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Ah yes, another doctor’s appointment, another fiasco!

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Here we go again! I had an appointment with a new endocrinologist, Dr P, my first appointment. I got there on time, signed in. I was called in to the examining room by a young woman with bright red braids. She signed in to the computer, looked at me and said “How do I know you have thyroid problems?” I said I have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, I’ve been treated for it for the last three years. She said: How can you prove you have this? I told her my TSH was 102 (the normal is 0.2 – 5) when I was diagnosed, I am on 125 micrograms of Synthroid. She said: Do you have any paper work, any ultrasounds, any scans? I said no, I wasn’t told to bring any, if I had been told to bring those, I would have. But I do have a thyroid condition. She said this doctor will not see me unless I give her the number of a doctor who can provide substantiation. So I gave her the name of my psychiatrist, Dr. E and his phone number, because he recommended this doctor to me. She sent me back to the waiting room. A few minutes later, she came out in the middle of the full waiting room and announced “That is the number of a psychiatrist, we need the number of a real doctor.” What?! A psychiatrist IS a real doctor, I exclaimed! She said no, a real physical doctor. I again reiterated that a psychiatrist is a real doctor who treats real illnesses. I told her I do not want to speak with you anymore, I want to see the doctor I came to see. She said he will not see me unless I give her the name of a real doctor. So I gave her the number of my old endocrinologist and she left. I just sat there, fuming by now, what the hell is this, intimidation and blackmail central? I considered just walking out, but I stayed to see what this new doctor would be like. Then I saw this new doctor, I explained to him how I’d been treated and he simply laughed me off.

Wow! Here is me, an unsuspecting person, coming to see this doctor for the first time and this is how I get treated! There are so many things wrong here that I don’t know where to begin!

Ok, first off, you do not challenge a patient to prove that they have an illness! Why the hell would I be wasting my time in crummy, crowded waiting rooms talking to idiotic women whose iQ is probably borderline moron, if I didn’t absolutely have to.

Secondly, you do not come into a waiting room full of strangers and announce that I have given you the number of a psychiatrist! I mean yes, I blog about my illness, and if I choose to tell the whole waiting room that I see a psychiatrist, that is my business. But, and this a big but (haha) you with your idiotic red braids and rude manner do not have the right to announce it on my behalf. Ever heard of HIPA? And anyway, no doctor is going to give you my information over the phone unless I have signed a release, which I had not.

Three, so a psychiatrist is not a real doctor! Then, by extension, the illnesses he treats are not real illnesses. WTF are you saying here and what century are you living in, the 6th century?

Four, the doctor laughing me off! Really? Your staff is obnoxious, rude, confrontational, doesn’t respect my privacy, and you are going to laugh me off?

Just writing all this down is upsetting the hell out of me again. Damn! I mean really?

So here’s what I’m going to do about it, I am going to write to this doctor about the unprofessional, disgusting, rude way I was treated. He works at Norton hospital. I am also going to cc this letter to the CEO of said hospital. That is all I can do. If they have any professionalism and ethics at all, I should receive an apology. I am not a vindictive or even a negative person, but something like this can not be simply forgotten. Something has to be done about it.

And obviously, I am not going to see him again. Aaaaaarrrrggghhhh! Can I not get a break with all these morons with MD and DDS degrees and their inept, moronic employees?

Ok, I’m done. I’m going to do some deep breathing now, maybe watch some Golden Girls and get over this nasty episode, yet another nasty episode. Geeez! I’m seriously leery of going to see anymore doctors.

Oh and I am going to enlighten my psychiatrist about the fact that he is not a real doctor, poor guy was operating under the misconception that he was a real doctor! Hahaha!

18 thoughts on “Ah yes, another doctor’s appointment, another fiasco!”

  1. Holy shit, I am SOOOOOOO sorry!!! I am furious reading how you were mistreated! I would add to your letter that the redbraided b+t h violated HIPPA laws GROSSLY and that you have contacted your lawyer!!!! Again I am beyond sorry. They seriously f*ked up!!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Fuck that and the whores it rode in on, I’m so glad you’re reporting it and I love your analysis of it. Maybe leave out the part about the stupid red braids though *grin* I’m looking forward to hearing about how it proceeds. Jeez what an absolute asswipe.

    Liked by 3 people

  6. Are we talking about stigma here??? PURE, UNADULTERATED STIGMA????
    The Red Braids is the lowest of the low. Psychiatrists routinely test for thyroid conditions, because that is commonly a cause of illness and also commonly caused by meds such as lithium. It’s horrible that psychiatry and psychiatric illness is still seen as “not real illness.”

    Did the endocrinologist address your concerns? Order blood tests? Examine you? If not, you need to file a complaint with the State Medical Board. The form is on their website.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yes that one girl was the worst! She didn’t know how to word questions so she didn’t sound totally offensive! The doctor, although laughing off my complaint, did do a thorough examination and ordered blood tests, which I had done, and thyroid ultrasound. They actually called me today saying my Potassium levels were very high and they need me to come in to redo K+ levels. So I’m going now. Will post about it. As in almost everything in life, most people are not all good or all bad, most situations aren’t all good or all bad. This one fits in the ambivalent category. Thank you Laura. Xxxooo

      Liked by 1 person

  7. I’m telling you…..Red Braids was helping herself to the stash to meds this doc has in the cabinet! On a serious note, sending you love & strength to deal with this utter bullshit! I know i speak for everyone when I say that we proud of you for doing something about the atrocious behavior. Xo

    Liked by 2 people

  8. I’d report the whole incident to the state boards. I’d try to find out if red braids was a nurse or a Medical Assistant, and report her too.

    It’s pretty obvious to anyone that your rights and dignity were abused. I’m a medical assisting student, and what happened goes against everything we’re being taught.

    Liked by 1 person

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