Doctors are supposed to help us - regular mortal people - right? Not in this case... Now, I never…read moreposted negative reviews, but I've never felt so neglected by a doctor that I just can't help it. Sorry, Mr. Siegel. Thank you for all the physical pain you could have prevented me from.
I have severe migraines, they usually last 2-3 days, and leave me pretty much non-functional. In August of 2007 I got a referral to Mr. Siegel, the neurologist from a regular MD. Mr. Siegel saw me and prescribed me Imitrex, which works great, my migraine goes away within hours, or a day at the longest. This medicine is prescription only, and so far is the ONLY medicine that helped me. I was able to enjoy my life much more in the last 2 years.
On Tues 5/26 I called my pharmacy for a refill. When they stil did not have it ready on Friday 5/29, I found out that my request for the refill was denied by the doctor. Reason - I need to be seen. Ok... the doctor could have let me know that, does he have to use a pharmacy to relay the message?
Fine, I call the doctor's office, and ask them why I need to come in. Why - because it has been over 2 years, they tell me. Well, not quite, I say, still 3 more months till August of 2009. Ok, then it's been over 1.5 years, they tell me, you still need to be seen. Any more words you going to go back on? But anyway, ok, sure.
When should I come in? Oh, the doctor is booked today, and is leaving for 2 weeks vacation tomorrow, I can see him when he gets back. All is dandy, but... I have no medicine left. And also, I am going away for 2 months in 2 weeks. I explain that to the lady at the office, and ask her if I can walk in, or wait for after hours visit, or whether he can talk to me on the phone. Does he really need to see me? Nothing changed... At least give me one more refill so I am good until he gets back from his vacation. Or is someone taking care of his patients while the doctor is away? No, not really. I have to wait.
She thinks about all this for a moment, and asks to have my pharmacy fax her another refill request. Which I request, and at 4:10 pm they fax it. I call at 4:30 to confirm they received the request, talk to the lady again, and explain the urgency of the situation. She takes all my phone numbers, and says "let me see what I can do". I call again at 4:54 only to find out that the doctor is still with the patient, but even though they close at 5 pm, they will call me no matter what. NO PHONE CALL.
At 5:22 I get a call from my pharmacy that refill request is denied again. No promised phone call from the doctor's office, and of course, they are not at the office anymore. Once again, the doctor chose to have have my pharmacy relay the message. And now he's off on his vacation, and I am left to suffer, which could have been easily prevented.
For what it's worth... Doctors are supposed to help us live our lives better, take personal care of us, their patients. Isn't that a part of the oath they take? If it's not, then it should be at least in every doctor's moral code. It's just not in this doctor's moral code.