Re: 4th appt and VERY FRUSTRATED--please help (a little long)
From: Muriel (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat, 15 Sep 2001 05:31:29 -0700
hi Zowie,
I had the same frustrations, in different ways. My previous doctor would not
hesitate to give me the drugs, while at the same time he failed to mention
the possibility of PCOS or even explain to me what was wrong with me,
nevermind the fact that he NEVER did any blood tests. He told me I was too
overweight, and that the fat in my body was collecting excess estrogen and
thats where my problem was.... (yeah right!) And of course he told me to
instead of taking a 3 mile walk with my dog, to take a 5 mile walk, and eat
a hellofa lot less. I read up on infertility myself and discovered that PCOS
could be a possibility, and I immediately called this doctor up and demanded
to know if he ever considered the possibility of PCOS, and glucophage as a
treatment. He actually had the nerve at this point to say "No, actually it's
considered by the medical community to be called "PCO", not "PCOS"."
ROFLMFAO!
I got real lucky however, and only on my second try did I find a doctor who
was not professionally insulted by me trying to learn about what my own
options were, in fact encouraged me to learn as much as I can. He
immediately set up an appointment for bloodwork for day 21, and raised his
eyebrows in interest to hear of the inadequacies of my presious doctor. I
struck GOLD! The only thing that is tough about this doctor is that he is in
such high demand that you can't get in to see him more than twice a month,
and he only comes to help my area one day a week. I'm not complaining about
this though, I feel very fortunate to have met him.
There isn't a whole lot I can say that might help you. Perhaps this list
could make a composite pile of doctor recomendations from people of this
list in the vast areas we come from, and post it on the website. All the
time you will see someone asking for a recomendation in their area. Let my
recomendation come first.
Dr. Hallman - St Paul MN area, also Hudson WI area.
Good Luck, and keep searching,
Muriel
> Hello Ladies (and Gentlemen),
> I've returned from my 4th appt. with the "specialty clinic" at the
> Naval Medical Center at Portsmouth and am again frustrated by the
> outcome. Not surprisingly, but news to me, I recently learned that all
> of the Dr's (who are supposed to be "specialists") at this clinic are
> just trainees who are rotated out every 6 weeks. They're not actual
> Dr's--so to me, they're not "specialists" either. I've been slapped in
> the face with nearly every appt. I've had with the "Dr's" at this
> clinic and I've had enough. Please allow me to explain.
>
> I am repeatedly told by these Dr's these statements regarding
> PCOS---PCOS:
> 1) Is NOT a disease or serious condition
> 2) Does NOT cause weight gain or problems with weight loss
> 3) Is caused by some self-inflicted act (as in overeating)
> 4) Is NOT related to metabolic problems (including insulin)
> 5) Has NO severe symptoms, and
> 6) Has NO meds or treatments, of any kind, for any relief
>
> Obviously, as we all know, these statements are grossly untrue. Several
> Dr's have even said they REFUSE treatment because of various
> reasons---the most common being, because I am overweight and "must lose
> at least 100 lbs" before even considering infertility treatments or
> assistance.
>
> Again, today, I was told to consider the Gastric Bypass (stomach
> stapling) surgery to lose weight. Even after having to AGAIN explain
> that my daily caloric intake is well under 1500. I even asked how a
> surgery, that is more geared to those who have a problem with
> overeating, is going to help me to lose weight when--1) overeating is
> obvioulsy NOT my problem and 2) I question the health issues of eating
> LESS than my normal 1100-1300 calories a day---all to make a "broken"
> body lose weight when these efforts WITHOUT this drastic IRREVERSIBLE
> surgery have not worked.
>
> I at least left with a Rx for Ortho Cyclen, which I'm due to start
> taking at the end of the month. I was told to stop taking the Flutamide
> (anti-androgen) because my hair growth has not gotten worse.
> (DUH--thanks TO the Flutamide) and that I can start it again if it does.
> Frankly, I don't see why I should STOP taking a medication that is
> HELPING me---especially when the symptoms that this drug is for will
> only come BACK and possibly get WORSE if I stop taking it.
>
> I am constantly told contradictions--this Dr tells me to eat less, this
> Dr tells me to eat MORE. This Dr tells me to exercise X amount of time,
> while the other tells me to do what I can. No one is willing to
> understand PCOS and be willing to treat me!! I DO have symptoms from it,
> and it IS a serious condition. Why don't they believe me?? Yes, I've
> walked into these appts with all of my documentation, and it still
> doesn't help! I'm getting so very frustrated, agitated and UPSET that
> I'm starting to go nuts! I was, at least, able to speak with a Patient
> Contact Rep who said she would talk to the Seniors of the clinic and see
> if she could help me. Being military, I am very limited on options. I
> could see a "Civilian" Dr, but I'd have to pay a $300 deductible and 50%
> of the cost for each visit---where am I gonna get the money from? I'm
> unable to work because of my PCOS and my husband's military pay is a
> joke. Can anyone offer words of encouragement or suggestions that may
> help me?? I'm really about to go totally nuts and be admitted into a
> mental institution! These "Quacks" (as my DH refers to them) are doing
> me NO good whatsoever. They are all contributing to the worsening of my
> condition and I just don't know how much more of this BS I can take. :*(
> What can I do??? Thanks for any replies.
> Feeling very down--Zowie :*(
>
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