Another story about a doctor's office

ADK

I am over two years out from dx and the only thing I do for check-ups is an annual MRI.  I am one of those pain in the butt patients that won't do a mammo.  The last mammo I had before dx was pretty painful, so bad, I tried to pull out of it.  Six months later, a lump showed up just where I tried to pull out of the machine.  I had  7 mammos before that time and they never hurt like that.  So, I won't do mammos.  My PCP wanted me to check in with the breast surgeon (they are all in the same practice in the same building).  In early April, I saw her.  I knew I needed to have a MRI scheduled and they said they would do it.  A week after I saw the breast surgeon, one of her minions called to get some info - of course the first question was when was your last mammo - um, in 2000.  She got all flustered and said she had to call me back.  Fine.  A couple of days later, she calls to get permission to give my info to the facility that would do the MRI.  Sure, I say.  Well, I heard nothing back.  In the mean time, I saw my PCP, and asked him to schedule the MRI.  He says, no problem and I had it done in May at a different facility than what the breast surgeon would have used.  So, yesterday, August 25th, there is a message waiting for me at home from the breast surgeon's office - "I found this note about a bi-lat breast MRI and I was wondering if you still needed this done?"  Found a note???  Where?  On the floor?  Good Grief!!!!  It's a good thing I am pro-active, that's all I can say. 

I figured you folks could appreciate this tale. 

   

lvtwoqlt

Anne, I am with you on the doctors offices that 'forget'. Several years ago (three I think) I changed to a gyne after the PCP I had gone to for over 20 yrs refused to listen to my complaints about abnormal monthly periods. He said that is was just part of getting older. EXCUSE ME!!! My aunt passed away from Ovarian cancer at 38, my mom was dx with breast cancer in 2001 at age 57. That encouraged me to change, I went to a new female gyne for my annual physical to get my problems looked into. She had the ca-125 test done, clear, she did tv-ultrasound, good, she did endemetrial biopsy, clear. I felt good about her. She did the ca-125 2 yrs straight.

Last year while going through my BC surgery and recon, she left the practice of other gyne and started her own practice. I got the card stating that she was leaving and if I wanted to continue with her to send in a request for my records to be transfered to her new office a month before my annual physical was due.  I went for my physical and she didn't have my records yet or the notes my surgeon sent to her about my procedures. Well I digress slightly, I couldn't remember when I had my physical last year and checked my EOB on the website and I had it in August last year. I didn't even get a card reminding me it was time for my physical. I have changed PCP about 2 yrs ago and I will have them do my physicals from now on, the gyne new office was not set up to do the blood work anyway and they seemed unconcerned about my bilat arm restrictions for bp.

Sheila

iodine

Shelia, may I suggest that you google how to have your BP taken without arms, also blood work, and provide it to this docs office.

God bless you, Anne!  If only we could convince everyone not to wait around for the office to tell us report results, schedule an appt, or what ever, our level of care for most women would be greatly improved.  Not all doc's offices hire exceptionally talented people to perform very important tasks in patient care.  Not all hospitals do either!  Just because the doc has a degree, doesn't mean the staff is on the ball about ANYTHING.

I always assume that I am responsible for my own health and if I have to beat them over the head, I will, until they "get it" that I will not be put upon for Their ease of their day. 

ADK

So here's an update - On Friday a message was left for me at my office that the surgeon's office knew I had the MRI and the surgeon wanted to "follow up with me".  They treated me so badly the first time, I won't call them back.  I got the results over the phone from my PCP's office and they said everything was fine.  I am getting a little concerned - I don't know if my PCP's office had made a mistake in telling me that or the surgeon's office was just trying to make nice over the whole thing.  I am seeing my PCP at the end of this month, so, I guess I will get the whole tale then.  I wish they would stop calling, it's just making me a little nervous.