Frustrated with doctors again
Today I had a consultation with a new doctor at the local family practice.
After not being treated right by another doctor there, I had gone ahead and requested a new doctor be appointed as my primary. However, I wanted to interview him, first.
I indicated that I have an autoimmune disorder, and noted it as Endometriosis. I described the illnesses which I believe to be tied in my autoimmune disorder:
- Acute Pancreatitis (1992)
- Allergies (my entire life)
- Stage III Endometriosis (pain since onset of menses in 1985, diagnosis in 2007)
I told the doctor that I need a special care plan so that a primary doctor can be the anchor to all the specialists that I have (endocrinologist, allergist, gynecologist, immunologist). I need for all these doctors to talk to each other and for all their findings about me to be placed centrally with my primary family doctor.
So after all the things I told him, and after glancing at the medical history on me that I printed out regarding the bullet points above, this doctor disagreed with me, saying he does not believe I have an autoimmune disorder, and cited his 20 years of experience as a medical doctor to just sit there, look at me today, and make his judgement
OH.
OKAY.
I SEE.
“High rates of autoimmune and endocrine disorders, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and atopic diseases among women with endometriosis: a survey analysis” - Human Reproduction, 2002
“Multiple endometrial antigens are targeted in autoimmune endometriosis,” - Reproductive Medicine Online, June, 2008
“Human endometriosis is associated with plasma cells and overexpression of B lymphocyte stimulator,” - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, July, 2007
Gee doc, I guess you’re right. I don’t have an autoimmune disorder. In fact, I don’t even have Stage III Endometriosis. It’s all in my head, just like my momma and all the doctors in my teen years told me.
I guess I should just shut the hell up - it’s just part of being a woman after all.
…
I printed out all three of those research articles above and mailed it to my doctor for additional documentation to add to my file. But I don’t have hope that he’ll come around and be the anchor to all the specialists that I so desperately need. So now I’m on the hunt for an entirely new family doctor’s office.
And boy am I pissed off.