[QUOTE=Movin Artfully;4618678]
I am happy to hear that the letter was sent to you in error and that everything has been cleared up 
I really appreciate you clarifying several things 1) that the letter was not an attempt to replace you with “a better client”, 2) that the letter was written by an attorney and not a vengeful letter…in fact it was not even regarding your case. To suggest otherwise and as many posters interpreted it…it places medicine/doctors in a bad light…to those that don’t know the full story.
I am an RN who works at a very busy ER and my husband is also a physician. I really believe that 99.9% of physicians act wholly in the patient’s best interest. Sometimes that DOES mean telling people what they do not want to hear…but it is honest and it is their duty to their patients. And yes, the medical community is wholly embarrassed when someone like Michael Jackson’s doctor (that 0.1%) practices unsafe, assinine medicine that is the heart of a media explosion.
Emergency departments do not refuse care of anyone. One of my co-workers was assaulted by an HIV/Hep C + prostitute/patient that had stabbed herself during a bad drug trip (street drugs) and was bleeding everywhere. Not a great situation, it certainly would cause the average business owner to consider refusing service. That is not an option in ED medicine. The nurse called security, put on gloves and isolation gown, and continued working to save the woman’s life. We are not there to judge our patients…we are there to save their lives and make them well. And we are proud of our calling to do that.
Sister…you shoveling…is probably the least of your doctor’s tribulations in life…He is only upset for YOUR SAKE because he DOES want you to have long term quality of life and is clearly concerned that you “over-do”!
As your doctor indicated and you have now confirmed…patients simply do not get fired “for shoveling snow”. In order for you to be “fired” there would have to be a lot more to the story… the most routine thing I see patients get fired for- from visiting docs is 1) no-showing repeatedly, 2) selling/falsifying Rx/pain medications, or 3) driving under the influence of narcotics. (The latter two will also involve the police). I’m sure you would never do those things. Those things rarely happen…which is why it is rare for patients to be fired.
I do want to clarify one thing- There is nothing wrong with taking any type of prescribed pain medicine as prescribed. There is also nothing wrong with taking prescribed medical marijuana. I did not mean to imply that and apologize if it could be construed that way. Typically- if a patient is sick enough to be prescribed medical marijuana, they are on some very significant other medications for a very serious illness- which was the only reason I jumped to “narcotics”. “Narcotic” is not a bad word and should not have a negative implication in and of itself- for any of you not familiar with prescription! I am glad to hear that you are able to find relief and trust that your doctor handles what you need appropriately.
Again…back to the heart of the matter…be honest with your doc and I am really happy to hear everything has worked out. I really do wish you the best quality of life you can possibly have…it is why I get up and go to work in the morning :)[/QUOTE]
I am also very glad this was a mixup. Thank you for explaining your thoughts to me. I agree. I do feel most doctors do their best and really do care. This one I have really sticks his neck out for those who deserve it. He does A LOT of free work for the refugees, runs a substance abuse clinic, does lots of important research, runs many clinical drug trials, and public outreach programs. I do believe he also has had some of his research published in , oh, the name is escaping me right now, the journal of medicine thing they have. He’s a very busy man and I much appreciated his call. We end up talking quite often. I email him my blood sugar results monthly. I live an hour and a half away and only get down for an actual visit twice a yr as nothing bothers me more than being in a car. He mails my scripts to me.
I find the Michael Jackson thing just sickening. Yup, he had trouble sleeping. Okay. But jeez, just because he has all the money anyone could want does not justify him being able to obtain drugs that are only supposed to be used in a hosp setting, nor should there have been a doc willing to do this available. I am glad he is being prosecuted. There could have been other solutions to his problem of not sleeping. Treating it with those type of drugs was wrong to begin with I believe when you are dealing with someone who already had a drug problem.
It is a very tough call for doctors and it is no surprise that there will be decisions made as to the prescription of drugs that are not the right ones. Docs, have to try to decipher who actually NEEDS pain help and who is seeking it for other reasons. And that is one tough call these days. I was in no way treated properly for the 23 yrs before my diagnosis. AFter being diagnosed I got all sorts of “Im so sorrys” from the docs who had been treating me, or not treating me I should say. I’d get like, oh my, if we had only known, why of course you are in horrid pain. They COULD have known. I Couldn’t even get one to order tests. I went to the Er and had all my medical record with me, showing how I had had 5 major surguries with NO pain meds. I thought that showed how tough I was and maybe offered a bit of proof that I wasnt there seeking drugs. Our area had a HUGE drug problem for hte size of the population and they need to be weary yes, but I was in horrid pain and could find no help for 23 fricken yrs. That is NOT right. It caused all sorts of problems for me, all sorts.
But all those “IM sorries” did little to make me feel any better about how I was treated. Just being who I am, decided a lot of that I feel. I don’t have or want fancy clothes. I am very down to earth. But it truly seemed like these er ppl would look at me and figure I WAS seeking drugs and was there for no other reason. This assumption was just so untrue and so unfair to me who was suffering so very much. Profiling ppl by how they look has no place in medicine I feel. What is the answer, I have not a clue. I do know it is not right for ppl to go through what I have just to get diagnosed and treated. Say nothing about the fact that had I got diagnosed earlier, like when I was 19 and this came about, there may have been some kind of treatment for me. Now they say there is nothing that can be done. NOt a candidate for surgery, supportive care is all they can do Im told. I have severe spinal stenosis with a good deal of resultant permanent nerve damage. I have three herniated discs, did have four, but due to the fact I have degenerative disc disease one had now deteriorated away, and is no longer a bother, but I am told once that last little chip of it is gone the excruciatiing pain will return, or it likely will. I also have degenerative joint disease and diabetes. My right leg/foot has been knumb for 20 yrs and there are times where I lose all feeling from thigh down. Once I had NO feeling in it for 5 months. REal fun I tell ya.
Med marijuana does for sure help, especially with the nerve pain. The narcotics don’t seem to help a lot with that for me. Here the med mar law is mostly bullshit. There is nothing in place to help you with obtaining it. Of course what is going on in Cal is just absolutely foolish. That is way beyond being any kind of right. My personal feelings on the subject, is that it should be legal for all, but it is not. IN CAl they hand it out to anyone for anything it seems. Think Arnold needs to get a bit of control over it. Here, all being on the registry does is prevent you from being prosecuted in this state. there is no where where you can buy it. You can grow a tiny bit, not enough to get you through to the next batch as they don’t let you grow enough. Their definition of a mature plant is just crazy. And there is no program to help buy the equipment needed to grow it. I have finally obtained enough to get a start on it now. I have always had a real green thumb so no trouble there. I have pics of my first batch that would put what’s seen in the mags to shame. But you are on your own here, no help, no cannabis clubs, not even a free seed. And on some days, depending on pain source, it is much more helpful than the narcotics are.
Thank you for your support. I am glad to know where you are coming from now, as the first post just kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I now see you seem to be a very nice, supportive and educated person who is NOT against me. I have been very surprised how this thread has turned out. It is nice to see how ppl can be here. Too often things go the other way.
