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Maraya1969

(22,997 posts)
Tue Jan 19, 2016, 01:30 AM Jan 2016

So the office bitch, after screwing up so many things for me told me today

"You are scaring me" Isn't that just so sweet and PREJUDICE?


I have literally not been treated by the doctor since the middle of December when I finished coming off of the Lamictal and Prozac so I could get a DNA test to see what is the best medicine for me.

I don't know how I can explain the horrible treatment I have experienced from this doctor's office staff but I will try and explain what is going on now.

I came off of Lamictal and Prozac starting the beginning on November so that they could do a DNA test to see if I would be better treated with an ADD drug.


It was scary but I did it. I asked how long the test took to come back and was told 1 or 2 days. So before my appointment in the middle of December I asked if I could come in and just do the swabs so that the test would be there when my appoint came the next week.

So no problem except at my appointment I am told that one of the staff just up and quit and they can't find my test and the company doesn't have it. I am given another test and told that the day it comes in they will call and put me in that day.

A couple weeks go by, nothing. I call last week and I'm told the test is not in. So today, Kismet or something but I mistakenly think I am completely out of Klonopin so I call. I'm told I need a hard copy AND I am told that as of last Friday something came to the office that I have to sign before the company who did the DNA will release my tests. (Notice no one called me to take care of this? But I am supposed to be brought right in as soon as my DNA tests come in!)

She hands me this paper from the DNA company and basically it tells me that Medicare might not pay and I have to sign to agree to pay a mere, "$1,750" if they don't. But I read further and it is saying something about "my diagnosis or treatment history does not meet the current criteria of the Medicare coverage policy for (this company)

So I go back to the desk, in the meantime people are coming and going because this doctor is doing some new things and I guess has a lot more patients, I ask her what she knows about this and after getting nothing from her I ask her for the number to call the company.

I sit down and call the company. I find out that it is not coded right!!!!!!!! So I go up to the desk again with the phone and she takes it an talks to the person and it is fixed in less than 2 minutes. Voila' I don't have to pay $1,750!

But in the meantime, the doctor sticks his head out the door and I tell him about the medication. He says he'll write a partial script.

During this time that I find out that twice I was not called when they were told by the company that they would not continue with my test and no one bothered to call. And during the time I had to figure out by myself what the fuck was going on. And during the time I realized that they have done nothing, zero, squat to help with this test......I am told

"You are in the way of patients" "You just need to leave" "If you don't leave I will call the police" and
"You are scaring me"

(I am a bit loud, not yelling but obviously pissed off and not going to go away like the bitch wanted me to. She said all of this in front of other people)

I am in the process of writing a letter to this doctor.

And so while writing this I look up "prejudice" and 'mental illness" and this is one of the first things I come upon.

http://scattergoodfoundation.org/prejudice#.Vp3UVPkrKa1

Fear and exclusion: People with mental illness should be feared and kept out of most communities. This prejudice is closely linked to endorsement of the dangerousness stereotype and the blame stereotype. This often is expressed as NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) directed towards establishments that serve people with mental health conditions like treatment facilities or facilities that offer job training for people with mental illness. However, individuals can fear and avoid specific individuals with mental illness as well. Excluding a neighbor with mental illness from a dinner party or neighborhood event are good examples.

Authoritarianism: People with mental illness are irresponsible and others should make their decisions. This is closely related to endorsement of the incompetence stereotype. This prejudice can apply to many decisions people with mental illness could make like decisions about taking medication, decisions about personal finances, or decisions about raising children. In theses instances the authoritarianism prejudice suggests that individuals with mental illness should not be allowed to make those decisions on their own.

