Now seeing a nurse practitioner!

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Kitty777
Kitty777 Member Posts: 11
edited May 2017 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

I have no idea why I am so upset over this . Went for my onc visit this week. Left his office to make an appointment on the way out and was told by the woman booking appointments that he wanted me to see nurse practitioner for my next visit. She said, "I think they alternate." I've actually cried a few times today over this. It hurts me that he didn't tell me this before I left his office. My next visit with NP will be about a year to date from surgery. It's only been five months since surgery, not even 3 months since end of rads. Didn't expect to be passed off so soon I guess I'm hurt because I trust this doctor and felt secure seeing him. I'm sure it will be fine and I might actually like seeing a woman more. Is it unusual to be passed off so soon?

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  • BellasMomToo
    BellasMomToo Member Posts: 305
    edited May 2017

    Throughout my chemo treatment I 'took turns' seeing my MO and the NP. And I will continue alternately seeing my MO and the NP. Before my treatment started, my MO asked me if this was OK and I agreed cause I really like the NP and felt comfortable being under her care. The NP gave me the 'before chemo lesson' and I liked her. When I had SEs, I called the NP instead of my MO.

    Your MO should have said something to you. Do you know the NP?

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  • Kitty777
    Kitty777 Member Posts: 11
    edited May 2017

    No, I have never met her. I guess I'll just go with the flow and stop worrying about it. I see her in six months. I'll tell Doctor how I feel about it when I see him, which will probably be a year from now if they do alternate. Actually thought about emailing him, but should probably not do that at this time. Haha...so much for being part of the team! thanks for responding.

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited May 2017

    I refused to see an NP. I want the best-trained person to help me. That would be a physician. I told this to my MO and now I only see the MD. She had no problem with that It is what I am paying for and I want the most knowledgable and best trained person to take care of me.!

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  • Beatmon
    Beatmon Member Posts: 1,562
    edited May 2017

    I also see only my Oncologist. I had one visit with the NP that was a huge waste of my time. Talked to my Doc about the very shitty exam I was given....think my chart is marked Dr. only now

    I also see the MD only at my pain specialist. I don't want to have to explain my care every time to someone new.

    I have nothing against NP, I am an RN myself. My gp is a PA and we have had a relationship for years.

    I would call back and ask to be changed to see the Oncologist next appointment.....then you can discuss your Plan of care with him....before it is dumped on you.

    I'm sure he felt you were stable and proceeded on...or you could email him or call the group practice manager.

    Good Luck.

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  • cive
    cive Member Posts: 709
    edited May 2017

    I've had better care from nurse practitioners than I've ever had from doctors.  They don't seem as hurried and answer my questions more completely.  I see the NP rather than the doctor at least every other visit and that's fine with me. 

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  • Kitty777
    Kitty777 Member Posts: 11
    edited May 2017

    Thanks for your responses. I'm sure seeing the NP will be fine. I think it's more a case of not being told that upset me. I think I deserved to be informed. I am the patient after all! I do remember him saying that I'll have a lot of people looking after me. I didn't question him at the time as I took it as more of a comforting statement. I will most likely let my MO know how I feel at some time in the future assuming I see him again. I have friends and family members who are NP's. Think l have done exceptionally well emotionally so far, so it's weird that this would upset me so much. It's not like I'm being abandoned. Haha..I'm sure he wouldn't be passing me off if he didn't think I was ready. Thanks again for your responses.

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  • MARIONSGIRL
    MARIONSGIRL Member Posts: 59
    edited May 2017

    My first appointment was with my MO and he told me he was going to have the Oncotype DX text done. He called with results. My teaching appointment was with NP which I was told about. After that I alternated between the same NP and MO. Once when he was going to be away, he did tell me he couldn't see me and that I would see same NP. There was only one time that I saw a different NP and my MO told me that too. The NP's were okay, one better than the other. It took a while for us to warm up to each other. Now that my chemo is done and radiation too, I only see the MO every three months for the first two years. My MO has moved to a different location and I don't know any of the nurses or NP. I prefer to see him and have no problem emailing him.

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  • KayaRose
    KayaRose Member Posts: 183
    edited May 2017

    I see my MO every 3 months. I've never seen a NP and don't think there is one in the office. Just curious, those of you seeing NPs is it in a large medical center/hospital setting? My friend had a liver transplant at Northwestern in Chicago and during her follow up visits very rarely saw the actual doctor. When she did see him, it was usually at the end of her visit for a couple of minutes. Northwestern is a very large hospital here in Chicago.

    Kitty777, I think I understand how you feel. My MO makes me feel very secure and I have a very high level of trust in her. It scares me just thinking of not seeing her each visit. I guess we get attached because it is such an emotional, stressful time.

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  • wabals
    wabals Member Posts: 242
    edited May 2017

    My surgeon is chief of breast surgery at Johns Hopkins and after my first post op visit he also referred me to his NP who is great! I will see her again in July after my mammogram.

    He told me he would see me if there were problems but he did not expect any.

    I am an NP myself and I have utmost confidence in her. You should too

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  • Kitty777
    Kitty777 Member Posts: 11
    edited May 2017

    Wabals, Thanks for your response. I was actually speaking of my MO, not the surgeon. If he had told me, I don't think I would be as upset.

    Also, I am sure that things will go well with the NP.

    Absolutely nothing against NP's. I may even be more comfortable with her. Do you see your MO?

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