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SO ANGRY - rheumatologist office

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Posted 8/12/2011 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
I have been waiting 4 months for my first real rheumatologist appointment. I had an "assessment" in April and since I didn't seem to be in any immediate danger, health wise, I had to go on the long list. My appointment was set for next Tuesday at 1:30

Yesterday late afternoon, I get a call from their office (left a voice mail) saying my appointment had to be changed, and my new one was going to be the next morning at 10:30. Well, I just can't do 10:30 on a Wednesday, at least not without a little bit more notice. So I called back right away but of course, got voice mail, and left a message. After a couple of hours I wasn't getting any answer still, and when I found an alternative phone number for the office on my call ID (fax machine?) my MIL had me call that line. And I got through! I told the receptionist "I don't mean to be rude, BUT...." and off it went.

The only explanation I can get is that "the doctor isn't available to see me at that time anymore." Nothing else. I ask, is there an emergency or some other legitimate reason for my appointment to be cancelled at the last minute (I know it is not really last minute, but after 4 months, less than a week's notice is last minute enough for me)? The receptionist says she doesn't know. Hm. Well, since I know this is a small office with two doctors and just a couple of receptionists, I don't really believe that. Then she tells me that the ONLY possible opening is the Wednesday at 10:30 appointment, and if I don't take that one then it will be at least until after the doctor comes back from vacation, she really has no idea how fast they could get me in, even if it will be September.

I am LIVID at this point. I am not the one changing the appointment, why do I have to be the one to completely throw her life upside down to suit them? Since it is the doctor doing the changing, especially after 4 months and with little notice, shouldn't she be the one trying to make space and accommodate the patients she's screwing over last minute? No, apparently I have to be jammed in right before she takes vacation. Could the receptionist have a brain in her head and maybe ask some of the patients who DO have flexible schedules if they'd be willing/able to switch their appointment that week for someone who has been ****ed over by the doctor?

The receptionist says she will call me back after she's talked to the doctor. Ok, well, you are only open until 5 on Thursday, and you are only open until NOON on Friday, and the doctor isn't in on Mondays... so, I have to wait until the day that my appointment is supposed to be to find out if it is being changed? On the voice mail message for the office it says it can take up to two days to hear back from them if you leave a message. I ask her if I am going to have to wait the two days and she says she doesn't know. Um, well, see, are you kidding me? Are you not the one returning the calls? Are you not the one who is going to take 10 minutes to talk to the doctor about other possible scheduling? I can not believe the audacity or the lack of professionalism that they're showing me, and I haven't even gone for my first real appointment yet!

I called and left another message this morning. Clearly, I've not received a call back.

Don't get me wrong, I know people have to wait to see specialists, and I know that schedules have to change last minute. But only giving me ONE possible time to go in without any other flexibility? And then punishing me for not being able to take it? And the receptionist couldn't even come up with some sort of lie to make me feel better and say the doctor has some sort of emergency or a funeral to go to or something? At this point I just feel like she's going out for a long lunch that day.

This could possibly be the longest post ever about being angry at a doctor for something not serious. LOL Sorry! Needed to vent, I guess.
Posted 8/12/2011 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
I don't blame you for being angry at all. Is there another rheumatologist in the area? Or close enough? I'd take my business elsewhere. They are DOCTORS for God's sake, and their is OBVIOUSLY a need for you to be seen or you wouldn't have been referred to them. For your peace of mind, I would try to go elsewhere. If they treat you like this NOW, what is going to happen if you get seriously ill? How long will you have to wait for treatment - until you are hospitalized??

I do understand specialists, and I know there is a need to be flexible... but this is a complete disregard for you and your health, and I do not understand it.

I wish you the best of luck in this mess. I hope you hear from them quickly!
Posted 8/12/2011 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
Honey, can I identify with this. It took me 20 years to get to one and then she blew me off
saying she couldn't treat me because I go to a heart specialist. She tells me to go back to
my regular physician and have him treat me. Did absolutely NOTHING and charged my insurance
over $300!!! I just couldn't believe these Professionals (questionable) and the way they treat us.
I've had arthritis for 50 years now (I was 7) and I really needed some answers and to be
brushed off without anything kind of galled me.
Hope your luck is better than mine. I've gone herbal mostly due to the side effects of the
meds and lack of interest in the doctors treating me.
Nana Monster
Posted 8/12/2011 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
It's frustrating but it happens a lot.  I had an appointment to see my doctor the first week in September.  They called me several weeks ago and the doctor will be on vacation then so we had to find another time.  I have to wait an additional three weeks for my appointment.

 

I think part of the problem is the receptionists set up the appointments.  Then the doctor decides when they are going on vacation or if they have a meeting or appointment.  They tell the receptionist and all those scheduled appointments have to be changed.  I don't think the receptionists have a clue when the doctor will be away.  In my case, this happened shortly after I made the appointment.  The doctor probably decided to take his vacation during that time and she had to change all of those appointments. 

