Here's what cheezed me off today

NancyD

Drs have this "thing" about signing you out of their care. In many cases it's just a formality, but there are times when it does mean something such as if you are switching drs while in treatment, or will need follow up.



Fwiw, I never had my breast surgeon sign me out of his care, and I didn't go back once the visits were scheduled for once a year. I was supposed to see him last March, but skipped it as I wasn't having any problems and my daughter was undergoing expensive dental work, so I thought I'd save myself the copay. Unfortunately, he died suddenly last week.



I seem to have that affect on my drs...three others have died while I was their patient over my lifetime. Anyone else have a record like that?

mostlymom

I got a call from my RO's office saying I needed to set up my 6 mo appt in March - I told them I'd call them....

NOT....  I'm still paying them off for burning the cancer out of me - I figure we've all done!

Leah_S

I have to say, I've seen women on these boards have followups with BS, with rad onc, with med onc - why all the followups?

Once I was healed from surgery the BS said "Followups all with med onc". Rad onc sad the same after rads were done. We have socialized medicine here so these docs don't get paid per patient.

Is there an economic reason these docs want to keep seeing you? Oh, no, of course not. They're just oh-so-concerned about you and know that your 5 minute followup visits with them are essential.

Oh, Leah, stop being so cynical.

Rockym

rohanna, love your new look.  I've got two cats.  My favorite sleeps in a kitty bed just above my keyboard.  He's always around to keep me company.  BTW, I'm on my 2nd MO (3 if you count the 2nd opinion guy) and also on my 2nd RO.

Rockym

Had a follow-up with my BS last week.  He mentioned that typically I would be under his care for 2 years and the MO's for 5.  BS is the one who is now going to order mammos and MRI's for the next couple of years.  He says after 2 years, the GYN can go back to submitting the orders, but the first 2 years after BC are the most important to stay on top of.  I happen to like him so I have no problem having him check on me.  In fact, I got a call in Dec. telling me I was to have a follow up MRI.  Last one was in June after my dx so I was happy someone was on top of things.  MRI came back Birad2 and everything looked good.

He also mentioned that once I'm done with the rad treatment I'm done with the RO.  Since the RO isn't really looking for anything or examining me, I'm with BS.  The less doctors the better.

coraleliz

I seem to have the opposite problem. The doctors don't want to see me? I started on Tamox & was told to come back in 3 months. Tried to make the appt at my last visit but was told they'd call me. 3 months went by, so I called them & was given an appt which would have been almost 4months from my last. Then they called me to saying they have to reschedule & pushed it back 2 more weeks. I'm considering taking myself off Tamox to see if my side effects resolve. A couple of weeks ago, I went to a different MO, wanting to switch---even worse. I think my only salvation is that I can still sleep at night.

Anonymous

ana, what are they going to do? Send the booby police to your house. I hated my rad center too so tell them to kiss your tushie!

Rocky, that new avatar is the king of my house. He has 3 cat beds and he STILL sleeps on my feet. And he ain't heavy, he' tonnage! We also feed about a dozen feral cats in the woods behind our house. I love his big fat grumpy self. 

cora, I went off Tamox because of the horrendous SE's. I've been taking Arimidex for the last 8 months and the only SE is sleeplessness. I'll take that over joint pain anytime. Maybe your doc can switch you?

Reality

Good one, rohanna - "booby police". I may have even considered going for that last skin check if the recep had stated their demand in a more diplomatic way - perhaps, "We would really like to see you one more time", or, "this is really in your best interest"....but no, she said I "HAD" to go there. She actually spoke to me as though I were a child! (Who am I kidding, I would not go to that last darn appt. no matter how nice she was-lol)

Reality

OMG - I cannot believe it! One of my rad techs asked the recep. to give me a gas card a few weeks ago as I drove the hour trip to rads twice in two weeks, only to find the machine was broken. The recep kept promising me a card, but kept forgetting to save one for me when she received them. She promised she would MAIL me one. She just left a voicemail stating that she made me an appointment on the 26th - yep, without me even making the appt and AFTER I told her I would not be in for an appointment - the catch is that she is no longer planning to mail the gas card - I have to get it at my appt. Too funny - they are holding my gas card hostage! Oh well - too bad for them as my transmission is shot and I no longer have a car or need a gas card. I also know the other part of their game - they will charge me for a missed appt. if I do not show up - nope, that will not happen as I am calling to cancel. Why can't they just leave me a lone!!!

chabba

NancyD I've only had one Dr die while I was a patient but it afraid that could happen again.  My surgeon, who is one of the best in western Washing and whom I love, is older, no one knows for sure how old.  Best guess is at least 70.  I'm really more afraid he will retire.

And the Dr who died?  His name was Dr. Dye.

coraleliz

Anandagram-If I were you, I'd pretend I didn't get the call. Voice messaging isn't foolproof. You clearly told them you weren't coming back. Refuse to pay if you get billed for a missed appt. Attatch a short concise letter to the bill(if you get one) saying you never made the appt....... Along time ago, I got billed for a missed visit that was cancelled, & then rescheduled without my knowledge. I didn't pay & never heard from them again. I really think this having to pay for a missed appt is more of a threat than anything. Holding your gascard hostage is just so wrong!!!!!!

