I am sorry to tell you I couldn't stop laughing when I read the first one--fornicating?????? It is so ridiculous that I can only laugh in response. What planet was this doctor from? Sorry, but it is so unbelievable that I can't respond rationally.
Seriously though, I feel bad for all of the comments you had to endure. Believe me when I tell you that the doctors had me doubting myself after awhile! Take care.
-- Kathy L.At Fri, 22 Dec 2000, Joyce wrote: > >I hate to hear others have been treated this way, but I'm also glad to >know I'm not the only one that's had to deal with these very >unthoughtful comments from doctors. I cannot count the times I have >left different doctors and specialists office in tears. I have a few >comments I've received from doctors since I've been seeking treatment >for my adhesions that I would like add to this list (the first one is my >favorite): > >"Your pain is being caused by depression. You are depressed because you >are fornicating. Let us pray right now that God will forgive you...." > >"You just need to go see my Mother, she's a self-proclaimed mental >health therapist..." > >"The x-ray shows you have a very weird shaped torso and abdomen, this is >causing your problems, nothing I can do about that...." > >"My back hurts sometimes too..." > >"People like you are the reason we have to deal with these damn managed >care insurance companies! I have to go take a call from someone at an >Insurance Company that has been impossible to get in touch with..." > >"Who says you have Adhesions!?" > >This was after surgery where an endo and pelvic pain specialist excised >adhesions on my colon exactly where my pain had been: "Everything looks >great! I did not see anything. Must be Irritable Bowel Syndrome. We're >gonna put you back on Birth Control pills and give you IBS medicine and >you should be fine." Already walking out of the hospital room he turned >around to my Mom and I and said "Oh, by the way, you did have some >adhesions, which is just scar tissue, that I seen in the same area as >your pain so I got them down, but adhesions don't normally cause pain so >I doubt that was the problem. And they will just probably come back >anyway..." This is when my Mom started getting worried that I was a >hypochondriac, and personally, me too! But I knew the pain was real! > >But now thanks to this Message Board and all I've learned from Helen and >all the wonderful ladies here, I feel much more empowered and I just >dare a doctor say something like this to me now! :-) I am forever >grateful for this website and message board!!!! > >Thanks, >Joyce > >At Thu, 21 Dec 2000, Helen Dynda wrote: >> >>Dear Mary, Since your message did not appear as it "should've" -- I >>decided to re-post it for you. I like your idea of asking others to add >>to your list of "I COULD'VE/SHOULD'VE." I hope that many will respond >>with theirs as well. ( Please read my message to you -- below your >>message.) -- Helen >> >>[]]]] At Thu, 21 Dec 2000, Mary Wade wrote: >> >>Feeling good...oh so good...after my recent surgery with Drs. Reich and >>Redan. Now it just needs to stay this way! Grrrrrrrr. >> >>During this recuperation period, my mind has been working overtime >>thinkinabout the circumstances that have brought us all together here. >>Over the years, I could've/should've done SOOOO much better in >>advocating for my own care. It is tough because our problems are so >>little appreciated by the medical community. The fact that ARD is not >>widely recognized by the medical community keeps me from being bitter >>now about some of the assessments of my condition that were tossed my >>way over the years. >> >>I have been thinking about how I should've/could've followed up on all >>of these...ahem......"helpful" assessments. Here's my idea. Read >>through the following list of comments that I have received from >>professionals....mostly physicians....some physical therapists....over >>the years. I was STUpid to have let some of these assessments slide. >>But then, you know how it is when you hurt. I do know how I would >>handle this sort of drivel now, but maybe by throwing light on my own >>ineptness, this can serve to help others. >> >>Send me your ideas about how I could've/should've handled these comments >>that would not have left me stuck...for months and years....before once >>again reaching out for help. >>Get the idea? This is like a page in a workbook....a practice session in >>nudging our fellow fallible human beings, who happen to be in the >>medical profession, toward responsibility for their sometimes >>less-than-stellar dismissals of our complaints. Here goes! (I'll try to >>collect comments and put them all together in some sort of coherent >>fashion if you all send me ideas.) >> >>"You are just a tight-assed woman with a little myofascial pain." >> >>"The barium enema shows that you have the gut of an 80-year old." NOTE: >>I was 45 at the time. >> >>"You just need to get up and get moving." >> >>"All women have pelvic pain from time to time." >> >>"You have a Type A personality...more susceptible to stress." >> >>"Your problems are postural....stand up straight." >> >>"You just need to work on your abs and stretch out those tight >>hamstrings." >> >>"We don't really if the pain is physical or mental. Either way, you >>need help." >> >>"You need the pain to feel alive." >> >>"How is your relationship with your husband?" >> >>"There is a pain loop in your brain...you feel a bit of pain when you >>are stressed and you feel more stress when you feel pain. It's a >>vicious cycle. You need to break the cycle." >> >>"I have nothing to offer you." >> >>~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ >> >>Dear Mary, >>It is so good to hear that you are feeling good after your recent >>surgery with Drs. Reich and Redan at Scranton, PA. You reached out for >>help for your ARD ( adhesion-related disease ) by having your surgery >>done by two of the BEST surgeons in the world. By doing this the odds >>are in your favor for a successful recovery!! Best wishes for continued >>progress with the necessary healing that takes place following surgery!! >> >>Happy Holidays to you and your family!! >> >>With love, Helen > >-- >Joyce >