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How many of you have been ridiculed or humiliated by a doctor?

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Lyme Disease
Have you been ridiculed/humiliated by a doctor?
No - 15.0% - 3 votes
Yes- but I was too upset to do anything about it - 65.0% - 13 votes
Yes- and I complained - 20.0% - 4 votes
Yes- and I complained AND I received an apology - 0.0% - 0 votes
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Posted 7/22/2009 9:33 AM (GMT -5)

How many of you have been ridiculed or humiliated by a doctor?

 

I had a terrible experience a couple of months ago with my family doctor. At first, I was too hurt and embarrassed to do anything, but I’ve decided to write a letter of complaint. After all- if my doctor really wants to help people, then he would want to know how I feel. And if he doesn’t care about his patients, then perhaps a formal complaint will scare him into changing his behaviour. And of course, after enough complaints, there will be recriminations.

            I know nearly everyone here has had a terrible experience with a doctor. I wanted to encourage you to complain- not just in person, but on paper, so that the complaint will be acknowledged, and recorded. As long as we let doctors get away with behaviour like this, we contribute to the problem.

Posted 7/22/2009 10:19 AM (GMT -5)
My PCP told me all I needed to do was pray more! He actually went into his office and came back handing one of his personal religious medallions!

I am not kidding. Last time I saw him!
Posted 7/22/2009 10:25 AM (GMT -5)
I was not ridiculed or humiliated. I was just told that I did not have Lyme. That is where I agreed to disagree with him and we parted ways.
Posted 7/22/2009 11:03 AM (GMT -5)
Every one on here has been told that they do not have lyme..and then sent to about 30 other Dr.s only to have all of them, or most of them to say the same thing.
Or they get told that they need therapy. That is where most of us end up....with a shrink.
Luckily for me my guy was great..and he folowed my progress very closely.
He had never heard of Bart. And geezzz. he was happy to know that there was in fact altrenative medicine to suggest to his most sickest patients to go to envita...instead of killing them selfves.
There are so many books out there. Like " Cure Unknown" by Pamela Weinthreab...spelling?
There are links on this forum of good reads.
But if you depressed maybe this is not a good book to read. But at least it for me is comforting ot know that I have alot of company who are going through the same crap.
Knowlege is powere.
I have given this book to many Dr.s and some have read it. The ones who did not pick it up..I fired.
I have not time for a Dr. who is narrow minded.
Next...and don't waste your money or your time with these people. They will be calling you when they get sick..lol
And be sure to make them pay for your time...lol

Post Edited By Moderator (1bitten2xshy) : 7/22/2009 10:55:02 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/22/2009 11:11 AM (GMT -5)
The very first Infectious disease doctor yelled and screamed at me that we don't have any ticks or lyme disease in Florida and "DO YOU THINK IV ANTIBIOTICS ARE FUN?" I made 23 phone calls to her office and then went to her office and threw a semi-hissy fit for my test results.

One of my home health nurses told me (just last week) that it is NEVER to late to lodge a complaint!
Posted 7/22/2009 11:22 AM (GMT -5)
When I asked my kids pediatrician his thoughts on an ID doc that I had an appt with to see if I had Lyme he said, "he's going to tell you you have Lyme or tell you your crazy" well, I was crazy.

Another doc told me "you women...you're always complaining about something"

Another doc told me I need to reflect on the good things in my life and I looked pretty darn healthy to him

Another doc said you obviously don't go in the sun much you probably are vitamin D deficient

There you have it. Docs are great huh?
Posted 7/22/2009 11:25 AM (GMT -5)
One more thing. One doc told me that if I had Lyme arthritis, which I did my WB would have lit up with all bands reacting. He said I am sure you have RA...."there's treatment for that hon"
Posted 7/22/2009 1:56 PM (GMT -5)
Marth'as vineyard- As much as it is depressing in a general way, I'm not depressed about this- I'm angry!

