QUESTION FOR A RETINA DOCTOR: A POEM WRITTEN DECEMBER 11, 2022

I asked the doctor why he stuck that needle in my eye!

“It’s plain to see!” he told me, “and here’s the reason why!”

“You have an eye condition: macular degeneration.”

“Why do I have this?” I replied.  “What is the explanation?”  

No pause or hesitation for that doctor’s quick reply:

“Because you are on Prolia, and that’s the reason why!” 

“Oh my gosh” I thought at once, “Now I will have to choose!”  

“My vision or my backbone; Oh, which one would I lose?”

At last I made the awful choice: my bones would have to go.

I didn’t get my Prolia shot, the rest, I guess, you know!

Soon after, in a flood of pain, three vertebrae were shot!

Life as I knew it ended, right there on the spot!

No more driving, no more travel, just a lot of pain!

My active life cut with a knife — and sent right down the drain!

Not long afterwards I learned I’d got bad information. 

And why that doctor said those words?  I have no explanation.

All too late I learned that this condition of the eyes,  

Is from osteoporosis, NOT Prolia; but I was too late wise!

                                          ###

WORDS IN A FLOOD-- A POEM -- December 8, 2022

Arrogant, thoughtless words in a flood!

Could it be from a brain that is only a spud? 

So sharp with the needle, so dull with the words, 

That I’m dragging my years like a sack full of turds!

I’ve said it once, twice and I’ll say it again - 

I live with such pointless and unneeded pain!

Some days I just wish that I weren’t alive,  

But venting this anger helps me to survive!

Wherever he is with his careless old tongue, 

I hope he’s not harming folks - aging or young!

My many nice plans for retirement gigs, 

Including some travel and fun with the kids, 

Are consigned to the trash heap of “never to be,” 

For his arrogant thoughtlessness did that to me!

Joan Levin,  December 8, 2022

Dedicated to Dr. Timothy Flood

ABOUT DR. TIMOTHY FLOOD -- A POEM

Dedicated to Dr. Timothy Flood

What can I say about Timothy Flood?

I'd say as an eye doctor he was a dud!

Folks go to their doctors for healthful advice, 

But his was as healthful as maggot-laced rice!

I asked why my eyes had this condition.  

“Because you’re on Prolia!” was his position. 

So I skipped my next Prolia, this is no joke! 

I was scared for my eyes, but instead my back broke! 

The right answer came from an alternate source, 

An ophthalmologist at NIH Eye Institute, of course!  

She could not believe that any physician, 

Let alone an eye doctor, would take Flood’s position!

“Was this really a doctor?” was all she could say.

“A retinal specialist,” I replied, in dismay.    

Now all of the plans I had made for these years, 

Have gone up in smoke, forever I fear! 

And I will be spending the long years ahead, 

Pretty much chained to my room and my bed! 

As for Timothy Flood, I don’t give a damned jingle — 

But I sure hope that quack will retire his shingle!

And that's quite enough about Timothy Flood.

Like Lincoln's assassin, his name should be Mudd!

 December 17, 2022

A RIDDLE -- A POEM

Who would I like to see burning in Hell,

Or living a life with the pain I know well?

The guy whose degrees may make him look smart,  

But who likely can’t tell a poop from a fart?

Whose betraying advice was the worst kind of crud?

(Although his name was not Samuel Mudd!)

Arrogant, posturing dandy, that's him!

But the damage he did me was grisly and grim!

                                       ###

MORE BAD MEDICAL ADVICE!

Here’s the dilemma of Timothy Flood,

A genius with needles, for advice he’s a dud!  

I asked him why I needed shots in the eye.

“Because you’re on Prolia” was his reply!

It sounded so simple, but it wasn’t rue — 

And that’s why I must now explain it to you!

Here’s where I sadly was terribly dumb —

And it should have prepared me for worse things to come!

It’s when Dr. Flood said “You’re a lawyer” (that’s true)

And wanted assurance that I wouldn’t sue!

Now why in the world was he looking for that?

Just by this statement I should have smelled RAT!

Plus Prolia never should have been the main focus;

My eyes were affected by osteoporosis!

I learned that much later when when another doc said, 

The problem wasn’t Prolia, but osteoporosis instead!  

But I hadn’t known that, and this is no joke — 

I was frightened, skipped Prolia, and vertebrae broke!

I  haven’t the language to tell of the pain, 

Each day I bear it again and again! 

If a court could award me a writ of repleven, 

To bring back my broken bones, I’d be in heaven. 

                                      ###

 

HOW DUMB CAN A DOCTOR BE AND STILL BE A DOCTOR?

Dumb as a sack of hammers?  

Dumb as a box of rocks? 

