Focus On Something Else

I have met countless doctors during the last 18 months and I have been impressed with almost all of them. They have listened and treated me like a person. They seem to really care. Unfortunately, I had a really bad experience with one doctor a couple of weeks ago.

As I have mentioned before, I still have an open tract from the infection that followed my surgery. It is tiny, but it's not healing. I went in for an appointment two weeks ago expecting to have the tract fixed. I had been told at my last appointment that if there was no progress in healing, they would go in a take out the stitch at the bottom. Unfortunately, I did not have the same doctor at this appointment. Instead I met with a doctor who I had seen on prior occasions, but I never felt like he took me seriously. I mentioned to him that I was supposed to have the tract fixed. He told me he wasn't going to do anything. He didn't think it was a good idea. Frustrated because I have had an open wound since August of LAST YEAR, I started to cry. He then informed me that I shouldn't cry ever time I come in. I asked how long I would have to wait before he would be willing to do something. He told me that he couldn't give me a time line and the tract would heal by itself and "you have other things going on in your life, like school. You should try focusing on that and not make such a big deal out of this." I was shocked. I have never been dismissed by a doctor like that. I was so upset, I didn't know how to react. By the time I got home, I was angry. I called my doctor's office and left a message saying that I didn't was to see this other doctor again and that I needed to talk with one of the doctors from my surgical team.

I went back yesterday and I met with one of my surgeons who actually sat down and talked with me about what needed to be done. We're still waiting on doing any kind of procedure to close the tract, but there is a plan and he actually listened to me. I felt much better when I left yesterday.

I should do something about the way I was treated. Someone suggested that I write a letter, but at this point, I'm not comfortable with that. I may still run into him in the hall when I go for my follow-ups. Maybe once I've been discharged as a surgical patient. But I can guarantee that I will not be meeting with him again. If he comes into my room, I will demand to see someone else. That's non-negotiable.