked out, I won't feel so stressed about it. But I had to take some Nitroglycerin today for my chest pain. Most people are just a paycheck away. But they really think disability is going to be there for you. Even my smartest, most informed friends who don't have RA haven't got a clue. I just don't understand this new law that is going to give our Social Security away to illegal aliens when they don't provide for most people anyway. I find that a bit confusing. I[/QUOTE] I thought the disability ins I buy through work would be there for me this spring when it looked like I was going to lose my job. (I knew SSA disability was a struggle). I pay a month for it. But as I checked into it I found that I have to be totally disabled. I can't climb a flight of stairs and I can't walk 2 blocks but my function class according to my rhuemy is a 1 which is 'nearly normal'. I've known others who while using their disability who can out perform me on my best day. I guess I just do not know how to play the game. I can't cover up the fact I have a crippling illness anymore... but I can plainly see I will be programming with a pencil held between my teeth when the pinched nerves in my elbows takes my hand function from me. I feel bad for all of us. Yet we keep voting for people who treat oil companies like their family. While our jobs go overseas and our health system spends 25 to 33% of every dollar on administration. Administration doesn't help any sick people ever! How the heck is an illegal going to get Soc Sec when we can't? Yes I am disgusted by how you have been treated. Why aren't those medical records yours? I have a hunch we have the same arthritis clinic with the recent merger of the 2 largest clinics in Phx. I've noticed they have kicked several ins plans out of their clinic since the merger. Sitting for a Remicade infusion every 8 weeks for 5 years has allowed me to get to know other patients. Thanks again for the support. Marian, sounds like you live in Phoenix also. I'm going to send you a private message. At first, I didn't think my LTD covered very much. I never got the full paperwork until I applied which is crazy. In mine, you can go on partial disability. They will even help pay Vocational Rehab costs. But it is taking forever. I seem to get paperwork sooner from Social Security than from them. You might check with the Patience Assistance Foundation regarding your LTD disability. They will look at your agreement and verify what you are really intitled to. If you should be able to get it, they can help. Don't settle for what you personnel manager tells you. Find out through someone like that. It sounds to me like you are at the same point I was. I did have to push my doctor to put me on disability this time. He just kept wanting to put me off work for another couple of months and see what happens. I told him that I couldn't get any help that way. Since then, he has been supportive about doing the paperwork. But they never do state it quite the way Social Security likes. And, I have to keep sending the same paperwork back to them again because none of these places even believe the doctor's word the first time. He's said I will not get better. Still, let's give him another piece of paper because maybe he didn't really mean it or maybe she can really go back to work now. Katie, I don't know of any hospitals here that will do that, although I know that they do in other states. You pretty much have to be on the state medical program. That means you can't have any income and no assets BEFORE they will help you. I still have to pay all my pre-existing medical bills. You can get your utilities paid for once in a year. But that's it. And, it takes months to get either the LTD or Social Security if they don't deny you. You have to fall below 00 in all your resources. Then, they will give you food stamps (0 per month), medical care (practically free once you jump through all the hoops) and General Assistance (0) a month. This is what you are supposed to survive on until you get Social Security which we all know cannot only take months but years. Cassandra, I have been looking for an advocate, but have not found one. I don't qualify for most programs becomes I'm not a senior and I still have my senses intact. This is why they rejected me for LTC. It is exhausting dealing with all this and very depressing. I hope you are right about the flares minimizing, but I've been waiting 6 years already. My hope of that wanes thin. I do think that less stress would help considerably. But this process is extremely stressful. Fiona, I agree about the first rule. And, when I told my daughter about it, she said she would have been so traumatized that she wouldn't have tried to keeping getting help. I have to say that it really hit me hard and made seeing the next doctor so stressful. My experience with the state doctors is exactly what you have said. At least the primary care doctors. When you finally get to a specialist, they are pretty good. Their physical therapists are a joke though. I've watched my daughter deal with the state doctors and had to be her advocate. It is a shame that we pay into systems that treat us like such dirt when we must finally rely on them. They rob us blind as taxpayers, but consider us worthless if we can no longer perform our jobs. It is not our fault that we have become sick. Oh, and as to how the illegals could get Social Security, I can easily see this happening especially in the Southwest. In AZ, all information from the state regarding, medical and food stamps is addressed first in Spanish, then English. If you go in their offices, 90% of the people there are Hispanic and most do not speak English. There is also a move to put only Spanish speaking people in all government jobs. Now, I don't care that someone is Hispanic or not. And, most of these people desperately need help. But if our national language is English, then business should be conducted that way. At least it should come first, not second. And, I know the illegals are trying to find a better life. But because of them, I cannot get hospital or doctor care myself even with private pay insurance. We have 4 hour waits in hospitals here, most times much longer. If you are non-English speaking, you are probably going to walk out of there without a bill. Otherwise, forget it. You are getting billed the full amount. No one is going to give me a break with my medical bills. They want something each month regardless of the fact that there is nothing to pay them with. If I don't, then they turn it over to collections, destroy my shaky credit and start with the harassing phone calls which I can not handle. And, you can't ask others, like family for help. They count that as income and then you get your help reduced. You even have to state if you sell or give away anything. So, if you sell a car, do a garage sale, any of that counts against you. You are expected to be in such a state of poverty that you will break and start trying to work again. Only I can't do it any more. Every day, this process repeats itself in our country. So many people are touched by our ineffective health care system. Yet, it is not a priority with our politicians. I cannot believe what "Mr Amway" said, especially in your state that has such high unemployment. His attitude is disgusting. All our citizens should have medical care. A country is only as strong as its weakest members and if we won't take care of our own what shame befalls us? They just want the tax machine fed. If you can no longer do that, you are disposable. Well, I'm not. I am not invisible and I am not going away because it is convenient for them to sweep me under the rug.
