Question
Hello everyone. It has been awhile since I last posted.... I was struggling for an answer to some very intense and persistent smptoms.
I formed breathing difficulty in Dec of 2001.
After many months of hell, I was sent to a psychiatrist to no avail and placed on drugs... for my head. I suffered so badly with my breathing that I was out of work for almost six months.... not to mention stomach pain and muscle pain. (They did give me pepsid without doing any tests).
Well I changed doctors, and, over the summer, had some tests done....
They found, an ovarian cyst, a granuloma in my lower right lung.... and h.pylori in my stomach.
Now, this past december, my breathing problems got worse, and it turns out I am also asthmatic... AND I have disc degeneration and scoliosis.
Would you say I have a case aganst the doctors who told me it was all in my head?
With so much wrong, how could every single problem be missed?
Now things are worse. My stomach hurts most of the time, I get chills that actually hurt, about 7 times an hour, and my chest rumbles with each breath until I use the inhaler. I cannot sleep at night and I am always tired.
Blue
[This message has been edited by Blue4U2 (edited 01-07-2003).]

Answer

What would you like to "get" from the physician who did not diagnose you with these problems?

Answer

I am actually very torn.
I remember feeling very trustful when I went to this
doctor... but I was very aware that something was wrong.
After my initial consultation, I was told to seek psychological help. This was before any exam took place. My sister was with me.... we both thought this was odd, but perhaps it was just procedure.
They put me on paxil in the mean time, and claritin.
I had an allergic reaction to the paxil, so I stopped it right away. After about three days, I was in the emergency room, unable to breathe.
They put me on steroids and told me that I had upper airways reactive disorder, and to follow up with my doctor.
I went back to the doctor and they told me my lungs were fine, to go back to the psychologist.
I went to the psychologist and after two appointments, was referred back to the doctor, since it was found that I have excellent coping skills and no depressive disorders.
By this point I was experiencing some anxiety, and soon went into crying fits. (Turned out to be from the steroids). This was all I needed. this reinforced the doctors point of view.
So for months, I was suffering from this phantom breathing problem, and developing other problems as a result.
Soon I couldn't work, and made many trips to the e.r.
where I was told To see an asthma specialist.
My doctor wouldn't give me the referral.
By now, summer was approaching, and, my symptoms were not as bad.
So I was able to return to work with mild discomfort.
But it seemed my symptoms were worse at work.
(I do church restoration).
I returned to the doctor and they sent me to have a pet scan, where, a granuloma was found in my lung.
They said it was nothing.
I changed doctors.
After all of this, I spent 6 months without income,
thousands in psychiatric treatment and drugs I did not need, and I do not think there is a good reason why.
My sister thinks they judged me by appearance and made their mind up about me the first visit because I am a bald woman with tattoos. I think that it is frightening that I could have died, since I actually almost began to believe I was suffering some mental deficit, when it was asthma.
It may sound trivial, but, there were times where I really thought I was going to die.
I am not a depressed person. I love my job, it is stable and well paying. I have a beautiful daughter
and family life. I want for nothing.
Regarding what I would want to "get"?
It is more about proving a point, and hopefully opening the doctors eyes and mind a little.
One person among so many patients, may seem like nothing.... but it is something to my daughter.
I am upset about the time I lost in my life, that I can never get back.... nor can my family. I lost about 20,000 in wages, and emptied my account to live.
I suppose I think that maybe if I do something, this doc will be more attentive and sensative to future patients.
Incidentally, this doc WAS also my girlfriend's doc.
She was pregnant and fell down the stairs. The doc never returned any of hers or the ER's calls.
WE both have neww docs now.
As far as money, I couldn't care less really.
Like I said before I have what I need.
But if I am a passifist in this situation, someone else may go through the same thing.
Blue


