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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dr. Bob on February 13, 2004, at 8:54:43
In reply to Frustrated with the medical system, posted by Gisele on February 12, 2004, at 1:23:26
> I have recently been diagnosed with Bi-polar 2. 1o yrs ago I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. (My psychiatrist thinks I was misdiagnosed because my symptoms fit bipolar 2 more accurately)
> I take 30mg of prozac a day now. Prozac defenitely helps to a certain degree.
>
> I have been diagnosed with other health problems over the years.
> -Fybromyalgia?
> -Severe sleep Apnea (definitive)
> -Asthma (Mild to moderate, allergy related)
> -chronic sinus problems (nasal polyps)
> -allergies to asa, penicillin, sulfa
> -Hashimotos thyroiditis
> -Irritable bowel syndrome
>
> There is a family history of alcoholism and mental illness on both sides. My mother was probably bipolar 2. and died from being on too many meds for too many years. They called it a progressive overdose.
> -She was on 2 anti depressants, ativan, blood pressure meds, thyroid meds, then codeine to handle the pain. (she was pretty much addicted)she was also on a sleeping pill or tranquilizer on top of that. She also drank diet pop all the time (I wonder about aspertame) and coffee and smoked at least 1/2 a pack a day of cigarettes.
> She was sober for about 15 years before she died.
> Had been an alcoholic in her 30's.
>
> I do not smoke or drink coffee or alcohol. I think this is a big plus for me.
> However I eat too much and am obese. I weigh 220 lbs.
> I have had 14 surgeries in my life. 6 polypectomies (removal of nasal polyps) broken nose, 2 c sections, eye, tonsils, wisdom teeth, plastic surgery on my nose etc....
>
> Anyway there is my medical history.
>
> My greatest frustration over the years has been dealing with chronic illness.
> Our medical system is miraculous in many ways but wanting when it comes to chronic illness.
>
> I'm running from one specialist to another gaining a new diagnosis here and there. Getting new meds for this and for that. Having surgery. But never feeling like there is anyone out there helping me get to the core of the problem.
> I have had wonderfull doctors who have given me much relief over the years with my symptoms. I am convinced however that there must be an underlying cause that we are not finding. Bandaid solutions are sometimes necessary but they are expensive and never permanent. They often cause more problems than they fix.
>
> What about the food we eat. What about all the additives, pesticides, herbicides, our water.
>
> I feel like were all just banging our heads against a brick wall.
>
> Why can't we all put our egos and greed aside and really research the core of the problem.
>
> When is the medical community going to use their power for the good of man.
>
> I don't want anymore band aid solutions I would like answers.
>
> Prevention----- What about our kids. We can't keep filling them with chemicals for adhd etc....
>
> Lets combine all the health disciplines. There needs to be a marriage between all medical and alternative disciplines.
>
> I have so many questions.
>
> Do I really have fybromyalgia or is the sleep apnea causing symptoms similar to fybromyalgia
>
> Are my allergies causing bi polar tendencies. I have heard that many illnesses can mimic mania and cause depression.
>
> How are all the meds I take affecting me? How do they interact? What should I replace or eliminate?
>
> Are the doctors going to go over my nutritional habits and sort out if I have food sensitivities.
> How does the food I eat affect me?
>
> They know so little and yet are so willing to fill our bodies with very dangerous medications. Where is the accountability?
Posted by leo33 on February 13, 2004, at 10:45:13
In reply to Frustrated with the medical system « Gisele, posted by Dr. Bob on February 13, 2004, at 8:54:43
There is no accountability for psychiatrists and drug companies. Have you heard of anyone being able to sue their pdoc or the drug companies for misdiagnosis or bad drug reations? Until this happens, they won't care about it and certaintly won't test or look for all possible causes when they can just write a prescription for a drug. If it doesn't work who cares, they just write another prescription, if that doesn't work thats your problem as long as they get their money. Tell them you have no money to pay them with and see how caring and willing to help they will be, NOT. Remember the core issue for the medical industry now is to make money, never forget that because that is the way it is. MONEY=MEDICAL HELP and when you run out of money you will be cured.
Posted by Phil on February 13, 2004, at 14:48:18
In reply to Frustrated with the medical system « Gisele, posted by Dr. Bob on February 13, 2004, at 8:54:43
If you haven't tried ACOA meeting, I can just about give you my word they will help. I've decided to go back.
I would also see a nutritionist and maybe talk to someone who may be able to offer alternative therapies for some of your illnesses.
I'm very concerned about the medical system. With the current deficit, and drug companies stuffing cash in legislators pockets at ever increasing rates, I am truly afraid healthcare will soon be only for the rich. I've pitched fits over it on these boards and then my insurance was sliced and diced more.
I'm afraid esp. for us mental health consumers.
I love it when a shrink tells me to get out of the house more. I tell them I'm broke from making them rich. They say my problem isn't money. I tell them when I have no money for gas or food, they don't get it. If I was pulling down $100.00 for 30 minutes of advice I could reap from a peanuts cartoon and learning a bit of Latin and had tons of money, it wouldn't be about the money either. It's only about the money when you ain't got it.
