Topic: Wrote a letter to the doctor who waited 2 months to give me my Lyme results
BackinStOlaf
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23725
posted
I don't know if I will send it yet. Had to get it off my chest. Please tell me what you think or if there is anything I can do
Dr. C*****- I have been angry with your office for many months already and was considering how I should approach this. It is important for you to know that when patients get tests done, they NEED to get their results right away. In September of 2009, I came to you with a tingling in my arm and you suggested I get a Lyme disease test. I went to Labcorp and took the test and waited a week and called your office. I left a message with your answering service for the results. I said that I was calling for my results and to please call me back if anything is wrong, and if I don't hear back then it means the test was normal.
I did not hear back and thought I didn't have Lyme and continued pursuing other options. I then went to have a brain MRI done in early December. Within the 2 months between the Lyme test and the MRI, I started getting other strange symptoms including joint pain, muscle pain, tinnitus, chest pain (which is very scary for a 30 year old to feel) headaches, burning sensations, foot pain and general bad feeling.
You called me in December with my MRI results and told me it was normal. Then you casually mentioned that my Lyme test was ``equivocal'' and that I should look into it further but that you could not help me as you are not a Lyme expert and don't know about it. This is obvious to me, as if you knew anything about it, you would have given me my results right away, not had me wait 2 months.
I was so surprised at this that I didn't even ask you why. So the next day I called your employee at the front desk, I believe her name is Maria. I asked her ``Why was I given my results 2 months later?'' She paused for maybe 15 seconds and abruptly said ``our patients call us for the results''. I told her that I did call and that I left a message on the answering service as you are not in the office every day. I then proceeded to say ``you don't call patients when something is fishy with their tests?'' and once again she abruptly said ``no, they call us''. I said that is ridiculous and got off the phone with her as I was very upset.
Well, Dr. C*****, turns out I do have Lyme disease and am going to a doctor very familiar with it. My second blood test came out CDC positive for it. I have been treating all year. It has been extremely difficult and very costly. I still have symptoms.
There is one thing you should know about Lyme disease. The sooner you start treatment, the greater the chance you have of getting rid of it. Even just a few weeks can make a big difference. I waited 2 months to hear my results from your office. 2 months in which my symptoms got worse. I went from having just a tingly arm, to having even more scary symptoms. My life is not as it used to be. I worry all the time and am very anxious about getting better. This is not the life a 30 year old should have.
I really think you should change your policy of ``the patients call us for the results''. If you see fishy results, PLEASE CALL. Maybe if I had started treatment right away, I could have saved myself a lot of pain and grief.
-------------------- First Symptom 9/09 Multiple docs, negative Labcorp test LLMD: 1/10 Positive Igenex/CDC test Treatment 2/10 2/10-8/10 Amox, ceftin, zith, flagyl Currently: Bicillin, Minocycline, still dealing with severe breathing issues
Posts: 1121 | From New York, New York | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
Very good letter! Hope he now understands how important it is to let patients know what's going on. I suspect that he DID know but didn't want to deal with it. Didn't want to treat the Lyme.
BTW, please clarify which state this was in... New York, right?
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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BackinStOlaf
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23725
posted
Yes, NY
-------------------- First Symptom 9/09 Multiple docs, negative Labcorp test LLMD: 1/10 Positive Igenex/CDC test Treatment 2/10 2/10-8/10 Amox, ceftin, zith, flagyl Currently: Bicillin, Minocycline, still dealing with severe breathing issues
Posts: 1121 | From New York, New York | Registered: Dec 2009
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I would omit from the 2nd to last paragraph: "I worry all the time and am very anxious about getting better. "
This does not make any person sound good. It will not be received as you intend.
Edited to add: see my note below. After Carol's post, I've changed my thoughts on this. -
[ 08-18-2010, 06:51 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
great letter! go for it - it's important someone brings it to his attention!
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
It may be a good letter, but I don't think it will get you the results you're looking for.
As soon as the doc reads that you're angry with him, he's going to be figuring out what to do about the upcoming lawsuit.
He might even refuse to see you any more.
For some reason, many people think that apologizing for a wrong doing means that they are guilty. The doc always wants to be in control when he's with a patient.
Carol
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Take all reference about being anxious or worried out as this can be used against you. The law states that a physician CAN drop you as a patient with a written letter but HAS to treat you and get you in to see him for 30 days. If not , they will be held to abandoning a patient.
