LF
1/5
I am a 70+ year-old male. I am a degreed, retired marketing executive of a Fortune 10 hi tech company. I visited doctor Ammar Al Sheikh the week of May 24th due to extremely neglected medical care including an excruciatingly painful back condition. I explained to Dr Al Sheikh that due to the pandemic my business (which was my only source of income in addition to retirement funds) went under and resulted in a 2-year depression. During this depression I pulled away from family, friends and ceased medical care.
After becoming strong enough to make an attempt to rejoin society and the urgent need to get relief from an excruciatingly painful source coming from my back area I sought medical care. The pain that I speak of had gotten so bad that I could not sit down because once I got up I couldn't walk for 30 to 60 seconds because of the pain. To avoid the pain I still have to lie in the bed even for meals unless I want to sit and just go through the pain.
After Dr Al Sheikh heard my story I begin to notice a change in his body language. I withheld judgment until I was sure that I wasn't imagining him becoming more and more dismissive of my stated condition and overall general need for medical care. It wasn't until he ceased inquiring about the pain and started trying to convince me that I should go to a therapy physician or take physical therapy. I let him know that I agree therapy is definitely something that I need and I'm willing to participate but first I have to deal with the pain.
In my present condition I could not and cannot function!
He then made the first suggestion that made sense which was an x-ray of the spinal area and I totally agreed. While I was sitting there thinking it occurred to me that his need to sell me on seeing a therapist and/or physical therapy was just a test to see if I were really seeking a solution as opposed to just pain pills. The dismissive looks that he had given me convinced me that he had reduced me to just an addict who had come into his office looking for pain medication by claiming injury.
I never asked him for pain pills! I was satisfied with the X-ray suggestion because it could potentially lead to the solution.
I crept in a bent over posture (the same manner in which I entered his office) back up to the front desk and asked the lady about the x-rays. She said the doctor had not communicated to her so I left and just told myself I'll call back and a day or so and hope that the doctor would have communicated to her. I called two days later and the lady who answer the phone said that no one has mentioned anything about x-rays. So I asked her could she get with the doctor, confirm that he wanted me to have x-rays and let me know when it's scheduled and with whom. She never called me. To this very day I haven't heard from her I assume due to his direction
During the two-year depression I pulled away from society and stopped taking care of myself. However by the time I entered his office I made it a point to be presentable as far as shaving, haircut, showering, cleaned and press clothing, etc. Also because of my education I am well spoken. I mentioned this because initially I couldn't figure out why all of a sudden I got that dismissive look from him and the corresponding body language. Bottom line, he pretty much just blew me off. I really tried to stay away from the fact that he might have stereotyped me since I'm African American and there's a lot of drug addiction in my community.
I guess I'll never know his exact thoughts but I just wanted to let him know that no one deserves to be treated like I was treated that day. The reason I stayed in a depression for as long as I did was because of emotions like guilt, shame, etc. The one visit to his office definitely did not help. I have noticed that he is somewhat highly reviewed by his patients. I guess I'll just have to accept for some reason I did not fit his idea of a person worthy of his time.
Excuse me if this review is hard to read; I'm forced to lie down and write it due to the pain.
Oh well … Life goes on.. ?
