Yet Another Complaint about Canadian Doctors
Rants August 12th. 2006, 3:14pmToday I went to a doctor to follow up my dermatofibroma problem. I asked the doctor whether it is possible to solve my problem using liquid nitrogen. He said it should be possible. So he decided to apply liquid nitrogen on my dermatofibroma, instead of surgery.
Guess what… one hour after the treatment, my problem is getting worse. The worst ever in the last 6 weeks… it is now so painful and bleeding. Look at this picture…. 
I went back to the doctor one hour later. His clinic closed already because it is Saturday today. I met his assistant in the clinic and I asked her the doctor’s phone number. She didn’t give me the number although I showed her my problem.
What did I do then? I went to Richmond Hospital, the nearest hospital near my apartment. Guess what? No doctor in the hospital. Here, in Canada, hospital has no doctor. Well, I may be so stupid…. at least in home country; we can see doctors in hospital.
So I went to another clinic that opens on weekend, as recommended by the hospital’s customer service. What did the doctor in this clinic say? He said that usually in Canada they don’t use liquid nitrogen to remove dermatofibroma. Oh God…. This doctor doesn’t do anything; he just put antibiotic on it and asked me to see my own doctor next Monday. It seems he doesn’t want to take the case from my own doctor.
What should I do now? Is there any doctor who read this blog? Can you suggest me what to do next? I have been visiting four different doctors in British Columbia, Canada in the last 4 weeks and my problem is getting worse and worse.
Please help me….
August 14th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
[...] Update (14-Aug-06): I have removed the picture of my wound because it looks so scary for some people. If you want to take a look at it, please visit this post. [...]
October 24th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
would like to see picture
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:31 am
Hi there!
I am not a doctor but i was searching the net for some Doctor Complaints and stumbled upon you blog. I saw the picture and wanted to know more about dermatofibroma. I have found this. I hope it helps you… The last section is interesting. Good luck to you..
Dermatofibroma (DF) is a common cutaneous nodule of obscure etiology that occurs more often in women. It is also known as a histiocytoma. Dermatofibroma is pronounced as a benign skin growths, found especially on the legs. They can grow up to about 1 cm (less than a half inch) in diameter. The skin escalation is mostly consist of fibrous tissue. They arise as firm-feeling nodules, often yellow-brown in colour, sometimes quite dark, especially in dark coloured skin.
If the skin over a dermatofibroma is squeezed a dimple forms, symptoming tethering of the skin to the underlying fibrous tissue. Typical dermatofibromas cause bit or no discomfort, though itching and tenderness can occur. Dermatofibromas form as a retroaction to previous injuries such as insect bites or thorn pricks.
They are configured of disordered collagen laid down by fibroblasts. DF can happen in patients of any age, but it usually develops in young adulthood. Nearly 20% of the lesions occur before age 17 years. Dermatofibromas have scar tissue and feel like hard lumps in the skin. A minor injury to the skin such as a sting from a thorn, may lead to the dermatofibroma. Dermatofibroma, can be formed by an insect bite.
Treatment of dermatofibromas should be concerned when they get in the way of shaving or become irritated by clothing. Cryosurgery may also be used to remove a dermatofibroma. Other procedures are freezing the lump with liquid nitrogen to flatten it out but this is rarely completely successful and may leave a white mark behind.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
@Roxy: Thanks for your email. My dermatofibroma is now gone. Last year, I went to a doctor in Richmond area. He recommended me to see a dermatologist. Then he recommended me to see a plastic surgeon. Finally, the surgeon decided to remove my dermatofibroma and do skin-graft on it.