Dumb as any old doorknob?  

Or maybe just dumb as an ox?

                ~~~~~~~

What I want to know is just how that darned fool, 

Made it through college and medical school, 

Let alone having a chance to apply,

He was dumber than dumbness to anyone's eye!

                                  ###

THE TELLTALE QUESTION

Why wasn't I paying better attention when Dr. Timothy Flood, the retinal specialist, looked quite disturbed when I first met him and he asked what kind of work I did and I told him I was a retired lawyer?    

Had he been on the receiving end of some legal actions?  

Did his wandering mouth get him in trouble by harming others as it harmed me?  I'll never know!  But give the horrendous events of the past few years I know that I should have paid better attention to those tell-tale signs! 

Did he not realize the effects his words could have, as when I asked him why I had this retina condition,  and his immediate (and erroneous) answer was: "because you are on Prolia!"  

Unfortunately, at that time, I actually believed this highly trained medical expert knew what he was talking about!!!   

But it was this careless -- and actually -- ignorant remark, by an expert who must have known better -- that led to the pain and disability I live with to this day!!!!!

Did he not know or did he not care that the correct answer (as discussed further in these posts) would have been: "because you have osteoporosis!"  ????    

Couldn't he have squeezed that big long word "osteoporosis" out of his hyper-educated little mouth? 

Did he really not know that having osteoporosis was NOT the same as being on Prolia?

What did he think I was going to do with this information?

I will likely never know the answers to any of these questions.  But to my everlasting pain and sorrow, I believed him and followed what I believed was his implicit advice!  To this day I live with the pain and disability created by this erroneous statement!    

Until he acknowledges this error (which, given his arrogance, I doubt that he ever will) I do not believe he should be treating or advising patients in any capacity.   

                                                                       ### 

DEAR RETINA DOCTORS -- PLEASE WATCH YOUR WORDS!

Dear Retina Doctors: 

I have great respect for the retina doctors.  But my respect — and my trust — left me with great pain, permanent disability, and a sadly premature end to my active life!   

When I was diagnosed with macular degeneration I had asked the retina doctor then treating me why I had this condition.   His answer: "Because you are on Prolia!"  I knew skipping a Prolia shot could mean broken bones!  But I was even more afraid of losing my eyesight.  So I skipped my next Prolia shot! 

The horrible results came quickly with a flood of excruciating backache. I cabbed to the nearest ER where X-rays showed THREE NEW VERTEBRAL FRACTURES!  They taped my back, but their pain pills could not stop the flood of pain.  Later the University of Chicago Pain Clinic offered only narcotics, which frightened me. 

Pain made driving hazardous so I sadly gave up my car.  And the active life I so enjoyed in retirement?  Impossible.  Even standing was painful!!   

I reached out to an old friend, an ophthalmologist, now retired from the National Eye Institute at National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.  She confirmed links between OSTEOPOROSIS and MACULAR DEGENERATION, but NOT between PROLIA and MACULAR DEGENERATION!   

Had the retina doctor simply said “because you have osteoporosis” I’d have gotten my Prolia shots, my vertebrae would likely be ok, and my life would be reasonably normal.

I’m back on Prolia now, but the damage is forever.  The Prolia doctor was shocked when I told her what happened.  My vertebral X-rays resemble a child’s broken Tinker-Toy!  The pain has decreased to the point that I can avoid habituating drugs, but it is always there when sitting or standing.   

Driving is now hazardous, so I've let my car and driver's license go.  I try to be active as pain permits, and do exercises prescribed by a physical therapist. But muscle cannot replace bone.  

And the travel and other activities which I had eagerly planned for my retirement years?   Now impossible -- all because of a few misleading words from a respected retinal specialist whom I had the great misfortune to trust!  I write this in hopes that this will not happen to anyone else!     

Joan Levin   jdlevin@bright.net.   November 29, 2022 ###

--------------------------------------------------------------

(This one page handout for doctors was,  I believe,  in Ariel Narrow Bold, 14 point)   

A FEW MORE WORDS TO DR. DELUGE!

I recall that Dr. Timothy Flood -- my former retina doctor -- was rather “fartutzt” (a wonderful Yiddish word meaning “done up,” or disturbed) when he asked me what kind of work I did, and I told him I was a retired lawyer.    

I should have paid better attention to his nervous reaction!   I don't know what he was thinking but he definitely looked disturbed!   

And I should have been even more perturbed when he said he wanted me to sign a paper saying I would not sue him!   I told him I would not do so and that this request was certainly against public policy.   

But the request was certainly odd, and I should have paid more attention to to it.  In fact, I should have just walked right out the door at that point!

