[Talk Host]

About 3 years ago, maybe 4 I began having an extremely itchy rash on the back of my right ankle. When it itched, it reeeeallllly itched. I went to a dermatologist and he said, "Contact rash, here get this $2,000,000 tube of cream and it'll go away." I used it and it kinda went away but came back.

During the course of things, I saw another dermatologist who said, "keep using that $2,000,000 tube of stuff when you have a flare-up"

Then I was at a routine visit at my Dr. and I said, "What's this?" He said, "Contact dermatitis, you still got any of that $2,000,000 stuff?"

Then it so happened that last week, I went to yet another dermatologist for a completely different thing and didn't even mention my ankle. This guy, who is about 70 years old, said, "What are you doing about that FUNGUS on your ankle." "FUNGUS" I said? He said, "I know fungus when I see it, I've been at this 999 years." He looked at a sample under his microscope and said, "YEP, FUNGUS, I'll bet it really itches." He said, "get some over the counter Lamisil and use it for two weeks, it'll be gone." I did, It is.

Don't automatically accept what your doctor says.

JLK

[getdul981]

Great story, but how could a Dr that's about 70 years old have been practicing for 999 years?

[zcaveman]

Mine is close but not as expensive. I had a bad rash and went to the doctor who prescribed a $25 tube of cream. It got rid of the itch but not the rash. After several tubes, the pharmacist asked what I was using the cream for. I told him and he said that the $3 tube of OTC Tinactin should fix it and it did. Itch and rash both gone.

[macro]

Originally Posted by getdul981

Great story, but how could a Dr that's about 70 years old have been practicing for 999 years?

Maybe he put in a lot of overtime and sundays?? Didn't golf on wednesdays either!
Personally, I want the health plan Talk Host has that routinely covers a $2,000,000 tube of cream every couple of months, no questions asked. How much was the co-pay, TH?

[bkcunningham1]

I'll give you advise that will work. Gold Bond powder in your socks or shoes. Gold Bond lotion on your itch.

[chachacha]

i think this is a good example of "ask your pharmacist first" before expensive doctor visits. since i had no health insurance most of my life this became my first line of defense and usually was sufficient....of course if you have serious symptoms like fever or extreme pain, this would not apply. shingles comes to mind here. get thee to a doctor!

[2BNTV]

I had an experience with dermatologist. I saw some discoloration on my ankle and the frist dermatologist mis-diagnosed it. I went to another dermatologist that was recomended by someone I trusted. He also mis-diagnosed it as "eczema". In addition, This "ecemza" persisted for about one year and was not resolved to my satisfaction. He also removed some growths that he told me were non-malignate. He never sent this growths out to the lab for analysis but he charged the insurance company for this service. Eventually, this doctor went to jail as he was defrauding medicare. What a guy!!!!!

When I changed to a new primary care doctor, the doctor informed me that I had dry skin and lotion and gentle soap would help reduce the itching. He also prescribed claritin and this helps making it tolerable in the cold weather.
I still go to this doctor as he diagnoses problems correctly.

Talk Host: Don't automatically accept what your doctor says.

I agree. You must be an advocate for your own health. I have all my questions ready for a doctor as the new type doctor can only give you ten minutes of his time and then he/she feels he/she is losing money as he/she needs to go to his/her next patient.

I still fondly look back to the days when doctors had bedside manners.

[tpop1]

50% of the doctors finished in the bottom half of their class!!!!

[iaudit]

Know what they call a doctor who finished last in medical school???

DOCTOR

[jannd228]

Talk Host: Don't automatically accept what your doctor says.

True story: In 1990 I had bouts of pneumonia, had a slip and fall accident, injury didn't heal. Without "routine" tests was diagnosed as having a disease no one had ever heard of, was told it was a "designer disease" by physician in a very well known medical facility in Boston. I believed the diagnosing physician, who told me "without his treatment" I would become paralyzed from the neck down. Problem, I was a dance teacher, 2 locations, very successful, closed business based on his diagnosis, did his treatment.

Believed the diagnosis for 18 years, went to other physicians, they all agreed I had this disease AFTER I told them I had it. I was in pain all the time, especially when it rained. April 2008 while teaching English at a technical high school that considers themselves to be a laboratory for HVAC students, I collapsed and was taken to a Cape Cod Hospital. Pulmonologist told me I had 10% of my lungs functioning, I had a fungus growing in my lungs, cause, a severe allergic reaction to mold. Why could he diagnose it, I never told him I had the other disease, and he had recently re-located to the Cape from CA where his wife, also a physician, had developed the condition.

Unless they have their GPA posted along with their license, DO NOT BELIEVE them!!! They are an industry, not a profession. You are merely how much they can charge your medical insurance, nothing else, IMHO.

If you have rashes and shortness of breath and have allergies to ANYTHING, and are told you have hypertension, go vegan for a week and see if you feel better. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy!!!

[brostholder]

Originally Posted by zcaveman

Mine is close but not as expensive. I had a bad rash and went to the doctor who prescribed a $25 tube of cream. It got rid of the itch but not the rash. After several tubes, the pharmacist asked what I was using the cream for. I told him and he said that the $3 tube of OTC Tinactin should fix it and it did. Itch and rash both gone.

Yeah Pharmacists!!!
Barry the Pharmacist

[salpal]

Your doc must have flunked the Fungus test

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by iaudit

Know what they call a doctor who finished last in medical school???

DOCTOR

And their waiting room is full.