 

It's a real pain to have to keep waiting but he/she might be worth it.  I don't know.  I know this has only happened to me about three times in the 13 years I've seen the doctor.  You just might have made and "unlucky" appointment. 

 

Nevertheless, try to calm down.  The anger and stress definitely are not helping you.  Just try to get the earliest appointment that fits into your schedule and, before you know it, the day will have arrived.

 

Sherrine

Posted 8/13/2011 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
Round 2...FIGHT!!! Lol!!!
Posted 8/14/2011 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
this happened to me with the neurologists office.I started getting nerve jumping on my left side of my body and I was scared they didn't get back to me for a long time and when they did they said they'd put me on a cancellation list otherwise I'd have to wait until september and this was in may.I am still waiting til september sixth.
Posted 8/18/2011 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
LOL Thanks guys. I don't mind the wait and I don't mind waiting more, I just really didn't like how they handled it.

The good news is I got an appointment for tomorrow morning. So I am about to sit down and write out my list of... symptoms? or complaints or whatever. But I am nervous.... I am nervous about going in and her not believing me. What if I am having a really good day? Am I not going to react to the tests or whatever she is going to do as I normally would on a typical or bad day? I am having a HELL of a day today, everything from nerve pain to down and dirty muscle pain and tremors and so on and so on.. is it bad to hope that tomorrow is on a similar level so she gets a real idea of how I am feeling?

I guess I am nervous because I really don't know what to expect.

Any thoughts or pointers? I just hope I remember everything I want to say.
Posted 8/18/2011 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
I've been seeing a rheumy for over 22 years for fibro and every time I go, which is about 3 times a year, they do a tender point exam and every single time they do it, it makes me practically leap off the exam table. So, it doesn't matter whether you are in a flare or having a good day, those tender points unfortunately are there and that is the hallmark of fibro. So put your mind at rest, try to relax tonight and go in and just be honest and tell it like it is. Any good doctor that is knowledgable about fibro is aware we have good days and bad, so no need to feel you have to pretend it's a bad day...just be honest.
I wish you well
Miriam
Posted 8/18/2011 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
I have been seeing my rheumy for about 4-5 years now and every six months the same exam. After several of these I asked him how he knew I had fibro and he very gently laid his hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. I never questioned him again.

I have all the tender points but he never touches them. He, instead, does the range of motion exam and this past two visits I have noticed a change and he has too. This lead to more tests and the new diagnosis of RA.
Posted 8/18/2011 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Well, it worked out that today wasn't a great day for me... I was soooo cold for some reason and that caused me to cramp up even more. So by the time it came to the exam I was shaking and blubbering my words. She did all the range of motion stuff and did the tender point presses and even though I didn't leap off the table, I sure did feel them, and was pretty surprised by a couple that hurt more than I thought.

She wrapped it all up by sending me for a few more blood tests but told me not to worry about them as she didn't think anything would come back from them, and that I am probably dealing with what is called "Fibromyalgia". Have I ever heard of it?

LOL, yup.

She seemed very thorough and asked me a lot of questions and took a LOT of notes. So overall I feel the visit was a good one and I am just happy that both she and my doctor don't think I am crazy! You hear so many horror stories about people who's doctors don't take them seriously

I go back in a month to go over the blood tests and talk about further options.
Posted 8/19/2011 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
I'm so glad for you that your rheumy believes in FM. When I saw mine and she said FM and she wanted more blood work done as well which turned out negative. I hope your next appointment turns out just as well. Sorry you had extra special pain day.
Posted 8/20/2011 6:54 AM (GMT 0)
I finally went to see a Rheumy as have been diagnosed with it since around 1999. My feet have been hurting for years and all the other doctors and foot specialist could not find the cause.

The rheumy gave me an exam, not really doing too much and said I had normal arthritis for my age and that my fibro wasn't causing the foot pain. She wrote me a script to get PT in water, which I'm not going to do. She also told me that I'd already tried all the fibro related medications and she couldn't help me anymore. She didn't seem to care about my constant pains.

To make a long story longer - I was finally diagnosed by a new foot doctor and have Morton's Neuroma, caused by injured nerves in my feet. He diagnosed me in 5 minutes. There is treatments but if they don't work I may have surgery.

Just wanted to post this in a few places as some of us had talked in the past about foot pain and fibro and a lot of us thought it was fibro related.
Posted 8/21/2011 12:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Moonsinger,

Sorry for your bad experience. Unfortunately, these stories are very common - welcome to today's healthcare system! And the response by the receptionist is indicative of the poor level of customer service that I am noticing in almost every industry. It can be infuriating, unfortunately, and stressful - which is not fun when you have fibro. I guess the best thing you can do to prepare for it is to just sort of accept it and try to minimize your anxiety in any way you can. I'm glad the appointment ultimately was somewhat successful. I had a bad experience with a neurologist a while back who didn't believe in in Fibro and basically just wasted my time and money. At least you found a doctor who seems to be well versed in fibro! (Look at the positive :)

Best of luck to you.
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