I hate writing a negative review about a healthcare worker in the middle of a pandemic, when nurses and doctors are overworked and underappreciated... But if you want to be heard, respected, and taken care of - stay far away from Dr. Marcia Mains. I have never asked to speak to the manager of a medical practice (who offered me a refund for my copay, by the way - didn't know that was a thing) until seeing Dr. Mains. After battling an ear problem and some kind of lip allergy with swollen, raw lips and not being able to get any relief at home for 3-4 weeks, I made an appointment. I would take whoever could see me, as my lips hurt when I eat, drink, smile, or do nothing at all. My regular doctor was booked, so I agreed to see Marcia Mains. Big mistake.
She was not only incredibly dismissive and belittling, but refused to even glance in my ear (I'll get to that later though). She told me to go to Walmart and "just buy more Aquaphor Lip Repair." I told her (for the second time) I was… already using that product daily when this reaction started and it wasn't helping, so I stopped using it nearly 3 weeks prior. She replied, "Well, your lips probably got worse because you stopped using it. You need to use it a lot more because your lips probably hurt because of the weather change." lol What?! I told her my lips didn't get worse when I stopped using it, they just didn't get better; but it was like I was talking to a wall and she just kept repeating herself. Finally I pulled out a steroid lip ointment tube my regular doctor prescribed me when I had this problem a year ago (my lips must be reacting to something I'm ingesting - maybe a certain ingredient? Who knows)... I asked if there was an alternative to that prescription, and she looked taken aback and exclaimed, "I would have never prescribed you this! This is a steroid and can bleach your skin." Um ok? Well she wasn't the doctor who treated me a year ago when I had an allergic reaction, so I don't know why she's trying to undermine my regular doctor, who is also one of her colleagues! So unprofessional and unnecessary. Also, it didn't bleach my skin, and actually worked at the time.
Marcia told me to try the Aquaphor again and use it after I eat, drink, when I go to bed and wake up - basically 24/7. Then, get this - I asked if she could please look in my ear to see if it's clogged, to which she cut me off and hurriedly replied, "I see you have an ENT appointment coming up eventually so I'm just going to let them look at your ear then." She didn't even pretend to look at my ear or ask me my symptoms... That's when I knew this "doctor" didn't care about the patient at all; she just wanted me out of there.
She proceeded to give me a laminated card to give to the front desk in the lobby (she actually wrote "Aquaphor" on it, as if I were a child and would forget the one thing she repeatedly told me to do), and to reschedule in a week's time if it wasn't better. Knowing it wouldn't be better, I asked, "So if it's not better in a week's time, then what will we try?" She glanced away and then cheerily replied, "Then we'll try something different!" And turned and walked out. Wow.
Thank goodness I wasn't seeing Marcia Mains for something more serious or life threatening, as I believe her to be unqualified and irresponsible. I will never see her again, nor will anyone in my family.
P.S. To play devil's advocate - I bought a new tube of Aquaphor Lip Repair (thinking maybe something was wrong with my original tube). Within 5 minutes, my lips were on fire and I had to take it off, leaving my lips more swollen, raw, and painful than before (they're almost bleeding). What a waste of time! Thank goodness the office manager, Kirstin Caleon, listened to my complaint and was kind enough to offer a copay refund. Thank you to all the healthcare workers who DO listen to patients and take their concerns seriously; it is much appreciated.
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