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Extremely bad day!!

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Posted 5/3/2011 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
I went to my Rheumatologist last Thursday. He decided to put me on Cymbalta in addition to the other meds I take. He said it would help me sleep better immediately but that the true effects of it won't be noticeable until about 3 weeks. Well, I have been taking it nightly and it does not help me sleep. I've been living on a few hours of sleep every night since then; which is not a good thing. Especially since I still work. So I called the doc's office today to let the doc know that I was not sleeping any better. When the medical assistant calls me back, she's very rude and hateful. She says to me "The doctor told you it would take 3 weeks for you to get the full effects of the Cymbalta, so give it time!" I said back to her as nicely as I could since I am exhausted from not sleeping and having major pain because of the no sleep thing, "I understand that, the doctor said It would help me sleep better immediately and its not doing that for me, I have been living on just a few hours of sleep each night and my pain is very bad because of that." She then stated in a very nasty and sarcastic voice" Well, that is what the doctor said". So I accepted that and hung the phone up. Keep in mind I was at my desk in a huge office full of people, so I could not exactly say what I felt like saying without the entire office hearing me. So I picked up my cell phone and went outside to call her back. Once I had her back on the phone, I explained to her that the doctor told me to call the office if it didn't help me sleep better immediately. She said "Well, that's not what he wrote in your chart, he just wrote for you to take the Cymbalta for 3 weeks and come back in for another appointment in one month." At this point I was more than upset and getting pissed off by the second. So by the end of the conversation, I said some things that irritated her and now she's going to talk to the doctor about dropping me as a patient. Which is fine, she has no business working for a Rheum doctor and having the attitude that she has. She has never been very friendly or nice but I liked the doctor so I figured I could over look her. Well, with my pain level at its highest in a long time and with my lack of sleep, I couldn't take her nasty, unempathetic attitude today. There is one other Rheum doctor in my city but what do I tell him is the reason I'm changing doctors?

Thanks for letting me vent and any advice or comments would be great.
Posted 5/4/2011 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
Jen,

I think you should try to talk to him directly and circumvent that nasty lady. And I'd let him know what she said, too. Whew! You showed considerable restraint, esp. since you're so tired and in so much pain. I had a bad sleep last night (1 night!) and I'm a mess. Not used to it any more.

If you do have to change doctors, you don't have anything to hide...just tell him what happened.

I hope you get some sleep soon!!

Debbie
Posted 5/4/2011 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
Jen, I'm sorry you were treated so badly by the medical assistant.
I agree with Debbie about seeing if you can speak with your doctor...that assistant doesn't seem like a team player who has your best interest at heart. Your doctor may be a good one but if his staff is reluctant to help...how does that help you?


As patients, we are consumers paying for a service. If the doctor or his staff can not provide good service we have the right to find another doctor.

Good Luck
Hugs, Robin
Posted 5/4/2011 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with everyone else try to talk to doctor directly. If you change doctors be honest as to why. Right now I am so upset and disgusted with PCPs I am just not going to one - even though I need my B12 injection. I am not even sure I want to try the rhumie I am suppose to see on the 17th becasue it out of pocket and I feel like nobody else cares - why would she? My kids have issues right now - I am dealig with theirs now and mine later. But I know how you feel.
The other night while praying one of my pills would quick in soon I had a thought -
Someday someone will prove with some kind of test that fibro is real and not only that they will discover the cure! They may win a Nobel Peace Prize and become a milionare living in a huge mansion in Maui with a spouse half their age and the body of barbie or ken. Right now that someone maybe a coke bottle lense nerd being picked on by some bully whos future is flipping hamburgers. But no matter what when that great day comes and we have not only proof but a cure - we can go to everyone who does not believe us now and say " TOLD YOU SO!" :P
Posted 5/4/2011 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
I'm taking Buspar.It definitly helps me sleep at night without the groggy feeling in the morning.
Posted 5/4/2011 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
Talk directly to the doc. Perhaps a prescription sleep med? I totally understand the need for a good nights sleep. Cymbalta is not a sleep med, though. I was on it for 6 months and the side effects never went away.

It does take time for medications to really take effect. Sometimes the side-effects go away, sometimes not. Personally, I take sleep medication and have for years.
Posted 5/4/2011 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
Most definitely talk to the doctor...even if it means getting an "emergency" appointment.  My doctor keeps time available if someone needs to come in unexpectedly.  It is an emergency because you can't function and work on a few hours of sleep a night. 

 

I bet he doesn't know he has such a mouthy medical assistant.  She has no right to talk to you that way and then basically threaten you.  If he did drop you as a patient, I'd report him.  He took the Hippocratic Oath and he needs to live up to it.  But, honestly, I just bet he doesn't know she is throwing her weight around with his patients.  Who knows...she might be the one out there looking...looking for another job!

 

Sherrine

Posted 5/4/2011 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to everyone for your input. I tried today to call the office and speak with the doctor only to have his staff tell me that he was "unavailable". It seems as though I will not get to speak to the doctor to tell him about his help and the way they treat his patients. I did get to talk to my PCP's office today and they are going to refer me to the one other Rheumy doctor in my city. I have already requested my records by fax from the other doc's office so I can take them with me to my first appt with the new doctor. I will be writing a letter to the hospital this doctor's office is in about the doctor's help. The help (medical assistant) is hired by the hospital not by the doctor. Our medical system is sort of strange out here. Doctors are in big buildings provided by the hospital, staff is hired by the hospital not by doctors. So a doctor is given their help, they do not get to choose who they hire. This is why I do not blame the doctor at all. I did also try to call the hospital today to get in direct contact with the doctor only to be told to call his individual office line. So, I will write my letter to the hospital and continue on with my new doctor. Hopefully I can get in soon. For now my PCP is providing me with pain and sleep meds.

Thank you again to everyone for your support and input. It means a lot to me to have new friends like y'all.

Gentle hugs
Posted 5/4/2011 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hunh... sounds like where I used to live. Everybody under the same roof like a big, dysfunctional family.

Well, hopefully the sleep meds will work for you! I tell you, I cannot function without them. Seriously, I have tried.

Hope the new doc does you better, and make sure you inform the old one about his toxic staff.
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