Gotta vent!!!

[crazyd925]

Tomorrow will be 4 weeks since finally getting in to see my ENT. He was moving to a new office and it took 2-3 weeks the first time. He made his recommendations, I researched the stereotactic radiation he suggested, I made my decision to go that route.
Problem. I can't get him to respond - he wanted to talk to the Dr. that would do it and send me there to meet with him. Nothing. I can't even get a call back from him to let me know ANYTHING!!
Has anybody out there had this kind of NON-interaction with your doctors? I really liked him and respect his opinion but, I just want to move forward and get this OVER with. I know it's a slow growing tumor but I'm not a slow mover when I make a decision!!

[grega]

Hi Crazy D (hope I spelled that right) 

Can't make excuses for yours, but a lotta docs are busy these days.  So here's a suggestion to catch their attention, as well as the attention of others in the doc's office (e.g. docs, nurses, staff).  FAX them a note with whatever you want to say .... however you want to say it.  Call the office if you don't already have the fax#.   

Make it LOUD   BOLD  INTERESTING..... etc.  Underline important parts!  Highlight other parts 

GOOGLE "fax cover sheets" and you might find some interesting ones that will get results.  This could very well get the attention you deserve!

Have fun!

Greg

[Migoi]

CrazyD,

   Unfortunately, the medical folks alwasys seem to move slower than we want them to in cases like this. There are probably lots of "reasons" but few that really matter when we're talking about the inside of your head.

   Not a recommendation, but I'm thinking, if I was in this situation, I would just show up at the doctor's office. The key to making that work is to not be accusatory.. Show up and tell them that something seems to be wrong with the phone system and you stopped by to make the appointment. If there is going to be an ongoing relationship you have to give them a way to save face by giving them a third party to lay the blame on (i.e. a malfunctioning phone system). I've also found it's real hard to ignore me when I'm standing in your office.

  In cases like this it's very important to know what your goal is going into the situation. I would assume your goal is to get an appointment.. if your actions point toward a different goal, such as venting your frustration at the doctor or receptionist, it could interfere with your real goal of getting an appointment. Have your goals clearly in your head when you walk in. You don't have to lie but it helps to be able to suggest possibilities that don't force people into defensive corners.

  Use this forum to vent your frustrations (post a long screed just before going out the door if you need to), we've been there, done that, got the coolio scar on our heads to prove it (t-shirt idea... My loved one had brain surgery and all I got was this lousy t-shirt).

   One explanation would be the Einstein route...time is relative. To a doctor or receptionist, two or three weeks wait for someone with something that probably won't kill them for 10 to 15 years is no big deal. To the person with the thing growing in their head, a wait for an appointment of more than a day is an eternity. My frustrating wait story is from the very beginning of this journey. The ENT that evaluated my asymetrical audiogram and ordered the MRI called me to tell me the results... Tim, you're number 3 (he had previously told me he had only seen two 'growths on the hearing nerve' before). I'm going to refer you to an ENT surgeon that has experience with these. He will contact you soon."   Soon turned out to be a week.... that was one looooong week.

   Not sure if any of this helps... good luck

..take care.. tim b

[Kate B]

It is frustrating and you have gotten some great advice from Greg and Tim.

One thought...Can you call the doctor he wants you to see to make the appointment or does your insurance prevent it?

Kate

[crazyd925]

I just want to move forward. Get the appt with the group that will do the radiation and get it over with.

I'm already having to pay a ridiculous amount for specialists' co-pays and the MRI's have already maxed out my out of pocket for the year. They want me to pay them off in less than a year. I'm really stressed about the money part and want all of it behind me so I can go forth!!

It really helps to know that I probably won't have to miss much work with the radiation. When I had my surgery 10 years ago, I wasn't able to return to work for about a year then, I lucked into an employer that was already familiar with ANs and he hired me when nobody wanted to take the chance. Imagine trying to get a job with your face skewed sideways and using a cane to walk across the room. OOPS, forgot who I was talking too!!!

Thank God for this forum because I'm trying to keep positive with my family and friends so they don't worry!!

Dianne

[carter]

ok - i am not the patient type ... as my past history told on this site attests ...

my dr did not return my calls last week.  it was my first call since having CK so i had not bothered him... and i was having new sympthoms that i had no idea about.  i called and talked to nurse as they opened.  i called again at 1:00.   then at a few minutes before 5:00 i was told that the office was closed. 

i asked the service to page him.  he called 15 minutes later.

doctors are not gods.   most simply wish to maximize their time.  that is why they form ques and make you wait.  it is seldom that they ever end up waiting ...  but it is ok to have you wait.  miss an appointment and see if you are not billed for the time?

i fired my CK team on the reschuled date for my first treatment ....  a patient also has rights / needs and i beleive in voicing these.

may i suggest calling the office or going to visit.  ask for the person that arranges referrals.  ask who you are to go see.  if no response, ask the nurse the same question.  if still no answer, have his service page him after hours.

if still no answer - move on ....  you have to have someone that you know will be there for you in the future ...  if this is their level of service what will it be like if you really need them at a later date - when you can't wait ...

would you stand this level of service from any other industry? 

i feel as it is my body and i have to be my own advocate ....   sorry for not just giving you a nice warm fuzzy feeling --- i just have to voice my opinion.


carter