Aa
Issues with my Doctor, Question about meds
Ok.. not Doctor, Nurse Practitioner, but still.
Tomorrow is supposed to be #5 in my series of shots to the gut and thighs, but I don't have any meds. Why don't I have meds? Because the NP hasn't called in my scripts. She REFUSED to call in a script of refills for the Peg/Copeg before she personally saw me. The fact that her boss wrote the original didn't matter.
No, the question. Because I may not get the meds until Monday thanks to her, is it going to screw me up? Can I take the peg on Monday, then again next Friday? I've already sent an email to my attending and the medical director there about her and asking to be treated my someone else.
Also, is there a way to turn on an escalator really fast? I'd love to watch this chick fall down a flight of stairs, but I don't think one short flight would be enough... ;)
Tomorrow is supposed to be #5 in my series of shots to the gut and thighs, but I don't have any meds. Why don't I have meds? Because the NP hasn't called in my scripts. She REFUSED to call in a script of refills for the Peg/Copeg before she personally saw me. The fact that her boss wrote the original didn't matter.
No, the question. Because I may not get the meds until Monday thanks to her, is it going to screw me up? Can I take the peg on Monday, then again next Friday? I've already sent an email to my attending and the medical director there about her and asking to be treated my someone else.
Also, is there a way to turn on an escalator really fast? I'd love to watch this chick fall down a flight of stairs, but I don't think one short flight would be enough... ;)
You guys obviously harbor some resentment for this dude but he had to quit treatment because of psychological issues or so we were told.
Really though, this forum is for those that are suffering with hepatitis C. We don't really need to see this kind of animosity. Write him a letter.
Really though, this forum is for those that are suffering with hepatitis C. We don't really need to see this kind of animosity. Write him a letter.
Karma is a *****
Is this story like you brain tumor story?
remember this?
http://gallery.srtforums.com/photopost/data/500/1102Resize_of_DSC06646.JPG
Is this story like you brain tumor story?
remember this?
http://gallery.srtforums.com/photopost/data/500/1102Resize_of_DSC06646.JPG
you deserve this you piece of ****. You scammed tons of people out of money on srtforums saying you were dying and couldnt pay your medical bills and you also had huge group buys, took everyones money and ran. you didnt get this cleaning up bodies in new orleans you probably got it having sex with a prostitute you piece of ****. Karma is catching up to your worthless life
Victory for the squeaky wheel !!! I'd make sure the head of the hospital hears loud and clear about Nurse Ratchet in writing. Congratulations on a job well done even though it's a shame it had to be done.
Thank God! I'm so relieved for you! It's like a bad movie with a happy end!
Marcia
Marcia
Hey guys, 3 months of Riba and Peg came in about 2 hours ago. I've never been so happy to shove a needle in my leg.
Am soo crossing my fingers for you that you get the meds today. And I really hope that nurse gets a good whooping from the doc.
Marcia
Marcia
I´m sure your wife knows she has been swearing an oath, just wanna say get those meds even if you must rubb somebody.
The riba will help you in performing such an act.
Good luck and take care take deep breaths and count to 10000 it might help.
ca
The riba will help you in performing such an act.
Good luck and take care take deep breaths and count to 10000 it might help.
ca
The main ethic for a doctor is to save life and you suffering from a lifetreatening diseas,
tell your wife that.
ca
tell your wife that.
ca
Yeah what's happening with the meds? I couldn't wait to log in today and see how you made out. I wish I was still on treatment I would glad have sent you some to get through.
I think you were too nice to her. Honestly you are a decent person and it shows through :)
If all of the doctors patients are treated in this manner he will no longer have a medical practice to attend to. I'm hoping that makes him realize that this woman and her attitude need to go. Pronto!
Good luck Greg!
I think you were too nice to her. Honestly you are a decent person and it shows through :)
If all of the doctors patients are treated in this manner he will no longer have a medical practice to attend to. I'm hoping that makes him realize that this woman and her attitude need to go. Pronto!
Good luck Greg!
Well, technically she can, but it falls into a conflict of interests and isn't very ethical. It's just not good medicine to treat family like that, especially when she practices Family Medicine and not gastroentrology or hepatology.
