I've had an appointment booked with my doctor for ages - i'm meant to see her on wednesday. I've just been told she's cancelled the appointment and they aren't sure when they can next get me in.
I feel so frustrated, so far I've been given nothing to combat this or ease the pain, or had a referral and now i've got to wait even longer.
I know it sounds pathetic but i'd really built myself up to getting something sorted tomorrow. Every time I've been in pain I just keep thinking that it's not long until I can get something sorted, but now this has really got me down. I hate the NHS sometimes
I know exactly where you are coming from there. I have a sixth month wait between appointments and I still have no diagnosis. Makes you want to scream.It's not pathetic! We all understand what it's like to be in pain and not have someone to listen to us and do something to help. When I "woke up with RA" in Jan 06. I had no idea what was going on and my General Doctor had no idea. I needed to see a Rheumy and there was a six month wait in my area. So I decided to go further away and see one in 30 days instead. Is there anyway you could be seen sooner somewhere else? It's worth a try. I understand what you are going through and I hope you can find a solution. Make lots of calls and become as educated about RA as you can. Knowledge is power, and in our weakend state we need some power! My sister lives in Blackpool I am in the USA, good luck to you, RainI would definitely find another doc that could get you in sooner if at all possible and as h2o said, you might have to find one that is further away. I think it's shameful that docs can cancel appts. and not make other arrangements to get their patients in asap. Especially people like us (I selfishly say) who are most likely in a lot of pain.
The last time this happened to me, I threw the biggest hissy fit of all time and as in your case, was up in the air as to when I could get another appt. Luckily, with all my hemming and hawing, I got in the next week. Sometimes we have to be really aggressive going about getting what we need. Good Luck!
Dear Louisa,
I am sorry you haven't been able to see the doctor yet to get some relief!
Is there someone else in her practice who can see you sooner, to at least treat the pain and give you a referral? Will she write you a prescription for pain relief and get the referral filed right now... so you can see the "specialist" sooner? Could she at least get you onto the "specialist's schedule, as you need medical assistance! There's likely a waiting period for the "specialist," too! You need to get in line now to see the specialist now, not simply ...."whenever!"
If she thinks she must see you first, then offer the idea that she get you referred now and if you do see her before the appointment with the "specialist," and she thinks you do not need th referral, she may say so then... in the meantime, she should assume you need to see the "Specialist!"
Is there someone else you can see? Did you place your name on a "call list" in order to take an appointment whenever anyone cancels their appointment with this doctor? Have you been very, very clear about your need to see a doctor...now! Sometimes , there are a few "appointment slots" for emergncies. If so, you'll need to convince the person scheduling appointments to get you into one of those slots!
Is there any chance the doctor or her nurse can call you so you'll have an opportunity to tell them of how you are suffering?
I know you do not want to be considered "trouble" by their office; yet, they will not consider your dire need to see the doctor and/or to obtain treatment somehow as somthing to judge you for! You are ill and you need help? Tell them that..ask about other options. Give them some other options..like having the doctor call you and to treat you until you can see the specialist, and she should get you onto the specialist's list today!
Any chance this might help your status?
Hope you can call and advocate for yurself!
Let us know how you make out!
The doctor cancelled because she has suffered a bereavement so I didn't want to seem too harsh. The snotty receptionist wanted my life story before she would try and find me anything, so after a small hissy fit she saw my point and i am seeing another doctor in the practice on friday. Its not who i would have liked to see and a few days later than i would have liked but its still a doctor, and an appointment this week so hopefully i will get somewhere! As if the arthritis isn't enought to cope with!
wooooohooooooo!!! Good for you Louisa....hope you finally get some help. We've all been where you are and the wait is so hard. Bingethinker!! It's so good to see you. Hope you're doing well. We've missed you around here. Louisa, so glad you pushed. Now, keep pushing. I consider 4 mos in RA land as too long. 6 mos is unforgiveable especially when you are not getting any treatment. When you go into your appointment, definitely be prepared with a list and know exactly what you want to happen. If they give you a referral to a Rheumatologist, be sure that you also get the phone number yourself. That way you don't have to wait on the graces of the doc's staff to take care of you. You can call, get the appointment. Then, you can get the referral number from your doc's office. They don't like it, but when they act like idiots, risking your health, who cares? In six months, untreated, a lot of damage can occur not even to mention the amount of pain you are in. I hate HMOs for this reason and never want to be with one again. If you have the chance to change to a PPO in the future, it is absolutely worth the extra cost with this disease. You can get into most specialists within a week's time instead of the 4 months that a HMO says you must wait. You also tend to get better specialists. I would consider changing doctors regardless. Try and find one that works with a rheumatologist on a regular basis. You can look at your health plan and try calling different doctors on the list and see who they recommend as a good doctor that is willing to work with their office. You might even find someone you want to go to as a Rheumy. Then, you can call back to your insurance company, say that you want your primary changed and also to get a referral to this Rheumatologist. When you state how long you've been waiting for treatment, this should help . If this doesn't help then ask to speak to a medical case manager and explain your whole story to them. You should get some action at this point. You tried being patient. It didn't work. Try something else. Good luck. I really hope you get seen soon. Louisa, I willl never moan again. ( I wish ) It was not pathetic and I am so glad you finally got an appt. I have been very fortunate as my rd and primary are wonderful doctors, they do not take new patients and leave openings for their patients to get them in immediately. Sadly, I am a regular but they never give me a hard time about it. They are both frustrated trying to figure out what is going on with my body. I am so worried I am going to be in your position when I move. We are so fortunate, those of us that have good doctors available to us.
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