How rude!  That is so bad, I am fuming on your behalf, Jenn.  I know you're
in Canada and your health system is different from ours, so what I am going
to say may not apply to your case.  Can you not have your neurologist refer
you to another surgeon?

I know surgeons are terribly busy but that's no excuse for being rude to a
patient!

    Kat
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jennifer Zubko" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2002 9:43 PM
Subject: Need to vent-- ITB, Pain, etc.


> Hi Everyone,
>
> Sorry, but I need to vent. I sent what I considered was a nice, rather
> diplomatic e-mail to the neurologist who did my intrathecal baclofen trial
> today, asking (what I thought was politely), if he could speak with the
> neurosurgeon to see if my surgerry might be done sometime this month,
> while I am still at home, so I don't have to live the rest of my semester
> in pain, half doped up on morphine, clonazepam, and oxazazepam. I got a
> very icy reply back saying that he would not "harrass  Dr. Parrent"
> (neurosurgeon), regarding my pump placement,  and basically not to e-mail
> the neurologist anymore because if all of his patients e-mailed him as
> much as I did (three times this weekend to correct a mistake that he made
> regarding an EMG the neurologiust swore he had not ordered for me when he
> really did order the test), he would not get any work done. From my point
> of view, I a, just asking questions that SHOULD HAVE BEEN ANSWERED AND
> WERE NOT DUE TO THE PHYSICIANS LACK OF TIME, THE NEUROSURGEON BEING IN THE
> OPERATING ROOM THE WHOLE DAY OF MY TESTING, ETC. The fact remains that
> because I attend school in Ottawa, I can't have surgery whenever my name
> (oh sorry NUMBER, BECAUSE THATS WHAT I AM FEELING LIKE) COMES UP ON THEIR
> PRETTTY, PERFECT LITTLE LIST. I am in so much pain, and I CAN'T HANDLE HOW
> TIRED  THE ORAL MEDS MAKE ME, EVEN THOUGH THEY HELP. I had really hoped
> that these people would be more compassionate, but apparently, they ARE
> NOT. I don't know what to do... I can't handle this anymore, and just
> wanted so much for things to go my way for once... The surgery takes only
> 1 and a half hours out of their lives, and can improve mine so much...
> Can't anybody see that? I am just so tired of suffering, and being told my
> surgery isn't important because it is not anything life threatening. I
> can't handle this. I had wanted to be a physician for awhile, but don't
> think I have the heart to see people as numbers.
>
> Does anyone have advice of things to read or do? I am beside myself with
> pain, both physical and emotional at the moment.
>
> Please say a few prayers for me. I need them.
> Jenn