(There is more at the link)

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So the office bitch, after screwing up so many things for me told me today (Original Post) Maraya1969 Jan 2016 OP
I think you might just need a new doctor. CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2016 #1
Thank you Peggy. You are always there with such a dose of compassion. I appreciate it Maraya1969 Jan 2016 #4
I agree, time for a new doctor, hollysmom Jan 2016 #2
So many of the good doctors around here do not accept insurance anymore. And Maraya1969 Jan 2016 #5
Maybe while you are finding a new doctor, murielm99 Jan 2016 #6
Thyroid is my next issue. When I was in a hospital in NJ I was given Maraya1969 Jan 2016 #9
Sorry to hear about these problems. hollysmom Jan 2016 #8
Yes, I agree, so X3, elleng Jan 2016 #3
Therapists can be saviors and jerks. Both at the same time. gvstn Jan 2016 #7
I am so sorry you had to go through this but I agree find a new dr nadine_mn Jan 2016 #10

CaliforniaPeggy

(152,099 posts)
1. I think you might just need a new doctor.
Tue Jan 19, 2016, 01:42 AM
Jan 2016

The woman you're having the problem with was hired by him, after all. It's awful what you're having to go through. I think you're coping extremely well, considering everything.



hollysmom

(5,946 posts)
2. I agree, time for a new doctor,
Tue Jan 19, 2016, 01:52 AM
Jan 2016

the doctor is supposed to relieve stress,not cause it.
I also know how stressful it is to look for a new doctor, so take a deep breath and look for recommendations.

Maraya1969

(22,997 posts)
5. So many of the good doctors around here do not accept insurance anymore. And
Tue Jan 19, 2016, 02:47 AM
Jan 2016

not being near a major city has real drawbacks. But I had luck going over to the U of Miami before. I want to be where they are up on the latest. The last time I was in a hospital in NJ and they put me on 2 thyroid pills even though, according to the blood test I was not actually below the cut off line. Now I have been reading so much about what a low thyroid can do and how many problems it can cause.

This test came up when I started acting really ADD and learned that you can have both bipolar and ADD or you can just had ADD that mimics bipolar.

murielm99

(31,437 posts)
6. Maybe while you are finding a new doctor,
Tue Jan 19, 2016, 06:04 AM
Jan 2016

you can have your thyroids checked by an endocrinologist. I have thyroid disease. Before it was treated, I was a mess, physically and emotionally. In fact, one doctor suggested I might be bipolar. I found a good family practice doctor, who diagnosed me correctly.

I understand about not being near a major city.

Please, please find a new doctor. An office bitch is not a good sign.

Maraya1969

(22,997 posts)
9. Thyroid is my next issue. When I was in a hospital in NJ I was given
Tue Jan 19, 2016, 07:04 PM
Jan 2016

thyroid meds even though I didn't crack any "low lines".

You are not the first to mention it again. I have a bunch of other symptoms of low thyroid.

Thanks

hollysmom

(5,946 posts)
8. Sorry to hear about these problems.
Tue Jan 19, 2016, 01:51 PM
Jan 2016

I am in NJ, but near all the major cities. Not so good with doctors, but I do know which hospital to go to for what though. Heart - Morristown, Parkinson's - New Brunswick, diseases of age - Newark, Burns - Barnabas. etc.

gvstn

(2,805 posts)
7. Therapists can be saviors and jerks. Both at the same time.
Tue Jan 19, 2016, 07:01 AM
Jan 2016

Klonopin is a great drug but at about 4x the recommended dose.



I hated Prozac and Paxil but loved Klonopin, it just worked.

nadine_mn

(3,702 posts)
10. I am so sorry you had to go through this but I agree find a new dr
Wed Jan 20, 2016, 08:01 AM
Jan 2016

There are too many red flags with this one: staff who just up and quit, inadequate training in dealing with patients, inadequate training on basic office management. I would be scared to trust my health..esp my mental health to anyone with this level of unprofessionalism.

I understand though the limits of finding good medical care due to geography and/or insurance and I am really sorry you had to experience this.

There is this great song called "I'm gonna show you crazy" that I thought of when you talked about the office bitch...of course you are going to be upset...it has nothing to do with your diagnosis and everything to with being jerked around.

I hope the best for you.

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