Posted by tallicarules on November 19, 2013, at 7:22:00
Hello...I'd like to take this opportunity to get this off my chest and would love to receive feedback from others who have experienced a similar situation. I'll attempt to be brief...Two years ago, I began to experience what would develop into a very painful and disfiguring dermatological problem. I have severe lesions all over my arms, legs, shoulders, neck and face. I've seen four dermatologists at Kaiser including the chief of the department and they all are in 100% agreement that I am causing the condition through either picking, scratching or a combination of the two. I have adamantly denied their accusations, given them permission to contact my previous therapist who I saw on a weekly basis for over seven years as well as my former psychiatrist who I saw monthly for the same period. They refuse to investigate these sources. The only advice given in terms of treatment by the chief of the dept., was to use Vaseline and bandages and to contact my psychiatrist to see if something could be prescribed that would enable me to be "less fixated on the lesions." I've explained that in addition to being a flight attendant for twenty years, I worked for Macys in cosmetics all through college and when I began flying, I supplemented my income working as a free lance makeup artist for Lancôme. I admitted to picking at my face when I went through early menopause and suddenly was confronted with hormonal acne. I've even stated that perhaps my picking led to a antibacterial infection that lay dormant, only now presenting the infection I am fighting. These doctors will not consider under any terms, anything other than the fact that I must be engaging in some form of self mutilation. I filed a grievance to be seen at UCSF and it was denied. I am now in the process of filing another grievance with the state's HMO's regulation department. Meanwhile, I acquire more lesions everyday and the scarring that will remain if I am ever cured, is quite prevalent. I am a 50 year old woman who has been struggling with depression since about the age of 18. Never in my life have I experienced neither the degree nor amount of blatant discrimination that I have had to endure since this began nearly two years ago. I continue to grow sicker and sicker with no one to advocate my position. I'm almost at my wits end. I sit up at night, unable to sleep, because I am so worried and overcome with fear about the obvious deterioration of my health...my body simply won't allow me to sleep. I am going to contact an attorney within the next couple of days as I've had more than just a few people state that they believe the lack of care and obvious discrimination, constitutes a malpractice suit. In my mind and according to the research I've done, I definitely agree. My hope is that I don't get to beat down to carry through. As mentioned, I'm extremely depressed and feel as though I won't be able to cope with the situation much longer. I'm reaching the end...whatever that means. A person can only strive to be positive in light of such horrific, baffling and unhelpful treatment for so long. My condition in itself is extremely difficult to contend with. Throw in medical professionals who have no interest in helping nor directing to who can, and the situation becomes exasperating. Thank you for listening. Much appreciated.
poster:tallicarules
thread:1054601
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20131110/msgs/1054601.html