Wow...this feels unreal!

Submitted by boohootome on December 14, 2012 - 8:45am
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Hi everyone,

I introduced myself last week, and told my "tale of woe." I also have since received my book and am on my way with that.

I requested a complete copy of my chart from the uro-gyn who examined and tested me. When reading the chart, I sometimes wondered if he was talking about me at all. Some of the "untruths" I found, from the petty to the pretty darn serious:

1. Said we met for 45 minutes initial visit. Ummmmm...that would be more like 15.

2. He documented 2 tests on the first visit that were not performed! I think I would have noted if he'd stuck a swab in my urethra and he didn't do a stool blood test either! I was there...HELLO!

3. He says in all my documentation that I have stage IV prolapses of bladder, uterus, rectum. Uhhhhhh, I think I would know if my organs were hanging OUTSIDE MY BODY, and they most definitely are not!

4. He also said I have no history of depression, anxiety, etc. LOL...is he BLIND!!!!???? I'd also noted on my intake that I had a history of both (I am currently being treated for PTSD!)

5. He can't spell "myasthenia," which is the name of the autoimmune disease I have. Nuf sed!

6. He said I came SEEKING SURGERY! In fact, I came seeking a full, ACCURATE diagnosis...which it doesn't seem I got. :(

7. In the follow up discussion he said her explained all the risks of the mesh, including the fact that he might not get it right! It might be too tight or too loose, and it could cause all sorts of problems. However, he told me that he has less than 1% of any problems, because he is THAT GOOD.

8. He said he told me I was risking PERMANENT urine incontinence from the surgery to fix the vagina. Ummmmmmmmm, no he didn't!

9. He said he explained the risk of fistula formation with both the bladder and rectocele repairs.

10. He said we had a long discussion of the non-surgical options. What? When?

11. He said he gave me a link to study the FDA's website about the mesh. No, he didn't. I found that on my own!

I feel that this stuff can't even be used for second opinion seeking, not that I am going to do any second opinions right now. Stage IV....I don't think anyone could even function with a stage IV of bladder, uterus and rectum at the same time, could they?

Sigh...I feel like I wasted a month, 5 120 mile round trips, $200 in copays, countless hours of stress...for NOTHING.

Any input?

Thanks,

Boohoo

Forum:

NFP

December 14, 2012 - 9:37am

This is a personal opinion. What you described is nothing less than disgustingly dishonest. According to what you wrote, that doctor charged for services he did not do. Yes, it does happen and that is why you should check your medical records and the physician you decide to see. Here in the US that information is available. You have every right to know,as well as your medical records, the education, license, employment record, patient feedback as well as any judicial judgements against the doctor or health professional. A a professional, I know that for every bad doctor or health professional there are good ones and we need to find the good ones. It takes time and energy but it is worth the effort. This is a forum with very good information and women who really reach out to help one another. This is the place to reach out and ask all the questions you are concerned about. Best wishes.....

Surviving60

December 14, 2012 - 9:50am

Christine describes, early in STWW, some of the differences between reality and fantasy on the surgeon's report of her case. The lengths to which these docs will go to cover their butts.....I find this so incredibly damning. Do you have any plans to write a letter setting the record straight on some of these points? And if you do, what are the chances the letter never makes it to your "file"? - Surviving

boohootome

December 14, 2012 - 9:51am

In fact, I have been researching this doctor for over 2 years. I am also a healthcare professional as well as a "Dr Mom" to a kid on the autism spectrum so I do not enter into ANY medical situation without thoroughly researching beforehand.

This guy is as pure as the driven snow on all the medical boards, according to regular gyns who refer to him, etc. I did all the usual checks online for patient reviews and the comments were overwhelmingly positive...for the US and the country he lived in 20 years prior! Only 1 negative review was listed, and frankly, the way that woman worded things...it seemed a little hyperbolic.

Thanks for your input. Makes me wonder what all my other medical records say...lol!

Spamelah

December 14, 2012 - 11:04am

You call them and inform them of the erroneous records. Very small chance they are indeed someone else's records. If they are NOT a patient mix up then raise some Hell.

Autism Mommy here, too.

15 years ago I went to change my name at the Social Security office after they misplaced my initial papers filed 5 years prior. When I got there, they had me listed as being married before to a person I went to high school with and had my city of birth mixed up with my husband's city. Mistakes happen!

I would not let this slide. Aside from feeling like a waste of your time and money, it is dishonest and criminal if he did this willfully. My Autism experience has made me willing to fight back. A few good things came out of a rotten circumstance!

Spamelah

December 14, 2012 - 11:07am

carbon copy all letters to hospital administration where he has surgical privileges or to clinic administration if he is not in private practice.

petrified52

December 14, 2012 - 1:58pm

I think that we should see the charts before leaving the office and have to sign that we did, indeed, receive the services listing and agree with the information concerning the discussions listed there. That way, they couldn't lie about what was told to us or discussed.

boohootome

December 14, 2012 - 2:30pm

Thanks, Spamelah, petrified, surviving, and NFP for your comments. I appreciate you taking the time.

I am not of the mindset to make sure my history/physical and surgical plans are accurate, or in the mood for a monumental battle to get records changed, and especially not to get the doctor "disciplined." In the last few years I took legal action against a flooring company that had done a bad installation at my home and it taught me A LOT. Even though I did win the case, and am slowly receiving settlement payments it was a long, difficult, expensive and almost unachievable victory. I cannot even imagine attempting to do this with MY BODY being the subject of all the scrutiny. No thank you.

What I can do is honestly review him online. I can also avoid him and encourage anyone else to do the same. I do have my urodynamic, cystoscopy, sonos and manometry test results, which appear accurate. They were done by other practitioners and most had computer generated results and reports, so those are good.

I am really appalled that indeed, the notes seem to be written almost pre-emptively, in preparation for trouble ahead. The stage IV stuff really gets me as well...how could he say that? Especially when he states that my genitalia appeared "normal" under his visual inspection. Wouldn't stage 4 organs be protuding even while on the exam table? It would be so easy for him to say, down the line, "Well, she was a stage IV, she should be happy with whatever result she got." YUCK!

So, on I go. It's definitely been a learning experience!

At this point, I am going to work on myself by myself, and see what happens. I've lived with this for 15 years and manage it pretty well most of the time. If I can improve on that track record, I will have to consider it a success.

louiseds

December 15, 2012 - 9:11pm

Hi Boohootome

While you might not want to get the record of what happened changed, I agree with the person who suggested writing to the doctor with the corrections to the record and cc'ing to the hospital administrator. Otherwise the lies will be perpetuated.

Once again I think you have learned a very important lesson about putting complete faith in a doctor, thus potentially foolishly removing any responsibility from your own shoulders. While in this case the faulty report will have no lasting effect on you, we all need to realise that doctors are people and are fallible, just as we are, for whatever reason. We need to realise that any interaction with a doctor has the potential to go horribly wrong unless we take responsibility ourselves for ensuring that the treatment will be the right one. The vast majority of doctors do the right thing, and tell us 'the prescribed treatment' as a starting point for verifying that the treatment is OK for us. While we are not medically qualified it is easy to verify the probability of the chosen treatment being right by simply comparing it to what we can find on the Net. If it doesn't seem right, we can go back and express our doubts and ask more questions. We have every right to do this, even if we feel a bit as if we are 'inappropritely challenging professional ability, knowledge and authority'.

Most doctors would appreciate a patient wanting to understand why the treatment was prescribed. It is simply good communication.

I am glad you can leave this guy behind you. We have all had an experience of spending time, effort and money only to find that it was a waste of our resources.

Louise