baserockermom

Given every profession has its own jerks, I just thought it might be helpful to bring up the fact that every patient is likely to encounter one serious jerk through the course of their medical history. Don't take it personally, just understand we're all due one or two.

I've just been further organizing health records for the members of my family and came across a report from a neurosurgeon after my car accident. I remember the day the report was faxed. I was sitting in the hospital room with my dying mother, shortly after my dad had died, and my husband called me and read the report. It wreaked of suspicion. I was so worn out at the time that I just didn't even have energy/reserve/guts enough to do anything about it or the afteraffects of the accident. My husband had been wanting to use a lawyer to address the car accident because a) the insurance company was doing the usual insurance company thing and b) because our family was in complete upheaval between accident, my business suffering because of the meds, my dad's illness/death, my mom's illness (and death a few months later), and our small children. We just didn't have the time to fight for ourselves.

The report, in quick summary, cast doubt on whether I'd be reporting such pains if there was not insurance money to be had. I had already had one surgeon say I needed surgery; this guy was the second opinion. I almost didn't go for a tie-breaking opinion. I went to my pcp and he asked me what I thought of this jerk's opinion. I almost felt the pcp was agreeing. I just looked at him and said, "well, if I'm making this up, then can you give me a referral to a psychologist" and I showed him the films myself. He quickly discounted the guy's suspicions and said it was a shame someone so young had such a neck.

So... all that is to say... get past the jerks quick and don't doubt yourself.