I'm waiting to see if they come in this morning. According to the pharmacy, I should get them today.
You mention your wife is a physican. Can't she write you an rx, or perhaps one of her medical friends? Next thing would be to find another liver specialist to treat with. This nurse sounds like a nightmare.
Again, today she informed me that she didn’t have to treat me. I do not respond well to threats of that nature. She didn’t even mention the possibility of referring me to another physician to treat my hepatitis, she just told me that she didn’t have to treat me. I feel this is inappropriate of a health care professional. It is unfortunate that things have not gone according to plan, but it is NOT the fault of patient. I have been made to feel by Ms. Benz that it has been my fault that things haven’t gone according to plan. It is not my fault that she didn’t return my call about starting treatment until 3 days after I left a message. It is not my fault that the 2 week lab work wasn’t done. It is not my fault that a psych consult was not conducted.
Maybe Ms. Benz sleeps better at night by continuing to reiterate the fact that she thinks she’s “better” than her patients, but I’m sure it doesn’t help her patients when they have deep personality conflicts with her. As a person who lives everyday in a state of hypomania and suffers every night on stage as a stand-up comic, I find myself to be a pretty personable person who gets along with nearly every person he meets. Yet I find myself unable to get along with Ms. Benz and personally I do not want her part of my health services team. I find that she doesn’t respect the fact that my wife is a physician, and I can’t help but feel that that hinders my treatment. I have the feeling that she is treating “patient number 3’s hepatitis C” and she is not treating “Greg, human being”. I feel that she has lumped me into her little schema of Hep C patients and doesn’t want to listen to anything my wife or myself have to say about things outside of the hepatitis.
Now that I’ve given Tolstoy a run for his money in this email, I am humbly requesting that I be transferred from the care of Ms. Benz and into the care of someone else in your clinic. I do not feel that she practices good medicine, and due to the personality conflicts between us, I don’t feel that being under her care would be beneficial to helping me complete such a strenuous regimen as this treatment requires.
My next appointment in the clinic is scheduled for September 2nd to meet with Dr. M, with lab work to be done the previous week. I would appreciate it if you could advise me as to if there’s a possibility of me being able to see someone in the clinic so I can make an appointment with them at that time.
Again, thank you for your time in reading this email and I apologize for the length of it. I also apologize for any problems that I may have caused by this email. I’m sure that Ms. Benz is a great nurse and is very knowledgeable in what she does. I just don’t feel that she’s the proper fit for me.
Sincerely,
Greg
Maybe Ms. Benz sleeps better at night by continuing to reiterate the fact that she thinks she’s “better” than her patients, but I’m sure it doesn’t help her patients when they have deep personality conflicts with her. As a person who lives everyday in a state of hypomania and suffers every night on stage as a stand-up comic, I find myself to be a pretty personable person who gets along with nearly every person he meets. Yet I find myself unable to get along with Ms. Benz and personally I do not want her part of my health services team. I find that she doesn’t respect the fact that my wife is a physician, and I can’t help but feel that that hinders my treatment. I have the feeling that she is treating “patient number 3’s hepatitis C” and she is not treating “Greg, human being”. I feel that she has lumped me into her little schema of Hep C patients and doesn’t want to listen to anything my wife or myself have to say about things outside of the hepatitis.
Now that I’ve given Tolstoy a run for his money in this email, I am humbly requesting that I be transferred from the care of Ms. Benz and into the care of someone else in your clinic. I do not feel that she practices good medicine, and due to the personality conflicts between us, I don’t feel that being under her care would be beneficial to helping me complete such a strenuous regimen as this treatment requires.
My next appointment in the clinic is scheduled for September 2nd to meet with Dr. M, with lab work to be done the previous week. I would appreciate it if you could advise me as to if there’s a possibility of me being able to see someone in the clinic so I can make an appointment with them at that time.
Again, thank you for your time in reading this email and I apologize for the length of it. I also apologize for any problems that I may have caused by this email. I’m sure that Ms. Benz is a great nurse and is very knowledgeable in what she does. I just don’t feel that she’s the proper fit for me.
