my dr sure took her sweet time returning my call! | Arthritis Information

My RD sure took her sweet time calling me back.... in fact, she was too late!

I had a bad headcold Sunday to Monday. I called her on Tues, when it was early on but I was so miserable. I was following her instructions. Last Sept or Oct, when I related about my severe headcold-turned-bronchitis in July, she told me that I should have called her too, not just my general doc PCP. She said she would've told me to skip just one weekly Mtx since it prolongs and intensifies the body's response (that ole tnf thing again). I asked why she never told me that before. She said, because the previous time that happened, I was on Plaquenil and it doesn't do that. Thanks alot, I think she should've told me when she put me on the Mtx, I didn't read it in the literature. So, this time I called but didn't hear back before the weekend. But, I noticed on Sunday, 2 days ago, that I was feeling better, so I went ahead and took the injection. I'm completely over the 9 day illness now and today she called back! I'm just lucky something serious wasn't going on.

Oh, and at that phone call a week ago, I also reminded her about our office visit discussion for a better pain med... something between OTC and narcotic which are what I've got right now. She said she'd like to try Ultram (I know most of you need much stronger) which is fine with me. However, she wants to research if it's safe with all my other drugs and very severe drug allergies. Good thinking. Great idea. Hellooo... it's a week later!

So, the office nurse who called me today to tell me to skip Mtx (oops, too late) said yes, Dr wants to research, but will be out of the office next 2 days, so I guess I won't hear until next week. Again, it really is ok; I still have the choice of extra-strength Tylenol (double dose) or 1 Vicodan so I'm not going to suffer.

I have been really liking this Rdr, this is my first complaint. I want to give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she's taking off the rest of the week because she is sick. That might explain why she didn't feel up to doing extra things like calling me back and doing her homework on my drug compatability issues. I'd like to think it's that.

CathyMarie

Sorry. I hope no more complaints for you about her.

I'd give a doc a couple chances if I liked them. Sometimes their staff can contribute to a screw-up. It's hard to forgive when it's a pain issue, I know. CathyMarie - you will learn to pace yourself for the long road ahead as it has many peaks and valleys. My RA and other problems could warrant a doctor's visit every day it moves so fast, then disappears, then reappears somewhere else. I would definitely ask her why she didn't return the calls, you have to advocate and stand up for yourself - you have to be your doctor and be in charge, no one else is going to do it.

On another note, I have had 7 years of fighting all these doctors in Florida to give me a copy or send blood work results to my primary, etc. It's always a huge big deal.

I had my blood/urine work for two doctors done this am. My fantastic new endo stamped his order with COPY TO PATIENT. I will be sent a copy the day he is sent his. Unreal. I asked, and the tech said that's all they have to do. I will take this example (made a copy of the order before I went in, always do so I can doublecheck the results for screwups, which has happened once) and will now have all my doctors mark it COPY TO PATIENT. She said it was Florida law and my right as a patient. Unreal.