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Hi, I don't write in here often, but I read all the posts. I really enjoy Frank's posts as they make me smile or laugh - and I knew of course, that the comments in this thread were tongue-in-cheek. :-) I had a bit of a laugh about it too, as it is soooo true.. I notice that Gilly also mentions bad experiences, so maybe it's worse here in Australia? But the chauvinist attitude of many of the male medical profession - esp. specialists - here towards females is really awful. It's also really hard to find anyone with any knowledge or interest in learning about TM. Most of what I learned is through this website and list, and then I go to my gp to ask for the meds or whatever, or with a print-out of info. My neuro who dx me with TM costs $90 each visit, and I can't afford that, and like Gilly, it seems a bit pointless anyway. I've also given up on all the specialists, and just see my gp when I need new scripts. It was only through this list that I learned of Baclofen and Neurontin, which has helped me so much; I would have still been on Parkinson meds if not for that. (Though the Madopar does still help occasionally, when my legs won't stop jumping about at night. It really does work quite well for that). The chauvinist attitude that I experienced - and also witnessed being done to other women as well - in 2 long hospitalizations at our local public hospital (and which I've vowed never to go back to - no matter what happens), is something I would never have believed if I had not witnessed (and experienced) it myself. My neuro that I see, only works in the private hospitals, and I don't have insurance, and he doesn't have visiting rights at the public hospital, unfortunately. In our local public hospital, they don't seem to even believe that TM exists, and they make so many errors and stuff-ups that it's really very scary to be there. One time when I was in the hospital in June, I told the staff that if I was a male with the same symptoms, that I'd be treated differently. Well; the next day, they put me in a men's ward. I was the only woman, in with 3 men. A friend of mine used to be a nurse at that hospital, and had left because of the poor standards and way they treated patients. She told me that for sure, she knew that they'd have done that to punish me. The whole experience there left me traumatized, and it didn't help at all anyway. Heaps of other things happened there too, including previously, on one occasion, a lady died next to me, and they wrapped up her body, but then left there for over 4 hours, before moving to the morgue, and left the curtain half open, with me having to lie there next to her. Maybe that wouldn't upset some, but I found it quite upsetting... There was lots more, but I won't go into it all. I'm only now just starting to recover from the experience. My specialist and gp had wanted me to go in there in May, when everything seemed to flare up again, when I had the flu, and I apparently had very 'brisk' reflexes, and had some foot response or something; they wanted me tested for MS, and put on steroids. They did that at the hospital, and the test turned out negative, but in doing that I was basically left in there to rot for 5 wks before they discharged me, and I left sicker than when I'd gone in, due to the filthy conditions, and negative atmosphere there. I've sworn now, that no matter what ever happens to me; that I will never, ever go to that hospital again. I have been referred to another specialist in Sydney, but I've been too stressed and sick to go. I just want to be left alone now. I just go to my gp for meds, and don't want to see anyone else. I've become a bit of a hermit actually. Anyway; the Baclofen has helped a lot, and I've been exercising my legs lots to try to get back as much mobility as possible, (ditched the physiotherapists too), and have made some pretty good progress lately; so at least things are looking better than they were a few months back; and I'm feeling more settled, and much prefer just looking after myself anyway. Unfortunately I live alone, which makes things hard, but have gotten a good service from a local private nursing group here, so I'm getting some help with housework and shopping, as I've been in a wheelchair mostly since last December when the TM hit. I've now progressed to forearm support frame, and have even attempted a bit of staggering about with a cane. It probably looks pretty funny, sort of like I'm very drunk or something, but there's no one to stare, or to panic about my attempts, and at least I'm managing it. I feel I've progressed much better since ditching the so-called public health services, and just working things out for myself. Thank goodness I have a great gp anyway. Anyway, sorry for rambling on, but even when I think about that experience at the hospital, I still get distressed. All I had really meant to say, is that chauvinism and prejudice do exist in the medical profession, and that women do definitely get the raw deal - certainly with the public hospital system in this area, anyway; and I'm sure it must be similar in many places. It's so wrong, and it seems almost unbelievable in this day and age to come across such a thing, but it certainly does exist. Best wishes to everyone here, and thoughts and prayers for your wellbeing and recovery. .... and sorry for the long rambling post. :-[ Kathryn Bensville NSW Australia |
