Am I being unreasonable??

[sunflower]

Okay, maybe I am. I am having more side effects from the Cort Enema than I anticipated and the insurance is not budging on the Rowasa, so it looks like I am stuck with steroid mania - but still, I don't think I am being unreasonable. What do you think?

I forgot to ask for pain pills when I had my scopy. Weird, I know, but my old doctor just used to give me some when I looked like hamburger inside. So, I asked the nurse for some on Tuesday. I had the scope on Friday and Monday was a holiday. I had a stash from last year, but it is out. She him hawed and said something about routine pain. I said I didn't think mine was routine and to please ask. Then we had to have several unpleasant conversations about my medicine in process of being reviewed. Doctor was supposed to be in on Wednesday afternoon and she was going to talk to him.

Well, I missed her call back on Wednesday and she asked for an update. I called yesterday and the office is in another town on Thursday but the nurse will be back on Friday. So, I called her this morning. I gave her the updated and told her I was a little better and asked her about the pain medicine. She asked why I didn't ask the doctor when I was there and I explained I forgot. Simple as that. Then she said something about my GP should handle it.

My experience with GP's is that when they hand you off to a specialist, the specialist is supposed to take care of everything concerning that condition. They won't talk to me about my stomach right now!!

So, I explained that. She said something about routine pain again. I said that if the office was uncomfortable about treating my pain they needed to refer me to a pain specialist. I am not expecting no pain, just want something when I lie down because it still hurts to touch my stomach which is still sticking out like I'm pregnant from the two weeks of prep I did. Can they do that or do I need to go to the pain doctor? She said he might do something.

Then I asked about the STD papers. She said isn't my regular doctor doing that?? I said no, because it is Crohn's and the Gastro is supposed to be following me for Crohn's. She said well, did he SAY he was keeping you off work?? I said, well yes, he said he was taking care of it for me just send him the papers.

By now my voice is getting higher and louder.

Well, they have not seen any papers. Did I send it yet??? For the third time I mailed them last week. Well, she would have to see if he will. I was a little annoyed at this time.

************************later today****************
Okay - so this isn't my doctors fault, but my hubby didn't ask any questions about diet or anything, so I have all these questions.... I have never had a stricture before and I am probably over reacting. But, it hurts and I am scared - okay?? He was talking resection and I have never had that before.

So, I am digging through the paperwork trying to find my follow up visit so I can ask what the plan is and all that. I don't remember anything except that if things don't get better by ____ then we will have to ____or surgery. My hubby doesn't remember anything. So, I call and say that I can't find my follow up appointment date. They don't even ask my name. That makes me nervous.

I haven't called THAT many times! I called the Thursday before my scope for pain meds because it HURT. I called the Tuesday after and the Friday (today).

So she says well, you will get a letter. And I said "And that will tell me when I have an appointment?" And she said that no, it will explain everything. I said "Really? I have never not had a follow up appointment and I feel funny about that. When can I ask questions?" Then she got really snotty and said well if I have a follow up, then I don't get the letter. I am like "why?" She said it was double work for the doctor. WHICH I don't understand but oh well.

THEN she told me that he did fill out my STD papers and is giving me time off but after that time I have to go back to my regular doctor. I was like okay, if I am well?? She said when the time is up I have to follow up with my regular doctor. :voodoo:

Wow. I must have had it good before. I could call and ask all the questions I wanted and they were nice. My doctor would even call me personally to make sure I understood or to answer my questions. I loved my old doctor. He retired because he got colon cancer. How is that for irony.

In the mean time, is it weird to have questions?? I don't FEEL like I am being undreasonable but am I?? :ybatty:

 

[Jennifer]

No its not weird to have questions. Even if you just called them a 10th time today yet your forgot something you should be able to call them and ask them. That's why they have phones and why they are paid to answer them. So you don't know if you're getting a letter or if you have an appointment scheduled? Can you ask to speak to another person? Obviously you shouldn't have to but if it answers your question then so be it. If she's the only person there then you can express your concern about your information and treatment being withheld by her and that you would appreciate it if she would simply do what you asked. Sometimes people need a verbal kick in the butt.

With some insurance companies they ask you to have regular meds prescribed by your GP rather than the specialist. If your GI wont prescribe pain meds (or has before but can't refill them due to the insurance company) then try for the GP and let the GP know that your GI requested it. My GP didn't think I needed B12 shots but my GI wanted me to have them. The GI wasn't able to do the shots in the office and he told me to tell the GP that he wanted them done and if the GP refused then to contact him. All I did was tell my GP that the GI wanted it done and couldn't do them in his office and the GP said ok and I've been getting them without question ever since. Sometimes the specialist can't do everything so that's why we have to hit up the GP at times. Its extra work and seems pointless but I feel as long as I get the treatment I want/need then I could care less who's doing it.

 

[adkplunk4]

I think you need to find a doctor that cares just a bit more. I know they are hard to find, but that is what I would do.
Aplunk

 

[sunflower]

Thanks for your help Crabby and Aplunk. I have liked this doctor so far, so I am willing to give him a bit more time. A good doctor and staff are hard to find.

I do have the appointment. I am just foggy on why they would be mutually exclusive. Why can't I have a letter and an appointment?? Then I thought some more....

I am thinking they don't have many patients like me. You see, I don't like for the doctor to just tell me what to do - I like to talk it over with them. Point and counterpoint. Treatment vs Treatment option. What did it really look like and what are ALL my options. You know, that kind of thing. The letter is a way of telling the patient - this is what I say we are going to do, instead of the follow up appointment.

Not all doctors like to have their patients "discuss" treaments and findings. Not all patients like to discuss things. They want to be told. So, those kinds of doctors and patients belong together. If this is the type of doctor that is "do as I say and do not question" then I am not his type of patient.

So, I will talk to him and if we can deal with each other the way I like. If not, then I will have to find someone else again. Sigh.

If we can work together, the office staff will learn to deal with me, eventually. LOL!!

 

[Jennifer]

I've never had a doctor that just sent a treatment letter. My GI docs always showed me the images and results of tests that were done where I can point at stuff and ask, "what's that?" When they suggest medications I get to ask why and what about this etc. I would hate to have a doc that was so hard to get a hold of and I like seeing my test results and understanding them. I'd want another doc too if they didn't do what I think should happen in a doctor's office. I want a doctor not a pen pal.