Wellness

[Big Sister]

There are somethings that are clearly right in front  of us that we can's always see.  This one hit you between the eyes; it is time to move on to another dr.

[NYC Susan]

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@millieshops wrote:

What I don't remember reading is when OP went back to the doctor she had trusted for 18 years and reported the ongoing pain to her.  I don't get suffering for so long without asking for more help.  How was the doctor to know her diagnosis was wrong?  For all she knew the med prescribed had taken care of the problem.

Changing doctors doesn't feel wrong to me -  but putting all the blame on one party to this mess does.  What we don't communicate to our doctors they can't much help us with.  I'd like for my doctors never to make an error, but how realistic is that?

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I agree with you. 

When my PCP says I should feel better after awhile, I always ask for an estimated time frame.  A few days?  A few weeks?   And I always follow up if things don't resolve or improve.   It probably would have been a good idea to get back in touch to let the doctor know there was no improvement and the pain was unbearable for such a long time.  I'm not sure how a doctor can help if they don't know the problem is continuing or getting worse.  The assumption is that everything is fine, no need for follow-up, no need to refer to a specialist or pursue things further.  Letting her know what was going on likely would have eased a lot of suffering a lot sooner.

18 years is a long time.  If everything was fine with this doctor for 18 years, I'm not sure I would want to cut ties.  But if the OP wants to do that, then she should.  There's no point in continuing to see a doctor you don't feel you can trust.

I'm glad this had a good resolution.  That's what matters most right now!

[qualitygal]

Run from that doctor!!!!!  It's a shame we have to suffer. 

[151949]

I really can not understand how these two conditions could possibly be mistaken for each other. Lichen Sclerosis causes white, shiny( sometimes called porcelain ) skin changes and yeast infections cause red dark skin changes. They are kind of the opposite of each other in appearance.

[chrystaltree]

If you have lost faith in your Pcp and have no confidence in her now; you should change Pcp's but you will be starting over with someone new and you have no idea what you will get (or won't get) from a new Pcp.  I changed Pcp's and it took three changes before I finally found the one that I liked and had confident in.  Think about the 18 years before you make a change.  Secondly, I think most patient's think diagnosing is an exact science.  They think it's like math....2+2=4 every single time.  Medicine isn't like that, diagnosing is an art based on the medical sciences.  Sometimes, you just do not get the correct diagnosis the first time around.  I think you waited it out for far to long, you were in significant pain and you should have gone back to her or to a specialist or even to the ER much sooner than you did.  There are no perfect people and doctors are people, so like every other person on this planet, they make mistakes.  I don't think you are overeacting, you have a right to be upset.  If you decide to change Pcp's, you don't have to say anything to her unless you really want to.  I didn't say anything to the Pcp's I "fired".  You just make an appointment with someone new; they will give you a complete physical because you are a new patient and then their office will request your records from you old Pcp.  You should call your insurer and your pharmacist with the new Pcp information.  

[SXMGirl]

@qvcaddition, I am so sorry.  I hope that you get the answers that you need.  My doctor is about 48, so I cannot blame age on her.  She has once again started her own practice (the last one ended in bankruptcy, which I told her would happen--I know way too much about her personal life and we are not friends), and she seems happy that she has moved on.  I think it might be time for me to do the same.  Good luck.

[lulu1]

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@SXMGirl wrote:

@qvcaddition, I am so sorry.  I hope that you get the answers that you need.  My doctor is about 48, so I cannot blame age on her.  She has once again started her own practice (the last one ended in bankruptcy, which I told her would happen--I know way too much about her personal life and we are not friends), and she seems happy that she has moved on.  I think it might be time for me to do the same.  Good luck.

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@SXMGirl

This post is the final nail in the coffin. Find a new doctor ASAP.

[sfnative]

@SXMGirl

What your physician did does not fall within "good clinical practices," and is, therefore, a failure to correctly diagnose and treat.

What to do next?  Ask friends and neighbors about their PCPs.  You just might get a line on someone who sounds pretty good.  If so, I'd call that physician and make a new patient appointment now.  Once you have an appointment with a new PCP, write a letter to your other PCP, letting her know why you're not returning (in essence why you're firing her).  Try not to be nasty, but be factual and to the point.  Also, go online and rate this physician.

[SXMGirl]

@sfnative, I am now actively looking, but I plan to meet with her for the discussion.  We have been together a long time and I think that she deserves to hear it instead of read it.  I am so glad that I got a second opinion, but I am concerned about who else was mis-diagnosed.  Thanks.

[Vivian]

Ten years ago, my family doctor told me all was well during my annual physical. Since I had been hoarse for several months, I saw my ENT, who had done surgery on my sinuses. Within seconds, after examining my neck , he ordered a biopsy. I had a 3cm thyroid tumor. If I had waited much longer, I could have died. After surgery and recovery, I returned to my family doctor and told her that my ENT said there was no excuse for her missing my cancer. Her reply was that she did the best she could, which was clearly insufficient.