I was just interested in other people's experiences. I don't think doctor's should be able to get away with such unprofessional behaviour! We need to start holding them to a higher standard

And lovelabs- It makes me furious when doctor's play the "hysterical female" card. A doctor told my mother that he believes all Moms are prime for a burn-out after age 30!

If anyone has had experience sending in a complaint that has an actual effect- please share it here. I don't want my letter to disappear into the blackness of space....

Posted 7/22/2009 2:39 PM (GMT -5)
Nicky D,

 I started having tingling in my fingers that got worse to the point that I went to see a Neuro.  She did a bunch of test including a EMG and CT, she wouldn't run a Lyme test because "I never had a bull's eye rash".  We camped and like the outdoors etc so I had plenty of exposure opportunities.  I didn't know very much about LD at the time, but it was one of the things that came up as a possibility when I searched on tingling extremeties.  My CT showed bulging disc which she said was causing the tingling in both hands and by that time also both feet.  She did the usual PT which didn't help and told me if it got worse I could come back.  Fast forward to 2007 the tingling was much worse and I was having joint pain and other issues.  While I was at my GP for my yearly Pap I mentioned about the tingling and what the Neuro had told me.  She was the one that told me that that couldn't be (tingling on both sides caused by the bulging disc).  She suggested that I have it checked out.  I went back to the Neuro because I thought it would be easier than starting all over with someone else ( and I wanted to tell her what my GP had said).  When I asked her about what my GP had said she finally admitted that it couldn't be from that.  So basically she lied to me.  She again ran all the test except the CT.  She did do another EMG (she does the test so that's $800 for her).  When I insisted she run a LD test she still didn't want to run one, but did.  I had made an appointment with a Rheumy in the mean time.  The day before my appt. I went to get copies of all my test to take to the Rheumy.  I noticed that the LD results were missing.  Her office had to call the lab and I had to wait 3hrs while they located my results.  When the secretary got the fax I knew she was going to say it was Positive and it was.  I only had 1/2 day to read up on LD, but I still knew more about it that the Rheumy.  He was very condescending and told me that it was a false positive!  He told me it couldn't be LD because if I had had it for 7 years I would be much sicker, I never camped in the Northeast (as if Lyme, CT is the only place you can get LD), and I never had a bull's eye rash!  He's the one that gave me the Doxy "Just in Case".  He wanted to do a Bone Scan, when I asked why he said and I quote "to rule out scary things", when I asked if he meant Cancer he said yes.  He had a med student/resident shadowing him that day and he was more interested in explaining my EMG results to him that talking to me!  He basically barked questions at me like "any problems with eyes, ears, nose".   It was a horrible experience, and I am still mad about it (if you couldn't tell). KO

Posted 7/22/2009 2:47 PM (GMT -5)
Nicky D,

I forgot to add that I did call the my insurance to complain, because  the Neuro lied to me and also listed a bunch of stuff that I didn't even have like carpel tunnel (I didn't even have any problems with my wrist or elbows when I first saw her in 2001).  She was also pushing PT which she did at her office (her secretary told me EVERYONE has PT) they wanted to do PT for something she told me I didn't have, when I told them that they asked well what do you have?   Pain, stiffness?  They were just looking for any reason to do PT.  They did their investigation and when I called to see what they had found I was told that they couldn't tell me their findings eventhough I was the one that lodged the complaint!  KO

Posted 7/22/2009 6:14 PM (GMT -5)
Count me in too. I was told by a few doctors I am not sick but depressed. I replied that who wouldn't be depressed after going to dozens of doctors, feeling so sick and being told there's nothing wrong with you? I was too sick to complain about the treatment I got by many ignorant so-called doctors and specialists who couldn't tell their a_s from their elbows and still got paid for it. I am certain they will get "theirs" someday.
Posted 7/22/2009 6:21 PM (GMT -5)
Ahh, the irony. The same day I post this, I have another "fun" doctor experience....A doctor (attempting) to refuse to give me a referral, because he is convinced I have an STD. He refused to believe me when I said it was impossible...then finally switched to the "if you haven't had sex, there must be something wrong with you" (aka depression).

