Doctors (rant) - updated

[disneychrista]

I’ve been sick since Sunday. Sore throat mostly, with some mild intermittent nasal congestion and post nasal drip, an occasional cough and white spots on my tonsils. I called the doctor today to make an appointment to be seen. They can only see me on a “COVID” day and the earliest is Monday morning. Why, even before COVID, can you not get into the doctor when you are sick? By the time you can get in you have either gotten better or have been miserable for a week. We don’t have an urgent care, so my only option is the ER OR wait it out.


Update #1 (1/24/22)
I have strep. Waited to go to the doctor until my scheduled appointment this morning vs going to Urgent Care because my throat was getting better. Over the course of the past week as my throat was getting better I developed a worsening cough and stuffy/runny nose with sneezing. On Saturday I woke up with what I assumed was pink eye in both eyes. I tested negative for COVID on Thursday, Saturday & today but the doctor said to assume I have COVID (?).

It is really really frustrating that due to COVID, I had to wait 5 days to get into the doctor for treatment. Today is day 9 since I first developed symptoms. I did learn my lesson though. I should of just trusted my instincts and just gone to Urgent Care when I couldn't get into see my regular doctor, who I didn't even actually see.


Update #2 (2/2/22)
Well Monday I woke up with a slight sore throat and when I checked my throat, there was ONE white patch on my right tonsil. Today my tonsils are spotted with white patches. I am still on the antibiotics, my last dose is tonight. I also got an email from the doctor yesterday that the strep culture actually came back negative. I am feeling fine, other than the slight sore throat, but now have a sour taste coming from the back of my throat. I have an appointment for a following up on Friday morning.

Got a rapid COVID test and it was negative. PCR results, which thankfully are having a quicker turn around, will likely be ready on Friday.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

Do you not have a teledoc option?

 

[Skippy918]

Is urgent care an option? Did you get a Covid test?

 

[nene0182]

Ugh I was going to recommend urgent care until I read your last sentence. Our doctors are impossible to get into as well and any time we are sick, we end up at urgent care. Last time I had a sinus infection, they said they could get me in three weeks from then. That sinus infection turned into 3 trips to urgent care, one to the ER, sinus surgery and a 6 day hospital stay. Thank goodness I didn’t wait that three weeks or it might have ended up even worse.

 

[Disney.Dreamin.Dee]

Depends on the doctor I guess.
If I call my primary they can usually see me same day or next morning.

 

[Tess]

I’ve been sick since Sunday. Sore throat mostly, with some mild intermittent nasal congestion and post nasal drip, an occasional cough and white spots on my tonsils. I called the doctor today to make an appointment to be seen. They can only see me on a “COVID” day and the earliest is Monday morning. Why, even before COVID, can you not get into the doctor when you are sick? By the time you can get in you have either gotten better or have been miserable for a week. We don’t have an urgent care, so my only option is the ER OR wait it out.

If we are ill, our doctor will only see us by telemed visit. Unbelievable that a doctor will not see you if you are sick. Telemed is fine when it is a minor, easily diagnosed illness/injury, but really--no examination whatsoever when you are ill. Oh yeah, and every illness results in a PCR test for Covid regardless of the symptoms.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I’ve been sick since Sunday. Sore throat mostly, with some mild intermittent nasal congestion and post nasal drip, an occasional cough and white spots on my tonsils. I called the doctor today to make an appointment to be seen. They can only see me on a “COVID” day and the earliest is Monday morning. Why, even before COVID, can you not get into the doctor when you are sick? By the time you can get in you have either gotten better or have been miserable for a week. We don’t have an urgent care, so my only option is the ER OR wait it out.

Do you have a CVS or Walgreens near you? Most have clinics.

 

[piglet1979]

Do you have a CVS Minute Clinic, a clinic at Drug Mart or the ones at Walgreens? The minute Clinic is big here and I have used it several times. We don't have the ones at Walgreens but was told about them while at Disney World when my daughter was younger and got pick while there. Drug Mart may be specific to our area in Ohio and they are linked with the Cleveland Clinic.

 

[Valeria Lewis]

Try Wallgreens, I went there after my Dr. office would not give me an appt until Jan 30 I called Walgreens and was seen that day, they also took my insurance and filled my perscription all at once, I saw a nurse practitioner. I have bronchitis/

 

[disneychrista]

I tested negative on a rapid test on Sunday, the first day I had symptoms. PCR tests are taking 5 days to get results. Took one yesterday, If I am lucky I’ll have the results on Saturday. The rapid testing site is out of tests until FridaY.

I am thinking it is strep not COVID but I don’t have the usual fever that it associated with strep.

