ArcaneM37
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Long story, but I am trying desperately to get a cervical spine fusion. The doc I saw yesterday was an arrogant jackhole, so I walked out on him, but my time and energy already went into getting them all my imaging and records, so rather than let that work go to waste, I scheduled a second opinion with a surgeon from the same hospital but at a different building. They can't all be bad, right?
The cowards couldn't even call to tell me they were canceling my appt.
Faasel524
Doctor Wang sounds like a dick đ
The22ndDoctor
Opinion? I was under the impression that the first diagnosis was fact based. ~ Mike Birbiglia
biggaymeow
My dude, doctors can suck. Not sure if you are a woman but that can double suck. I fired my oncologist (supposedly the best one in the field) 3 years too late. Was complaining of worsen fatigue years after chemo and the asshat said âwell you are getting oldâ (I was 40) Turns out I had dangerously low iron and ferritin. Like they made me come in the same day for infusions. Dismissive egotistical asshats should be fired. Like I would be if I copped such an attitude. Grrrr So sorry
ArcaneM37
Ding ding im a chick. A chick with chronic fatigue aka a faker. I've seen over 50 docs in the past 8 years of illness. I could tell you stories... if i had the energy.
flarflarf
if you're looking for a surgeon who's not arrogant my advice is to settle in and get comfy, you're in for a long search.
BendOverAndIllShowYa
So, 3 doctors told you not to get the spine fusion but you want a 4th opinions? Seems reasonable that the doctors are right and youâre just shopping for a doctor to do what you want, not that they recommend.
Maybe I got that wrong but thatâs how read that.
ArcaneM37
Nope not how it went. To broken and tired to explain, but it didnt go like that
BendOverAndIllShowYa
Fair enough. Wish you the best of luck. Dealing with insurance and pain is not easy. Cheers.
PutThePRNDLinD
Even without the dramatic elements it would be unusual for two providers from the same practice to render conflicting opinions.
ArcaneM37
The first guy was so rude he didnt even get to render an opinion. I likerally walked out in under 2 min
Madchant
Call them back and explain the doctor was a shithead to you, and if you must, you will file a formal complaint.
ArcaneM37
Healthy me would do exactly that. But i am bedbound and weak and in pain all the time. For the moment it is all i can do just to find someone who will help me. I cant fight losing battles like this in my current state.
mrthewhitee
You can't expect the second doctor to be aware you have a personal issue with the first if you haven't told them yet. The asshole isn't going to tell them he wss an asshole to you.
ArcaneM37
I was planning to avoid the drama and not mention it to her at all. Very unlike me, but i am worn down and desperate.
But this came from the program director not the doc herself, so basically they are doing the thing police departments do when one of their cops shoots someone. Chief is saying to rally.
It is not worth my precious energy to fight, but i am running very very low on options.
mrthewhitee
No, they aren't, at least I would not assume that. They're doing standard procedure for someone they think is doctor shopping. If they knew it was a personal conflict, they might handle it differently. You csnt assume people know your feelings if you didn't tell them.
Faasel524
Bulging disc? How is the issue manifesting? Loss of fine motor skills or general pain in the cervical spine area, or radiating down the arm?
ArcaneM37
Ehlers danlos causing spinal instability causing nerve damage causing a constilation of over 40 symptoms commonly called chronic fatigue syndrome. Im bedbound and getting worse so fast that i am sincerely afraid of dying before finding a doctor to help me.
Faasel524
You will not die. But I can totally understand your mindset at the moment. Was this an impact injury or deterioration over time? I'm happy to listen if you like, sometimes it is good to articulate what is going on in your head.
Faasel524
Ah I have just looked it up. Not pleasant. Pretty negligent of a surgeon not to give you a treatment plan.
RunawaySpoons
Damn I can see why you're having trouble finding a knowledgeable neurosurgeon. Are you on Instagram at all? I know there are quite a lot of EDSers on there who've needed spinal fusion so maybe they can signpost you to potential surgeons. There's probably a subreddit as well (there's pretty much one for everything) but I can't know for sure.
ArcaneM37
Im in a couple EDS FB groups (OLD!) That is my newest diagnosis and it actually opened a lot of doors. When i had spinal instability and "just" chronic fatigue, there were literally 5 doctors in the whole world who might consider a fusion. I saw 2 of them and the rest are out of country. Im just not sure i can take more roadblocks.
mrthewhitee
Did you tell the new dr when you made the appointment that you're doing this because you have a personal issue with the first dr? It's pretty standard for Dr to refer you back to your original Dr to avoid contradicting treatment and maintain continuity of care.
ArcaneM37
This came from the director and via mychart instead of phone, so i believe it to be intentional rallying behind a bad doc, but if i have misjudged, they can respond and correct my assumption... but they wont.
mrthewhitee
Don't assume anything. The director won't know of your bad experience either unless you specifically told them. What they're doing is standard sop. They probably think you're just doctor shopping for an opinion you like
ArcaneM37
Well given my response, they know now that he was an asshole. They can follow up if their conscience guides them. But I firmly believe that someone who thought they were doing the right thing would have called me and not mycharted this.
mrthewhitee
They do now, but you also came at them pretty accusatory. I don't think you're doing yourself any favors with your approach. I get your frustration with your experience, but you also gotta ask yourself, "Do you want to be right, or do you want to get help?"
ArcaneM37
No help is coming from them. They said so. They need to know i see through their shit. Its the only power i have left broken here in bed.