Today, thinking back to the entire scenario, in which he also carelessly purveyed the misleading information that I had the retinal condition he was treating because I was "on Prolia," I cannot help wondering if he had made similarly inaccurate comments to other patients, who, like me, may have relied on his expertise to their sorrow!  

Mistakenly believing at the time that he knew what he was talking about, I acted on his comment, and believing Prolia could threaten my eyesight, I skipped some Prolia shots.  This, in turn, left me at extreme risk for the three painful and disabling vertebral fractures I subsequently suffered.  

Today I cannot help wondering if incidents like this have left him on the receiving end of some legal actions!    

I'm only grateful that another ophthalmologist/eye surgeon, and a personal friend, who after expressing shock that any eye doctor would make such a comment, assured me that the macular degeneration for which Dr. Flood was treating me at the time was associated with osteoporosis itself, and not with Prolia.  Otherwise even more damage may have occurred!

But while I was grateful for this correct information (which apparently Dr. Flood did not have despite his many years of advanced training), I still live with the daily pain and disability I attribute to trusting  Dr. Timothy Flood!

But have no fear, Dr. Flood!  I have no intention of suing you.  Why?  Because NO amount a court might award me in this he-said-she-said situation could begin to compensate for the pain, immobility, and most of all the loss of the travel and other good times with friends and family that I was so eagerly anticipating in retirement.   

And bringing such a legal action (as much has you may deserve it, Dr. Flood) could complicate my medical care in the future!

So rest easy, Dr. Timothy Flood!  You can keep your money and go on with your life just as if this never happened.  How delightful for you that you needn't give a thought about the ruination your carelessly inaccurate words made in the life of a patient who trusted you!                 

                                               ###

WILL SHE SUE?

Will this cranky old lady sue the doctor whose dangerously erroneous statement created this painful situation?   Several friends have asked me this.  

Rest easy, doctor!  You had the great good luck to demolish the active life of a retired lawyer!   

During the many hours I spent in pain, flat on my back, because of your unbelievably erroneous statement that was supposed pass for medical advice, I thought about this.    

The irony here, Dr. Deluge, is that YOU threatened to sue ME if I told anyone about this debacle!   

My conclusions:

1.   In general, cases like this (he said/she said) are hard to prove, and here, preponderance of evidence is required.  There were no other witnesses to this doctors dangerously stupid statement and no writings; only my notes and recollection of what I was told: that my eye condition was "because I was on Prolia."

2.  Legal action could create all sorts of problems with my medical care in the future.   

3.  Because I worked hard in physical therapy to at least regain some ability to walk (albeit with pain) and to manage some of my activities of daily living, damages award would likely be reduced accordingly. 

4. No amount of money could compensate me for what I have suffered and what I have lost because of the stupid, thoughtless and dangerous statements made by the doctor in question.  My ability to drive a car, visit friends and family, travel as I had so looked forward to in retirement -- these might all be worth something in damages, but money would never give me back what I have lost!  

5. It would be highly unlikely to change the future behavior of this likely well-insured and egotistical doctor in any event.   He probably has great insurance to cover this and would just go on  with his life as usual.

                                                 ###  

FROM DR. FLOOD'S ILLINOIS RETINA WEB PAGE

From Dr. Flood's Illinois Retina Web Page

“Taking care of patients who have retinal problems and helping to relieve their anxiety over the health of their eyes is very rewarding. Research is also important to me. To be able to take the knowledge you have gained through a clinical trial and change the way physicians treat patients is very exciting. Here at Illinois Retina, we’re helping people, having fun doing it and creating new knowledge at the same time.”

https://www.illinoisretina.com/providers/timothy-flood-md-facs/

                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nice statement, Dr. Flood, but how about just giving your patients correct answers to their perfectly sensible questions?   And not answers that will cripple them for life!   

                                                   ###

HANDOUT FOR RETINA DOCTORS, ONE PAGE, NOVEMBER 29, 2022

Dear Retina Doctors: 

I have great respect for the retina doctors here.  But my respect — and my trust —- left me with great pain, permanent disability, and a sadly premature end to my active life!   

When I was diagnosed with macular degeneration I had asked the retina doctor then treating me why I had this condition. His answer: “Because you are on Prolia!”  I knew skipping a Prolia shot could mean broken bones!!  But I was even more afraid of losing my eyesight.  So I skipped my next Prolia shot! 

The horrible results arrived with an excruciating backache. I cabbed to the nearest ER where X-rays showed THREE NEW VERTEBRAL FRACTURES!  They taped my back, but their pain pills could not stop the flood of pain.  The University of Chicago Pain Clinic offered only narcotics, which frightened me.      

