DrugBuyers.Com: Need to get this out in the open.

As most of you know, I was uninsured for a lengthy period of time. After I got married, I got what I call my "Gold Card" which is my medical insurance card. Yes, it's definitely a Gold Card to me! Or at least I thought it would be.

I set up my first appointment with a Family Practice doctor. My only intention for that visit was to get two referrals, one for my gastro and the other for a rhuematologist.

After a little history was discussed, this doctor flat out refused to give me my referrals! My gastro is on my plan and I was so comfortable with him and wanted to return to someone who already knew my history, and not to mention, I was well past-due in seeing him. I was supposed to see him this past November and it's now February! It's been well over a year since I was to see him again! This jerk tried telling me that all of my specialists were wrong and that he was absolutely right. Good Lord!

When I inquired why he wouldn't give me my referrals, he said in the most arrogant way, "What can they do for you that I can't?" Well, first of all, they didn't get their specialty degrees by chance! So this moron wants to play my allergist, my rhuemotologist, and my gastroenterologist all in one. Where in the heck does someone like this come off??

Oh, and he also asked if I brought in my medical records. Since when do you need to provide your medical records in order to obtain referrals? And if this was the case, why wasn't I informed this when I initially set up the appointment for the referrals??? I've never heard of such a thing! I worked for a doctor's office before and never heard of such a thing. Since when do people go walking around with their medical records? Well, I know some of us here do, but that's besides the point...we do it for differing reasons.

I also mentioned to the doctor that I had thrush. It had been bothering me for a couple of days and I've had this before. He says, "Where, in your mouth?" Well, duh! He told me he was testing me to see if I knew what I was talking about! Testing me??? Who the frick does he think he is to test me??? He gave me the tongue depressor and had me do all of the ahhh's and said it looked like I had some redness and inflamation in the back of my throat, probably viral. So why wasn't I given a culture to rule out if it was viral or bacterial? Why didn't he give me the routine RX that is administered for those with thrush just to err on the side of caution and help with some immediate results? He tried telling me that thrush is usually only on the sides and the roof of the mouth. Bull! My whole tongue was coated with it and I've had this before and with these same annoying symptoms, I was diagnosed with thrush. Oh, but not by Mr. Know-It-All. He was acting like he was God or something! I hated his demeanor and his arrogant, condescending attitude. His bedside manner was horrible. No compassion whatsoever.

Now, it's been speculated that I have RA, though it's never been clinically proven through the proper testing. All of my previous doctors have told me this. It's also associated with the Hep C. This jack-a$$ felt my knees and elbows and asked a couple of questions and his assumption was that I have osteo-arthritis.

The man witnessed just how much pain I was in and had to use a cane to be able to get around, and just prior to the end of our meeting, he advised me to take Tylenol ES 4 times a day. I told him I'd taken ever OTC medication there is and nothing is effective! I told him this yet he sent me on my way to continue to suffer! Sure, prescribing some norco of some sort would only be putting a band-aid on the wound, but at least give me some relief until the tests and diagnosis go through and we can get proper treatment started. WTF??? I'm sorry, but I'm livid. I'm simply beside myself right now.

Not only was he a complete waste of my time, energy, and effort, but a waste my hard-earned money.

As soon as I got home, I contacted my insurance company and told them of my experience and requested another doctor. They asked me what happened and I was all too willing to oblige at the time. I was in tears! Well, Mr. Know-It-All is getting written up and they said that his behavior was absolutely inexcusable. Good! Hope they take his undeserving license away. That pompous a$$!

So today is another day and I will try to see if I can get in to see someone on short notice, which I know will be very difficult to do. As it is, the few names the Health Insurance Provider gave me had already left for the day or they were clearly booked from 4-8 weeks!

Do tell me, how would any of you had acted in this situation? Would you have kept a cool head or would you have flipped right then and there? Because I wasn't able to keep a cool head. I was calling him on all of his contradictions and swearing before I left his office. He did absolutely nothing for me and I still hadn't gotten what I originally went there for. My husband said I never should have paid him, though now the routine practice is that they collect their co-payment BEFORE you even see the doctor now.

Input is always greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!

lemongrass

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