Ko-LD: I am in Canada, and I have the opposite problem! It took two years for my doctor to even run 1 blood test! Of course- when it comes to things that aren't covered by our health care (ie physiotherapy) my doctor was all too happy to recommend it.
Posted 7/22/2009 8:01 PM (GMT -5)
I was told by dr. after dr. after dr. that it was menopause and anxiety and if I would just learn to deal with stress better I would be fine.  I knew it could be cause if this was menopause, there would be a lot more suicides among middle age women.  One dr. told me that we have to learn to live with changes in our bodies and just be happy I didn't have cancer.  Needless to say, she is the one that did the first lyme test three years ago and told me I didn't have lyme when three significant bands came back positive.  I have learned we pretty much need to diagnose ourselves and they just treat. 
Posted 8/14/2009 10:21 AM (GMT -5)
I was told "We don't have that here" (followed by a refusal to test for Lyme); then when feeling better on antibiotics, "You're clearly experiencing a placebo affect"; then "You have /insert my last name here/-syndrome."
Posted 8/14/2009 8:49 PM (GMT -5)
I was told to take anantihistimine and it would all go away!
Posted 8/14/2009 8:57 PM (GMT -5)
I must be lucky. My pcp was the one who thought I should be tested for lyme after going to the ER with bad head aches. That was 10 years ago. I also got a pos test back than using the regular labs. Thank god I have not had to deal with all the problems with Doctors. I dont know how you all have done it.
Posted 8/14/2009 9:10 PM (GMT -5)
I had an appointment with our supposed best Infectious Disease Dr at OHSU, what he said was final with all the Drs in my town. I drive a few hours to see him pay for a Hotel they call and cancell my appointment in the morning. They called to reschedule and said the Dr didn't see it necessary to see me. I asked for them to have him please call me at least I was not being treated properly.

He called me and said he reviewed my chart and I had LymeDisease.Com get off the internet and it will go away. I replied that it was my 5 Positive CDC Lyme tests that were my problem.

I still see that A^$%$le name in all my Dr charts saying it is MS and not Lyme cause that big fancy Dr said so. He never even met me. Jerk

 

Posted 8/15/2009 1:12 AM (GMT -5)
Beth, like you i have lost faith in IDs and i do not think they are Gods either as they would like us to think of them. the one i was sent to will not see or return my calls either. i agree they are jerks big time.
Posted 8/15/2009 3:30 AM (GMT -5)
Beth, wow....that was so uncalled for. You should have called the doctors board, or whatever you call it, on him. I think I would have went to his office and let him know how I truly felt. Grrrrr! So unprofessional!

This is my experience.....

about 3 or 4 years ago, when I first started having symptoms, I mentioned Lyme Disease to my PCP. I mean, he had been the one I had been coming back to every few months with flu-like symptoms, fever, stiff neck, and an "unwell" feeling. For some reason, he gave me antibiotics every.single.time but told me that he thought it was the flu. Hmmmm, okay? When I mentioned Lyme Disease, he stopped what he was doing....practically laughed, and said, "We don't have Lyme Disease here in the South". Mmmmkay. Well, I kind of put that out of my mind for a while after that visit because I felt so embarassed for asking.

about 2 years later, I had more symptoms and Ticker, our long time member here told me to find an LLMD. If I would have been treated early on, I wouldn't be so sick now. This is what frustrates me so much with doctors. They truly need to educate themselves on this disease.
Posted 8/15/2009 11:06 PM (GMT -5)
Really Lyme...lymedisease.com hard to imagine any doctor saying something so ignorant to a patient. What a lousy ^%$$#% he is.

Report him to your insurance company.

I just reported my endocrinologist to Blue Cross and they were on the phone with me the next day, agreed with my complaint and took some kind of action...then soon after followed up with a letter to me. I was told up front they would not be able to tell me the outcome. Don't care what action they took as long as he had to answer to Blue Cross for his negligence concerning me.