I actually liked my RO & his staff, so I played along with my weekly appts with RO during treatment & went to a final appt 2 weeks after RADs finished. But again(currently), I seem to be plagued by the "can't get an appt" problem.

Anonymous

I would just like to say that I love all of you ladies and this is one of my favorite threads. 

Chabba -  Dr Dye????  How sad...and hilarious.  Sorry but I'm laughing at such an unfortunate event.  Lightning will strike me, I know. 

Anandagram and rockym - booby police, I like it!  And I think WE get to hire them and they work for us.  We'll just have them call the RO's office for Ana and say, "Do you REALLY want to have this conversation?  Come down to the station and bring the gas cards.  If you don't we'll arrest you for the largest case of the DumbA** so far in our state."  Wait,  What's the number?  I'll call.  I'm just in the mood to do it.   

Phyllis

chabba

Phyllis, the saddest part is that Dr. Dye died of complications of hemorrhoid surgery.  At least he was a dentist, not a proctologist.

Leah_S

Chabba, I am feeling so guilty for laughing about this but Dr. Dye died because he had a pain in the a$$.

And I'm allowed to call it that since I get them, too. After hearing this I can GUARANTEE I will NEVER look into surgery for them.

Leah

Anonymous

Okay, it's the lightning strike for me!

Phyllis    (this is the ROFL guy)

chabba

Leah - Even though he died 35 years or so ago and I know surgery techniques have advanced I don't intend to have surgery for mine either.

sas-schatzi

The Last time I saw my previous PCP we talked about our brain tumors. So sad, he passed. I loved him. The person they finally brought in to replace him almost 10 months later, I met by happenstance b/c she was on duty,  a phelobotimist had caused and infection and this doc could have been in and out in < 5 minutes---there for a Rocephin shot. Was a Life saver for me. She stayed with me for over an hour listening to everything that had gone wrong, as I was completely falling apart once she started to listen.

Anonymous

It's 1:47 a.m. and I'm screaming with laughter over the Dr. Dye stuff! Yeah, it's wrong, but I can't help it! My mom was in the hospital years ago and her dr. was Doctor Proctor. When they paged him on the intercom, you could hear the whole floor laugh. I once had a doctor named Richard Ramirez (yeah, just like the Night Stalker). Luckily, he transferred and I didn't get Dr. Ted Bundy!

Phyllis, if the offender is cute, can we pretend to be booby police and say "Assume the position. I'm going to search for hidden weapons, now spread those feet you big hunk of beefcake!"? I figure if we can get felt up by strangers, we should be able to return the favor!

Lulu22

Right now I'm in a hospital pre-op room preparing for my surgery. The nurse who just put my IV in couldn't stop talking about her friend with BC who went stage IV before she knew it and how hard it was on her 3 children. Hello! I'm going in for breast surgery and I'm already worried enough about how my 3 kids are doing. Couldn't you talk about sports or the weather or ANYTHING else? Sheesh.

Rockym

Lulu22, Okay, now that totally pisses me off!  I hope your surgery goes well and if you get a chance before you leave the hospital TELL SOMEONE!  We don't give a rats ass about some stupid nurse's friends... especially if they have BC and complications.  That crap is totally unacceptable!

Happy thoughts from nurses to patients or NO thoughts at all.

Wren44

Lulu22, Definitely get her name and write a letter. Someone needs to talk to her. I've decided my comeback will be, "Thank you so much for sharing. It's so encouraging". Maybe they'll get the picture then.

chabba

When I hear "I have a friend who got cancer", I stop them and say I don't want to hear it unless it is about how she got it aat 60, came throught it fine and you would have her give me a call but she is off skiing in the Alps.

Starak

Chabba:  Bless you girl, Amen to that!!

Barbara

Anonymous

I agree with Rocky and Chabba. Why don't people think before they speak? Her timing sucked!

sas-schatzi

Chabba------hold it gal----I got it at 59----my twin GOT IT AT 45 +. i HAD A HORRIBLE FALL after a clear mammo then MRI for elective BMX. Why entirely clear before fall and then Ivasisive ductual--------that was incredidibly aggressive------I'm here b/c I was incrdibibly aggressive about getting them off.-----------who knows did the fall have anything to do with the change? LONG story

Anonymous

Hi Ladies,

Lulu that was sooooo out of line by the nurse.   People don't think before they speak, or maybe just don't think at all!!

I was at grocery checkout yesterday, the checker (who I have never deen before) asks me, "is that a catheter?"  I was caught completely off guard.  I said "no it's a chemo-port."  (The main part was under my shirt, but I have tube up my neck.)  I felt really self conscious and should have just took off my wig/hat!!!  But, I was nice and I think he felt really bad.  That kind of thing makes it hard for me to think I look somewhat normal.  I am staying home today!

Sara ♥

Rockym

Sara, you should have told him, "Why yes it is and if you don't watch it I might pee on you by accident because it' also attached down low." :-).  Sorry he had to point that out... just another person not minding their own business.

