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From: Beth (with a p.s. added)
Date: 01/30/02
Time: 04:56:51 PM -0600
I can't believe this.... I just came from the laryngologist, a voice box specialist who did a scope exam on my larynx (vocal cords) because I have reflux there.... he asked me to explain my symptoms before the exam and I stated, I have constant reflux up and constant post nasal drip down. He said: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS POST NASAL DRIP, NOTHING COMES 'DOWN' FROM YOUR NOSE INTO YOUR THROAT EVER." I said... "but I can SEE strings of sticky white mucous when I open my mouth and look at the back of my throat and, I have to snuff this stuff out of my sinuses constantly" and he started to get very nasty and he said to me: "I HAVE BEEN A DOCTOR FOR 40 YEARS I AM NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND ARGUE WITH YOU." So I politely asked him, if he has a cold and his nose is running, has he ever tilted his head back so that the nose-run stuff goes back down the throat rather than have it run all over the face if he does not have access to a tissue? I explained, THIS was my sensation for which I was on Allegra and Flonase etc. and the man started to YELL at me saying IT HAD TO BE COMING UP FROM MY LUNGS. I explained to him even as a professional singer, some times phlegm or mucous would cut off the singing in mid-phrase and he said, 'that's it enough talk let's just look at the OBJECTIVITY of the laryngoscope which CAN'T LIE."
So we do the scope and, my vocal cords are covered with mucous! And the laryngologist says to me: I DONT KNOW HOW IT GOT THERE BUT ITS NOT POST NASAL DRIP!
Now this was not the most insulting part of the visit... I put up for this, figuring he was crankly by nature etc. and I knew full well what I have flowing from the back of my throat goes down not UP so I just let it go with no further 'argument' as he called it. HOWEVER.. when I explained it contributed to my difficulty breathing and burning from the reflux the man told me HIS DIAGNOSIS OF ME WAS PURELY PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS!
At that point I got up and left his office. He had insulted me, basically called me a liar, told me my symptoms don't exist then... on top of it, called me a nut.
All because I just went for help trying to breathe. By the way, when I told him (most sincerely) it would be nice to just be able to breathe he shouted at me, "THAT SARCASTIC REMARK IS NOT ACCEPTABLE."
It was not a sarcastic remark, it was an honest to God true statement. :-(
As I left all the other patients were staring at me because he was shouting at me down the hall because I refused to 'properly check out' and he shouted to his nurse: MAKE A NOTE THE PATIENT REFUSES TO SIGN OUT!!! I'm just so grateful I did not cry in front of the other patients.
Has anyone else on this board been told by the doctor they are having psychological problems and that post nasal drip does not exist??
I really don't know whether or not to write a letter to the hospital asking them to attach a copy of my viewpoint for my files or not... for this physician saying I don't "HAVE" any illness may mean my insurance denies payment for an un-necessary procedure today or even denies my Prevacid, Allegra and other prescriptions.
I just feel totally abused by this situation seeing as my case clearly documented acid damage AND post nasal drip on other laryngoscopes and by other ENT's etc. and I truly resent being told I am a nut when the truth is I am ill and just wanted help being able to breathe.
Any advice?
Thanks, Beth
oh ps... he also said my throat spasms or esophageal spasms were all in my head. I might add here it took eight times the normal dosages of Prevacid to stop my larynx from closing off all together.