Sincerely,
Greg
I'm going to try to edit this down for content.....
You bring up a lot of issues which I need time to investigate so that I can understand what exactly is happening here. For now go ahead with Dr. M and I will arrange to see you for followup myself and we will sort it out.
________________________________________
From: Greg
Sent: Wed 7/30/2008 7:01 PM
To: Balart
Cc: Regens
Subject: In reference to my treatment for hepatitis C and Cindy Benz
Dr. Balart,
I’d like to thank you in advance for taking time out of what I assume is a very busy schedule to read an email from a patient. I’m sure this doesn’t happen to you every day.
On June 24th of this year, we met in the Abdominal Transplant Clinic at Tulane University. I was a referral from Dr. JD (and his NP JR) from Houma for treatment of hepatitis C. During our visit, you decided to start me on a Peginterferon / Ribavirin treatment. We spoke briefly about the studies that you were doing, then you passed me off to your research nurse, M. M drew some blood for a viral load and told me to give her a call to let her know when I started treatment. This is where I believe things started going downhill.
On July 3rd, I called M to inform her that I had received my meds and would be starting treatment on the following day, July 4th. She told me to call Benz to let her know as well. I called Ms. Benz to inform her about the beginning of my treatment and according to her voice mail, she was out of town and would be back in the office on Monday. I left a message and started my meds as I had originally planned on July 4th.
On Monday, July 7th, I received a phone call from Ms. Benz at which time she informed me that I had somehow violated her standard operating procedure for the start of treatment. She informed me that before she allows someone to start treatment that she wanted to go through a teaching session and inform patients of what to expect during the treatment. I explained to Ms. Benz that I was well aware of what to expect, how to administer the medication, and the fact that my wife, being a physician herself, would be playing a large part in my support and treatment team. I told Ms. Benz about the side effects that I was experiencing at that time and she gave me some herbal and OTC options to help with those side effects. Even though I had explained to Ms. Benz that I had previously tried some of the herbal and OTC options, she was unwilling to discuss pharmacological option to manage my side effects. While she did call in a supplement to help with my muscle spasms, what she called in was $50+ for a prescription as compared to a $10 script of Cyclobenzaprine. I don’t expect her to know the formulary of every medical plan out there, but I do expect her to think that in a word of $4 per gallon gas that people might be watching how much they spend, especially when that person is on a treatment as expensive as Pegasys / Copegus. I did not appreciate the tone that Ms. Benz used with me during our conversation and I didn’t like the way she was treating my questions and comments. After our conversation, I called M in your research office (whom at the time was the only person I had previous contact with, other than yourself) and asked her if I could see someone other than Ms. Benz for my treatment. She informed me Benz was my only option. Without having been in to see Ms. Benz, a couple days later I went see JR at Dr. JD’s office and had her prescribe some meds to help manage my side effects.
My first visit with Ms. Benz was scheduled for July 29th, but I called in due to what I and my wife thought were some extreme side effects (possible anemia and UTI) and scheduled an appointment with Ms. Benz for the 23rd. My wife came with me this time and we met face to face with Ms. Benz for the first time. From the first words out of her mouth, I found that she “talked down” to us, using a very condescending tone and I felt that I was being chastised for not adhering to some modus operandi that I can only assume I was supposed to have been told via telepathy by the magical hepatitis fairy. She informed me that I was supposed to have had come in at 2 weeks, and the way she came off, she acted like it was my fault that the visit didn’t occur. Maybe it didn’t occur to her that she talked to me the first business day after I started treatment and failed to make that appointment for me.
