I said in yesterday’s blog that I had an appointment with a specialist yesterday afternoon. This was to see if we can figure out what is causing the sharp stabbing pain I get in my right temple, and to further investigate what caused my episode of dizziness and blurred vision in my right eye several weeks ago.
The specialist got the referral from my pain doctor within two or three days of that episode, but never called me to set up an appointment. Finally, after a week, I called them and they said they had received the referral but had forgotten to call. That should have been my first warning sign of trouble ahead.
We set up an appointment at that time, which was scheduled for 2:30 yesterday afternoon. At that time, it was also arranged for me to have an MRI of my head. But at 8:15 yesterday morning, his office called to tell me that the appointment had been canceled because he doesn’t treat patients with my condition. I asked the woman on the phone how he knew what my condition was, since I don’t and the doctor had not seen me yet. Her only response was to repeat what she had already told me, he doesn’t treat patients with my condition. I asked if she had any clue what my condition was, and she repeated the same thing a third time.
Yeah, that’s frustrating. Why did they wait weeks with no word, and then call me less than six hours before the appointment to tell me they don’t, or can’t, or won’t see me? I asked the woman what kind of doctor I should be seeing, but she hung up without answering my question.
So, I guess when I go back to my pain doctor this coming Monday, I’ll ask him if he has any other suggestions for a referral. And hopefully the next one will at least be professional enough to be able to handle my needs, or else tell me ahead of time instead of waiting until the last minute.
With an unexpected day at home, I spent the time writing and got another 2,000 words done in my new John Lee Quarrels book. And since I was so frustrated with the doctor nonsense, I took it out on one of my characters and killed him. Hey, I get my vindication any way I can!
Today will be another stay at home and write day, and Thursday and Friday both, Terry has doctor appointments of her own. You know what they say, this getting old stuff isn’t for sissies!
And in closing, since I feel like a grumpy old man today, here’s a chuckle to start your day from the collection of funny signs we see in our travels and that our readers share with us.
Thought For The Day – The most important thing in life is not knowing everything, it’s having the phone number of somebody who does!
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
I can sure identify with your frustrations with the doctor. On March 28, I mentioned to my regular doctor that I had been having a lot of coughing for several months. She ordered a chest X-Ray which showed enough granulomas and scarring in the lungs to put in a STAT referral to the pulmonologist. I waited about a week before calling the pulmonologist’s office, getting weaker the whole time, but believing that STAT would be ASAP. I was told that “we see that your doctor has referred you; our scheduler will be in touch.” Still not hearing from the pulmonologist, my husband took me to Urgent Care on April 13. My oxygen levels were so low that they immediately sent me to ER. I was admitted to the hospital and spent six days. I finally saw the pulmonologist while in the hospital and have had a few visits since.
Sounds like that doctor should be reported to the AMA!!! Unbelievable!
Regarding your thought for today I have a similar thought. An RV friend said his best tool kit is a pen and a checkbook.
Maybe you need to see a shrink.
They specialize in heads. 😉
Yes this is the state of our medical care these days! But hey let’s build a wall to keep us in!
Even though I am a retired physician, I in no way am defending the way your referral was handled…it was mishandled and botched from beginning to end. My guess or suspicion is that if the referral mentioned “dizziness and blurred vision several weeks ago” the specialist was doubting whether he or she would be able to find anything worth his or your time and money, was hesitating in a decision, when you called you forced the issue and the specialist came down on the side of “nope”…doesn’t make it right let alone solve your problem. BT W, now that I am just a patient, I see our health care system getting worse year by year. And coming from a life and career “ up north” and a 15 year Florida snowbird, Florida has in my opinion nearly the worst medical care system
Nick
When you go back to the doctors that issued the referral to I would bring it up seriously That should be something that he should be made aware of,
All the medication that you’re on even so it’s Dr. prescribed
do you check ALL the side effects of that medication
There are certain medications that will give you a Sharp headache
So it’s always good to check the product that you’re taking
Those side effects can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer
That includes Barbara’s case as well, there are certain medications that I can’t take they give me a cough as well
Thank you, Mister Ed, for the suggestion. However, it turned out to be sarcoidosis. At this time, it is only in my lungs (they thought it could also be in the lymph nodes, but a biopsy showed that it wasn’t).
I have had respiratory infections most of my life, so didn’t think too much about the cough lasting so long. When I went from walking five or six miles at a time to having to rest in a four-aisle small grocery store, then I got concerned.
I would call and report that quack. Remind me not to tick you off. Poor character got killed. Can’t wait to see who it is.
Hope you get better soon. As for headache try rubbing a bit of On guard or frankensence on temples it can hurt and the aroma will make you feel better.
Praying ? for complete healing. HELLO Miss Terry ?????
Pain doctors & their referrals I truly understand your frustration