I'm sick.... and angry

[adamak]

Ear infection. My ears hurt so bad, and I can't hear.
Wonder how long this will last.

By the way, my primary physician's office is not picking up their phones. The answering service is ********. First they say call back when office is open at 10am. THen they say everyone is in meeting, call in the afternoon. Then they say call back in a month. Are you kidding me? The whole healthcare system is so messed up, it's laughable. I can *never* see my primary doctor unless I book an appt 1 month ahead.

I finally walked to a walk-in clinic and waited for 4 hours before a doctor would see me. And I pay extra money too.

 

[nativetxn]

Ear infections are terrible things, I'm so sorry you are having so much discomfort.

What rotten way for your physican to treat his/her patients. I can't believe you <b>walked</b> to that clinic. I hope they gave you some meds to get rid of the infection and control the pain.

{{{HUGS}}} sweetie, hope you are feeling better soon.

Katholyn

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hoping you are feeling better by now, adamak. Such a ridiculous thought, call back in a month.

 

[sorcerormickey]

My doctor's office is the same way - we can squeeze you in in about 3 or 4 weeks.....Well, excuse me for not knowing a month ago that I would need to see you.

Hope you're feeling better soon!!!!!!!

 

[iluvorlando]

How horrible! Hope the walkin clinic was able to give you some meds to get rid of that ear infection.

Sounds like your insurance is what our doctor is saying "oh you'll be insured, but you'll have no doctor's to see you because of the outrageous medical malpractice insurance premiums."

 

[Krisu]

A doctor's office should be able to see you within 48 hours if you are sick. I think you should contact your insurance company

 

[Mskanga]

Adamak, the same thing happened to me, I got sick as a dog and the doctor's office couldn't give me an appointment until 2 weeks later, then I said I couldn't wait , perhaps the doctor wanted to call something in , they said the doctor will not call anything in unless he sees you, then I said give me an appointment....reluctantly they did, I went in the same day . When I came out I made an appointment for the following month, they said "the doctor didn't order a follow up , did he? " I said no, it's just in case I get sick so I don't have to wait for two weeks to come in, I'm going to start to schedule when to get sick. They looked at me and gave me the biggest F.U look I have ever seen but they don't give me a hard time anymore!
I know they are busy but for god's sake, I can't schedule when to get sick in advance!

 

[adamak]

Thanks everyone. I got some antibiotics, and have to pay only $35 for 'urgent care' outside of the network. Ears still hurt a lot, and I only have a week worth of medicine. I better get well, or else I've to go through this all over again.

The whole HMO thing is so ridiculous, I was kinda surprise nobody has sue them yet. I'm the lucky one who can afford to pay an extra $35 and 4 extra hours wait to see someone else. I cannot imagine if I'm a single mom or have elders to take care of.

And that answering service got me so mad. I screamed at them. What is their job if they cannot even take appointment or at least be helpful? Why have someone to just pick up the phone and call next month?

Outrageous.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Sorry about your lousy experience. And I'm really surprised to see that happen in NY! I hate the system in FL. Makes no sense at all to me. When I lived in NJ, my doc's office ALWAYS had a floater (doctor) EVERY day! If you needed to get in and be seen that day, you got in. Those were the only patients that doc saw for the day. They would rotate each day so no one did it all the time. Pretty good system! The yo-yo's in FL need to do that!

 

[CathyCanada]

Ouch! Sorry about your ear infection and having to fight to get medical care was just what you DIDN'T need on top of it!!

Feel better soon!!
Cathy

 

[Tony-NJ]

that they asked you to call back in a month! That is just wrong! My Dr would never do that to me or any of his patients!!!!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

That's why I like the fact the both my general practicioner and my pediatrician are in multi-doctor offices. I don't care if I can't see Dr. X, just let me see Dr. ANYBODY if I'm sick. Same with the kids. Perhaps you need a new doctor.
Seriously, when I first had to find a doctor (my old doctor retired) I went with the dr. he recommended. First time I needed to see them they couldn't get me in for 2 weeks! That very day I went to my health plan website and got someone else.
Robin M.

 

[WDWFOREVER]

Its hearing stories like yours that makes me realise just how lucky we are in England to have the NHS. Don't get me wrong, it has its problems (lots of them!) but I can call my Doctor at 9.00am and get seen within 2 hours. How can you plan a month in advance that you will be ill?! Also, we only pay a flat fee of £6.10 per prescription, no matter what the actual cost of the medication. I buy an "annual season ticket" which costs me about £85 per year but that means that ANY medication I am prescribed during that year is "free". As I am on medication for asthma, hypertension and ulcerative colitis, that £85 is a bargain!!!

I really feel for you.

 

[Liz]

I'm so sorry. Its rotten to feel sick. Hope you feel better soon.

 

[cinlee3]

WDWFOREVER - National Health Care doesn't sound bad to me. They make it seem like you in the UK have to wait days to be seen and are jammed in waiting rooms for lousy care. I think we are the ones that have it wrong.

That is ridiculous for them to tell you call back in a month. I switched pediatritians when mine couldn't see my sick baby that same day.

Don't get me started on insurance companies

adamak - I really hope you are feeling better soon.

 

[Serena]

I hope you feel better soon adam.

 

[WDWFOREVER]

Cinlee 3 - I think we do have a good system going on the whole. The trouble with people in the UK is we just can't seem to be proud of anything and have to put it down all the time! There is no place on earth I would rather be if I have to have urgent medical attention. However, we let ourselves down on routine stuff like hip replacements (although these aren't routine for those waiting for one) where a patient can be on a waiting list for 18 months before getting surgery, depending on where in the UK you live.

There have been situations where patients have to wait in corridors in hospitals after being admitted as an emergency and then have to wait for a bed to be found. This, sadly, is as a result of the last Conservative Government (Maggie Thatcher and her followers) shutting down hospitals saying they were surplus to requirements. Rubbish. Most of the hospitals that were shut down were situated on prime real estate and the Conservatives sold off the land. The present Government is trying to redress the balance and reduce waiting lists for what is termed "routine" surgery but they have hell's own job.