These A H doctors get away with murder and we are not allowed knowledge of their malpractice or mistreatment of patients.

Edited to add:

 I have not been H or R by any doctor,  just neglected so had to vote no.

Post Edited (mcjane) : 8/15/2009 10:11:12 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/16/2009 6:23 PM (GMT -5)
My family doc thought it was all in my head. He sent me to see a psychiatrist.

Posted 8/17/2009 4:22 AM (GMT -5)
I've been fired by doctors for being "too sick, but noncompliant" (well, who wants to comply with treatment for a disease they knew they did not have???), fired plenty more doctors who had it comming, been told there was nothing that could be done for me (due to "treatment failure" - yeah, because their diagnosis was wrong!!!), been told I had Mono and then the doctor ran out to the car when we were about to leave and told us it wasn't Mono and that he had no clue what was wrong with me, been told everything was all in my head, been lied to as the doctor ran test after test, then told me what he had decided a year and a half prior that I had (wrong again, oh not so brilliant doc!), been told my unexplained weight loss and stomach pain was from "IBS" and "Somatoform" even though neither of these conditions cause weight loss (I did complain about this one, but the patient advocacy office took the side of the doctors and at the time I did not know about Lyme Disease or that I really did have Lyme instead of what the doctors told me was wrong), been taken seriously when Hubby was with but then told I was "depressed" when I went to the appointment alone, had test results stolen from me by MD's, been told to take medication without a diagnosis that warranted the medication, etc. etc. etc. Oh and hospital MD's are the worst, I won't even go into what went on in the hospital (more than once)...and the incompetant radiologists who placed a mis-sized feeding tube that caused months of pain and suffering earlier this year/late last year...etc. etc. etc....basically, 29 years of cr&% from doctors (including MD's, psychologists/psychiatristis, dentists & naturopathic doctors)...

Ok, stepping off my soapbox...
Posted 8/17/2009 6:07 PM (GMT -5)
Wow Razzle. That is the first time I see you pumped up like that. I'm so glad you shared your story with us.

I was admitted into the hospital after my internist thought I may have meningitis. I had the flu-like feeling, stiff neck and headache. I felt so bad. Well, they didn't find anything other than a UTI. Treated me with two different IV antibiotics. That first night I had a really bad upset stomach. Something I had never experienced before. Right after I started shaking all over uncontrollably. My husband paged the nurse and they came running in. They thought I was having a low blood sugar attack. Well, it wasn't that! I was herxing and didn't realize it at the time. They NEVER asked further questions about what I went through. Why did they not test further for this, especially after reading all of my symptoms? A UTI doesn't cause all of that. THAT is what makes me so angry. I could have caught this years ago! I'd still have somewhat of a life and I'd still be able to function.
Posted 8/17/2009 6:46 PM (GMT -5)
My fancy MD told me that I did not have lyme. Over and over again. I would go in and get into it with him. He would send me to all of these Dr.s over and over again.
I took him Cure Unknown and got into it with him about the topic of researchers finding lyme is dead patients..etc.
he was furious.
I sent him my bart results...and the lab test that should him that even according to the CDC I had lyme.
But he was so stubborn.
But when I got better at Envita. He was a bit surprised that all was well with me. All my symtoms were gone. Of course he critized the chelation, saying that it causes cancer...lol
But he could not find anything bad to say about the oxy tosh and the supp and the other treatments that I had.
He at one point told me that I had epstien bar....lol...this was after the belspalsy, heart problems etc ect....
One should not waste alot of time with a dis respectful Dr. They cannot be lead or dragged into understanding. And it is so hard for a person to be spit on and treated like..*$%^&* when they feel so terrible.
Move on and flip them off on the way out...lol
:>)
Posted 8/20/2009 2:36 PM (GMT -5)
Bumping!!! smilewinkgrin
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