Pain made driving hazardous so I sadly gave up my car. And the active life and travel I so enjoyed in retirement?  Now impossible.  Even standing upright was painful.

I reached out to an old friend, an ophthalmologist, now retired from the National Eye Institute at National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.  She confirmed links between OSTEOPOROSIS and MACULAR DEGENERATION, but NOT between PROLIA and MACULAR DEGENERATION!   

Had the retina doctor simply said “because you have osteoporosis” I’d have gotten my Prolia shots, my vertebrae would likely be ok, and my life would be reasonably normal.

I’m back on Prolia now, but the damage is forever.  The Prolia doctor was shocked when I told her what happened.  My vertebral X-rays resemble a child’s broken Tinker-Toy!  The pain has decreased to the point that I can avoid habituating drugs, but it is always there when sitting or standing.   

Driving was now hazardous, so I let my car and driver's license go.  I try to be active as pain permits, and I do exercises prescribed by a physical therapist. But muscle cannot replace bone.  

And the travel and other activities I had so eagerly looked forward to in retirement?  Now  impossible --  all because of a few misleading words from a respected retinal specialist whom I had the great misfortune to trust!  I write this in hopes that this will not happen to anyone else!   

Joan Levin    jdlevin@bright.net  November 29, 2022     

(Ariel Narrow 13 point bold for a one page document)

November 25, 2022

I also included this poem which may be elsewhere in this blog:

I asked the doc why I must have that needle in my eye, 

“It’s plain to see!” he said to me, “and here’s the reason why!” 

“You have an eye condition: macular degeneration.”

“Why do I have this?” I replied.  “What is the explanation?”  

No pause or hesitation for that doctor’s quick reply:

“Because you are on Prolia, and that’s the reason why!” 

“Oh my gosh” I thought at once, “Now I will have to choose!”  

“My vision or my backbone; Oh, which one could I lose?”

Awake for hours, I made the choice: my bones would have to go.

I didn’t get my Prolia shot, the rest, I guess, you know!

Soon after, in a flood of pain, three vertebrae were shot!

Life as I knew it ended, right there on the spot!

No more driving, no more travel, just a lot of pain!

My active life cut with a knife — and sent right down the drain!

Not long afterwards I learned I’d got bad information. 

And why that doctor said those words?  I have no explanation.

All too late I learned that this condition of the eyes,  

Is because of osteoporosis; but I was too late wise!

                                              ###

November 25, 2022

At my blog:   http://www.joansbackbonedisaster.com/

DEAR RETINA DOCTORS: PLEASE WATCH YOUR WORDS!

I have great respect for the doctors here at Illinois Retina.  But my respect — and my trust —- left me with great pain, permanent disability, and, a sadly premature end to my active life!   

When I was diagnosed with macular degeneration I had asked the retina doctor then treating me why I had this condition.  His answer:  “Because you are on Prolia!"   I knew skipping a Prolia shot could mean broken bones!!  But I was even more afraid of losing my eyesight.  So I skipped the next Prolia shot!!!

The horrible result came quickly with an excruciating backache. I cabbed to the nearest ER where X-rays showed THREE recen vertebral fractures.  They taped my back, but their pain pills could not stop the flood of pain.  The University of Chicago Pain clinic offered only addictive narcotics, which frightened me. 

Pain made driving hazardous so I sadly gave up my car.  And the active life and  travel I was so enjoying in retirement?   Now impossible.   

Pain made driving hazardous so I sadly gave up my car.  And the active travel I so enjoyed in retirement?  Now impossible.  Even standing upright was painful! 

I reached out to an old friend, an ophthalmologist, now retired from the National Eye Institute at National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.  She confirmed links between  OSTEOPOROSIS and MACULAR DEGENERATION, but NOT between PROLIA and MACULAR DEGENERATION!   

Had the retina doctor simply said "because you have osteoporosis" I'd have gotten my Prolia shots on time, my vertebrae would be ok, and my life would be reasonably normal.

I’m back on Prolia now, but the damage is forever.  The Prolia doctor was shocked when I told her what happened.  My vertebral X-rays resemble a child’s broken Tinker-Toy!  The pain has decreased to where I can avoid habituating drugs, but it is always there when sitting or standing.   

Driving was now hazardous, so I let my car and driver's license go.  I try to be active as pain permits, and I do exercises prescribed by a physical therapist.  But muscle cannot replace bone. 

And the travel and other activities I had so eagerly looked forward to in retirement?  Now impossible -- all because of a few misleading words from a respected retinal specialist whom I had the great misfortune to trust!  I write this in hopes that this will not happen to anyone else!    

Joan Levin jdlevin@bright.net 11/29/22.    

                                                          ###