Just had an infuriating doc visit this morning that led to us "mutually agreeing" that I wont be returning to this doc again.
It was with an endocrinologist I use to get certain testing done that my neuro says he wouldnt know about. I do it to establish baselines and keep an eye on things related to med side effects and prior to med changes and such. Like many of you, mine is a "difficult case" so I expect a certain amount of leeway and a two way street as far as listening goes to ensure that I am getting done what I feel needs to be done.
So, I go in with my list of things and questions that I want to discuss, and I dont get the doc who knows my issue, instead the send in a PA. Now that would be fine if the person was at all familiar with my needs, but she starts by asking me basic questions like if I have seen a neurologist.. I could not hide my disgust and frustration at having to "educate" yet another medical professional and I proceeded to tell her, "only for the past 20 years." Then she asked me another basic question, as though it were my first visit, and so I spewed out rapid fire why I was there, what I expected, my reasoning for asking for what I was asking, and why I should speak to the doctor.
She looked overwhelmed and went and got the doctor. An office manager came in first and asked if I was dissatisfied with anything. So I calmly told her how I had to make an appointment, do a basic CBC and metabolic panel, come in and review with the doc, just so I could ask about what I really wanted done, then go get that testing, and come back for a second visit to get those results. I told her I was fine with that if that is what I had to do, because my neuro and GP admitted these things were out of their fields, and I was therefore left to my own devices to see these things addressed properly. I explained my problem was when I came in here today, it was clear I wasnt going to get to speak to the doc and even get a chance to discuss my concerns or other baseline testing I wanted done, instead feeling as though this was a basic "check up" which wasted my time and money.
She said when I was done with the doc I could speak to her about coordinating with my other physicians. The doc came in and told me all my testing was normal (again CBC and basic metabolic panel) and there was nothing else for me to do except speak to my neuro. I told him again the neuro suggested I see someone like an endo and asked about the other maintenance and baseline reference testing I wanted, but he cut me off and said he didnt see that would help anything, then told me he would send my records to my GP (which will accomplish nothing), which was his way of telling me we were done here.
Now I was pissed, so I said just give me a copy of the last blood work you did for my file. The assistant said I think we only need to see you on an as needed basis, and I told her I dont see any reason to come back here. Then when I got to the front, the manager who was going to talk to me about coordinating my care, hid in the back room and said she didnt need to speak to me after all. So, I proceeded to walk out with none of them willing to even look me in the eye.
I clearly was perturbed by the situation, but at no time did I loose my cool, or show any outward anger to anyone, aside from displeasure at how the situation was handled. I felt like they treated me like the crazy person who has nothing wrong, but keeps bothering the doc for no reason.
This sort of thing happens way too much. I think these docs run out of ideas, and dont know what to do with me (as far as treating something), so they punt and send me down the road. All I wanted was someone willing to do some annual testing to keep an eye on things, or to establish baselines in case of a med change.
Completely ridiculous.
It was with an endocrinologist I use to get certain testing done that my neuro says he wouldnt know about. I do it to establish baselines and keep an eye on things related to med side effects and prior to med changes and such. Like many of you, mine is a "difficult case" so I expect a certain amount of leeway and a two way street as far as listening goes to ensure that I am getting done what I feel needs to be done.
So, I go in with my list of things and questions that I want to discuss, and I dont get the doc who knows my issue, instead the send in a PA. Now that would be fine if the person was at all familiar with my needs, but she starts by asking me basic questions like if I have seen a neurologist.. I could not hide my disgust and frustration at having to "educate" yet another medical professional and I proceeded to tell her, "only for the past 20 years." Then she asked me another basic question, as though it were my first visit, and so I spewed out rapid fire why I was there, what I expected, my reasoning for asking for what I was asking, and why I should speak to the doctor.
She looked overwhelmed and went and got the doctor. An office manager came in first and asked if I was dissatisfied with anything. So I calmly told her how I had to make an appointment, do a basic CBC and metabolic panel, come in and review with the doc, just so I could ask about what I really wanted done, then go get that testing, and come back for a second visit to get those results. I told her I was fine with that if that is what I had to do, because my neuro and GP admitted these things were out of their fields, and I was therefore left to my own devices to see these things addressed properly. I explained my problem was when I came in here today, it was clear I wasnt going to get to speak to the doc and even get a chance to discuss my concerns or other baseline testing I wanted done, instead feeling as though this was a basic "check up" which wasted my time and money.
She said when I was done with the doc I could speak to her about coordinating with my other physicians. The doc came in and told me all my testing was normal (again CBC and basic metabolic panel) and there was nothing else for me to do except speak to my neuro. I told him again the neuro suggested I see someone like an endo and asked about the other maintenance and baseline reference testing I wanted, but he cut me off and said he didnt see that would help anything, then told me he would send my records to my GP (which will accomplish nothing), which was his way of telling me we were done here.
Now I was pissed, so I said just give me a copy of the last blood work you did for my file. The assistant said I think we only need to see you on an as needed basis, and I told her I dont see any reason to come back here. Then when I got to the front, the manager who was going to talk to me about coordinating my care, hid in the back room and said she didnt need to speak to me after all. So, I proceeded to walk out with none of them willing to even look me in the eye.
I clearly was perturbed by the situation, but at no time did I loose my cool, or show any outward anger to anyone, aside from displeasure at how the situation was handled. I felt like they treated me like the crazy person who has nothing wrong, but keeps bothering the doc for no reason.
This sort of thing happens way too much. I think these docs run out of ideas, and dont know what to do with me (as far as treating something), so they punt and send me down the road. All I wanted was someone willing to do some annual testing to keep an eye on things, or to establish baselines in case of a med change.
Completely ridiculous.
