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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 6/9/2010 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
Tried calling the surgeon today - I have another perianal abscess (third times a charm?). Her receptionist wouldn't give me the time of day, treated me like a piece of garbage at the side of the road. My appointment is 3 weeks away, in which time I know the abscess will burst. What's with these receptionists anyway?

Ring the bell, I'm done.
Posted 6/9/2010 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
You're not the only one -- my GI has had a few crabby receptionists. Only one of them still works there, go figure. Then there's rude doctors, pharmacists, nurses, etc. (none of whom I've kept). As if having a chronic illness isn't enough, you gotta deal with surly unprofessional employees to get treatment...
Posted 6/9/2010 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Mine won't even call me back!!! I need to have surgery ASAP!
Posted 6/9/2010 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
I stick with my GI for the following reasons:
1)he has taken care of my for 13 yrs
2) he calls me directly to check on me at times-he even talks to the wife about me. he knows I will not always tell him if i am hurting.
3) his nurse knows me well and always calls me back the same day
4) the receptionist knows me and understand the issue we have with crohn's
5) he always copies my regular doctor on everything he does and he consults with her
6) i asked his nurse one time if i was bothering her and him and she said "no way! this is what we are here for and we will get through this together".

Basically, I have a caring Dr and staff that understands what we go through. They are out there. Keep looking until you find the right one.
Posted 6/9/2010 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hey, the doc wants to employ a surly receptionist, he/she gets my call in the evening afterhours.
Posted 6/9/2010 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Lol...so funny, C2 
Posted 6/9/2010 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
My GI has a great receptionist. She'll fit me in for an appointment when I need one, no questions asked. Which is a step up from my last GI whose receptionist wouldn't even answer the phone!

@Gden: I've run into my fair share of rude people in the medical field too. When someone is actually nice, it throws me off guard.

@Pmkrier: The first time I needed surgery I couldn't get a hold of my GI (changed GIs soon after). I noted down the date and time every time I called him and I think it was 30 times before his receptionist called me back. Don't give up!

Mirowpl: Your GI sounds amazing. I'm pretty lucky too. My GI gave me his email address and told me I could contact him any time, and he always makes time to see me. I just don't like to complain, which doesn't really help my situation....
Posted 6/9/2010 4:49 AM (GMT 0)
Her perspective may well be that it's her job to keep the office organised, and that the office would run perfectly if it weren't for those pesky patients constantly interrupting Doctor and calling him away during office hours...

:-)

*shakes finger*

Bad patients. Naughty patients.
Posted 6/9/2010 5:37 AM (GMT 0)
Or the brand new very young pharmasist (sp) who looked at my new triplicate prescription (narcotics) and noticed I was 2 days earlier than I should have been according to my previous prescription. Who then proceded to tell me she wouldn't fill it for the 2 days and the started to lecture me on controlling my drug usage better. Just as I was about to blast her the senior pharmasist told her no, just fill it, she started to argue with him and he turned to me and said excuse her Mr. .... for her treating you like an addict and made her appologise to me and then pulled her into his office. Never saw her again come to think of it.
Posted 6/9/2010 5:50 AM (GMT 0)
I once knew a recep. like that. I told her that I sure hoped she liked the sound of my voice because i was going to call her every 5 minutes until I got to talk to the doctor . Myyyyyyyy, wonder why he called back right away...by the way, shes gone .
Posted 6/9/2010 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
Good'un, Sniper. Like I say I just call afterhours and I make it a point to tell the doctor WHY I am calling afterhours. I've had it w/office staff that don't relay messages, couldn't get a message straight if their life depended on it, etc., etc. It is very seldom that I ever need to get thru to the doctor other than my office visits. I like my "free time" and assume that doctor's do too.
Posted 6/9/2010 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Minou if they don't get back to you soon, please do not hesitate to go to the ER if you have to. Sending healing prayers your way. Hugs!
Posted 6/9/2010 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
My GI clinic has an answering service. It's really difficult to get through to a receptionist. But they call back usually the same day.
Posted 6/9/2010 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
I make it a point to get friendly with all of my doctor's nurses not the receptionists. The nurses are the key to access to the doctor's in my experience!
Posted 6/10/2010 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys! You're the best. Even though I feel really crummy and today was a crummy day, you've all made me smile.

My GI emailed me back and I have an appointment tomorrow. I want to tell him I'm throwing in the towel, but my family is telling me to keep fighting. After 4 years of fighting this flare all I want is to curl up in bed and not have to worry about anything else going on in my life.

We'll see what happens! Wish me luck : )
Posted 6/10/2010 7:38 AM (GMT 0)

mirowpl said...
I stick with my GI for the following reasons:
1)he has taken care of my for 13 yrs
2) he calls me directly to check on me at times-he even talks to the wife about me. he knows I will not always tell him if i am hurting.
3) his nurse knows me well and always calls me back the same day
4) the receptionist knows me and understand the issue we have with crohn's
5) he always copies my regular doctor on everything he does and he consults with her
6) i asked his nurse one time if i was bothering her and him and she said "no way! this is what we are here for and we will get through this together".

Basically, I have a caring Dr and staff that understands what we go through. They are out there. Keep looking until you find the right one.


I have a doc like this I guess that we are very lucky. I had a doc in the past who was always late, canceled appointments and never remembered to call!
Posted 6/10/2010 11:01 AM (GMT 0)
Receptionist's, if they could walk in all your shoes,just for a week...
Posted 6/10/2010 11:35 AM (GMT 0)
My gi n family doc immediately answer to my calls
i dont deal well with snarly receptionists
many a foul word has come outta my mouth when im hurting

glad you hv an appointment stat
let us know how it goes
lyn
Posted 6/12/2010 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Seriously, ring that bell.

I was so happy that my GI was able to see me on such short notice, I felt like a VIP (Very Important Patient haha, I made a funny). The good news is that the abscess burst on its own, which means I don't have to see the surgeon anymore. The bad news is that the Humira doesn't seem to be working and that I might have even developed a fistula. The next step is to go for another scope, try other similar medications, and if they don't work, it's "the bag" for me.

I called my husband after my appointment and I couldn't even speak. I've never been so upset. It's not about the bag... but the idea of putting off our plans to start a family for another year, again. Could be worse though, at least I've got a good GI... and a great husband.
Posted 6/12/2010 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
Why do you have to put off getting pregnant?  Is it the meds?  Will the IBD get better with time?  What about going to see a perinatologist - specialist in getting and keeping women pregnant?  They might have a better outlook than some ole GI doc who sniffs bad things (think their brains are all loopy anyway). 
Posted 6/12/2010 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
gumpygi its better for the Mom to be healthy before she tries to get pregnant. To be flaring while pregnant would be miserable. Hugs, MINOU. I hope they get things fixed for you and get you feeling better soon.
Posted 6/12/2010 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
It has nothing to do with my GI. Like Nanners said, it's better that I not be flaring.

I do have an appointment with a specialist, but who in their right mind would say was its ok for someone with Crohn's, who is in a flare and on new drugs to get pregnant?

It's ok though. I'm doing much better today!

Thanks so much for all your support :)
Posted 6/13/2010 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Pregnancy was very tough for me. I was in a flare the whole time.
At the end, my OB told me not to get pregnant again before I had everything under control. I honestly don't think I will be getting pregnant again anyway, though.

I'm lucky in that the receptionists at my GI's office and my surgeon's office are very nice. I've talked to them so much, they know me without looking me up anyway. My GI's office, I usually just talk right to his secretary and she relays everything to him. She always calls back. My surgeon calls back personally a lot of the time, even on his own time late at night, to check on me.
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