Doctor Inexperience

[bunkywoo]

Wanted to share this funny/irritating story about my dr who treated me for 6 months. Doctor returned my call yesterday (while I was at work) about my Heptimax and SGOT results. He said he had the SGOT results & asked me what the other test was. I told him Heptimax and I swear I had to repeat myself 3 times because he didn't know what I was talking about. When I first requested the Heptimax test 6 months ago he had never even heard of it so I faxed him some info from Quest's web-page and then he wrote my script. Being at work and not wanting to blurt out exactly what it was, I had to say HEP C under my breath. It just blew me away that this guy still didn't know what the Hepitmax test was, even though he should have had the previous test results in my chart and he sounded totally clueless as to what this test could possibly be for, even though HEP C was the only thing he ever treated me for.

I guess my point in posting this is to tell everyone that some dr's do not know all and if you can help educate them from information you gather from other sources, the better it is for you. My doc is a GI and I would have hoped he would stay current with research, meds and tests. My whole tx I had to monitor my blood counts and request Neupogen to stay on tx when by WBC got too low. And not once did I ever hesitate to keep calling for my test results if they didn't call me first. I figured this is my life and if they get pissed off at me for calling so much - so be it!

Test results weren't in anyways so the wait is still ongoing...

Feel Good --- Laurie

[Indiana]

Keep on pushin for the answers Val. The qualitative Pcr is much more accurate than the quantitative. Since the qualitative is simply testing for the presence of the virus it is just a yes or no answer. Get that baby back negative a few times and you can sure feel pretty safe about things.
Happy Easter to you and yours. I have the Egg Hunt all ready to go. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. I'm still findin eggs from the Hunt I set up while on tx. I forgot to make a map and then forgot where they were all hidden. I will not make THAT mistake again.
Take Care.............

[valger]

Hi all, this sounds just like what I've been going through!!  It's amazing how long it has taken me to get this matter settled, and it still isn't.  I don't know if you read my other posts explaining my situation, it's almost comical now.  I can't even explain it, really, it's too unbelievable.  But, still not knowing what my status is, is very frustrating.  Yes, as one of you did say in a post back to me, I did go home happy after that next test of his FINALLY came in negative, and then the negative Heptimax, but it seems like this doctor changes his mind each time I see him.  After his first rounds of test came back negative, he said that he didn't that I had HepC, and then, before I drew more blood for the Heptimax, I went back to him, just to clear up some questions, and he said, well, the first test, the HCV RNA by PCR test is a pretty good test, and it's probably 95% chance that it was right (it was positive).  Well, what about the second set that he took that came out negative?  He said to me, it's hard to know which one to believe.  Then, after the negative Heptimax, he wrote 'Neg for HepC' on my sheet, and had his nurse explain this to me, and left for another practice.  I only went back this last week to try to clear my name, and the new doctor acted like my body had to have reacted to something to get that first positive, and I didn't have any idea what he was talking about.  So, here I am again, trying to get answers.  I am sending all my test results up to that specialist that I saw the first time this next week, and he's going to look them over, and call me.  I am sure he won't call me, I'll have to call him.  I bet he'll want to take more tests, and I'm not sure I trust anybody.  It seems to me, with all the doctors I've been to for my kids and I, that it's really hard to get a good GI, and I'm not sure why.  Maybe it has something to do with the requirements they need to become a GI or something.  Also, just kind of an unusual observation, in my town, most of the GI's are from a foreign country, much more than any other type of doctor.  There are alot of arab type names, and not that this is any big deal, I just think it's interesting, and you know, like why would that be?  Anyway, good luck to all of you, and thanks for letting me go on again.  I guess you can tell I am frustrated!  It's hard, one more thing, becuase when I really thought I didn't have it, I was comfortable once again to hug and kiss my daughter, share drinks, things like that.  And, now I'm nervous again to share things with here, and that feels awful.  But, you're right about finding out your own info, he acted like the PCR test is so accurate, and I know it is pretty much, but when I searced on sites on the web, I found out that it is prone to error because of how the test is done, and some labs don't do it right.  Well, thanks again, and all of you have a great Easter!  May the Easter Bunny leave many surprises in your backyard!!  Val (ha ha)

[bystander2002]

I don't know how others here feel, but I for one would love to be able to go a week without hearing a reference to ________.
at all.

sure wish it was possible here

[couchpotato]

My husband and I were both told by two different drs. that we test positive for Hep C antibodies, and believe it or not, that there was NO CURE and that we should "SLOW" down on the drinking and "we'll just monitor it". DUHHHHHHHH!!!! Course, at that point, what the hell do we know?? we just go along with the quacks.  Now we deal with specialist's in the Hep field and although they are more knowledgeable, we still go to all appointments fully armed and as educated as possible, much of which I have learned here. You have to be vigilant with those buggers, afterall, they only have a license to "practise" medicine. hahahahahaha

[tina b]

I couldn't have said it better myself.........we all have horror stories about the doctors and you MUST take charge of our own medical tx........trust everybody....but always cut the cards.

[cuteus]

Of course these things can happen with any specialty, but since hcv is our more pressing health concern, finding an adequate GI is paramount.

I am on my third hepatologist, well, second, since the first was GI only.The first would not do anything; bx, genotype, vl, as long as liver function was normal.  I was elated that he told me to go home and be happy and not to worry....then my intellect kicked in and I knew I had to get the full picture of my hcv  status before deciding to be happy.  
Next was a hepatologist, that placed the book on the liver that she wrote in the waiting room, ok, not sure what to think of that...but she was very competent in her field, took the time to talk with you, left the decissions to you and call after hours to check on you. some conflict with scheduling occured and on to the present hepatolgist, from a major research hospital.
And THAT still doesn't make them authorities. They will only follow the 48 wk model, the PA acts as if she knows all the answers and I just bide my time for my scripts and keep a close eye on them.  I also keep copies of my tests.
Our health is ONlY in our hands.
Look until you find the right one for you, not only the one that says nice things...