Answer

I can relate well to your situation and although under different circumstances, I've suffered some similarities...was not tested for things, developed infections I wasn't told about, and developed paralysis on half my face after surgery, -- and it didn't get me too far. But I really do understand what you're saying, on a number of levels.
"Damage" is subjective in this regard because there is no loss of life or limb, your life is not and was not threatened, and there was no obvious sign of malpractise. (Bear with me as I play Devil's Advocate with you a bit). I can understand where you feel there is negligence because you were undertreated and not referred out. Regretably, depending on your physician's associations with insurance, he may have been doing (regretably) what is considered minimum care, and he is not required by law (and in some cases, not permitted) to go beyond that.
It is not fair, but there are guidelines docs must follow and requirements that must be met. For example, with my insurance: In the case of h. pylori, before they could do a blood test to determine if I had it, they would first require me to have an upper G.I., and even then I may need to get scoped, before they would approve a test to determine the bacteria. Strange but true, rather than blood tests, they'd put me through some nasty tests FIRST to "qualify" me for additional testing for this particular diagnosis. So for diagnostic testing (which would have been crucial in your case) you may not have presented with minimal symptoms for consideration of further testing.
Insurance guidelines suck and are not patient-oriented. Doctors are paid to process us like a factory would, in gross, minimize tests, and definitely minimize referrals out of network because it comes out of their pocket.
I realize this means nothing to you (or any patient -- nor should it) -- because it would be nice to think this is about preserving integrity and patient care.
From what you've said, it sounds like this doctor may be biased. He might be judging you based on a number of circumstances and this is affecting his treatment plans. This is not ethical, moral, nor legal but it happens. Having been in what some might call the "Tattoo-Harley-Goth-Art-Alternative" life since I was in my early 20's, I was also exposed to some of this biased treatment in various aspects, and I'm certain I was slighted, and that aspects of me, my lifestyle or my behavior were not congruent with what my physician's could accept, and like you, I feel the quality of my care was compromised on several occasions.
Well, that said, and sharing in your concern, there is also the understanding of futility because regretably the burden of proof is on you to prove negligence, and the hoops you may have to jump through, -- regardless of good intent, and even though you are not trying to seek out monetary compensation for psychological suffering, and even though your heart is in the right place.
You could try to register a complaint with the AMA, but I'm not sure if that would necessarily warrant an investigation. Since different doctors practise medicine differently, you may be met with a response about difference in style, approach, diagnostic preferences and requirements, and subjective determination of what warrants "emergency" or warranting a return call.
I don't know what sort of details would suffice to bring about any formal action. You cannot sue for contingencies. You cannot sue for what "might" have happened.
However, I know that a lot of civic organizations and public right activists are trying to lobby for more liberal health coverage, and their motivating forces are how many physicians are choosing not to do the more elaborate (and expensive) diagnostic tests because they save money, mean more cash back to the doctor, and put them higher on the insurance company's rating (the more patients they see, the less they refer out, the fewer tests they order,-- the higher their rating)... and people are not only getting sick, but they're missing early diagnosing that could be life-saving. Claims include people dying because of this.
So you're in the same boat in terms of reasoning behind poor practise and cutting patients short of quality care. But in terms of "severity" you may be faced with subjective determination, and that's too bad because it means someone ELSE is trying to put a "price" on your suffering and losses.
You may want to research some patient advocacy groups that are rallying to make changes within the government, and perhaps you can put your voice to the numbers and help make a change.
You're right, one patient among hundreds, - but if enough patients make it known that substandard care is not acceptable, then changes will eventually be made. But it takes people willing to endure a rather arduous struggle.
Please keep us posted. I'm very interested in how you pursue this!
[This message has been edited by Merrida (edited 01-08-2003).]

Answer

wow, that was an amaing message! Thank you.
I sort of fell sickened by the fact that health care is just another financial industry now.
The richest institution is the church. I wonder if health care is next...?
I did file a complaint with the AMA.
I recieved a letter stating that the matter would be investigated. That was quite a while ago.
Interestingly, my mother is having the same issues with her doctor. She has severe cirrosis of the liver.
He treats her like garbage and tells her she is too fat to go onto the liver transplant list. He is convinced she somehow uses drugs without it showing up in her bloodwork. She also has many tattoos and sounds similar to you, in fact.
Again, thank you for the insight. I will keep you posted.
Blue