I was referred to Dr. Veber because of gum inflammation and bleeding. Dr. Veber told me "it looks like a reaction to something" and "these things usually resolve on their own" before prescribing me a cortisone ointment to help with the symptoms. The inflammation kept coming back and when I returned to see him, I told him that the gum problem was still there despite the cortisone ointment. He asked me, "Was that prescribed for lichen planus?" Wait, you're asking ME what you prescribed the ointment for? Don't you keep notes on your patients?
"Well, you told me it was some kind of reaction to something, but I was wondering if it might be lichen planus," I replied. He shook his head. "It doesn't look like lichen planus," he said.
Hm. If it doesn't look like lichen planus, why would you ask me if you - YOU, not some other doctor - had prescribed something for that condition?
He went on to say that it seemed to be some sort of chronic inflammatory condition, and suggested that I either have him do a biopsy, or I could go to the UCSF oral pathology department to get a diagnosis.
"Do I need a referral from you to go to UCSF?" I asked. "No, no. Just call them up for an appointment, you don't need a referral. If they want one, I can give you one. Just google their phone number."
I googled them and their website says they don't see patients, they just provide pathology service to clinicians who send in tissue samples for analysis. I called Dr. Veber's office, told the assistant that the website said the oral path people don't see patients. "Oh yes, yes they do," she responded. She said she'd check with the doctor and get me a referral.
The next day I called back and got the same assistant. "I looked at the website, and you were right, they don't see patients," she said. She scheduled me for a biopsy with Dr Veber.
When he did the biopsy, he put the sample in a vial, and placed the vial in a prepaid FedEx mailer addressed to UCSF. Then he handed the package to me and asked me to drop it off at a FedEx office. Now, is it just me (and everybody I've told this to), or is that a little flaky, asking your patient to do your FedEx run? If I hadn't been so stunned I would have asked for a discount on my biopsy (for which he charged $685) for doing his courier job.
The biopsy showed an autoimmune condition. After doing some more reading online I discovered that there is an oral MEDICINE department at UCSF, which is different from oral pathology, and they do see patients. I saw wonderful doctors there and feel on the way to getting my symptoms under control. Why Dr. Veber couldn't figure out the correct department for me, I really don't know. read more
