Doctor's results... so far.

[xiane]

Stupid, stupid doctors.

Nurses? Great. The office receptionists/aides were really helpful. But the Doctor? Well, it would be nice if in your bust, overpaid schedule you could bother to EXPLAIN all this stuff to me fully, Mr. Doctor-sir. And maybe tell me what you're *thinking* might be going on? Also, while we're at it, since I'm paying for the service, could you TELL me what my BP/heart rate is? I mean - it's mine. I'd like to know, instead of being "hmm-hmm'd" at and examined for all of 10 minutes.

All I'm asking for is to be TALKED to, you know? Especially with such a touchy area as this, though really, all patients deserve that sort of care and respect. And if the doctor's too busy, then there should be a mediator, a counselor to step us through and tell us not ONLY what the diagnosis means, but everything we need to do afterwards, including who to call for follow-ups and what to expect.

Let's just say that I was given three pieces of paper. One was for a complete blood work extravaganza; easy enough, you just come in on these certain days - don't eat beforehand - and that's that. Then there was a GYN referral, and a slip for a mammogram. Was it explained to me that *I* needed to find and call a radiologist and set up an appointment? NO! had repeatedly stated that I'd never had a mammogram and I didn't know what I was doing. No one made sure I knew that little piece of info. I thought the GYN would do it! Boy, did I look like an ass when I called.
So I called back the Doctor's office, and promptly burst into tears. I mean, I've done admirably well in holding it together, but for fuck's sake, cut the girl a break, would you? The office manager, Maria, was the kindest soul - she helped me calm down and explained everything and made sure I had two recommendations for radiologists in the area. She apologised profusely for my confusion and that I was allowed to leave there without having everything fully explained...
But I know it'll happen again.

This is EXACTLY why I hate doctors.

Oh, so the outcome? He fucking doesn't know.
"Yes, I can see what you're talking about."
OH REALLY. IT'S A FUCKING HARD SPOT.

Do you know, he was walking out of the room and I had to STOP him and MAKE him tell me what he might thing was going on. And he was STILL so vague that I ended up telling him that I knew there were some specific possibilities and WHAT DID HE THINK!
... yeah. Waffle waffle.
I understand that he doesn't want to say something and be wrong, but I shouldn't have to DRAG that out of him, either.

Fuckity fuckity fuck fuck. Yeah, I'm angry and scared and frustrated and really really sad, too. Other women go through worse. Much worse.

So yeah... I need to set up the appointment for those things tomorrow. I'll keep everyone informed. And das_uber, I haven't forgotten about the email thing. I know I need to send you one. I'm procrastinating. I'm sorry.

Comments

[nevers2long.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry your doctor's appointment went shitty. My doc (or technically, my nurse practitioner) is usually pretty cool and it took 5 different docs before I got to her. All of them still blow me off about my knees though. How do they know that the "tumors" are benign if they haven't even done a needle aspiration yet. Hell, even in veterinary work, that's like the first step after the exam.

Anyway, keep ya head up and hopefully these other appointments will go better.

[hokkaido-crying.livejournal.com]

Part of your patient bill of rights gives you the right not to pay for that visit. Read up on it. Reason why could be:

"A patient has the right to information from his or her doctor in order to make informed decisions about his or her care. This means that patients will be given information about their diagnosis, prognosis and different treatment choices. This information will be given in terms that the patient can understand. This may not be possible in an emergency."

More information can be found on the 'net as neccessary.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they gave me a copy of that - I have it with the other papers. I'll look at it in detail when I'm a little calmer, because right now, I really really need to be calm and just relax for a bit. This is how I make myself sick. [heh, like I'm not already!]

Thank you soooo much for the advice. It's good.

