Lost In Translation...

Today was my four month appointment with me Rheumatologist and we discussed among other things my foot. She is the doctor who set up the referral with the orthopaedic specialist I consulted and he is a well known and reputable doctor. In fact, both she and my current ortho guy (who did my hip but doesn't do feet) were in residency under this most respected doctor.

I'm not sure if I wrote about this before but my consult with this guy was a disaster. I was called in on a cancellation and said sure I'd be there. I rushed to pick up my x-rays from a different clinic and booted it to his office only to sit, and sit and sit some more. Two hours to be exact I sat and waited to be seen. When he finally did come into his consult room I was just in the process of putting my socks and shoes back on, I was leaving. He said, go ahead...

Okay, I stayed and yes he looked at my foot. I asked him if he could "fix" it and he said "no sorry, won't operate until your sitting in a wheelchair". I told him I was too young to be this disabled with my feet and he suggested orthotics, which he just happened to sell, and/or the shoes that were also for sale in his office/store. Disappointed I did put on my socks and shoes and left. I was very disappointed with this man who is considered "the best". I left his office in tears and feeling very hopeless.

Today I discussed that visit with Dr. L and asked for a referral to another orthopaedic surgeon. She pulled out a letter that first doctor wrote to her outlining our appointment. I don't know who he was talking about but it wasn't me. He said "the patient" me, expected him to "wave a magic wand" and "make it all better". And he went on to say that he "had discussed "joint replacement surgery on two toes" and that I "patient flatly refused to consider at this time". He also said he discussed the Mortons Neuroma and the surgery and possible outcomes with me.

I don't know who he was writing about or what caused him to write such outright lies. I don't think this has ever happened to me before, at least not that I know of. Do you know what a referred doctors write in their reports to the referring doctor? Wow...

If I didn't have such a good relationship with my Rheumatologist I would never have found out but she read me the whole letter. She suggested I could phone him and book the surgery but truthfully even if he is the best, I've lost trust in him and I'd rather take my chances with someone else.

So now it's back to square one, back on a waiting list at the end of a very long line...