Doctors covering their butts!!!!!!

How much butt covering is too much ......

                      when your doctor is covering his butt?

   I had surgery scheduled for Monday, August 25th .... for a routine replacement of a kidney stent. It does require anesthesia and, at most, overnight observation in the hospital.

   It does need to be scheduled at optimum timing with my chemo treatments - so that the window of opportunity for surgery is only one of two days every three weeks. If that's missed, the next opportuinity is another three weeks away.

   Many of my ducks were in a row until noon today - when I called my primary doctor to schedule an appointment for Friday for an EKG and Urine specimans.

   He said there wouldn't be enought time for the urine specimans to be tested ... but more importantly, he would not sign off for my surgery - unless i went into a cardiologist first. Note - my EKG's always show a slight uneveness. I had a slight heart murmor since i was a kid - and I have gotten an EKG from him for the past 5-years or more.

   And four weeks ago, I had an echo cardiogram - and it was diagnosed as having a strong heart. My primary doctor didn't care! He wants a cardiologist to sign off on me - and I don't even have a cardiologist. Basically, he wants no responsibility for it!

   He also will not re-prescribe my Ventolin .... it's an emergency inhaler. I have had COPD for 7-years and he has been prescribing the inhaler for years. He won't do it now - because, as he said, "You haven't been in to see me for 5-months"! He wants me to come in for a chargeable visit first.

   As a result of the above, all the tests cannot be done this week. I am having blood tests tomorrow, along with my usual Oncologist visit and a possible shot. I am going in by Friday morning for a catscan - unrelated to the surgery.

   So by 1pm, i called the hospital, my Onologists office (chemo-related) and my Urologists office (the surgeon for next Monday) .... to simply cancel the surgery. The cardiologist was an unknown hic-cup until noon today - and now I need to find one and have whatever tests done by Friday! That is impossible!!!!!!

   Considering the fact that my Primary Doctor is in his local office (near me) only two days a week ..... and that he takes four - 2-week vacations a year ....... he's only available to me 88-days each year!

   I think that's unacceptable.

   What do you think? Is it time to say addios to my Primary Doctor of the past 25-years?

Rob .... and Gizmo

   I have an appointment with my Nurse Practitioner at the Oncologists office this morning. She is so helpful. I will ask her if there are any referals thru their office for a primary.

   I have an Oncologist, a Urologist and a Respiratory Specialist. None of them are able to handle some of the basics of a Primary office - like an EKG! And, I'm sure none of them would consider handling the ultimate responsibility of signing apatient off for surgery. Actually, their insurance coverage would probably prevent that!

   I did have a Nefrologist - but fired him two years ago for some very stupid mistakes he made in prescribing me meds - and how he managed to keep me coming in every month without much purpose - unless it was to help him pay his Lexus lease.

   My Oncologist and Urologist overlap in the area of the kidneys, so they were both able to make me feel comfortable for my kidney problems. But, I think the Primary may be a necessry evil!

Thanks.

Rob & Gizmo

   First ..... she actually listened to my story (my frustrations with my Primary Doctor). She's about midway between my two daughters in age (mid 30's or less) - and every so often, we even talk about tiny bits of our personal lives.

   I know she plays in an orchestra for a hobby. And we both have talked about gemstones - it was an interest of mine. Yesterday, when I was talking about my frustrations of last week - while taking care of some of my deceased mothers things, she said she has Vanguard too. And that her Dad wanted her to be more aggressive in stocks, etc.

   I mentioned to her about my mothers Bond Index Fund that has been bringing in 5% to 6% every year - and we started to talk about investments.

   I know ... this is not medical ..... but sometimes it's good to get away from all the medical talk for 5 or 10-minutes. I don't know - maybe it's so human. It's certainly not mechanical.

   The bottom line, after my blood draw, Xgeva shot and short-term outlook for my chemo ....... I asked if the office has any referrals for a Primary - and she did. Or rather, she said my Oncologist (who she reports to) has two groups ofPrimary doctors he feels very good about.

   Perfect!!!!!!!!!

   I was wiped out yesterday, but I will research both today - and maybe even try to make an appointment with one of them.

   God Bless thoughtful medical professionals!

Rob & Gizmo

   Gizmo's hair is going to be very slow in coming back ... so much was taken off. He looks pathetically skinny. BUT .... having his nails filed was a great idea. Soooooo nice for those nails to be shorter AND not sharp! It costs a little more - but well worth it!

   I hope to be calling for an appointment later today with a potential, new Primary doctor. And I need to call my Pulmonary Doctor for an appointment - haven't seen him in nearly a year - and should see him every 4 to 6-months. Then i can have him prescribe the Ventolin inhaler.

R & G

   I agree so much with you on the liability issue.

   I did my initial internet research on three Primary Doctors. It's wonderful how much info is out there.

   One of the doctors was rated a 5 out of 5 - by his patients! Now, the pessimist in me wonders how many of those rating this doctor were from his family????

   But all three of them were highly rated for adequately communicating with their patients - and for the average waiting times in their offices of 10 to 15-minutes.

   More research to do later today - then hopefully call for an appointment.

R & G

   It is not working! And like most chemos, it is quite dangerous to the body - this chemo even more than most others.

   I had yesterday narrowed my choice down to one favorite - for a new Primary doctor ..... will try to make an appointment with him soon.

   This coming week is a support group meeting .... but .... there are only two left after that meeting before the "Wellness Place" closes it's doors for lack of financial support.

   Of all things, the "Wellness Place" has a speaker next month who will be talking about all of the new drugs being tested for metastisized prostate cancer .... which is still incurable. Those speakers will stop also after next month.

   And now my Oncologist has explored all of the FDA-approved chemos for that disease .... because I've been on them all now with three of them totally ineffective and two of them working for about 6-months only each - before the cancer again started to grow.

   Sometimes ...... I just wish there was a place that Gizzy and I could just go to - forever - and escape this.

   I do need to start considering a second home for Gizmo - but that planning started over 2-1/2 years ago when I joined the Samoyed Rescue Group. I knew this would come.

   Now ..... I do want to ask my doctor how long he thinks I have .... if i can get the courage to ask.

   Sorry for the depression - going thru something bad right now.

Rob & Gizmo