Posted by Tim (63.73.118.131) on August 07, 2001 at 19:05:01:
In Reply to: Everyone Please Read. Kinda long. posted by Larry on August 07, 2001 at 16:36:21:
Had the worst bout of CA in my life this last fall. And I think that to add insult to injury the Dr. exacerbated my problem. I had CA for exactly 19 years, episodic--4 mos. then about 1 to 2 yrs remission, and used the same Dr. He is widely known in this area, is a Dean at a Hospital and is on the board of the Natl H/A Fndation. He took on an associate about 10 years ago who seemed to start OK. Now she is an "expert". In that time, I have taken just about everthing imaginable, getting most relief from verapamil, aristocort, Oxygen as abortive, and Fiorocet. This past time however, after a particularly brutal "10" weekend, ALL weekend long, I was unable to get through to their answering service. This was relatively early in the cycle. On Monday when I finally reached the associate, she was cold as ice. Then she recommended I cease the aristocort. When I asked why, she said it obviously wasn't working. Mind you I had only been on it a short time and at a small dosage. It always seems to have helped in the past, only it needs to build up over time. She also said I should have gone to the emergency room....(guess that'll fix it). Anyway, through the cycle, I had continuing antagonistic bouts with her. For example she would proscribe fiorocet (which helps me keep my head in working order through the latter part of the cycle as the affected area feels like ground beef after about 3 months--although she said it wouldn't help [duh]), and only proscribe 14 at a time. I would have to go back and get a refill in three days. Now excuse me I'm 39 years old--think I'm old enough to fight the "addiction" of such a "Powerful" narcotic. Christmas was a nightmare--I sat at the dinner table with ice packs stuffed under my baseball cap. (I threw out all of the pictures of me). After all was done and I was released from care by the senior doctor in the practice in February, I told him my thoughts on better treatment. A couple months later I was sent a "confidential" survey of the practice and so I laid it out there. Guess what--I received a letter within 10 days "to advise you of a discontinuation of our relationship".
A reputation, I am convinced, means nothing. A caring doctor means everything.
Don't know what I'm going to do next time around, but am going to make sure that I at least give the "alternative" treatment I've read about a whirl. (Guess I'll have to check out my green thumb). I asked them repeatedly to check out this site, and they looked at me like I was from another planet. Larry, I only hope you have better persuasive skills than I have. Hang in there.