[tshadow]

I can't get into my PTP and then I got the same symptoms really bad, so I went back to the ER that is actually the one in my HMO. This hospital is so different from the good one I was rushed to earlier - it's dirty and they treat you like poop - they just rush everyone through.

When the doc saw my meds, he asked me if I had mental illness, bi-polar, etc. I had ALREADY explained to him that neuro TOS is a neurological condition (not an orthopedic condition) and that I had nerve damage. NONE of my drugs (because I have knoweldge of this subject) qualify as mental illness meds or bi-polar, so right off he seemed very judgmental and as if he'd written me off without even looking at my whole chart.

Then he asked me if I had insurance because I'd been to the other ER. I explained to him I was doing what the other ER said, and that I'd actually called his ER that AM to make sure it was appropriate to come in.

At the very end, I told him I was an attorney and pro tem judge prior to becoming ill, and that I didn't think we were communicating very well. His diagnosis was that my diabetes was again 500, and I needed a shot and some new meds, but that he wasn't going to do anything else but send me to my PTP tomorrow.

I find it crazy that I've been going to this ER for three months with severe gall bladder pain, and it was the OTHER hospital that made the findings and said I need it out, and now he says "no." So I asked him what it was, and believe this - he says, "it's just a superfical pain, like probably some acid reflux." Since when is acid reflux a sharp knife pain in a specific spot right where the gall bladder is???

I think the docs RUN SCARED FROM TOSERS and don't want to "touch" us.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT - it's so funny that I can get so many caring words here, when I get NONE at home. You guys mean the world to me! Thank you all for your kind posts.

Gibbrn, I hope you beat the ins. baloney about the ridiculous restrictions. Don't give up. Get your doc to write a great response to their silly restrictions, if appropriate in your area to do so.

And to those who ask about Lyrica, for me, I really didn't get that much relief from it, but I was following orders. I think I took it nine months, and about month three the pounds just came on almost daily!!! I gained the 50 or so lbs., like I said, and when I hit a certain weight, I just said, this has got to stop. I can't be this weight. And my face / head was so puffy and swollen! So I stopped it, and IMMED. began losing lbs. I did lose 60 lbs., more than I gained. Further, when I was on Lyrica I also totally lost my almost perfect eyesight. It got all fuzzy and blurry and I saw sort of shooting stars...I couldn't (and still can't) read magazines or the t.v. screen guide. Another side effect was that I craved sweets, but I really wasn't eating very much as I gained. The docs didn't believe me - but fiance knew I didn't eat, and he was kind of shocked as I told him my gains. I actually ate MORE when I was off of it, and yet lost lbs. each day.

Each person has to make their decisions about these meds themselves. But I do have to say that these side effects we talk about with Lyrica and Topomax specifically, do seem to really be the same down the line, and not worth it. And I wonder, what are we experimenting with, putting these in our bodies? How much testing have these two drugs had???

I love you all for sticking up for me. It feels good. "F" that ER doc - where's our alligator???