During my visit, she again went through the herbal and OTC options without even bothering to see the 10mg Flexeril TID, 5mg Reglan PRN, 10mg of Ambien QHS PRN, 3 mg of Lunesta QHS PRN, or 50mg Ultram Q4-6 hours PRN listed on the top 4 lines of the piece of paper in front of her. Our entire visit seemed very “doom and gloom” with a heaping dose of pretention thrown in for good measure. At no time did Ms. Benz have anything positive or reassuring to say to me, and continued to give me reasons why I might not qualify for any of the studies that are going on. She made false assumption after false assumption, and even told me that I should be on a low sodium diet because I “look like the kinda guy that really dumps [salt] on”, even though I loathe salt and salty foods. Ms. Benz seemed oblivious to the fact that my wife is a physician, and as such would be privy to information that Ms. Benz may not have asked about. She also said during our visit that because of your writing prescriptions for patients without her knowledge (which she led on to make us believe was her permission) that you had “lost your script writing privileges”. She seemed to find everything she could think of to try to scare me into following her orders, and even threatened to stop treating me if I didn’t see a psychiatrist because of a previous diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder before continuing treatment.
Then today, she called me to inform me that she had read in the chart that I had told Dr. Roo yesterday that the last time I drank alcohol was July 3rd. She again felt the need to inform me that she prefers that patients abstain from alcohol for 6 months prior to treatment. Even after trying to explain to her that it was only 2 beers and it was a special occasion, she told me that “if I didn’t stop drinking I would just be wasting a lot of my time and money”.
You bring up a lot of issues which I need time to investigate so that I can understand what exactly is happening here. For now go ahead with Dr. M and I will arrange to see you for followup myself and we will sort it out.
________________________________________
From: Greg
Sent: Wed 7/30/2008 7:01 PM
To: Balart
Cc: Regens
Subject: In reference to my treatment for hepatitis C and Cindy Benz
Dr. Balart,
I’d like to thank you in advance for taking time out of what I assume is a very busy schedule to read an email from a patient. I’m sure this doesn’t happen to you every day.
On June 24th of this year, we met in the Abdominal Transplant Clinic at Tulane University. I was a referral from Dr. JD (and his NP JR) from Houma for treatment of hepatitis C. During our visit, you decided to start me on a Peginterferon / Ribavirin treatment. We spoke briefly about the studies that you were doing, then you passed me off to your research nurse, M. M drew some blood for a viral load and told me to give her a call to let her know when I started treatment. This is where I believe things started going downhill.
On July 3rd, I called M to inform her that I had received my meds and would be starting treatment on the following day, July 4th. She told me to call Benz to let her know as well. I called Ms. Benz to inform her about the beginning of my treatment and according to her voice mail, she was out of town and would be back in the office on Monday. I left a message and started my meds as I had originally planned on July 4th.
On Monday, July 7th, I received a phone call from Ms. Benz at which time she informed me that I had somehow violated her standard operating procedure for the start of treatment. She informed me that before she allows someone to start treatment that she wanted to go through a teaching session and inform patients of what to expect during the treatment. I explained to Ms. Benz that I was well aware of what to expect, how to administer the medication, and the fact that my wife, being a physician herself, would be playing a large part in my support and treatment team. I told Ms. Benz about the side effects that I was experiencing at that time and she gave me some herbal and OTC options to help with those side effects. Even though I had explained to Ms. Benz that I had previously tried some of the herbal and OTC options, she was unwilling to discuss pharmacological option to manage my side effects. While she did call in a supplement to help with my muscle spasms, what she called in was $50+ for a prescription as compared to a $10 script of Cyclobenzaprine. I don’t expect her to know the formulary of every medical plan out there, but I do expect her to think that in a word of $4 per gallon gas that people might be watching how much they spend, especially when that person is on a treatment as expensive as Pegasys / Copegus. I did not appreciate the tone that Ms. Benz used with me during our conversation and I didn’t like the way she was treating my questions and comments. After our conversation, I called M in your research office (whom at the time was the only person I had previous contact with, other than yourself) and asked her if I could see someone other than Ms. Benz for my treatment. She informed me Benz was my only option. Without having been in to see Ms. Benz, a couple days later I went see JR at Dr. JD’s office and had her prescribe some meds to help manage my side effects.
