I am Karen from Birmingham, Alabama. I have had several abdominal surgeries and have already had two surgeries to remove adhesions. Both were successful and I felt wonderful after. Now, however, I have no insurance and I am having another flare-up of severe abdominal pain. I have "charity care" through the University Medical Center in Birmingham, but the ER doctors (I have been twice in the past week) Say I am not dying so they sent me home. I finally got an appointment with a general doctor but he just gave me a prescription for an anti-depressant and sent me on my way. He NEVER even requested my record from my previous doctor who is familiar with my problems and who has done my previous surgeries! I am flabbergasted! I even asked this new doctor if he would at least communicate with my previous doctor and he just said that I had extensive blood-work done and a chest and stomach x-ray when I went to the ER and since those were negative, I must be fine.....WHAT!! I know this type of treatment happens everyday to patients to some capacity, however, this is the first time it has happened to me. I feel defenseless and desperate because I have no insurance and I can't "shop around" for a doctor who cares. I cannot live this way and feeling hopeless is making me absolutely crazy!
Does anyone know of a doctor somewhere out there who can help me? I can even fly within a certain air mile radius of my home through a charitable oragnization called AirLifeline. They are wondeful. My challenge now is finding someone who can help me even without insurance. I wish we could go back to the day of bartering ;)
Thanks in advance even if I don't find help, I am happy I have found this network of people who at least understand the way I feel.
-- Karen Earl