[parkas-4-kids.livejournal.com]

doctors suck. they fucking suck. i had this bizarre rash that broke out on my hands a few years ago. i was taking herbal supplements for my allergies, but i had no idea where the rash was coming from. i went to see a doctor and he told me, "stop putting that crap in your body." i looked at him and said, "well, it works better than whatever placebo you'd prescribe"....

shouldn't doctors be, i dunno, "professional"? what, cuz you have an understanding of the human body you're now better than everybody? and when they have no concrete idea as to what's wrong, what's so bad about offering your opinion? as long as you tell them it's just an opinion, that's perfectly okay! it might be able to give us an idea as to what might be wrong! don't just shrug us off, you asses...!

...okay, done venting. hope you find out what the deal is soon, at that you're gona be okay.... :-)

[ismene.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you had such a shitty experience. Is there another doctor you can start going to?

*sigh*

[artsygeek.livejournal.com]

The medical system is severely FUBAR.

I've been dealing with similarly clueless folk in the medical system, only instead of it being the clinicians and their assistants, it's the insurance drones....The situation is basically getting a certain drug that would be REALLY helpful right now, but I can't get.

Although, I've had one problem....the doctor I saw referred me back to my neurologist I've had all my life. Well, the maximum age he sees anymore is 21. He's one of the few neurologists, let alone doctors, in the Roanoke Valley that knows jack shit about neurofibromatosis. So now, I'm searching around the valley for a neurologist that knows at least SOMETHING about neurofibromatosis, so I can get my headaches and back pain checked out, in case it's actually something...you know...serious.

the joys of managed care

[alannakitty.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it has gotten to the point where doctors schedule an appointment for only 15 minutes and often run behind so that you get only 5. It is sucky that when you go to a managed care practice that they rush you in and out. One of the reasons that I left and found a new doctor. I got tired of the in/out routine. My other doctor isn't that great but not that bad. What I dread is finding a psych doctor. You think GP or GYN is bad. *ugh*

Just stick to your guns and get to the specialists ASAP! I'm thinking of you girlie. *hugs*

[elizablessing.livejournal.com]

i know exactly how you feel....there was a time not too long ago where i was having some "female" issues and they kept giving me the run around...they wouldnt give me straight answers, wouldnt return my phone calls, etc.

so i left and never did anything about the situation...consequently i am still having similar "problems" and do not want to go back.

please let me know whats going on.

i love you chris.
xoxoxoxox

[das-uber.livejournal.com]

Don't sweat it. My objectve was certainly not to give you another thing to worry about. *smile*

[xiane.livejournal.com]

:)

I am definitely gonna tap you for info. I felt like such a schmuck, and that was *with* some education.

[ladylizbet.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry your appointment was so garbled, but, at least they have you booked in for the blood work, and you're getting the mammogram appointment, all steps in the right direction. Stay positive! It's hard, but it helps.

*smooch*

xx

[thekdog.livejournal.com]

People always wonder why I view the healthcare system as a completely inept industry. This is the perfect example of it. We have the technology for you to know exactly what is wrong with you in two days tops, and now you're gonna have to drag out the crap for a couple of weeks, which is stupid and cruel. On top of this, you have doctors.

Doctors have always been the weak link in the healthcare industry,

Don't buy into that whole 'ER', John Carter of Chicago, all doctors are saints bullshit. They're not saints; they're people and as people, they are, more often than not, inept assholes who would rather be at home playing Xbox and watching internet porn.

[inefficiency.livejournal.com]

I'd be careful, she's only seen as far as "John Carter of Chicago is a first-year resident trying desperately not to kill anyone." =D But I know what you mean, and you're right.

[dichotomous.livejournal.com]

I so know exactly what you mean. I've switched general practitioners three times in the past five years because of similar issues, and *still* haven't found a decent one. I mean, how hard is it to either take some time in the morning to review the files of the patients you've scheduled to see, or to take 5 minutes before you walk in the room to look at a patient's file? How hard is it to remember that though you may have done a procedure hundreds of times before, the patient hasn't? Bah.

