Now my rant begins.

I saw my family doctor today for the first time since being diagnosed with Lyme, and when I told him he flat out refused to believe me. He said the Lyme doc I am seeing is basically a quack, and that with all of the "reputable" docs I have seen at the mighty U of R Hospital are "too good" to misdiagnose. The lyme test they gave me here (ALIZA test) is less than 50% accurate and notorious for false negative results. I had 2 western blots, IGG & IGM, and both came back positive from Igenex Labs, one of the best in the nation for western blot tests and testing for Lyme. He belittled and berated the lyme doctor I am seeing in PA, said there is no way my healthcare benefits will cover the necessary treatments, and said he flat out does not believe me or Dr Joseph-lyme doc in PA. I have news for him, I have already checked my benefits, I have to pay $100 for the PICC line for the IV antibiotics, 10% of the next $650, and insurance pays 100% after that, total, I will pay $165 out of my own pocket for however long the treatment takes. After he questioned my benefits, I asked him why he was so concerned, it's not like he is going to have to pay for whatever the insurance doesn't cover. By this time, I am starting to get really pi#*ed off, I am not known for my calm demeanor. He started rambling on about how too many docs are too eager to diagnose lyme when they do not know what is wrong, about mid-way through, I stood up, put on my coat, told him to, and I quote, "kiss my A**", and walked out. He then had the balls to say he wanted me to come back in 2 months, and I replied, "I'll be back when I'm better". So needless to say I am now looking for a new family doctor.

In my opinion, I view their services as a if I am a consumer. If you are not satisfied with the "product", it's time to shop somewhere else. Hospitals & doctors, I feel are no longer concerned about the patient like they used to be, as they are being ran like a business, always watching the bottom line, and forgetting about the level of care in the process.

When I look back at the lousy treatment I got for two years before stumbling upon my LLMD and being diagnosed, I wish I had been more of a 'consumer'.

My first 'diagnosis' was by an orthopedic (sp) surgeon....'bad posture'. At my last visit, when he told me my problem apparently wasn't fixable by his specialty, he told me I was one of his healthiest patients. You know, as it 'stop feeling sorry for yourself'. Jerk. But I just sucked it up and went to the next duck my then-HMO sent me to.

I think many people have a tendency to put doctors on a pedestal (where many of them put themselves)...at least we did until we've been through this experience.

Now only my LLMD gets that place of honor!

My brother is a radiologist and my dad is a retired mal-practice attorney. Neither believe that my family has lymes--we don't get that her in the south, ya'll. They poisen every one else in the family's minds because they are "experts."

So not only do I not get any help from my family, but they talk behind our backs and believe my doc (WHO SAVED MY LIFE)! sorry. They say my doc is a rasputin and that I suddenly woke up at the tender age of 40 and became a hypercondriact. Let me just say I have always been one of the hardest working hillbilly women God ever made.

It hurts me so badly--especially when I need help.

Count your blessings that you got to walk out of that s.o.b.'s office and are not related to him.

The final straw was when I asked her if it was possible for me to have Fibromyalgia and she laughed and said I wasn't in enough pain to have it.

I ended up switching to my son's pediatrician who was open to me going to a rheumatologist. She is learning more about Lyme now - it's great!

You need a doctor who is willing to learn and try things.

I hope that my family and my LLMD can really help my primary doctor make a difference in other people's lives who might have Lyme and don't know it.

Rant all you wish. And why not walk out? I've had to do that once. I am known for my calm demeanor but the doc had me in tears and rather than say all the awful stuff I was thinking of, all I could do is just get up, grab my purse, and leave.

The doctor was shocked I actually left. I think I was a little shocked I did too. But felt great about doing it later.

And whenever I heard someone mentioning that doctor, I would share with them my personal experience.

I also sent an "You call yourself a doctor?" letter to another "physician" who accused me of being a drug addict because of the migraine medicine my pain management doctor was prescibing me.

Actually, I faxed it. So I guess that the doc wasn't the only one who saw the letter. Oh well.

Like I said, I am not one to stir up feathers. But you know what? Doctors are just people. Just like the rest of us. Why shouldn't they be held to the same rules of courtesy and decentcy as the rest of us?

Who knows, as more people just "get up and walk" and theses "doctors" see their practices start dwindling, maybe some of them will take notice.

You ROCK!!!

Now, as for the reason WHY so many of us end up taking so much BS? Honestly, I think it is because of the power of the pen. When you go to a doctor you are automatically not on equal ground due to the fact that they hold the power to write whatever they want in your records if you do not cooperate with them. You leave, they start writing. If you are dependent on your insurance or disability payments they can really screw up your life if you mess with them or discount their blistering intelligence.