No “minute clinics” at CVS or Walgreens. The joys of same town/rural living.

I can drive an hour each way and go to a urgent care tomorrow. Which I might do. My daughter is home sick (and grumpy) as well. I might make her be seen too. Whatever I have she has. Be it strep or COVID.

I’ll look into the teledoc option. I know we have it, I just never paid much attention because I “never” get sick. But this is the second time in 4 months.

 

[tcufrog]

My son never gets a fever with strep.

 

[Kitty 34]

My son never gets a fever with strep.

I agree. My youngest DS ended up in the hospital with strep. He was 3 and never ever had a fever thus why our doctor, at first, didn't do much with him. So take care Christa......my personal opinion after that.....you can be real sick without a fever.

 

[disneychrista]

My son never gets a fever with strep.

I agree. My youngest DS ended up in the hospital with strep. He was 3 and never ever had a fever thus why our doctor, at first, didn't do much with him. So take care Christa......my personal opinion after that.....you can be real sick without a fever.

Interesting. My “research” said it was rare but not impossible to have strep without a fever. I still think it is strep.

I am hoping my women’s health doctor will take a look and write a script for me. I have a follow up appointment scheduled for today and when I called he said to still come in. If not it is the urgent care an hour away.

 

[EMHDad]

I tested negative on a rapid test on Sunday, the first day I had symptoms. PCR tests are taking 5 days to get results. Took one yesterday, If I am lucky I’ll have the results on Saturday. The rapid testing site is out of tests until FridaY.

I am thinking it is strep not COVID but I don’t have the usual fever that it associated with strep.

No “minute clinics” at CVS or Walgreens. The joys of same town/rural living.

I can drive an hour each way and go to a urgent care tomorrow. Which I might do. My daughter is home sick (and grumpy) as well. I might make her be seen too. Whatever I have she has. Be it strep or COVID.

I’ll look into the teledoc option. I know we have it, I just never paid much attention because I “never” get sick. But this is the second time in 4 months.

I developed symptoms on the 1/1. Got a negative test on 1/2. However, I had a postive test on 1/6. I was told that often the test is negative that early. Hopefully you will feel better and good luck and prayers to you.

 

[rlk]

I hope you and your daughter feel better soon.
My brother's family all have covid. He had it first, all three other family members tested negative with the rapid test. His youngest tested positive a few days later with the PCR test. The oldest son complained of a sore throat, he continued to test negative for five days. Today he tested positive and only has mild congestion.

Don't know if this link will help, but I like charts.
https://advurgent.com/strep-vs-flu-vs-covid-19/

 

[Kitty 34]

Interesting. My “research” said it was rare but not impossible to have strep without a fever. I still think it is strep.

I am hoping my women’s health doctor will take a look and write a script for me. I have a follow up appointment scheduled for today and when I called he said to still come in. If not it is the urgent care an hour away.

Not trying to argue; just saying that was my situation with my son. That son is now a healthy thriving almost 33 year old with wife and daughter.

 

[Kamy04]

I am in a major city and go to a practice overseen by a large company (?).

If sick we have to now call “Care Coordination.” They will set you up with a televisit. Then televisit leads to Covid test. Then maybe they’d see you? I’ve never gotten beyond that part. Places are swamped right now and short staffed.

Your Covid test was probably too early. That being said, DS7 tested positive within 16 hours and I just tested positive today with symptoms only starting last night.

Urgent Cares here are like 4+ hour waits AND you can’t just walk in anymore, you have to have an appointment. Might want to check on that.

 

[rlk]

Not trying to argue; just saying that was my situation with my son. That son is now a healthy thriving almost 33 year old with wife and daughter.

My sons were prone to strep when they were young. They got very good a knowing when a sore throat felt like strep. Once, they both complained of very sore throats but neither had a fever. The doctor took a strep test for both but said she would "eat her hat" if they tested positive for strep because they had no fever. Well, they both tested positive for strep and are still waiting to watch their doctor eat her hat!

 

[piglet1979]

My DD and I don't always have fevers with strep. Most of the time we only have sore throats and nothing else. Once I took DD for her ear hurting. She had strep and not an ear infection.

My dd is just getting over being sick for 3 weeks. It started with a sore throat then lots of nasal congestion and then very tired and dizzy all the time. We did 3 at home tests and 1 PCR test over a weeks time and all were negative. She either had just a funky virus that lingered or COVID. They are not ruling it out but no way of knowing for sure since she is vaccinated.

I hope you feel better soon.

 

[Skippy918]

My son never gets a fever with strep.

When my dd was about 2 or 3 she got strep with no fever. The only reason I got her tested is cause the rest of us came down with it the next couple of days. She was patient 0.