I honestly don't get people. You struggle with this for a year, cycling through every single cream on the market without any luck, and you don't even think to ask for a skin scraping? To me, that’s like dealing with a sinus infection or a sore throat, running through one antibiotic after another, and never once thinking to actually get a swab. It feels like we're living in the Middle Ages.
Ask them to do a scraping. It’s not some massive procedure—they just take a tiny sample of skin from the affected area—and then they can actually identify the specific strain. I'm not sure if they test drug sensitivity right away, but at least there's a plan.
I was literally watching this segment on TV yesterday about a woman who spent years seeing doctors because her toenails were absolutely trashed. Nothing worked. Turns out, they finally did a biopsy and discovered she didn't just have fungus; she had a bacterial infection mixed in with it too. She needed treatment for both. All that time spent trying to fix just the fungus was a total waste.
Have you ever actually had them scrape a sample from those spots just to figure out which specific strain you're dealing with?
There are oral antifungals too (Fluconazole, if I recall correctly—I think I saw Lamisil tablets listed on the Pfizer site), but doctors usually hate prescribing those until they've exhausted all the topical options because they can really put a strain on your liver. Maybe look into that? Honestly though, if they haven't done a skin scraping yet, I’d start by demanding one so you actually know what you're fighting and what it responds to.
Sandra Brooks91 said:It’s great they shortened the window. Giving people a whole month just to activate a service is honestly ridiculous. 😁 Good luck at the hospital!
I bet they cut it down because here in the States, we used to have a 15-day activation period, and way too many people were choosing them strictly because of that quick turnaround.
Does anyone actually know how long these electronic lab orders for things like CBC or urinalysis stay valid? Is it 15 days or a full month? I can't find anything current online to give me a straight answer.
@Bradley Adams34 I managed to dig up that link I shared before. Here’s the breakdown of how you file a complaint:
If you aren't happy with the outcome, you follow the protocol laid out in the Patient Bill of Rights. In this specific situation: 1. Send a written complaint to the Director of Health Center regarding "the conduct of staff at Dr. xx's office." They are required to respond within 8 days detailing what they did about it. If you aren't satisfied with that, then you need to: 2. File a complaint with your local County Patient Rights Commission. They are obligated to notify you within 15 days regarding their actions. If you still aren't happy with the response or the steps taken, you should contact 3. The Commission for the Protection and Promotion of Patient Rights under the Department of Health and Human Services. You can complain about the County Commission's handling of the matter along with the actual medical staff. If you don't hear back within 15 days, you can take your grievance directly to the Secretary.
Separately from all that official red tape, you can simultaneously report the issues at the clinic to the insurer they have a contract with (in this case, Medicare—located at Main Street 3, Washington, D.C.). You basically demand protection of your rights as an insured person. Since Medicare is legally required to provide services according to the law, acting any other way is illegal. Complain to Medicare about the providers they contracted with, and let them deal with the penalties or reprimands. Then they can let you know what they decided.
What exactly is your problem here? I honestly don't get what you're trying to accomplish with these posts on this thread.
The guy showed up, asked his questions, and got his answers. Whether he actually files a formal complaint, whether it actually changes anything, or how he intends to prove his case—that's entirely on him. We simply pointed him toward the right offices where he can get further guidance and advice, and that’s the end of it.
Angela Bailey7 said:Look, I’m not mocking your diagnoses, nor am I attacking you personally—I’m questioning the very basis of your grievance here. The woman in question could have been tied up with another patient or something actually vital... besides, you’re essentially complaining about her poor respect for your schedule, whereas if I were considering suing a doctor, I’d already know the uphill battle ahead. I know for a fact you won't find a court-appointed expert who will give an honest assessment instead of just talking trash—because even my own lawyer told me that an expert is never going to confirm something that "shouldn't" have happened in the first place. So, from the jump, I think what you're whining about is a minor issue, but hey, go ahead and try to file a complaint with whoever you want; they might not laugh at you to your face, but they'll certainly be chuckling behind your back,
.. compared to the nightmare of having actual, physical evidence—like when you show a doctor clear imaging results and they tell you it's nothing—who on earth am I supposed to complain to then?
...but seriously, tell me, who exactly are you planning to report this to? I'd love to join you in that little outing... and what am I supposed to complain about when a doctor hands me a diagnosis but refuses to prescribe the medication needed to treat it? Who do I take *that* complaint to?
Do you see the massive difference—assuming your psyche allows you to grasp such nuance—between saying, "I'm annoyed because she wasn't at her desk or she took too long on her break," and wanting to sue doctors when, despite having proof, I can't prove a damn thing because the medical expert isn't working for the patient, but is instead fiercely loyal to their fellow physicians... that's why your complaint struck me as ridiculous. When you try to sue them for major malpractice, you won't achieve much, let alone try to lodge a formal grievance just because someone isn't sticking to a strict timetable. I'm not defending her entirely, but you clearly aren't grasping how much worse things can get...
I have to address this.
