In 2000, I had a waterline break in my loft. Mold grew everywhere and I developed many problems including in my lungs. When allergy testing revealed nothing using usual tests for molds and other allergens but further testing revealed rather severe ELISA test reactions to mold TOXINS, and no inhalants or other medications from my allergist worked to stop constant coughing and sputum production, I was referred to Dr. Roston. At that time, he was at Century City. I was given a full panel of lung function tests, which I passed with flying colors while still having to pause and cough up sputum. Dr. Roston said he didn't know anything about mold or how to interpret my ELISA test. I was given a prescription for a spirometry appliance. Dr. Roston was very nice personally but didn't seem inclined to do any further investigation of a rather unusual case. It is now 2013 and I still have lung problems...get bronchitis at the drop of a hat, which often turns into something worse. During this time, my PCP sent me back to Dr. Roston at least once for recurring symptoms.....remembered my name, very cheery in asking how I am (how does he THINK I am...been referred back to his office) Passed all tests once again.
Cut to 2012, still plagued by coughing up sputum on and off. By this point am getting sick every winter. In 2011, had bronchitis or flu that segued into whooping cough...in bed for months, thought I would die. Was given Z-Paks over the phone by PCP, which usually works...and no, I don't ask for or like to take antibiotics and try to get well without them. Eventually got better.
So in March 2012 I get some lunger thing again....thank you, person who sat next to me on a plane and coughed all over me from Houston to L.A. I put myself to bed, Stay in bed for over a week with progressively bad coughing, aches, chills, fever....so I figure I have the flu. Nothing to do for that but ride it out. But another week goes by and I feel worse so I call my PCP and she gives me a Z-Pak again. Doesn't work, coughing gets worse, unable to sleep, feel like I'm going to pop an ovary and even slight traces of blood. So she sends me back to Dr. Roston. Before I go to see him, I haul out the spirometry machine and my lung function is of Olympic caliber, as usual, yet feel I'm going to die.
Dr. Roston is his usual cheery self, asks how I've been, blahblahblah. He listens to my chest..seems clear, blood ox fine, show off my Olympian prowess w/ the puffer...and yet I'm coughing up unmentionable w/ traces of blood into tissues in his office. His solution ? Give me another z-Pak and send me home....where I proceed to get much worse. By this time I'm in such pain coughing that I have to grab my toes to avoid using my diaphragm or risk ripping it...at least, that's the way it feels.
I finish the Z-Pak, go back to see him. And yeah, as other people have mentioned....no eye contact, focused on his computer screen. Just can't figure out why I'm not better and sends me for an x-ray, which was clear. By this time, I've told him several times that since the mold episode my thyroid function has collapsed and I'm on thyroid medication, and I've told him that I've read that hypothyroidism can make one vulnerable to respiratory problems. His response ? "Well, I don't know anything about thyroid." I think a pulmonologist should know a LITTLE about that, especially since it can affect your heart.
He gives me samples of various inhaled steroids, all of which I've taken before. He wants me to try again. And he gives me a prescription for CIPRO. I ask him if he's sure there's no problem taking these meds when I have a thyroid condition... I've read that some of them are contraindicated, and he tells me.. silly, it's fine. He wants me to start the CIPRO right away and since it's a Big Gun and I feel like The Alien is going to burst out of my lungs at any minute, I comply. But he gives me some cups and tells me to spit in them over a period of time and then run them back to the office., which despite my chills and fever and weakness (because by now I've been in bed for months AGAIN) I do. About a week later I get a call from his office. I have pseudomonas bacteria in my lungs. Which can kill you, btw. And they make an appointment for me to come back and see the doctor in about 5 days. SAY WHAT ?
So I go online and research pseudomonas and find out that Z-Pak and CIPRO are contraindicated for this problem, that I should have been given KEFLEX....and that inhaled steroids, which had only made me less able to breathe, were contraindicated too. And..BONUS ! Steroids and CIPRO, are contraindicated for hypothyroidism too and at the very least can affect levels of the hormones in your blood. And why no sputum test from the beginning ? When I asked him this he didn't reply, told me he wasn't giving me more antibiotics, sent me home. Later that day, called and fired me as a patient. Wouldn't refer to another doctor either.
My advice...RUNnnnnnnnnnnnn. read more