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OT-Dr update pt 3 "WTF"

iamlosingit's picture

So....after waiting over two weeks for the damn doctor to call me back about the laparoscopy....she has "changed her mind".

Despite the STD tests coming back negative....she still wants to treat me for PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) with a combination of injections and two antibiotics.  Antibiotics 2x's/day at a dose of 2000-somethings (I don't have any info with me).  The pharmacist was nice enough to hand me 8 PAGES worth of "possible side-effects" that include "vomiting, fainting, blurred vision, liver failure, jaundice, oh and DEATH".  That's just the PILLS....I don't know anything about the injections but I go in tomorrow at 11 and was told to IMMEDIATELY start taking the pills after the injections for two weeks.  The pharmacist didn't tell me much when she handed me the papers other than "stay out of the sun, NO alcohol or dairy, DON'T take them at the same time, don't lay down for an hour after you take them" oh and "if your doctor is giving you injections of (long word I can't spell or pronounce) or (another long word I can't spell or say) have someone drive you to the appointment and back because you most likely will get blurred vision and nausea".  

GREAT. 

So I get to be all anxiety-ridden for the next two weeks and can't even enjoy a glass of wine.  Or three.  Or six.

I called my brother in a panic (he's been on every antibiotic known to man due to his disease) and he started laughing and said "I've only been on one of those; you'll be fine, stick with the no dairy and just wait an hour after you take the pills to have any alcohol or you might puke. I've never heard of the other pill.  Why the hell are you getting shots too?"

He was also nice enough to tell me that he stopped by grandma's:

Mom is off her pills again.  Oh, and grandma's pacemaker she had done on Thanksgiving? The hospital is now trying to tell her it was "optional" since she is almost 80 y/o and now she owes them $30,000. So..her choices were "be in pain and just die of natural causes or pay us for this pacemaker"......furious at the world.

I am convinced all health insurance companies are crooks.

 

 

 

Comments

Survivingstephell's picture

Giving antibiotics with no proof of infection boggles my mind.  I wish you could get a second opinion.  Research those drugs and find out any other side effects or long lasting problems from them.  Find out if any of them have a black box on them from the Government, (FDA maybe??  )  

Thumper's picture

So 'how' did she come to the conclusion for her diagnosis----?

PLEASE get a 2nd opinion,,,maybe a 3rd.

 

 

 

 

iamlosingit's picture

she said PID can be caused by "bacteria" and that my tube could be swollen due an infection?? however googling this (I know, not the best idea but it's all I have) says this is highly un-common unless you practice certain hygiene habits.  I do not do said habit, so I am lost.  She claims there is no harm in trying this treatment because it is less invasive then surgery and she doesn't want to go the surgical route if it isn't 100% necessary. Odd because before she was all about the surgery after the pelvic ultrasound.  It also turns out the pelvic ultra was about $750 and my portion not covered by insurance was $475, I can't afford to get it done again.

elkclan's picture

Im really sorry you're going through all this. I'm so so so thankful for my single payer coverage. 

susanm's picture

Surgical risks and costs are also rather high and the surgery is exploratory so they may or may not find anything.  It is as much of a crap shoot as the antibiotic treatment.  It is a balance of what is less invasive and less expensive to try first.  I would speak to your pharmacist about the actual risks of the meds versus the mandatory disclosures.  Even aspirin technically has a risk of death.  If you can affford a second opinion then they are always good but it sounds like your finances are limited and your doctor is trying to be respectful of that.  Obviously her bedside manner sucks but ultimately the important thing is her clinical skill in resolving the problem over her being warm and cuddly.

iamlosingit's picture

Not worried about the doctors bedside manner at all, was just irritated that it took over two weeks to get a call back.  If she wanted to go the antibiotic route I could have picked up the prescription that day and started treatment instead of letting the potential infection spread while I wait for the call back.  Doubtful two weeks would make that big of a difference,  but now that I have a diagnosis I'm more than ready to fix it.

susanm's picture

It took her two weeks to let you know she wanted to try meds before surgery and call in the scrip?  Yeah, that is too slow.  I would be annoyed at that too.  I get that she is working at a busy clinic but she could have had a nurse call with the information and call in the scrip and then if you had additional questions made an appointment for a telephone call with you.  It was not necessary to wait all that time to get you started on the meds just so that she could make the initial call herself.