It all started with some paperwork that I took to the doctor last November for them to fill out regarding my disability and not being able to work. At first I was told that they "don't do" disability...but as I told them, I am already on disability and this was just paperwork needed by Sallie Mae (parent/student loans) to verify that I was still unable to work. They told me I needed to have the original doctor who "did" my disability fill out the paperwork. Mind you, I have been going to my present doctor for over two years. I haven't seen my "original" doctor since just before we moved to Arkansas from Indiana in 2009. So obviously THAT wasn't going to work!

So, I wrote to my Indiana doctor and got all my records sent to my present doctor. I also sent my doctor's office all my paperwork from the disability doctor stating what my disabilities were and why I was not able to work.

Anyway, Thursday morning was our routine 3-month check-up. Once again I asked the nurse what they had as my diagnosis. At first she acted like she didn't hear and asked my husband questions. After the third time she finally read off the list to me. Arthritis--check. Depression--check. Overactive Bladder--check. Seasonal Allergies--check. Edema--check. Hypertension--Uh....NO!! I do NOT have hypertension, nor have I EVER had hypertension. Where is the diagnosis of Heart Failure?

The nurse left, and it took quite a long time before the doctor came in. I know that she was out there at the desk reading all my medical records I had sent to them. When she came in, there was a definite attitude about her. She was most definitely NOT her cheerful, friendly self, and I knew there was something wrong.

She check over my husband first, then it was my turn. OMG!!! Talk about being attacked! I couldn't believe some of the things she said to me! She was mad that I didn't bring up about my memory loss--well, it's an old problem that I've had for years, and there has been no change for several years. I'm always asked if there are any new problems or changes for the worse, and there hasn't been since before I started going to her. To make a long story short, she refused to fill out my paperwork because "it will come back and bite me (the doctor) in the butt because I have no documentation in your medical records here." HELLLLOOOOO!!!!! At my very first doctor visit I took in copies of my echocardiogram with the heart failure diagnosis, and personally put it in the doctor's hands, after which she went over all my medications and reasons that I was on them, and I told her that the Ramipril was because of CHF. It's not MY fault that no one, including the doctor, made any mention in my chart about my heart failure! I not only TOLD them, but I also WROTE it on the new patient paperwork I filled out (I made copies of them before I took them into the doctor's office, so I was able to look it up when I got home.)

So, for the last two years plus, my doctor has been treating me for non-existent hypertension and NOT addressing the Heart Failure at all!! Needless to say, I have lost ALL faith and trust in her as my doctor. I'm so thankful to God that during all this time I never had an episode with my heart, or they may not have figured it out until it was too late since there was no documentation of a heart condition in my current doctor's records. After all, I am the very first (and ONLY) person in my family for as far back as four generations--BOTH sides of family--that has any heart issues. No one has ever even had hypertension, so the family history wouldn't have given any clue.

When I got home from the doctor, I was still fuming. I was just so mad that such an important piece of information had been left out of my records. I was informed that I should have been seeing a cardiologist at least once a year. Well, if none of my doctors ever referred me to one, why would I be seeing one? It's not MY fault that my echocardiogram is so old. I was told that an appointment would be made immediately for a new echocardiogram and for me to see a cardiologist. That was Thusday morning, and so far I have heard nothing from them about these appointments. She did, however, give me a prescription for another heart medicine that she said I should be on in addition to the Ramipril. I am NOT filling it until I see someone else. I'm not comfortable taking additional heart medication from someone who hasn't even been aware of my heart condition the whole time I've seen her (every three months for over two years).

My husband thinks that I am over-reacting. I told him that he was more than welcome to stay with her as his doctor, but I am going elsewhere as I feel this is a very serious problem. My kids are all in agreement with me. I just no longer feel any confidence in this doctor, and I'm sure not comfortable with her any longer. Maybe I am over-reacting, but I'm the one that could have died with this life-and-death omission from my medical records!!

Sorry that this is so long. I just needed to get it off my chest so I could quit fuming over it and move on. I was so depressed for a couple days over this whole situation, but now that I have made up my mind what to do and shared my frustration with my dear SparkFriends, I feel so much better. I just have one final thought:

Dear Doctor--
Don't cop an attitude with me because I finally discover that you have been treating me for hypertension for the past two years instead of congestive heart failure. I personally put my echocardiogram report in your hand on my first visit, so it's not my fault that you didn't have CHF mentioned in my medical records!
As Donald Trump says on The Celebrity Apprentice--
"YOU'RE FIRED!"


P.S. Before anyone makes a comment, I want to make it clear that the issue is NOT with the fact that she won't fill out the paperwork. I already filled it out Friday and sent it in with a copy of the records and letters from disability, and a note stating that my current doctor of two years wasn't able to fill out the paperwork due to the fact that she had been treating me for the wrong thing for the past two years and not even documenting my heart failure. If it's not good enough for Sallie Mae, no problem.