Hi Alaina,

I, too, am very sorry you have had this experience.

One of my doctors knows more about topical medications because she uses them more and wants to know about the options available. My primary care doctor is in favor of them and is just learning about the potentially helpful combinations. He is very open to writing a prescription once he understands what to write. (I often talk with the compounding pharmacist -- and look up topical medications online --to learn the latest and greatest and then show the options I prefer to my doctors.)

I have not had good luck with PAs for the most part. Some of them eventually gain a lot of experience and are highly specialized. Many PAs have minimal training and just aren't ready to handle more complex challenges. M.D.s have more extensive training and experience.

(We are seeing more and more PAs in the ER -- aka A&E -- and many find this fact a bit disturbing. My PCP and specialists are very upset with the fact that the local teaching hospital, also a Level I trauma center, is heavily staffed with PAs. I, personally, have had some very unhelpful experiences with PAs and have had to make sure I see practitioners with more experience/training. I do have a very experienced Orthopedic PA, however. )

I hope you will quickly find a practitioner better able to serve your needs, pronto.


DejaVu