To all my friends here...I really have missed keeping in touch. I hope you all are fairing well!I have been dealing with some circumstances that are out of my control and very urgent. But in the process I also had this issue that I just didn't need arise and I feel a sense of responsiblity to share this experience with those I care about.

Many of you know that I was diagnosed with centralized RSD in 1989. I had the same amazing Dr. until 2005, when she passed. Her name was Dr. Toni McLellan (Toni L. McLellan) of Colorado Springs.
After she passed, my records were given to the Doctor in the office next to her, office to be held until they could be sent to a new physican. I signed a witnessed release of my medical records to be sent to my new future Doctor, and I still have a copy of that. Upon visiting my new physican with my husband present, the new Dr R*** commented on the size of my file...laying on his desk. He had taken it home the past weekend and said he had read it.
A few weeks ago when I requested copies of my 20 years of records...to give to a new Doctor....they could not be produced. Only a few sheets of copies prescriptions and one office visit from her. ! These pages includes his notes from 2005-2009. 18 pages total! I have tried to obtain my records and to my dismay at this point have been unsuccessful...even with a call from my attorney. I am going to absolutely not give up on this!!!
Durring this process while I am trying to locate Dr Toni McLellans surviving husband, I see she has written articles with Dr. Schwartzman. I really still miss her very much, but I am thankful for the care she gave me. I have always said I was very fortunate from the beginning with my treatment in 1989.
I am not very good at computer searches, but I am trying to collect all the copies of reviews and articles Dr. Toni McLellan and Dr. Schwartzman wrote together.
I urge you all to obtain copies and update your files regularly. These are your medical files. There are laws that protect Drs from disposing of records (I think seven years), but to inforce that law you need an attorney and $$$$.
I still have a few years to get together the money and try to get my records, but the sooner the better, I am sure.
I do NOT intend to drop this and I am so upset about the manner in which I was treated. This was 20 years of my life. I did get copies in 2002 from Dr. Toni McLellan, at her suggestion. But this office had 20 years of records, they are responsible for.
I see a new Doctor on the 25th. I hope he turns out to be ok. Keep me in your thoughts, please!!! Hugs Di

The new Dr R -did have all the files and now does not?
Or they will not give them to you?
I wonder if they got misplaced....as in misfiled or lost?
I hope they can be "found" for you soon

Hi Jo*mar How are you?
Yes the new Dr R had all the files. My husband and I both saw them and the Dr commented on how large they were. But now says they don't have them. Even though as my attorney pointed out... they can produce a few pages that are copies, so we know they had them. They said they have looked everywhere and probably sent them back to where they came from. Where they came from, said they checked and they don't have them, he does. I signed a witnessed release of records to this Dr R. Iwas told me they are probably in his basement somewhere, by the office from where they came from.Apparently he stores additional files there, But his office (Dr R) said they looked and couldn't find them.

If they were in a damp basement in a house(Old Victorian, house for an office) in Colorado, they may have gotten damaged. My upset was beyond the missing 18 inches of files...but the attitude of "What do you want us to do?" We can't find them....attitude. That is what they said to me.
It really is devasting. Also, I loved my previous Dr. Toni McLellan...she really cared for all her patients. 20 years is a long time for a Doctor patient relationship. Thanks for the hug...I do feel very betrayed...di

Diana I am so sorry that has happened!! That also happened to me, and it is hard to recover from something like this when there are test results and such that were done that needs to be there for future doctors to see.

I had to go and have all the tests redone, and some are very uncomfortable, or down right painful. The only good things that came out of the whole ordeal was that I was worse off then the first tests, and I learned to get copies of everything done, plus get copies from my doctor at least every six months to update my files.

After redoing all these things they found my files about 1 year later, so I did get copies of everything eventually. But what a nightmare!!

I did learn that you can go to the various hospitals, clinics, and specialists if you can remember where you went, and get copies from them. But they charge a fee for the copies, and it is best to go in and pick them up instead of having them mail them to you if at all possible. This way you can look the files over to make sure it is all there before you leave.

I sure hope they can find those files Di, you should stay on them, and they should understand why you are staying on them.

Diana,
I too, kind of know what this is like.

An ex divorce attorney, has two boxes of files.
Including my Pre Nup!

AGH!

I cannot get them, I've written, gone there several times, and, nope.
He moved from another office (same building).
I think I may need to get another attorney involved, but I fear they are lost!
This is costing me so much.
And, the grief.
I surely hope you get some satisfaction, and get those records!

Pete

Hi Diana,

I am so sorry for your predicament. Try not to get too worked up, or you will flare (except that you probably are already there...). With winter coming we already have enough flares on the horizon!! Why can't you look for them yourself in the basement of the building where you suspect they may have been misplaced?

I like Allen's suggestion that you try to recoup what you can from various medical facilities. I just had to put a package of my files together for an application to an out of state PM doctor, and needed to gather my papers from various places. If you have a GP, he or she may have copies of a lot of your PM doc's stuff. I retrieved my MRI's and ultrasounds from the facility where they were performed. And I asked my PT for a copy of his summary reports. I made several back-up copies and will keep them here at home and update them every so often.

Thanks so much for taking the time to alert us all to the dangers of not updating our personal files on a timely basis. Who would have thought?!.... Please take care and we will all hope for the best outcome for you.

XOXOX Sandy

I know what you are going through due to trying to get my Mom's and Dad's files after they died. My Dr. even tried to get them for me. Their Dr. said she had destroyed them.

I get suspicious when I hear things like this. With Mom and Dad, I believe their family Dr. hid the fact that she was charging them for their medical care and Social Security. The SS office told me that they thought that of her but no one would come forward and say so. I had an Aunt and Uncle that had proof of cancelled checks that she did double charge them but I couldn't get them to go against her. She didn't wait 7 years to destroy theirs either.

I do know with my Dr. he has all 5 files of mine for the 19 years I have been going to him. He said he took them home last year to go over them to see when my pelvic pain started and what might have started it. I do have a whole trunk of records but I just got tired of going to all of the Drs. for the copies. There was just too many.

Allen is right too. You can go to the hospital and other places you have had test done and they will make copies for you. I don't think I have had to pay for any here in Co. that I have ask for.

Love ya girl,

Ada

Diana I think it is so important you shared this thank you so much, I have been through this is is a long diffucult process. I have to keep all my records to do a suit. Even going immedidately after a text , which by law they have to give you a copy I have had great diffuculties. My attorneys have waited two years for records. I wish you great success. The law is on your side you are right. Go Fight Win!! Good Luck,! Cz
This ( the importance of having all your medical records in a notebook ) is also stressed in Dr. Tennants Intractable Pain Handbook.

I have double copies of mostly everything. I am really glad you posted this because people don't think about copying their medical records. I am sooooo sorry you had to go through this, I pray that the new doctor works out for you!