Usually I get the "hi, I'm doctor so-and-so, what seems to be the problem today? What drugs can I prescribe you for the problem?" And they're always in a hurry. So annoying. However, I believe after my visit today I have found a ob/gyn that's a keeper. I believe this because this one walked in, greeted me by name, shook my hand, and asked me how I was feeling. He then asked for a moment so he could look through my file and refresh his memory. Then he asked some questions about some things we had discussed during my last visit (!), walked me through the whole procedure he'd be doing, and asked if I had any questions. He didn't act rushed - in fact, I felt like I was the only patient he had to see today. It was a refreshing change.

The fact that so many people have responded to this post with experiences similar to yours says something important, I think.

[sleepwalks.livejournal.com]

so i'm thinking about going to med school - i think you know that -

and i was talking to a clinician at hopkins who told me, "don't go into obstetrics, the malpractice is so high you're not going to be making any money at all."

i think it's sad that a big part of this is doctors are so afraid to tell patients anything b/c people sue doctors if they diagnose one kind of cold strain as another.

that sucks. i'm sorry you had a terrible day and i hope you're okay. *nuzzles you*

[evilcresyluna.livejournal.com]

Man, I'm only semester one of nursing and already, drilled into our brains: The doctors will not tell the patients what is going on with them, what they need, and keep on top of any medications they may have. It is YOUR JOB to explain things to them [and to assess what they need explained], and to connect them to resources they need.
Unfortunately, with a nursing crisis adding to the fact that [at least in '94, I'm sure the situation hasn't improved that much] 1 doctor for 1,700 persons in the US - nobody gets the time to explain anything to anyone.

[crossbonesdj.livejournal.com]

deep breath....

for every sucky doctor, there is someone out there who gets it. we'll find the right one for you.

[ladymeshel.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you have such an ass of a Dr...have you tried a female Dr? I have good luck with those. Good luck! *hugs*

[crystalxshadows.livejournal.com]

::hugs::

[dcunitedfreak.livejournal.com]

*hugs* You're a lot stronger than I would have been...I would have started crying IMMEDIATELY. I, myself, think you are a very strong person and I know you shall overcome...overcome these stupid doctors!!!

[mustelidmania.livejournal.com]

as my father would say; "jesus h christ in a breadbasket" (I think he had his biblical stories mixed) what blood tests? and xrays? and what kind of doc was he and why didn't he call a specialist for you? I swear, and I have two relatives who are physicians, these damn doctors. I call some that I work with mdivas.

deep breath, stay strong...

[jesusbunny.livejournal.com]

You deserve a person (doctor, nurse, male, female it doesn't matter) who will treat you like a patient, a human, and a client. In my search for a dr to do the first part of my surgery, I damned near gave up...the person I was referred to ("with outstanding creditials!" ) was a class 1 ASSHOLE. Same thing; no explanation. no call back. impossible to make an appt with.

I finally got tough with the surgeon who recommended him. "Either you give me someone else to call, or I'm replacing YOU too" was pretty much my statement. He gave me another colleague, and she was AMAZING.

So don't give up. You deserve the best!
-daBunny

[ispokethewords.livejournal.com]

Chris, I wouldn't think twice about finding another doctor. In a situation like this, you need someone who's going to show you at least a little bit of attention. I know doctors for the most part are just jerks, but some are certainly better than others. Have you had this doctor for a long time? I really would consider using another. My ENT doctor was a huge jerk and I left his office in tears because I had to get surgery for the first time in my life. I'm sorry I never got a new doctor but I do recommend that you do.

[glitterdream.livejournal.com]

you're in my thoughts. hope things turn out ok...
love ya. *hugs*

[ex-severina843.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. :[ I only ever had ONE good doctor, and many crappy ones so I know it's hard to find a good one. *hugs*

[jennvix.livejournal.com]

It's the opposite for me, the Doctors are awesome, and the nurses hate me.

Hon, I hope you feel better soon. Much love to you. J.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

Thank you. We should perform a doctor/nurse swap some time! :)

[rhubarbrapini.livejournal.com]

i guess for the many things you just went through are some of the many reasons i don't trust doctors and more and have not gone to one in a few years now. since when does being a Dr. make thek more important than the little guys/girls like us. well i hope every thing goes oky, Lots of love.
Stev'