My name is Dina Padilla and this is my story about the health care system.  I have had several HMO's since 1971.  Kaiser, Foundation Health Plan, Healthnet and now Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

In 1974, Kaiser diagnosed my gallbladder problem as indigestion and prescribed Mylanta.  Several years later their doctor diagnosed me WITHOUT a gallbladder.  In 1984 a doctor from Foundation Health Plan said that I had an atrophied gallbladder with years of inflammation.  The gallbladder was removed finally in May of 1984

Since then my medical conditions are ITBS, HERNIATED DISCS, FIBROMYALGIA, THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME, SCIATICA AND OTHER DISORDERS RELATED TO NERVE, FIBER, MUSCLE AND BONE which were not properly diagnosed.

To date, I have received very little physical therapy and a very small amount of pain meds.  60 pills to last 6 months.  I cannot get physical therapy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture or any surgery to relieve my pain.  The doctor's state that their legal department will not let them prescribe pain meds.

What I have been prescribed is anti-depressants, anti psychotic meds which are currently in a class action law suit.  That's it for my MEDICAL problems!

In 1998 Foundation approved after 1 year, 1 surgery for a CERVICAL double discectomy.  I still need at least 2 more surgeries.  (The surgery was billed to me and then placed into a BANKRUPTCY under my daughter's first name and my husband's and my social security numbers WITHOUT our knowledge.  It was to the publics knowledge that the doctor's group had filed the bankruptcy, but I didn't know it was going to be in our last name and our SS#'s.

I was 46 years old when I had to go off of work.  I ws an employee of Kaiser and was to have fully paid medical coverage until the age of 65.  I do not have that!  I have medical care through my husband's employ.  And it is limited!  I did get a medicare card when I was 50 just like the many others who were injured on the job, fired because of being injured on the job and the medical costs for the work related injury pawned off to the medicare system by the employer/doctor.  I feel pain, anger, frustration, resentment, and anguish because I will never be whole or painfree again.  My life has been altered.  Just me and the pain!

I DO NOT understand why doctors do not treat their patients for the right diagnosis with the right treatment and medications.

I DO NOT understand why doctors want to treat for a diagnosis that doesn't exist or perform surgeries that are unnecessary.

I DO NOT understand why doctors DO NOT perform surgeries that are necessary.

I DO NOT understand why doctors prescribe drugs that destroy livers, kidneys, stomachs.

I DO NOT understand why doctors do not prescribe x-rays, MRI's, physical therapies and any other treatment needed other than meds.

I DO NOT understand why doctors DO NOT treat us for medical conditions like they did prior to HMO's and to which their bean counters came in to protect us from higher medical costs that then became a business!

I am one of thousands of health care employees who took care of non medical employees and whose health is neglected as anyone's.  We pay exorbitant prices to a health care system and to doctors who have failed us for many years.  We deserve much more than that.

I wouldn't be in pain and maimed like I am today if the doctors for the last 30 years had taken care of my health like they were supposed to especially Kaiser who were the cause of most of these medical and neglected problems.

I know many stories like mine because I hear from these folks all the time and have been hearing them for decades.  It appears that the medical field has gone out of control and we are their hostages because there isn't anything else available for our medical needs.

Sincerely,