Lulu22

I think the nurse thought she was being empathetic because her comments were really about how she and her friends had supported this other friend by doing a BC walk and generally being there for her and her kids. I largely ignored her because I didn't want to refocus the energy I was using to keep calm and relaxed in the face of surgery. On another day I would have said something for sure. I sometimes wonder how people can be so oblivious.

My recovery is going well. I was lucky enough to get off with a lumpectomy and I'm sore and tired today but not in any real pain. 

So here's my WTF for today. I rested all day and then drove to school to pick up my 10 year old. Someone was handing out flyers in the carpool line and when I rolled down my window a fellow parent standing on the school sidewalk called out to ask me how I was doing. She followed that question up by yelling "SO, DID THEY HAVE TO DO A FULL MASTECTOMY?"...in front of her daughter (my daugher's classmate)  and two of their friends. Uh, ever heard of discretion?

Sara, that's an ouch. Kinda sucks when you're feeling good about how you look and someone has to point out that you're still not back to your regular self. On the flip side, I went out today in the same sweats I wore yesterday and with no makeup (no eyebrows or lashes, pasty complexion, etc.). I looked atrocious. Someone tried to tell me I looked good and I have to admit I just laughed. Didn't mean to be cruel but I couldn't help myself. I guess they were expecting me to be looking half dead so the fact that I was up and around must have been "looking good" to them.  

ALittleBitBritish

Here is my thanks for making my weekend moment:

So..... 2 weeks ago I had my six monthly trans-vaginal US, my second checkup, as I started Tamox, to keep an eye on things...due to poss SEs of tamox. I was told I had a cyst on my ovary but the tech said it was nothing to be concerned about and would probably leave at my next period. So I didn't worry....

Tonight I get a call from my clinic nurse saying they have a Gyn referral in for me to activate? 

WTF and to take my results of the US to discuss with my Onc?!! What results??

The nurse says 'You have a copy of your results?' Errrr..noooo....

I am so amazed by this point and she adds she will print a copy for me to collect to talk to my Onc about it!! Dumb struck I forgot to ask what the damn report says, so now I have all w/end to wonder!! Tried calling back..no answer....

Unbelieveable!! Couldn't she have told me what it said or call me on a Monday!!

No..stress all w/end and pick up my copy and read it Monday!! Grrrrrrr  

sas-schatzi

ALBritish---------I've read your dx section.----very involved----makes you wonder WTF they told you.Which influenced your choices-------Cluck'em.

 I have no dx section b/c a thread I was on was so humours, we were being quoted on FB. I took of all identifying stuff. That's unlikely here b/c we are talking serious stuff,

I hear and understand your anger---------- WTF------they Give you news that sounds awful, don't define it , and then say we will talk to you on Monday.---------FUCK them-------MODs if you get to a point of wanting to delete what I'm saying ---please think about this---------News that changes your--life-----yet no information or support behind it-------what would you say-----

Jan 23rd 2009-----11:55----call from Dr Levine's nurse----------she says" Dr Levine wants you to know that you have a brain tumor" I ask where, what kind etc---------at each question the nurse says I don't know. I respond first that I am nurse-------Then "I said well when the shit hits the fan.-I'm leaving the house now for a breast bx that we know is going to be positive." I'm guessing that nurse never made a phone call like that again

.I as a nurse, was never given that order. Given that order, I would have refused it. No Info , Completely unfair to the patient. No location of tumor, no likely hood of outcome------------does that suck or what,----------on top of the bx for BC that we knew was going to be positive----------Cluckem or fuckem depending on what the Mods can handle.

I reviewed all the xray material before the steriotataic BX. Then rep-lulled the significant ones when we were done. pointed out all significant landmarks------------Old OR nurse------he was a great rardiologist-------long story------------I said to him based on the what imput up on the lights. THIS and THIS tells me it's very aggressive--------He looked at me and said your right. I asked Him if he had ever had anyone do what I did and he said no. this Radiologist took two years of Fellowship under the Doc that invented Steriiotic BX------------------ I knew from that moment I had to be very aggressive about getting me on the table and. resection, but the icendtanal finding a brain tumor complicated it---------but being a pushy bitch nurse-----got it done in less than 3 weeks-----dx'went from a grade 2 to a grade 3 in that time. If I hadn't been a really pushy bitch that caused lot's of things to happen======I wouldn't be writing this today

Now the Brain tunor is growing-------------so,  what shall be will be----------

 So. now the damn brain tumor is growing ------------BC , loss of Dh to Lymphoma, loss of dog of 15 years  2 weeks after Dh  died.  Loss of three friends that couldn' t handle it. Cluck

But guess who I have----------------------MY  BCO friends------------I would not have survived these last years without BCO-----------------Because---I can write from my heart - and my belief and all that is within me.............that keeps me sane-----------I wish my counselor would read what I write-------he might be able to counsel me better.

To some,they feel I have words that are of value.  Nice

Tonight I have perhaps done something different-----------who knows. Words have meaning different meanings.

Meanings have a different place in our hearts depending where we are