As predicted the appointment with the neurologist was a waste of time.
As usual got there before time only to find that as always the doctor's shedule was
in a mess.
Only one other couple were waiting and exactly at 13.30 when I should have been
called they were called.
The receptionist told us that the appointment would only take 15 minutes and then it
would be my turn.
Told her that was not a problem, what might be a problem was the fact that the
mobility bus would be collecting us at 14.10.
At 13.50 we were called in to see the doctor.
It started as usual with dr. Tiessens getting my notes out to brief himself once he called us in.
We always ask ourselves why he is not briefed before he sees me, but he never is
He has no ' bedside manner' and seems quite unaware how tactless he is.
He actually asked me how I had managed to end up in a wheelchair so quickly?!!
As if it were my choice!!
I then suggested he ask me again in Dutch to check that maybe it was a language
problem but it was not.
Then he mentioned that he woud pass my details to the MS nurse at the main hospital
who would be in touch with me.
This is the first time he has mentioned the existence of such a person and I
wondered why he had not organised this for me in July 2006 when he first told me the
results of the MRI's.
Instead I have been left for nearly two years with no medical support or medical
supervision, apart from my G.P (general practicitioner).
Bloody hell what a horrible experience.
And this is the doctor I should see regularly!
This is the doctor that took 5 minutes to tell me I have MS in July 2006, when he
showed me the MRI photos and said "see those white spots that mean you have MS,
don't read or research on the web wait until our next appointment" when he promised
he would tell me more.
He never told me anything and the last time that I saw him in October 2006 he gave
me a book ten years out of date and sent me to the VU to get a second opinion from
dr. Prof. Polman.
Saw dr.Prof. Polman in December 2006 he could not give his second opinion as he
wanted another set of MRI's.
These finally were done in OLVG hospital in June and July 2007.
In August, September and October I had three telephone appointments with
dr.Prof.Polman.
Each time I hoped to hear the rsults of theMRI's and his second opinion.
Each time he had not received the photos and finally in October he asked me if I
could phone the OLVG, the hospital the MRI's were taken and ask them to send them
asap to him.
Finally got the second opinion in November 2007 when dr. Polman called to tell me
that he could confirm that I had abit of MS!
The whole experience on thursday depressed me lots, I got very down and depressed
for the rest of the day.
Could not possibly see dr Tiessens again, he may be a great doctor but he can't
communicate with the patients.
I shall discuss this with my G.P next week and hopefully it will be possible for me
to see another neurologist.
Can't possibly go through with another appointment with such an unsympathetic
doctor.
There is no treatment for me as I have Primary Progressive MS but surely it should
be possible for me to be seen by a doctor who can treat me properly.
5 comments:
Oh, what a jerk! WHAT? "...don't research it?" He should be barred from practicing. INSANE! I am outraged. The wheelchair comment--uh, he needs to ask himself that question. M first neuro was a whack-job, later learned his wife was leaving him--NOT MY PROBLEM. I got another Dr ASAP, he too was creepy, so I got another GOOD one ASAP. He had GOOD bedside manner and it meant the world to me. Oh, I feel so bad for you.
oh i am so sorry for this. what a horrible experience. you don't deserve any of this.
Have you considered bringing him up before a medical board of ethics? (I would tell him too. He'll probably drop you!)
Things, not people but things like him are why I loathe most doctors. Pompous, overbearing self-important semi-simians.
I never listen to anyone who tries to limit my knowledge. In fact, I get well away from them before I hurt them.
Wow, This doctor sounds like the one I gave the Heave-ho to a while back.
It is truly awful to hear of your MS doctor stories....I thought I would share my own briefly with you....
The first neuro I saw told me to not worry so much about my half body numbness......when I questioned him about getting a 2nd MRI he agreed....and voila...there were lesions (i.e. it was not worry.......!).
My first MS neuro walked out of our appointment. He refused to answer any questions once he found out I would not be taking medications (this is not a popular option with most doctors as i have found out over the many many years i've suffered from various ailments that i know now were ms related.....).
That first MS neuro visit was almost 1 year ago and it occurred about 3 months after my GP told me I had MS (after the cervical spine MRI showed up with lesions).
I just had a first appointment with a second MS neuro and I'm happy for two reasons: my appointment time was kept (I waited 2.5 hours for the first MS neuro appointment....I am not exaggerating) and this doc is not pushing meds (could it be because he is not affiliated with a bigpharm ms clinic???....). My medical needs are quite simple and it has taken me a long time to figure out that there is not much I need from these people - nor is there much for them to offer people with MS.
MS patients could write volumes about how they have been treated over the years by doctors. A diagnosis does not improve it usually either.
Namaste and get yourself a new neuro (the wheelchair comment alone is just awful!!!)
Orla
(I found your blog through Lisa's Carnival....;)
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