Connect
My pulmonologist fired me
I am writing to reiterate what an abomination treatment at Northwestern is. My Interventional Pulmonologist (who I do like) had prescribed an inhaler called Breyna to help with the pain in my lungs and airways. It helped tremendously however it is a two medication formulation, one of which exacerbated my QT Prolongation. So he said he would send a prescription for Pulmicort which did not have the bad formulation. He said he should probably defer to the regular pulmonologist but would send in the prescription. I waited a week and no prescription. So I wrote back and asked where it was and if he wanted me to ask the regular pulmonologist. Another week and of course no response.
So I wrote the regular pulmonologist and asked for the prescription for Pulmicort. The nurse wrote back and said doctor refused. I asked why. She said she asked him and that Pulmicort would cause QT and I should just continue nebbing with Levalbuteral. I wrote back and said both the Interventional Pulmonologist and I researched it and it did not list that. Then I pointed out that Levalbuteral DOES have QT Prolongation listed as a side effect, so won’t he please prescribe the Pulmicort because the inhaler really helps with the pain in my lungs and bronchial tubes. I was not belligerent. The nurse wrote back and said doctor said since I don’t like his treatment I should find another doctor. I was leaning that way anyway because Northwestern is non-responsive in so many ways. Now I have no choice but to start over again at the University of Chicago.
I write this for anyone considering Northwestern for their treatment -DON’T. You will regret it!!! Go to the University of Chicago instead. I have no choice now but to do the same and start all over again with Infectious Disease, Pulmonology and Cardiology. And as we all know with new patients there is a three month waiting period. What a nightmare.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.
Connect
Interesting. The only bronchoscopy I had was performed by my NJH pulmonologist. My Honolulu pulmonologist also performs bronchoscopies and implants & removes valves. Neither of them are interventional pulmos. I guess there is more specialization in some medical systems.
Learn something new every day, Interventional pulmonologist.
I appears to me that makes sense to have an Interventional Pulmonologist within a Pulmonology Clinic or health system so the regular pulmonologist isn't torn between having to take days out of the week to do procedures in the hospital (hospital days) and then therefore have limited days seeing patients in the office (office days). My thoughts.
A good few times when I called to make appointments with the the local pulmonologists
I was told the doctor will be in hospital. I would imagine some doctors would "scream" if they couldn't have hospital days away from the office and were stuck there all week long seeing patients in the manner they see them for in the office...I wonder???
Wow, per research there are Interventional Doctors in many fields of medical care, including gastroenterologists for example. I am really glad to have heard this term and like what they are trained to do, highly specialized in a particular field of medicine related to minimally invasive procedures. It does appear they would therefore relieve the regular doctor so that they have more time to see patients in the office.
Now that has me curious and I will now be asking about an Interventional Doctor when it appears it would be good to know if the system or clinic has one when seeing a particular type of doctor.
Glad to read all the comments and info regarding this subject.
Barbara
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionMy niece in law is a GI and really wants to do more surgeries but because she’s newest hire is only allowed to do very few, much less than when she was in training.
My brother was an ophthalmologist who also loved surgery. As far as I know he did all the things ophthalmologists do & their Kaiser wasn’t stratified into interventional. I believe you must have VERY high volume to stratify in that manner.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionDoberdoo If you like your Infectious Disease doctor and Cardiologist then maybe the Interventional Pulmonologist works well with another pulmonologist in the system and would be glad to suggest another after his determination with you that the Pulmicort should be O.K. in consideration of your concerns. I wonder if that might be something to consider if you haven't already.
Barbara
I called them and tried to switch. They said they do not allow it. If I do not like the doctor then go somewhere else. I keep saying how awful Northwestern is. This is another example. There are quite a few other pulmonologists I could switch to, but they will not allow it.
If they don’t require you to switch ALL your docs, I’d stick with the ones you like and see what you can get with U of Chicago, if that’s your preference.
Obviously certain procedures require very specific training and experience as well as updated technology/equipment and appropriate staff for the procedure. It is up to the patient to research and learn what are the diagnostic and treatment options in a specific situation, because one's usual clinic may not even offer the best options. Examples are needle biopsy vs Robotic-assisted Bronchoscopy for the lung... Or Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) vs. open chest!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionMy pulmonologist and I don't see things the same. He told me to use my nebulizer 4 times a day and use the flutter and it would get rid of my cough and bring up mucus blocking my airways. I did what it said and not once did I cough up anything. I have Sjogren and it is hard to cough up anything. Now he says I am micro-managing my disease. He doesn't listen. Ready to go else where if he doesn't fire me first.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionNeed more information. What medications are you nebulizing 4xday?
You may be better served by looking for another pulmonologist. Any expert I have heard speak on BE acknowledges the challenges of airway clearance and how many patients don’t bring up much mucus with airway clearance which can be frustrating for us. That’s not “micro-managing” that is just reality. What would be more helpful to you than patronizing unproductive (pun intended!) commentary would be brainstorming on possible ways to improve airway clearance (there are tools in addition to nebulizing and flutter) and possible other approaches to easing cough. A referral to a respiratory therapist specializing in BE would be optimal but those types of therapists seem rarely available. I don’t know what you are nebulizing 4 x a day and don’t have familiarity with Sjogren’s to offer any specific feedback but I do want to acknowledge that your experience with airway clearance is common and if your doctor doesn’t realize that it’s a strong sign they are not a BE specialist.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction