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Hello, Everyone!
First, I'd like to let everyone know, especially fellow pilonidal cyst sufferers, know that I'm healing well (still is open but not draning heavily/having that unpleasant odor, due to application of silver nitrate) from my pilonidal cystectomy in March. I see the RN in a month, at which time she may apply more s. n. I saw the surgeon last week. I have to start shaving/Nair-ing the area; otherwise, future problems will most likely crop up.
Anyway, I got my medical records from the male family doc who, 6 years ago, lanced (or so I thought) my cyst, but he writes in his notes that he EXCISES it, and it wasn't easy.
Now, I didn't think that family doctors were the people who DO excisions of pilonidal cysts, only drained (lanced) them.
SHOULD a family doctor attempt to fully excise a pilonidal cyst, yet not IDENTIFY IT AS A PILONIDAL CYST, even when they never MENTION PILONIDAL TO THE PATIENT, YET THEY PUT IN THEIR NOTES "There did not appear to be any communication of deeper tissues consistent with a pilonidal cyst." Yet the guy pulls out 1 1/2 inches of coiled hair! Go figure!
Could it simply be the case where he took his best shot at it? Again, the dr. commented to his nurse when he was 'operating' on me, "I've never seen anything like this before." The colorectal surgeon has this written in her notes regarding me: "She has never had anorectal surgery."
I understand now what a lancing is vs. a full excision, but I was thinking all along that the family doc only LANCED IT, once I started resarching pilonidal disease in November.
The family doc never sent it to the lab for evaluation, but the cyst that was totally removed, including the sinus, was sent in, that I had surgery on in March.
Has anyone who's suffered with this/or anyone else known of a family doc who's done this, or should he have left it to either a general/colorectal surgeon?
TIA,
EML
In Reply to: Pilonidal Cyst/Surgical Removal Question posted by EML on May 16, 2002 at 10:46:49:
Personally I think the doctor didn't know he was just lancing the cyst so he wrote it wrong. He had never seen it before so I wouldn't be surprised if he put the wrong term down.
As for the fact that he cut something open that he had no idea how to heal is pretty scary. I don't know if it's because some doctors think people will think bad of them if they just say hey I don't know what to do?
My general doctor who lanced mine several years ago did it wrong. However he got pretty close to how to lance it, he just packed it wrong. Of course my first general surgeon did it wrong too. He used the open method but I healed in one week!!! Never heard that before. But at the time I didn't know any better, I trusted when I should have researched more.
Well I guess we just live and learn right! LOL. So my thought is that you shouldn't put to much value in what your family doc did since he didn't know what he was doing.
Glad to hear you are doing well. Happy Healings
just another suffer
In Reply to: Pilonidal Cyst/Surgical Removal Question posted by EML on May 16, 2002 at 10:46:49:
Hi, EML.
Listen to just.
This is just one more reason why every person should have a copy of ALL of their medical records up to date!
Walt
In Reply to: Pilonidal Cyst/Surgical Removal Question posted by EML on May 16, 2002 at 10:46:49:
I never paid much attention to medical records. I think that most people think that they'll never see their records or don't think about it; therefore, they don't ask about them. If I'd known what he wrote in his notes back then, I would've at least SEEN the word pilonidal and could've looked it up a long time ago. All I had to go on was 'dermoid cyst,' but it wasn't that at all! LOL Geesh!!
I don't have medical records for OB visits to a previous OB/GYN; wonder if I should get them, too.
Do you think I should obtain ALL medical records on myself so that I am 'good to go??'
Also, the 'norm' around here is to transfer them between doctors, not get them. However, since I am getting them left and right (LOL), then I might as well go for it and try to get some more...
EML
In Reply to: Thx for the replies/Have another question posted by EML on May 17, 2002 at 17:21:25:
A little tidbit about medical records. You may already know this, but I used to work in a doctor's office so I know the current law.
You actually own your medical record as far as the INFORMATION goes. No doctor can ever deny you the right to all information that has been entered into your chart and they can't charge you if you only want to look at it on their premises. The only right the doctor has is to charge you for the paper that they put the information on and the labor to get that information onto a copy. I know that sounds silly, but it's true. I think there's a cap to how much they can charge, but I can't remember how much it is.
In Reply to: Thx for the replies/Have another question posted by EML on May 17, 2002 at 17:21:25:
Hi, EML.
The "norm" is just an arbitrary decision by physicians which is rapidly going the way of the dinosaur!
Go for it! Then, be sure any physicians you see in the future understand that you expect to get copies of your records as they are created. Docs who refuse this do not deserve your patronage. They are rapidly becoming the minority so you have many to choose from who will encourage you to have them.
If they charge you an exorbitant cost per page (like more than 20 cents) [most docs provide them free] you will have learned a valuable lesson about this doc: He cares more for his ego and for money than he cares for YOUR health. Better to learn it this way than on the operating table!
Namaste`
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Thx for the replies/Have another question posted by Donna E. on May 17, 2002 at 19:10:32:
Thanks, Donna E.
Namaste`
Walt
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