Posted by Eddie Sylvano on November 19, 2002, at 11:41:37
HMOs suck. I've been struggling with a range of disabling (though not debilitating) mental and physical disorders for years. My HMO demands that I see only my GP for problems, who must referr me to a specialist if I am to see one. I suppose this makes sense, and would be fine if the GP actually did this, but she doesn't. The trend is that I present a problem, she runs a couple of tests that check for a narrow range of possible problems, sees nothing, and pretty much tells me to live with it. GI problems? Let's run an endoscopy and barium and look for a gross disorder. Didn't find any? Go away. Fainting problems? Let's run an EEG and check for low blood pressure. Nothing wrong there? Go away. Depressive problems? Try Effexor. Didn't help much? Well... don't take it. Go away. As long as it's been proven that I'm not dying, I feel like I'm brushed off.
So anyway, despite my doctor's superior medical knowledge, I posess much better knowledge of my symptomology, and access to medical reference material. After getting brushed off for the 10th time, I decided to look into other alternatives. Based on the majority of my problems and my history, it appeared that a lot of research suggested an anticonvulsant/mood stabilizer. After finding out which would be the best particular one, I did a no-no and ordered some from a web site. It was remarkable! After a couple of weeks, almost all of my problems have ablated. No longer dizzy, confused, frustrated and out of it. There is a clear and broad benefit from this drug, and I feel like a new person.
Problem solved, to some extent. My only dillema now is that I'll have to continue ordering it online. Aside from that, I'd like to know *why* this anticonvulsant is benefitting me so much (do I have a neurological disorder?), which I can't do on my own. Solving these issues requires that I fess up to my doctor about going behind her back, and that she actually listen to me about it. I fear that she'll just get upset that I did this, and do nothing (in fact, I'd bet money on it). Has anyone else been in similar circumstances? What should I do?
poster:Eddie Sylvano
thread:32502
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20021106/msgs/32502.html