Ernie Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 Hi,What do you tell your doctor when he tells you that you just have to control yourself not to faint? My wanted me to walk 5 flights of stairs after having 4 vials of blood taken and I told him that I would faint. He told me "just control yourself" "You know what to do not to faint". I told him: I am not God"! I was so shocked. I have been his patient for almost 2 years now and he has seen me faint at least 3 times and he still believes that I have control over this stuff.He told me that if I fainted during the test he would abort the test and send me to the ER and not care for me. So I managed to avoid fainting by lying down when my ears started to buzz and he aborted the test becaused he was upset at me for lying down. I had to argue with him that I did everything he told me but I had to lie down not to faint and I want the test done so the nurse took the final vial. I was so discouraged that this doctor puts me in a loose loose situation.Do you have any answer for people who think that we faint for the fun of it or that we can just stop a faint whenever we want it?Thanks for your support Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Dame Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 My answer: "You're fired". I don't put up with **** from any doctor. I've been too sick for too long to listen to any of their BS. I've also learned that being assertive can make a difference. I let doctors know right off the bat that I'm an educated, intelligent, and motivated patient. Normally they respect that, but when they don't they're gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MightyMouse Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 I know that it's not as easy for Ernie as "you're fired" because she's not in the US. The Canadian system has backlogs for years to see certain kinds of specialists--and I know Ernie supposedly saw some, but they were awful (worse than the above). Ernie, I don't know what to say other than that I hope you can find another gp who has compassion and smarts.Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relentless Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 Got that right dizzy dame! Why pay someone to abuse you? The only way I know of to control fainting is to immediately stop what your are doing and sit or lie down. To me, fainting is one of the most horrible feelings I can encounter in life. You feel like you are leaving this world and may not wake up. It's eerie and scary.If that were my doctor he'd be long gone. Something is definitely WRONG with that guy, not you.Sorry, I didn't know he was from Canada. What I would do is take a tape recorder and record his abusive, callous comments. Then I'd turn to him with recorder in hand and ask him, "Would you like me to replay this for you, or the medical review board? Your choice".He sounds like a bully and the only way to stop a bully is to stand up to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted August 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 He is a bully, even with the nurses. It is not the first time that he is mean to me. He has aborted a test before because I fainted (and he sent me to the ER). So when he told me he would do it again I knew he meant business.He is my main specialist in Canada. He does all my testing and he prescribes most of my meds and does all the follow ups. I wanted to drop him off a few months ago because of his behavior and I talked to my second specialist and he told me not to do so because he did not have the expertise to handle my case. I have seen more than 50 doctors during the last 5 years and I have only 6 who are qualified or interested in taking part of my case. I am a rare bird, not a medical book case and I take so much of their time when I go to their office that they don't make money out of me. They also have to read on POTS. 90% of the doctors I have seen don't even want to be bothered with my case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corina Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 hi ernie!shame on this doctor for treating you like this!!!you did a real good job lying down when your ears started to buzz. i don't want you to hurt yourself while fainting, so the best you can do is lay down yourself before you faint. at least YOU know how to take care of you!!! i am proud of you, but feel so very sorry about the way you are treated (AGAIN!!!!!).love,corina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancingLight Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 Oh Ernie,It just breaks my heart how much you struggle to get treated properly.I wish it was as easy as saying, 'you're fired' but I know it's not. Well, you know me, I later can say, Good grief!!!! about what the doc did, but in the moment and right afterwards, all I do is cry! So, I'm not much help, am I? Except maybe to make you smile? Then, if you cried, you might faint and that would be really bad! How do you say 'hug' in french???? I'm sending you one (or two or three).Emily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted August 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 Emily: "Je t'embrasse." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia3 Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 ErnieI am SO sorry this doctor treats you this way. Just when you think you have heard everything....I hope you can get a new compassionate doctor.I feel lik 8888 when the take vials of blood from me and the nurses take me seriously when I say I need to LIE DOWN to have blood drawn.Good luck getting somebody new in canada. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancingLight Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 thanks ernie!i just talked to a friend on the phone today and she is heading up to montreal for a trip in september--for some good french food and to refresh her french skills. je t'embrasse!emily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babettegall Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 Ernie,Your doc needs a swift kick in his behind! If I could lift my leg up that far, I'd come do it myself! Seriously though, I wish that there was something more I could say or do......... But, I'm in the process of trying to find a more compassionate and understanding GP myself.Hang in there, count to ten (or 100), and if all else fails, scream into a pillow (right before you smother your doctor with it!