Doctor did more than he could?

General
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Hi, it’s me again. I’ve got a question. If you’ve read my story, you’d know that I’m basically unemployable right now. I can see fine, but I can’t tolerate loud noises and I can’t hear well enough and my voice is not understandable for longer periods or in loud situations (think retail coffee shop/school etc.)

My wife and I were talking last night about this all and she said that she thinks the doctor was more aggressive than he should have been - in terms of treatment, tackled more than he was able to (which says a lot because he is nationally recognized as an expert) and didn’t anticipate or at least didn’t tell us the true extent of what could happen in terms of these side effects.

I’m not looking to sue anyone but I am looking at it and saying, “Hey, I’m 53 and essentially unemployable. My wife is working full time but until we get our teenagers done with high school, we are not making it financially.” I’m not talking at risk of homelessness or anything drastic but unless something changes, it’s a financial drain on us. I’ve applied for social security disability (what I was doing for income didn’t have disability insurance available). Has anyone ever had experience with basically saying, “Look, we’re not saying you screwed up, but because of what you did, I’m standing to lose $100’s of thousands of dollars over the next 15 years. Can we talk about an insurance settlement that would ease that burden?”

Thanks in advance for any thoughts, comments etc.

Tom

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Hey Tom,
I understand your thinking BUT I also know how protective the medical profession is of itself and to put it VERY mildly, you have a snowballs chance in hell of getting a dr to admit fault. Their view will be"…if we didn’t do what we did, you’d probably be dead…" As for your statement “Look, we’re not saying you screwed up, but…" OHH YES YOU ARE. For you to make such a claim there needs to be blame assigned to someone. And how can I say this? Because I went looking for answers and in doing so questioned the surgeon and I was accused to trying to get financial gain, which I wasn’t, I wanted answers not $$$$. I visited other neuros to get a 2nd opinion but the neuro community is very small and they all talk to each other and they all ‘closed up shop’ and rallied behind one another. I was ‘blacklisted’ for years. I had to travel interstate to get another opinion.
If you try to make a claim they (The insurer and their legal team) will FIGHT it, they will wrap you up in court for as long as it takes to send you bankrupt. I know that there was a clear cut case of negligence in one particular case, which did end up in court where the family lost everything, including their home.
I apologise if this is not what you want to hear but that’s my experience and knowledge.

Merl from Moderator Support

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Merl,

That is, unfortunately, as I expected and comes as no surprise.

I’m a firm believer in the saying, “if you don’t ask the question, the answer is always no.”

Hopefully, instead I can get the doctors to help with my social security disability claim - which they have already said they would do.

Thanks,
Tom

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Hi Tom

Sucks to hear, but its understandable how you feel.

The specialists usually advise on what the possible risks might be, and for me, expressed as “100% Risk of Complication” . In my case, surgery or any other Procedure is out of the question.

I found myself unable to function due to extreme pain (headaches from cranial AVM and left side facial pain including left ear inside and outside, left jaw, left tongue, left upper pallet, left side teeth, left side neck, from damaged glossopharengeal cranial nerve - GPN)

I thought it was over as far as my career, and was very stressed because disability doesn’t pay very much here in Canada. I couldn’t see that I could continue working. All doctors and specialists were urging disability and expressed that they didn’t know how was able to function on the all the drugs and with the severe pain. I was missing all kinds of work, using up all sick days and Vacation days so that my salary wouldn’t get ding’ed.

I had no choice but to try to get up everyday and try to go to work. I can say that its a little easier for me these days (4 years after what seems like the worst of it) I now work 7 hr days, work thru lunch, and leave the office at 3:30 to allow me to take my meds, eat and rest. I dose light in the AM to allow me to function at work, and take the rest as soon as I get home (heavy dose - Pregabalin, Morphine, and Immiprimine) Its still very challenging, and I continue to try to figure out a way to have some supplemental income, so that I don’t have to work as a Professional anymore.

I’m only expressing this in an effort to let you know you’re not alone in your challenges.

Accepting that I have what I have, and what the cirumstances and challenges are, has helped me greatly. I did not want to accept it, or that my career was over. As soon as I accepted, it was like a huge weight was removed.

I hope this brings you a little comfort, and helps you in some way.

Cheers
Ed

1 Like
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Ed,

If alcohol didn’t increase the noise in my head at least 5 times normal, I’d life a glass to you. It helps to know you aren’t alone.

Thank you my friend,

Tom