Deanna~ We moved from AZ (we lived in Tucson) almost 2 years ago because my husband and I both kept getting laid off and losing our medical insurance. Trying to get any help in that state is like pulling teeth with no novacaine. I would get my arthritis under some control and BAM one of us would be laid off if not both of us. We just couldn't take it anymore. And now, 2000 miles away (WI), we are fighting not to pay back my husband's unemployment from a lay off that he had 3 years ago. It is so ironic that we moved out there in the first place for the climate for my arthritis and expected to get decent treatment because of the snowbird population. I totally agree with your observations about being non english speaking. It is a difficult at best state in which to get help unless you are non english speaking. I am so happy that you will not let them sweep you under the rug. We need to be a strong voice for ourselves and get the care that we are entitled to and rightly deserve. My husband and I call AZ a "right to starve" state instead of what they claim they are: a "right to work" state. Hi Deanna...and all. I feel really bad that you had such an unnecessary and disturbing experience with that doctor. Unfortuneately, it is a very prevalent thing. I have seen many people who for some reason had to go on a state assistance program and leave their long term care provider because they were at the quota for public assistence. Its a shame. Insurances provide less and less coverage and physicians and medical providers have to accept what they are willing to pay, with benefits from public assistence being at the bottom. It creates a vicious cycle. You cant get the care you need, because of limits with coverage. Its all political these days. "There isn't time anymore to be compassionate." I've been a licensed nurse for over 20 years. I haven't practiced for the better part of 8 years because of that very reason. You do need to file complaints about this physicians behavior to all of the appropriate people. Find out who the omnsbudsmen is for insurance provider and talk with them. And good or bad, talk to you state rep, congressman or senator about what happened with the visit, what the change in your provider has caused, and see if they can't get you some sort of interim provisioning until everything is in place. Good Luck. Deanna Would a disability lawyer be of any use to you? They don't get paid unless they win for you. I would think a knowledgible ally would reduce some of this stress. Although you sure sound like you know how to push the system - you can always yell to us when it gets to be too much. At least we are free. Marian, I do need to get a disability lawyer. But so far, I have been doing the paperwork almost daily. I literally have not had the time or energy to make an appointment with one. I just sent additional papers to SS on Wednesday. The decision or the next round on my LTD and car loan should be resolved withing 1-2 weeks. I hope so. Now, I am in the middle of the first round with SS. I don't know if I should bring someone into it now or after when they do their decision. It is possible that they will accept it the first time. At this point, I don't know how they would have helped reduce the stress because I had to collect all the information, etc. I sent in additional papers describing my pain and limitations and the multiple conditions that I have. I know that my case is being reviewed currently in Tucson. My SS case manager said that 95% of cases get denied the first time. This is mostly because there are about 100 people processing as many as 4000 claims at one time. She also said that it is VERY IMPORTANT to appeal if I get denied. What happens is that if the initial information is incomplete in any way, it will be denied. They have to process those claims within certain time limits. So only the most accurate, conclusive claims get accepted. A lot of people give up after the first denial. She also backed up my claim date to June 29th. I had originally put Aug 1 as that is the time when I officially quit all work. But since I was on a work at home that didn't work out, it was considered a failed attempt to work. That will give me 3 mos of additional back benefits and the failed attempt to work will act in my favor. I did meet with a good doctor today. What a difference! He listened, he took my list of prescriptions and illnesses and he wrote the appropriate prescriptions and referrals. He never questioned the validity of anything I said. I should get referrals within a week. The next big step will probably be two knee surgeries and hopefully one for my shoulder. Of course, those have to be spaced out. I don't want them cutting on multiple parts at the same time. Surgery scares me as I have already had 9, only one of them RA related.
