I've been calling around lately trying to change docs because I cannot stand the bureaucratic nightmare that is Franciscan Health Network, I'm having a great deal of trouble just getting treatment to fill the gaps between treatment.
This isn't a pitiful cry for help, but rather an observation about the complete lack of progress I've made since being diagnosed 10 years ago. Since then, I've watched my professional career spiral into the toilet, my marriage go down the drain, and have raised 3 children while being the type of Dad who can't even consistently do things with my kids.
I've lost all of my 30's waiting for things to improve, compromised on everything, let go of dreams, and watched each spring and summer slip by in pain, hoping to survive until fall or winter when I could be reassessed, get more steroids, and look forward to maybe being healthy enough to go out and be active the next year.
For the last 10 years, I've been dealing with unchecked inflammation. Each doctor visit plays out exactly the same way, every 9-12 months depending on how many times the office pushes my appointment back.
Doc: "Hi, I see you haven't been here in nearly a year... we'll need to start over and reassess where you are before we can move forward. (orders small bowel series that nobody will ever schedule a follow-up for)"
Me: "Yes, this is the appointment your staff scheduled for me at my last visit. I have called about 10 times in the interim requesting help, but this was the soonest I could get in. Why does it feel like you're just playing back a recording of my last visit every time I see you?"
Doc: "I see, well let's order some Prometheus testing (that isn't going to be covered by your insurance), get you two months of steroids (so you'll run out shortly and be suffering for 7 months) and then have you schedule another appointment for say... 6 months (which won't be available as you're booked full until the end of the staff's ability to schedule appointments for you)"
Me: What about the pain I'm experiencing daily. I'm really struggling and I need some real help. Could you possibly give me enough steroids to carry me through until my next visit. Also, why does it take 6 weeks for your office to approve my biologic refills; don't you know it causes a month gap in my treatment twice a years? Also, why do they always send it to the wrong mail-order pharmacy? I make sure I leave the fax number every time I call the refill line. Is there any way to talk to an actual person when I call for a refill? Or, can I pay you extra money to actually get it right next time?
Doc: "Okay, here are you two months of steroids, and I'll see you again in 6 months (he actually means nearly a year, because I have to wait for the office to call with an opening before I even get scheduled). Are you sure you don't have any questions?
Me: "I just asked you like 15 questions, they're all important... aren't you listening to me?"
Doc: "Alright, hopefully you're doing this well next time I see you! (slaps back and walks toward hand sanitizer)."
Me: "(to receptionist) Can you call him back? He didn't even answer a single question I asked. I don't want to lose my job and insurance in 2 months, I have a family to feed and I want to be at work instead of sitting at home with back/abdominal/rectal pain".
Receptionist: "Here's your visit summary and your copay was collected before your visit, have a great day... WHO'S NEXT!!!?"
Can anyone suggest a physician in the Indianapolis area who is accepting new patients and can see me in less than 6 months.
I've called every physician group I can think of and the best they can do is the end of September/ beginning of October. Going to the ER results in 2 day of prednisone or even worse, a pointless narcotic prescription that you build a tolerance to beginning with the first dose.
Should I be looking at practices out of town or possibly even out of state?
How do acute cases actually live until their first appointment? Obviously, you can't hold down a job, so how do you remain insured until you can actually see a doctor? The doctor's office seems to treat it like you're enrolling for classes two semesters away, getting all of the financial details out front but offering no immediate treatement.
This isn't a pitiful cry for help, but rather an observation about the complete lack of progress I've made since being diagnosed 10 years ago. Since then, I've watched my professional career spiral into the toilet, my marriage go down the drain, and have raised 3 children while being the type of Dad who can't even consistently do things with my kids.
I've lost all of my 30's waiting for things to improve, compromised on everything, let go of dreams, and watched each spring and summer slip by in pain, hoping to survive until fall or winter when I could be reassessed, get more steroids, and look forward to maybe being healthy enough to go out and be active the next year.
For the last 10 years, I've been dealing with unchecked inflammation. Each doctor visit plays out exactly the same way, every 9-12 months depending on how many times the office pushes my appointment back.
Doc: "Hi, I see you haven't been here in nearly a year... we'll need to start over and reassess where you are before we can move forward. (orders small bowel series that nobody will ever schedule a follow-up for)"
Me: "Yes, this is the appointment your staff scheduled for me at my last visit. I have called about 10 times in the interim requesting help, but this was the soonest I could get in. Why does it feel like you're just playing back a recording of my last visit every time I see you?"
Doc: "I see, well let's order some Prometheus testing (that isn't going to be covered by your insurance), get you two months of steroids (so you'll run out shortly and be suffering for 7 months) and then have you schedule another appointment for say... 6 months (which won't be available as you're booked full until the end of the staff's ability to schedule appointments for you)"
Me: What about the pain I'm experiencing daily. I'm really struggling and I need some real help. Could you possibly give me enough steroids to carry me through until my next visit. Also, why does it take 6 weeks for your office to approve my biologic refills; don't you know it causes a month gap in my treatment twice a years? Also, why do they always send it to the wrong mail-order pharmacy? I make sure I leave the fax number every time I call the refill line. Is there any way to talk to an actual person when I call for a refill? Or, can I pay you extra money to actually get it right next time?
Doc: "Okay, here are you two months of steroids, and I'll see you again in 6 months (he actually means nearly a year, because I have to wait for the office to call with an opening before I even get scheduled). Are you sure you don't have any questions?
Me: "I just asked you like 15 questions, they're all important... aren't you listening to me?"
Doc: "Alright, hopefully you're doing this well next time I see you! (slaps back and walks toward hand sanitizer)."
Me: "(to receptionist) Can you call him back? He didn't even answer a single question I asked. I don't want to lose my job and insurance in 2 months, I have a family to feed and I want to be at work instead of sitting at home with back/abdominal/rectal pain".
Receptionist: "Here's your visit summary and your copay was collected before your visit, have a great day... WHO'S NEXT!!!?"
Can anyone suggest a physician in the Indianapolis area who is accepting new patients and can see me in less than 6 months.
I've called every physician group I can think of and the best they can do is the end of September/ beginning of October. Going to the ER results in 2 day of prednisone or even worse, a pointless narcotic prescription that you build a tolerance to beginning with the first dose.
Should I be looking at practices out of town or possibly even out of state?
How do acute cases actually live until their first appointment? Obviously, you can't hold down a job, so how do you remain insured until you can actually see a doctor? The doctor's office seems to treat it like you're enrolling for classes two semesters away, getting all of the financial details out front but offering no immediate treatement.
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