Disturbing call from the doctor's office in Charleston

Hi Purg,

Maybe he only needs 15 minutes because he's that good...that must be it :)  We'll go with that as a reason because it sounds better than he's a poo...

Reality is more likely to be; few, if any, high demand specialists have and hour or two with each patient at a discovery meet and greet. It just is not possible. 15 is a start though. You'll get an opinion at the very least but doubtfully many answers as it's just too early in the game for him. Try not to be too put off by his general attitude. Give him a few moments at least, before taking him down off that pedestal. I'm sure he didn't put himself up there. Not alone anyway. High demand physician's often do seem rather snobbish but ya know what? I'd still prefer the opinion of a guy who has a line out the door over that of a friendly guy without any depth of knowledge. Just my $.02 worth. Good luck.

Swim

David -

One thing I have always noticed from my days in the military on, is that you can always get a feel for the quality of leadership in an organization, and that includes a doctor's office, by the quality of service given by the subordinates in that organization.

Whenever I go into a hamburger place to grab a burger, and the staff behind the counter are slow, inattentive, and unconcerned, I don't even have to meet the manager, I already know what he's like. Same if the staff are friendly, efficient and helpful, I already know what he's like.

The quality and style of leadership in any organization always flows down into and is reflected in the style and quality of service which the organization provides.

The ways in which this doctor's staff are interacting with you are a read into what his style and personality are like. Maybe he really is a great doctor and just what you need, but the quality of service given by his staff, the atmosphere in his office if you will, are an indication of what it will be like to be his patient.

81 & GAMS, good point - pretty well how I am feeling inside about this.

If I were only going to be making this 450 mile round trip soley to see this doctor, I would not be going, I would wait till my own doctor was back in town, and make sure that he properly informed the new doctor what was going on. But...since I have to go anyhow, might as well show up and see just what this specialist is like in person.

As a side note, when my wife had her back injury, her spine surgeon is suppose to be one of the best, on her initial appointment with him, I doubt the meeting lasted 20 minutes. Once he looked at her MRI's, he instantly knew that she was in extreme pain and needed immediate surgery before any further damage was done. He was polite, but used few words. However, her situation was cut and dry, with 2 ruptured discs. It was a very mechanical situation, with few if any other options.

In my case, it is complicated, so that is why I have suspicions of how this doctor originally decided to by-pass even seeing me and downgrading me to a lesser doctor - without the benefit of meeting or hearing from me, and supposedly not even having my full medical records. Doesn't give me worlds of comfort finding out according to his nurse, that they didn't even know that the radiation had damaged my bladder so bad that I required bladder by-pass surgery. That's kind of a big thing to miss.

However, we are leaving in the morning. The appointment is at 10:15 Monday morning at MUSC. I still plan to go, and see first hand whom and what I am dealing with. In the long term for my care, I need a specialist that is much closer to me for practical purposes.

It's a big deal for me to make a long car trip like this, and there are no longer flights available between Greenville and Charleston like there use to be. Even in a comfortable car like I have, an hour in the car is about the most I can take before severe back aches start to sink in. I usually have to put the heated seats on to help alleviate the pain. So with a 3 to 3 1/2 car trip, it really is pushing me way beyond my pain limits.

We did do one clever thing. It was cheaper to buy my daughter another full sized bed set/frame for their spare bedroom, then to spend two nights at a hotel like we usually do when we visit in Charleston. Had one delivered and setup this week for her. It will pay for itself on this one trip, and save me a lot of running around between hotel and her house, and give her something nice for other family and guests that visit them. In the past, their only other sleeping spot was a single couch, or an inflatable mattress that always leaked.

Perhaps, and I am not a betting man, this doctor might see things differently when and if he comes to knowledge of my full situation.

Hi David, sounds like he is a one of those doctors who has a god like opinion of himself, met a couple in my time, bet he does not shake your hand when you meet, bit worried that he already has an opinion to down grade you to one of his lesser minions, and also reluctantly granting you 15mins for an audience.

Guess you should see him anyway if your going there, but I don't have much confidence.

All the best mate.

Mal.

David -

If this fellow does show you the door in a hurry, you know what? It really doesn't matter.

That's because, whatever this guy's reputation, he cannot be t-h-a-t so far above his colleagues, I don't care who he is, that not landing him means disaster for you.

There are p-l-e-n-t-y of fine docs out there, many of them closer to your home, who will be able to do mighty fine for you.

If this guy doesn't pan out, I am absolutely convinced that you will still be able to find someone else who will be your guy, and you will wind up being very satisfied with him (or her).