I recently told my doc I needed to see a doctor in my network to save money. Did she offer any kind of arrangement for payment? No. More samples..no. Sorry to see you go after 4 years...no.
She's a bit cold so a recent appt I was talking about very painful stuff and I saw tears in her eyes. I had to call her and ask about it. She burst out laughing and said she had allergies. I felt like a fool but I know who the fool is and it ain't me.
Posted by Racer on February 14, 2004, at 9:07:35
In reply to Re: Frustrated with the medical system, posted by Phil on February 13, 2004, at 14:48:18
I know, you're not rich, and are basically scraping by. Problem is, this is an election year, and I'm kinda paying attention again. The health insurance industry is one of the biggest problems in the country today, in my not at all humble opinion, yet another piglet suckling at the teat of corporate welfare. I'll stop that right there.
I can't get health insurance, because I take anti-depressants and have bad knees. Let me restate that, I was denied coverage based on the bad knees, and the fact that I take expensive anti-depressant drugs. In other words, I might actually *use* the insurance, so they don't want me.
I, too, worry a lot about the drugs I'm taking. I read what's going on at the FDA, and at NIH, and I think, "My god! Our own government doesn't care a tinkers damn if we all drop dead from poisons properly prescribed by our physicians, as long as the big pharmaceutical companies make enough of a profit to pay big money into the campaign coffers."
Since I don't have any continuing health care beyond my pdoc, I can't give any sort of answer to this issue. Trust, in case you hadn't noticed, is my latest self improvement project, so my next visit with him is going to address exactly that. I'm going to tell him that I'm scared, and ask him to make a deal with me: I'll tell him about the pain I'm still having that started when I started the last med, if he'll promise to consider each complaint as if it is real -- even if he doesn't think it is, I want him to promise to pretend it's real until he's figured out that it isn't. I think continuity of care is really important, especially for women who are often dismissed as hysterical by some doctors, because a doctor who's known you for five years will be able to point to your history as a predictor of whether you overreact or not. A girl friend of mine just had surgery on her shoulder. The doctor she first saw kinda patted on her the head, saying, "oh, well, you're still walking around, can't be too bad." Her regular doctor read the report from the ER doc, called her in and arranged surgery right away. Why? He knew about times she'd walked around on fractured feet and sewed up her own cuts. He knew from experience with her that her pain threshold is high, that she doesn't come in for injuries unless they're really serious, etc. If the ER doc had been the only one to see her, she might still be in debilitating pain.
OK, enough ranting and tangents. I do agree with you, Phil, and hope things are going better for you.
Posted by socialdeviantjeff on February 15, 2004, at 23:46:34
In reply to {{ahem}} Health care isn't already for the rich? » Phil, posted by Racer on February 14, 2004, at 9:07:35
Well, if I get into any real detail I could go on for hours.
The health "care" system is broken. It is there only for the rich who can afford it, and the out rageously poor who have been cornered into government assistance for their problems
(a quickly diminishing thing. Thanks George!) Even at that, just try to effectively manage a pervasive chronic condition, whatever it may be.
Posted by Racer on February 17, 2004, at 18:39:12
In reply to Re: {{ahem}} Health care isn't already for the rich?, posted by socialdeviantjeff on February 15, 2004, at 23:46:34
Actually, that's part of the problem: the Outrageously Poor, as you put it, really do not have meaningful access to health care. At least around here, the only thing that they might be able to find is the ER, and that generally has a wait of up to 12 hours for SERIOUS problems, let alone moderate problems.
Yes, there is a real problem. Yes, it is criminally immoral.
No, there are no easy answers to the problem.
And where I live, it's virtually impossible to find out who to call to get started on finding any sort of medical care whatsoever. Let me restate that: I, personally, a reasonably lucid and reasonably intelligent person who has a great deal of experience navigating through bureaucracies, cannot figure out where to get information about seeing a doctor. If I can't do it, what do you suppose that means for someone who speaks limited English, or is severely depressed, or actively psychotic, or even just running a high fever with a rash?
OK, that's enough from me.
Posted by socialdeviantjeff on February 18, 2004, at 20:28:10
In reply to Um... » socialdeviantjeff, posted by Racer on February 17, 2004, at 18:39:12
> Actually, that's part of the problem: the Outrageously Poor, as you put it, really do not have meaningful access to health care. At least around here, the only thing that they might be able to find is the ER, and that generally has a wait of up to 12 hours for SERIOUS problems, let alone moderate problems.
>If you don't mind me asking, where are you from? I realize that I was overgeneralizing when I said what I said. To clarify a little, Utah does have a better health care system than some others I've heard about. If you're dirt poor or certifiably homeless and severely medically needy, finding halfway deacent health care isn't too hard. The issue comes to fore when your income is somewhere between below poverty and rich. The working wages in Utah are low and most working or middle class can't afford insurance premiums. And I agree aabou the ER thing. I think it's a real class based discriminatory system.
> Yes, there is a real problem. Yes, it is criminally immoral.
>
> No, there are no easy answers to the problem.
