Doctors and derms - Page 2

JMAngel · 30th October 2008, 07:51 PM

Totally agree with all of this - last month I paid £150 to see a private dermatologist in the UK. I had canvassed 4 dermatologists via e-mail explaining my situation clearly in that I was keen to discuss theories for aetiology of rosacea, alternative treatments, light and laser therapy and skin care regimes. I thought that by doing this first, I would be able to weed out the usual conventional dermatologists who have frustrated me in the past. So, I got 2 replies back, one dermatologist said that he didn't think he could help me (did he mean psychologically I wonder??!!!LOL) and the other said he would be more than happy to see me as a private patient in his clinic the following week. I thought, bingo, I've finally found an understanding derm - well I was sure mistaken - I was in there probably 10 minutes (that's not a bad rate if you can get it!) - the man had never even read my e-mail and proceeded to patronise me by telling me I didn't have rosacea because I was too young (I'm 36!) and that I just had acne - now I have both acne and rosace and I sure as hell know the difference between a papule and a cystic outbreak! I felt like killing him. He knew nothing about IPL/laser and he wasn't prepared to discuss SLE/demodex mite/food intolerance/dietary links issues at all (actually waved his hand in front of my face!). Even though I had clearly told him at the start of the consultation that I was taking doxycyline, he wrote me a prescription for doxycycline and said "this may help" - when I said that I had been taking it for the last 6 months he said "oh well, just continue with that then"!!!. He then proceeded to tell me that a mild steroid might help with the redness - I seriously could have punched him and told him all about an acute steroid flare I had 4 years previously secondary to 2 weeks usage of Elocon. He didn't even bat an eyelid! 150 English Pounds - daylight robbery! I came home and sobbed my heart out on my husband's shoulder mainly because I had been so eager and excited before the appointment that this dermatologist might actually be different. UK dermatologists are atrocious - I live in the North West of England (Manchester)- has anybody on here found a good derm in my area?

Melissa W · 30th October 2008, 09:56 PM

I am so sorry about that awful treatment you received JMAngel!

If it makes you feel any better the derms here aren't any different unfortunately.
Hopefully someone can recommend a good derm in your area.

Hang in there!

Best wishes,
melissa

katyrose13 · 1st November 2008, 03:33 PM

Hi JM Angel,

I really feel for you.

It's bad enough to experience doctors who don't care when you aren't paying. I can imagine that it would be even worse when you are! Is there any way that you can complain about this guy? Given that you obviously made your needs very clear before making the appointment the fact that he had nothing to offer seems pretty apalling.

On a related note, perhaps what we really need is some kind of database of doctors and dermatologists to name and shame the bad ones and reccommend the good ones. I suppose it would be a bit of a legal quagmire though!

phlika29 · 1st November 2008, 08:58 PM

There is a UK website (the GMC were up in arms about it recently) but I am not sure what it is called. May have to find it

Lookout · 1st November 2008, 09:35 PM

OMGoodness that's just horrible....I have gone thru this also with derms....I have grown a deep hatred of them....I think they are all awful.....maybe and I say this very cautiously....maybe if you found a derm with chronic rosacea it would be a different story....but every derm I ever met has perfect skin and no skin diseases whatsoever! which means no understanding or empathy.

I too have come home heart broken and in shock over a derm appt......I wish I had a suggestion for you on how to find a doc any doc that would actually dig in and help.

phlika29 · 1st November 2008, 09:44 PM

JMAngel

Why do you not go to Dr Chu at Hammersmith, there are many here on the forum that would highly recommend him. I would most definitely advise that you come down to london to see him (but you will have to be referred via your doc/derm even if it is private). I wouldn't waste your time on anyone else.

Mistica · 1st November 2008, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phlika29

There is a UK website (the GMC were up in arms about it recently) but I am not sure what it is called. May have to find it

Here is one site I know of.

http://www.ratemds.com/social/

Be warned, it is not tamper proof though. I personally know a doctor who was outraged at poor ratings and managed to get most of them removed. After which he posted glorifying ones about himself.

Peter · 2nd November 2008, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phlika29

JMAngel

Why do you not go to Dr Chu at Hammersmith, there are many here on the forum that would highly recommend him. I would most definitely advise that you come down to london to see him (but you will have to be referred via your doc/derm even if it is private). I wouldn't waste your time on anyone else.

I suppose it's worth mentioning Sarah that you are a patient of Tony Chu's and I also saw him for my rosacea between 1998 - 2005, so we both know how good he is. What many people do not know is that he suffered badly from acne in his adolescence and therefore understands first hand the problems a facial skin condition can cause both physically and mentally.

What I liked about Tony is that he genuinely cares and I have never spoken to anybody else who is so knowledgeable about rosacea and it's treatments. I didn't always see eye to eye with him about everything but if something doesn't work then he is prepared to experiment until he finds something that does. Obviously many cases of rosacea respond quickly to the first line treatments and can therefore be controlled successfully but some are more tricky and he seems to receive his far share of these ones.

Mepacrine is an anti-malarial which you don't often hear mentioned that much where rosacea is concerned but I believe he has been prescribing it for years for some stubborn cases and it can help. Currently lamarr is posting on here that it is helping him:

http://www.rosaceagroup.org/The_Rosa...ad.php?t=16510

So as Sarah says if you can get to London then he is worth trying to get to see but beware there can be a 4 - 6 month waiting list. Hammersmith Hospital do also offer rooms near to the hospital at very reasonable prices where you can stay if you have to travel a long distance.

Thanks

Peter

Lookout · 2nd November 2008, 06:30 PM

Peter do you know of any published papers by Dr. Chu that supports using mepacrine for rosacea patients?

I would love to be able to try this med...but was told it's not available in the US....maybe there is something similiar over here that could be given as a trial.

Peter · 2nd November 2008, 09:59 PM

Hello Lookout

Not aware of any papers being published on Mepacrine. I seen to remember Tony mentioning that it was used more in Scandinavia as a rosacea treatment but I could be mistaken. As far as I know it can make you slightly yellow and sometimes can effect the eyes but these problems are only temporary and go away when you stop the drug. Mepacrine can have an anti-inflammatory effect so that's probably why it can help rosacea in certain cases.

http://www.bad.org.uk/public/leaflets/mepacrine.asp

If you can't get it in the US maybe there are other anti-malarial's available you could try but always discuss with your practitioner first. I notice you are trying RLT - any good?

Thanks

Peter