[jnieman]

Originally Posted by dddave

When am I going to stop beating my head against the walls of incompetent medical offices in The Villages. I recently returned from a cruise with a broken toe and an infection from the break that had doubled the size of right leg up to the knee. I immediately went to my PCP - Dr. Allen Schwartz (one of the few practitioners in he Villages that has your back covered). He said this was very dangerous and could lead to sepsis - an infection that can cause blood clots and organ failure. He sent me to the first Infectious Disease practice that had an opening - Tri-County Infectious Diseases. He also faxed to them my medical records and a copy of an x-ray he had taken.

With my arrival, the front desk staff appeared to have just sucked on a lemon. When I was taken to an exam room a doctor - Dr Sheila Gillikin, rushed in, and read the top page of Dr Schwartz notes. Turned to me and asked, "What was wrong." She obviously had a problem seeing my elephant sized right leg. I explained the issues and concluded with "I also have a broken toe." She took my toe and wiggled it around and asked if it hurt. I said, "No." "Then you don't have a broken toe." She finally looked at my records and the X-ray and said, "Oh. You do have a broken toe." I had been taking Levaquin (a general antibiotic) that in two weeks had done nothing. She said "I can't make a diagnosis until I have an MRI. Keep taking the Levaquin; here is a prescription for an MRI. I will see you in two weeks." I asked her, "What about my broken toe?" Her parting words were "That's not my specialty." I felt she had as much interest in me as she would looking at an amoeba under a microscope.

I immediately returned to Dr. Schwartz. Explained what happened. I told him I would travel to any COMPETENT Infectious disease doctors south of the north pole. He sent me to Ocala Infectious Disease Center in Ocala. They were so concerned that I am now starting a 2 hour a day, 10 day therapy. The therapy calls for two powerful antibiotics administered through an IV.

I think there is a large alumni association among the doctors in The Villages - Voodoo U.

I remember reading a similar article to this just a week ago about people having problems with Levaquin. Definitely worth reading. Levaquin (Levofloxacin) Side Effects Leave Long-Lasting Disabilities - The People's Pharmacy