>
> And where I live, it's virtually impossible to find out who to call to get started on finding any sort of medical care whatsoever. Let me restate that: I, personally, a reasonably lucid and reasonably intelligent person who has a great deal of experience navigating through bureaucracies, cannot figure out where to get information about seeing a doctor. If I can't do it, what do you suppose that means for someone who speaks limited English, or is severely depressed, or actively psychotic, or even just running a high fever with a rash?
>
> OK, that's enough from me.That's true. I didn't learn what I learned until I had several ER visits and massive bills. Unfortunately at the time I was making a "working wage" and there was/is no help from Medicaid. I'm still trying to decipher the bureaucratic maze here. I faked homelessness once to get some antibiotics for strep throat. It was that, or pay over $100 between the doc and scripts that I didn't have. I had no other choice. I guess I could have taken another $600 ER bill that I can't pay and be a little more honest.
And I am not very lucid. it was very hard for me to find the info I have.
Ok, have I contradicted myself enough or should I go on?
Your friend in confusion,
SDJ
Posted by Racer on February 18, 2004, at 23:04:59
In reply to Re: Um... » Racer, posted by socialdeviantjeff on February 18, 2004, at 20:28:10
We've got a similar situation regarding the almost-economically-viable part. Let's see, I can't get insurance because I've both taken anti-depressants and have been involuntarily held in a psychiatric institution. Once the first insurance company denied my application to pay them a large sum of money each month for the priviledge of being able to see a doctor at all (no one around here takes the uninsured, except the county, which is another story I'll be getting to in this post), none of the other insurance companies would even start the application. The first question was, "Have you ever been denied health insurance for any reason?" Once you say, "yes", forget it.
Now, in our state (Confusion a/k/a California), the state does offer a form of insurance to those with the means to pay for it (well over four times the Blue Cross rates, by the way), but there's more than a two year wait to get into that system. Then there's CA's version of Medicaid, Medical. That system is so well run there are websites devoted to the studies about how difficult it is to navigate their system. Oh, yeah, and I would only qualify if I were on disability. Then, even if I had disability, every few months, you have to go to the Medical office -- no doing it via post, let alone electronically -- and reapply. If you manage to do all this, there are very, very few private doctors, hospitals, or medical centers that will accept you, anyway.
The county, of course, will cover some of the bills for some services. The problem, of course, is that they base the income requirements on something other than average housing prices in this area. My husband is currently earning about 2/3 of our mortgage, so the county says our share of cost is x%. This happened to me before, in another county, in a program that had income levels restrictions that meant I could only receive $560 per month from any source while being covered. The problem? My very moderate for the area rent was $850, but the program insisted that during any month I received that much money, every cent over that magic number had to be paid to them. Now, if I managed to earn enough to cover the entire cost of the treatment *and* still pay my rent, they would still have taken every penny over it. They had one number, and that was it.
So, I'm a recovering accountant with a lot of business management experience. I know how that happens. I know that someone, somewhere, was trying to do good, by making some sort of program available, and used averages in order to make it as fair as possible. Unfortunately, this world isn't that fair -- you gotta take into account the variance of regional costs of living. The current system doesn't.
Yes, I am in favor of some form of single payer health care. No, I'm not a radical leftie -- I'm more ambidextrous. Some of the restrictions that are chafing me now make a lot of sense to me: when we have so many people with so little, what little my husband and I do have really is priviledge. That I'm afraid I'm going to die because I don't have access to health care doesn't affect the world, it really only affects my perception of it. Those same low income restrictions that make it so difficult for me to find care also mean that more people can receive *something* rather than nothing.
By the way, I'm currently putting off a mammogram to check on some suspicious lumps in my breast that a doctor found during my last gyn visit. If I can put it off until my husband is working again, I can get it covered under whatever insurance he gets. If he's not covered by my next birthday, other programs for older women will start to kick in. I'm scared. At the same time, I know that there are probably uninsured women in this community who are a lot sicker than I am, and there's only one program in the area for non-older women. I've already talked to someone there, and when I heard what limited resources they have, I told her to forget it -- I'd wait.
Sorry, rambling on again. I guess the only real point I was trying to make is that the system is trying to do good, but the crack is in its very foundation: For-Profit Health Insurance, answerable to the shareholders, not the "customers."
Posted by gardenergirl on February 19, 2004, at 0:22:10
In reply to Re: Um... » socialdeviantjeff, posted by Racer on February 18, 2004, at 23:04:59
Racer,
I admire you for your understanding of our flawed system. If I understood your post correctly, you are putting off your mammogram because of limited social service resources. If you qualify for these services, I URGE you to get that mammogram. This is nothing to be altruistic about. A potential breat cancer is something to be VERY, VERY selfish about. You deserve to have prompt care.I am keeping my fingers crossed and you in my prayers that it turns out to be nothing.
Please take care. Selfishly, I would hate to lose your valuable insights on this board if you delay in treating something important.
If I misunderstood, chalk it up to my rant on the psych. board. Not altogether my true self at the moment. Either way, take care.
gg
This is the end of the thread.
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