Originally Posted by fionab

I am so so glad for you that you've FINALLY got a dr. who is both listening to you and taking steps to help you. I'm so sorry you've had to suffer at the hands of other "professionals" who have obviously dropped the ball in your situation. You can now put them on your "fired" list.

However, before you do or say anything to them (that they rightly deserve), it may be a good time to ask them for a copy of your chart as you do have a right to have a copy of it. That way you may get some valuable information that you can use towards building your own chart on yourself. Ask for bloodwork results from past 6 months, any test results from past year (MRI's, CT scans etc.), any doctor's notes (if you can read them), and any notes from other doctors that may be in your chart.

If you haven't already started collecting your records, this would be a good place to start. And with this new dr. and whomever he refers you to, get in the practice of asking for copies of your records from them, too. There's been many a time I've been glad I was able to look back on something. If you are unable to go in personally to your old dr., have them fax you a release of information form, fill it out saying you want a copy of the aforementioned items, sign it and have your husband go in to the office and wait while they make the copies for you. Given the bad way they've treated you in the past, I wouldn't trust them to copy/mail them to you.

Another thought...maybe your new dr. will be asking for those records from your old dr.?? If so, maybe he/she will give you a copy.

Sorry to but with you being so young it would be good for you to begin having a copy of your own records. Throwing a stack of paperwork down in front of a dr. can go a long way in getting them passed their preconceived ideas of whether you're "really" sick/in pain or not. This, unfortunately, is the reality of dealing with chronic pain.

Hang in there!!