ANGRY ENOUGH TO EXPLODE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leslie13

EbonyEyes,

Thanks for your thoughtful post. I didn't know that being a "charity" case would affect the speed of treatment. Are you on Medicaid or some other plan from the Affordable Care Act? If you have a very limited income you should qualify for some program. The most important thing is that you get the care you need.

I feel fortunate that I'm retired on a pension plan, but I could have ended up in much worse circumstances. I had a disability retirement 5 years ago from multiple orthopedic problems and surgeries. Stress I believe has caused the Cancer. But if I didn't have the benefits I do, I could have been destitute on a very limited income. It's happened to others who can't work, and I know a few. Don't be embarrassed. Many people are unable to work or get a job, and that means they might be living on less than $1,000 a month on SSI and Medicaid. The unemployment rate is much higher than reported. It doesn't count those who've given up or can't work.

And the government is lowering the reimbursable rate on medical services, so check your bills carefully. I was billed for 4 co-payments I made. When I contacted the billing dept. they said they were facility costs. Of course they were removed when I mentioned checking my Explanation of Benefits. Facility costs for a regular Dr. appt with no testing or medical procedures??? And I worry about my medical treatment moving too slowly so I'll end up with difficult to treat cancer. So I'm pretty paranoid too. The Med school is very good about loading test results and I have my big meeting tomorrow about directions for my treatment, so a bit nervous, but also hopeful I'll get the urgent treatment I need.

I'll be thinking of you through all your testing

EbonyEyes

The loyalty of sas's friends is commendable but she is so rude and condescending. Yes, I know the written word is open to interpretation because it lacks the nuances of interpersonal communication. But statements like 'You have no understanding or seriously deficient knowledge" and "Your PCP was inappropriate and unprofessional' and "If PCP was thinking, he would have already addressed this issue" are insulting under any circumstances. I especially did not like the way she used my post to insult other members and offer unsolicited advice.

Tomboy

Yeah, me too.

Kicks

EbonyEyes - the meaning of ''tizzy/tissy/hissy' and 'tizzy fit/hissy fit' can easily be found online. Basically it is working oneself up instead of remaining calm. . The words may not be commonly used where you live ''in the American South" but are quite common in all areas of the South I have lived in (Native Floridian) and other parts of the US.

jk2468

I suffer from an anxiety disorder, and I had a biopsy a few weeks ago. I will share my experience/thoughts in case it is helpful.

I was terrified about the biopsy procedure. And I was also freaking out that my anxiety would cause me to be shaky and jumpy and make it impossible to lie still.

I discussed my biopsy anxiety with my therapist, and she said something that was very helpful, so I'll share it here. She said that it was completely normal to feel anxious about something like this. Lots of people experience this feeling, and many even experience it to the extreme degree that I did. She suggested that I just let myself BE anxious when I go in. She said it is the job of the health care professionals to figure out how to deal with that, including any physical reactions that I might be having. They deal with anxious patients every day, and they ought to know how to work with them; if they don't, then they're not very good at their jobs. This was incredibly helpful to hear and took a lot of the pressure off me. I stopped feeling like I somehow had to control my anxiety and the physical reactions arising from it. Just contemplating that it took enough of the edge off for me to make it through the biopsy.

I don't know if the doctor made the right decision in not doing your biopsy. I am not a medical expert. But it might be worth asking for a second opinion if there's another hospital near you.

Someone above mentioned mindfulness, and I second that. I can vouch for the fact that it does work, but you do have to stick with it for a while to see results, in my experience. This means it probably isn't going to be too helpful for a short-term issue like getting a biopsy in the next few days. For this, medication is probably better. My doctor wrote me a prescription for Xanax to take just before the procedure. I needed this despite the fact that I've practicing mindfulness/meditation for years.

I feel your frustration. I just spent more than a month waiting for tests and results. I wish you all the best.