Posts: 871 | From orange county, ca. | Registered: Jan 2006
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Carol has an excellent point I had not considered. Not everyone is able or willing to listen and assess where a situation went wrong - or even admit that it did.
As she said: "He might even refuse to see you any more." And you may not get the results you seek.
So often when we want to make things right, it's not enough to voice our concerns. We have to really think out all the different ways this may be accepted - or rejected.
His lawyers probably would likely instruct him refuse to treat you again. I know that he's been instructed never to tell a patient that he is sorry for anything. That is standard procedure.
It happened to me when I had a seizure from a car horn outside of a doctor's office. He sent a certified letter dropping me. I'm sure it was only partly due to the fact that he did not believe I had lyme, etc. but the legal procedure is to drop swiftly any patient who may even look like they could file a lawsuit. I think he thought I was a swindler. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Good letter. Same thing here. Was in bad shape in fall of 09. Doc treated about some symptoms. Didn't resolve. took a lyme test with a million other test.
Was in ER with a panic attack and called Doc didn't respond (called more than once). Found another doctor never formally severing ties with first. Did call about Lyme results, no response.
Felt clear of Lyme or would have heard. Resolved lots of symptoms with new doc. winter of '10 bad again. ON and on. After no relief called first doc for opinion. Says "it's your Lyme" I too got the "you have to call" Thanks! almost 1.5 years of not being told.
ALWAYS have the labs ----send a copy to you.
Posts: 28 | From maryland | Registered: May 2010
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Tricky Tickey
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 26546
posted
I say send the letter.
-------------------- Early Disseminated LD- 2010. Currently doing acupuncture and yoga. Negative Igenex (IND & Pos Bands) ISSUES AFTER: Tendonitis, letter reversal, Low immune system. PREVENTION:SaltC,Iodine,Humaworm, Chiropractic. Posts: 1013 | From In a van down by the river. | Registered: Jun 2010
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HERE'S WHAT YOU DO When ANY dr. in their arrogance does this and you want IMMEDIATE results...wheather its retrieving a simple file or test results Just send a simple fax and let them know if they do not comply and send (whatever it is you need from them)in a timely fashion that you will to make a formal complaint the the dept of health office for medical misconduct (in NY its the dept of health office for medical misconduct) each states dept of health has different depts. within it in which to complain..they will guide you. You'll get your request fulfilled FAST!
-------------------- The closer you get to G-D The closer He'll get to you.
Be who you are, and say what you feel...the people who matter don't mind...and the people who mind , don't matter. Posts: 98 | From In the woods by a stream in beautiful Catskills NY | Registered: Jun 2010
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METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
Send the letter, but remove the redundant anger, anxiety, frustration. Keep it objective and let them know that you just want to help them improve their patient care. Thank him for even considering Lyme Disease. While he didn't get back to you with the results quickly, he also didn't know much about the disease -- which he admitted.
So be grateful, but also express some anger, some forgiveness, and a lot of objectivity.
The letter is already almost there, so I'm glad you've written it.
He'll get the point that you aren't suing or anything if you do this and he certainly won't drop you as a patient if you are "reasonable".
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
posted
Not sure that two months will have made much difference. Of course, it is always better to start treatment sooner.
If this doc does not know much about lyme, an equivocal test may not have meant much to him. He was looking for an out and out positive.
You were lucky in one sense with this doc, and that was his considering lyme and testing for it. Maybe you have already sent your letter, but sometimes it is better to sit on such things for a while and cool off. Then compose a letter that will not get his back up, and will encourage him to keep testing people. Seems to me that the point you want to make is that early treatment produces better results, and equivocal results can mean something important.
Is it possible that the message you left never made it from the answering service to his office?
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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linky123
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19974
posted
I agree with Metallic Blue. Best to keep the emotions out of it, and keep the objectivity.
Drs. typically respond better if we don't get too emotional, whether it's warranted or not.
It's just the way they're made - most of them anyway. That's been my experience. Just go straight to the point in a respectful, and businesslike way.
It's hard sometimes when so many of them are either arrogant, ignorant, hostile or whatever.
All in all I think it is a well thought out letter; you did a good job.
Too bad we have to jump through so many hoops with this mess.
Hope you get the results you are looking for.
Best of luck and keep us posted.
-------------------- 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' Matthew 11:28 Posts: 2607 | From Hooterville | Registered: Apr 2009
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