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardiactec Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 hey ernie. sorry about your time with the doc. he sounds..........INTERESTING! man oh man. just curious? what is your BP like before you pass out cuz most docs will disregard a true diagnosis of syncope (passing out) if the pressure doesnt fall that much.......still no reason for him to be so mean anyway!there are some docs that do tell you to try and combat passing out when you feel like you are about to go down........he should have chosen his words more wisely. nobody can be in total control of what their bodies sometimes do, but there are preventative measures you can take before your body hits the floor........i'm sure you already know a few, dont stand still, move or squeeze your calf muscles while upright, drink/eat lots of salt, dont go places where you know there are crazy lines to wait in, etc............there are some things that can be done to try and control a passing out episode, but ultimately if you have tried these techniques and are still passing out, it is nothing that YOU are doing or not doing to cause your body to collapse......sorry there is no sympathy, care, concern from your doc. you have all the sympathy, care, and concern you need whenever you want/need it right here hun! i hope you can get another doc who will walk with you through this thing and not be more burden to your load.take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted August 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 Thanks everyone for your supportYou know how much it means to me.Have a nice day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrach Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 Hi, Ernie, nice to see a fellow Canadian on the forum. I live in Toronto and it is very hard to find a specialist in POTS, would you please, share the name of this so -called doctor so I never even approach him...In Montreal there are a few specialist may be you should look there instead of tolerating this abuse and also, report to the College of Physicians and surgeons...We are all human beings and we have to be treated with trespectHugs MariaWhat do you tell your doctor when he tells you that you just have to control yourself not to faint? My wanted me to walk 5 flights of stairs after having 4 vials of blood taken and I told him that I would faint. He told me "just control yourself" "You know what to do not to faint". I told him: I am not God"! I was so shocked. I have been his patient for almost 2 years now and he has seen me faint at least 3 times and he still believes that I have control over this stuff.He told me that if I fainted during the test he would abort the test and send me to the ER and not care for me. So I managed to avoid fainting by lying down when my ears started to buzz and he aborted the test becaused he was upset at me for lying down. I had to argue with him that I did everything he told me but I had to lie down not to faint and I want the test done so the nurse took the final vial. I was so discouraged that this doctor puts me in a loose loose situation.Do you have any answer for people who think that we faint for the fun of it or that we can just stop a faint whenever we want it?Thanks for your support Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzygirl Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 ernie dear. i know that you need this doctor.. but he was being unreasonable.. is there anychance that you can talk to him and really drive it home that you cant play god and control your syncope.. especially when they are making you do things that will trigger..i think that you made it clear to him that you are willing and did follow his guidelines as best that you could .. and to give you a bit of leeway or something...there are some docs who have brilliant minds and can do possibly great things for you.. but geeze louise! they (he) ernie needs some etiquette courses in snesitivity and compasion.. and bedside manners 1on1!hang in there ernie dear you are a real trooper!BIG hugsdizz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEE Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 What a bunch or horse doo doo Ernie...You don't deserve that!! He made no sense...Hope your doing okay...Bee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Ernie, I'm so sorry that you're still having to deal with comments and attitudes like that. How incredibly frustrating. Hope you are feeling better about things now. Take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacquie802 Posted August 23, 2006 Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 Ernie,Some doctors just don't understand...wouldn't it be nice to see what it would be like if he were in your shoes?!?! Is there any way you could travel down here to see a doc??Jacquie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmpower Posted August 23, 2006 Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 Besides feeling bad, it seems that one of the problems with dysautonomia is the constant humiliation. The doctors who have never experienced something which is hard to diagnose and treat are usually very challenged by our needs. You don't wish your symptoms on them, but you would just like them to know that you have no control. If you had control, would you be in their office???My heart goes out to you for being in such a situation.OLL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted August 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 Hi,I don't want to be mean with doctors but I think that a prerequisite to med school should be that they donate a liter a blood and be injected with isuprel until they faint just to get a taste a what we go through. And then, as soon as they wake up they should be asked to walk up the corridor, control themselves not to faint, carry a 50 pounds pack sack, go up and and down the elevator (3 or 4 times) and then climb 5 flight of stairs. I wonder how many of them would manage to stay upright! If they faint then they have to start the test all over again and they cannot get into med school intil they stay upright!!! Whoohoooo!!!!Thanks girls for being there for me. I know you understand the hopeless situation a run through on daily basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ariella Posted August 23, 2006 Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 Probably the best way to raise money for dinet is for us to get all our stories togethr and publish a book. Bestseller, guaranteed. lots of love,Ariella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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