I'd be happy to throw some meds your way to take off the pain and swelling and a few happy pills too!!
These docs should get a lesson in 'bedside manner'. I'm glad you
filed a grievance. We all will send a 'curse' on her!
That's is utterly ridiculous that her first comment was about your
weight! What the **!!@@###!!
Can you call your other RD and see what they can do in the interium?
We are with you here... hang in there and congrats on losing the 5 lbs!!
Deanna, nobody should be treated with such disrespect. I feel so
bad for you. All I can think of is some choice four letter words
and they are not food or diet!
I am glad that you reported her. I worked for a doc that
mistreated overweight women. They used to cancel their appt. if
they had not lost weight. So, when I weighted them in, I would
decrease their weight in the chart. It all started out with one
of them offering to pay me to write in a different number. Of
course it was a joke, I think! Anyway I felt that I did more good
than harm because they kept their appt. I received lots of gifts
at Christmas time. LOL
I know that you will take good care of yourself Deanna.
<3
Katie
I am sorry you had to go throught that experience. We all deserve to be treated with respect.
I am so sorry that you had to expeience such a bad visit.
I am glad you complained about her. What a smug b@#$.
Double curses on her.
Barb
*hugs* my friend. It gets to a point where you want to throw up your hands and say, "OK, you got me, I quit!!" But, there is something even deeper inside of ourselves that say, no, I'm better than this, I deserve to be treated better than this and we keep up the fight. You are a strong, caring, respectful woman. We are here for you... lots of love, T
Deanna - What kind of hospital are you going to? Is it just a clinic?
We take my b/f to a private non-profit hospital in another county - to avoid things just like that! At the last hospital, they would HOUND us, in the waiting room, in the ER beds, they didn't care. At this new hospital, they have a charity program for people on low incomes and disability. They have waved every fee he's accumulated (minus Dr. fees)! And the Drs are so familiar with the charities, when they know you're on one, they don't even bother you for money. They quietly send you paper bills. The charity is only good for one year from the start date. Long enough for us to try to figure out some kind of insurance for him. You should look into something like that. Most hospitals have SOMETHING in place. My aunt works in the financial aid department of a private hospital in WI, and she says this is a national sort of thing, but only among PRIVATE hospitals. I don't know if you can get to one, but it might be worth looking into. Good luck!
Katie
Deanna - my heart goes out to you. Ignorance regarding rheumatoid arthritis is a worldwide problem but the health system in the USA seems to be heartless. Do you have voluntary organisations in your country who could advocate for you with the health & social security organisations - it is too much for one person to deal with when you already have limited energy from this disease. I do not live in your country but hopefully some of the wonderful supportive people on this site could make some suggestions regarding which organisations could offer you support. It is heartbreaking to read of your struggle but you are not on your own as a lot of us here have been through or are going through what you are experiencing now. The severe flares you have been going through will hopefully ease off before too long as it did with me. RA often moves into a chronic phase where the aching is more generalised & flares are not as severe - this is what happened for me & while I still have some flaring it is the fatigue that is the worst part for me now but I still vividly remember the awful pain & hope that for you it too will soon pass. Deanna, Deanna, isn't the rule of doctors to first do no harm? So the cretin you saw is not really a doctor. She's a freak in a doctor's disguise, and it sounds as though she has more problems than you do.
I am sorry. No one deserves to be treated that way. The problem is, the state doesn't pay enough money to make it worth a doctor's while, and they're set to cut reimbursements two more times. I once had a doctor who gave me a 45 minute harrangue about how she couldn't afford to make her Mercedes payments on what they were giving her, and that was 3 years ago. So, except for a very few dedicated doctors, the ones you get are the ones who can't get any other patients. It's a disgrace.
It's what we all get when we elect corrupt, selfish, incompetent presidents and congressmen. Here in Michigan, Dick Devos (Mr. Amway) said anyone who wants health insurance should get a job. Nice for him, since he inherited billions. He could easily be our next governor. Michigan has, I think, the lowest employment rate in the country, as the auto industry implodes, but if all those lazy bums would just get jobs, they would have health insurance. We are all of us just a few paychecks from living under a bridge.
I'm afraid it's going to get worse before it gets better. Doesn't help you, does it? That "doctor" was a disgrace. She should have her license revoked. And you are right - none of us should tolerate that behavior.
Surgery is never fun - but let's hope the results are worth it!
I hope your SSD works out quickly and smoothly. If anyone ever had a good case for it, you do.
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