Sorry, but it's not a constant rush every single day, nor is there a mountain of home visits daily (anyway, those visits usually happen before or after the standard clinic hours). Sure, mistakes happen, things get complicated and run late occasionally, but not every single day.
People have jobs. Not everyone has the luxury of sitting in a waiting room for half a day just because someone decided to show up whenever they felt like it.
Maybe one single report won't change anything. But once you hit a critical mass of complaints, you'll see how fast the tune changes. The system is broken because this is how people think: "Just let it go, don't hold the doctor against them, there are worse things out there, just find a new doctor." Let's stop pretending. There are negligent, uninterested doctors out there who drag down the reputation of the entire profession. They need to be held accountable. It isn't fair to the amazing doctors who actually give a damn and shouldn't have to deal with being lumped in with people like this.
Look, everyone, please stop fighting and stop trying to diagnose one another. I get it—this is a sensitive subject and tensions are running high, but let’s all just take a breath and chill out. If you keep trading insults, I’m going to start handing out bans.
Anyway, back to the point. Bradley Adams34, your first move should be reporting this to the Director of Health Center. There’s also a dedicated hotline you can call to file a complaint, or you could reach out to the Department of Health and Human Services for guidance. You can even contact the County Patient Rights Commission. Honestly, if I were you, I might actually hit up the Commission before anyone else because they’ll probably give you the best idea of what steps to take next.
Sam Alvarez4 said:I'm asking because that simply isn't true... We really need to be correcting misinformation like that instead of letting it spread...
I'm totally on board with the rest of what you wrote there... definitely agree! Just caught up on everything this morning... feeling curious!
Thanks for the correction. Seriously. I was browsing the forums and news sites and watched that clip—it had no audio, so I jumped to the wrong conclusion.
Isn't it better to just correct someone if they're wrong (I don't mind admitting I messed up) rather than jumping into a thread just to start screaming "fascist"? 😁
Hannah Alvarez2 said:Just curious—so does that mean I can drag someone into a heated argument in PMs, wait thirty seconds for them to read it, and then just edit my post to make myself look like the good guy?
You can try. 😁 Some people have attempted that exact move before, but they usually get caught, and then they end up getting handed warnings for it.
So, what did they actually check for you at the ER?
Did you get bloodwork done? What did your CBC look like? Honestly, you should start with blood and urine tests, then go get your stomach checked out. You absolutely need to check your thyroid hormones, too—things can go totally haywire when your body is pushed to its absolute limit like this. Once you have those results, you'll know where to dig deeper.
It could be panic attacks—though a doctor shouldn't jump to that diagnosis until everything else has been ruled out—but it could also just be acid reflux. If stomach acid is creeping up, it can cause abdominal pain, chest tightness, and that choking sensation in your throat.
I’ve been scrolling through forums trying to make sense of this, but I’m still pretty confused about how the whole process works here. 😁
My primary care physician gave me a referral to an immunologist (I know how those work—you have to schedule within 30 days, then they stay valid until your follow-up, regardless of when that happens). So, I went in for the consultation, and the specialist ended up writing me several internal referrals for follow-up tests.
How long do these internal referrals from a specialist actually last? She scheduled some testing and a follow-up for September, but I was just there at the start of June. If these work the way they used to—where they expire after 60 days—then all my paperwork is going to be useless by then. All I managed to get done was the blood work; I still have two more tests and a follow-up to complete based on her internal orders.
Check out the women's health forum. There are plenty of girls there studying the same stuff who are in the exact same boat, so they can give you the real scoop from experience. Honestly, there really ought to be a specific doctor or gynecologist dedicated to students that you could just go to.
I mean, I mentioned this a few months back, but turns out it was being talked about two years ago. It was all over the news and every single major site.
How would you guys handle people showing up at the ER for absolute nonsense, or those who just go there to get tests done because they can't be bothered to wait for an appointment? Am I an idiot for following the rules and scheduling my checkups like everyone else in the civilized world, instead of just barging into the ER to get everything done in one day? I know exactly what to say to get seen; I have some pretty serious diagnoses, and I don't think they'd dare turn me away at the ER. For instance, I really need to get a spirometry test done. Instead of dealing with the headache of scheduling and waiting forever for an appointment, I could just head to the ER, tell them I'm struggling to breathe and have chest pains, flash my old bad lab results, and I guarantee they'll run every test under the sun. If I were a terrible person, that's exactly what I'd do.
Clearly, you can't rely on people's conscience or common sense. I figure if you start hitting them where it hurts—their wallets—maybe they'll actually stop and use their brains.
As for the local clinic, if they don't mind the same group of people cycling through every single week, and if they feel like dealing with them, then honestly, I couldn't care less. Last time I was there, there was this elderly man who visits my doctor every few days. If she's okay with it, let her deal with him; it's not my problem, I don't have a line out the door in my waiting room. I just want to make sure that when my family or I are actually sick and truly need the ER, we aren't stuck staring at the same idiots occupying space just because they can. They face zero consequences for doing it.