My first visit with Ms. Benz was scheduled for July 29th, but I called in due to what I and my wife thought were some extreme side effects (possible anemia and UTI) and scheduled an appointment with Ms. Benz for the 23rd. My wife came with me this time and we met face to face with Ms. Benz for the first time. From the first words out of her mouth, I found that she “talked down” to us, using a very condescending tone and I felt that I was being chastised for not adhering to some modus operandi that I can only assume I was supposed to have been told via telepathy by the magical hepatitis fairy. She informed me that I was supposed to have had come in at 2 weeks, and the way she came off, she acted like it was my fault that the visit didn’t occur. Maybe it didn’t occur to her that she talked to me the first business day after I started treatment and failed to make that appointment for me.
During my visit, she again went through the herbal and OTC options without even bothering to see the 10mg Flexeril TID, 5mg Reglan PRN, 10mg of Ambien QHS PRN, 3 mg of Lunesta QHS PRN, or 50mg Ultram Q4-6 hours PRN listed on the top 4 lines of the piece of paper in front of her. Our entire visit seemed very “doom and gloom” with a heaping dose of pretention thrown in for good measure. At no time did Ms. Benz have anything positive or reassuring to say to me, and continued to give me reasons why I might not qualify for any of the studies that are going on. She made false assumption after false assumption, and even told me that I should be on a low sodium diet because I “look like the kinda guy that really dumps [salt] on”, even though I loathe salt and salty foods. Ms. Benz seemed oblivious to the fact that my wife is a physician, and as such would be privy to information that Ms. Benz may not have asked about. She also said during our visit that because of your writing prescriptions for patients without her knowledge (which she led on to make us believe was her permission) that you had “lost your script writing privileges”. She seemed to find everything she could think of to try to scare me into following her orders, and even threatened to stop treating me if I didn’t see a psychiatrist because of a previous diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder before continuing treatment.
Then today, she called me to inform me that she had read in the chart that I had told Dr. Roo yesterday that the last time I drank alcohol was July 3rd. She again felt the need to inform me that she prefers that patients abstain from alcohol for 6 months prior to treatment. Even after trying to explain to her that it was only 2 beers and it was a special occasion, she told me that “if I didn’t stop drinking I would just be wasting a lot of my time and money”.
Rezin,
I had major problems with my docs nurse as well (your doc is not lady from india is she?)
When i went to the doc to complain about the nurse , I was informed that she wasn't even a nurse! Unbelievable.
I quickly lined up a new doc and left.
I could't be happier now. I actually moved to a clinic at a teaching hospital.... unbelievably efficient and competent staff!
You should do the same.
Just make sure you have someone lined up and ready to go.
You also need to file a complaint with the office manager.
ridiculous
bandman
I had major problems with my docs nurse as well (your doc is not lady from india is she?)
When i went to the doc to complain about the nurse , I was informed that she wasn't even a nurse! Unbelievable.
I quickly lined up a new doc and left.
I could't be happier now. I actually moved to a clinic at a teaching hospital.... unbelievably efficient and competent staff!
You should do the same.
Just make sure you have someone lined up and ready to go.
You also need to file a complaint with the office manager.
ridiculous
bandman
I can't even type I'm laughing so hard. I now have a mental picture of that burned in my brain!! Rezin could probably use that in his comedy routine. Thanks alot toughluck!!!
Trin
Trin
I am on week 44 of 48 and have had issues with my nurse for the past 6 months.......I finally told her that she has really disappointed me, supposed to be MY advocate I told her she has failed miserably! Made me feel MUCH better LOL
Shannon
Shannon
My doctor has me order my meds once a month they are delievered to my house, when i am down to two shots sitting in my frige i order for my next month, and i have the meds by the time i do my third shot. I hope this helps you good luck
KEEP IT UP REZIN YOU KEEP ON GOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
It's bad enough you are doing treatment - you don't need someone ELSE screwing it up for you when youre trying so hard to do it all right!
Egotistical jerks!
KEEP GOING REZIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
It's bad enough you are doing treatment - you don't need someone ELSE screwing it up for you when youre trying so hard to do it all right!
Egotistical jerks!
KEEP GOING REZIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good going! Great to see that you are stirring up a storm about this in that office!!!! Let us know what happened. And how you kicked their a§§es.
As if it wasn't enough having to fight this disease!!!
Marcia
As if it wasn't enough having to fight this disease!!!
Marcia
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