It's Confirmed: Medical Community Trying To Drive Me Crazy!!

[Christine]

Okay, so if you read my posts you'll know that I've had a LOT of medical issues recently. Had a very bad breast cancer scare that lasted the entire month of November. Mammographer/radiologist freaked out on me, had a double breast biopsy, everything ended up being (thankfully) fine. But it was a horrible time emotionally. And honestly, the stress was so bad that I still haven't recovered physically, it was so draining.

Anyway, way back in early November I had made an appointment with a new general practictioner. He is the partner of my ex-general practictioner and consistently gets rave opinions on how wonderful he is. I didn't like the one I had, so I switched. For well over a year, I had been having some chronic low back pain. I had gone to a chiropractor as well as did stretching exercises. I got some improvement but it was still there. So, I used my chronic back pain as my first visit with this new GP. True to what everyone said, he was wonderful. I pushed him to let me do an MRI. He didn't feel I really needed one but since this had gone on for so long and I seemed to want some resolution, he wrote me the order. He told me that after the results came in, he would probably just call me and we would discuss it on the phone UNLESS there was something unusual (in which he'd call me in I suppose). On that very same day, I had my mammogram appointment. All HECK broke loose that day and I was so stressed out that I decided to put off the MRI until the other issues were resolved.

Yesterday I had a day off and decided to schedule my MRI appointment. The MRI center wasn't very busy and were able to fit me in that day (yesterday). Today I get home and there is a message on my machine. "Hi, I'm calling from Dr. Mendel's office and we have your MRI results. Dr. Mendel will discuss them with you when you come in for your visit on January 10th." Now, I had scheduled an appointment with him about 2 weeks ago for some other, unrelated issues so his office did not make this appointment for me, it was already set by my doing.

Of course, I'm freaking out. Why couldn't he just give the results on the phone? Is there something seriously wrong? Did he just try to save himself some time knowing I would be in next week?

As you can imagine, all SORTS of things are going through my mind. It is awful. I tried calling his office back. I did get the receptionist and explained my "anxiety" to her. She told me that he had left for the day. Hopefully I will get a call back tomorrow.

Why do they do this to us? Maybe it's just me and most other people don't freak out? I guess I've had too many things happen to me that I cannot be laid back.

Took my DOG to the vet at 4:00 p.m. By 6:00 p.m., THE VET'S OFFICE had called me back with her lab results. Why can't *I* get that kind of service.

Oh well, thanks for listening to my vent.

So what do you think? Bad news, good news?

 

[diznygirl]

I think it's good news and that the dr is saving himself some time by talking to you at your appt since it's so close.

 

[bananiem]

If it was urgent (serious) they would have called asking you to set up an appointment. Many insurance companies only pay for certain visits so often so if they know you're already coming in they can "hit 2 birds with 1 stone."

 

[Christine]

If it was urgent (serious) they would have called asking you to set up an appointment. Many insurance companies only pay for certain visits so often so if they know you're already coming in they can "hit 2 birds with 1 stone."

Yeah, but do you think they were actually going to do that anyway? And then somehow they saw that I already had one? I am hoping that if it were truly serious, he would not want me to wait even until next week. But, maybe that's really not too long of a wait for anything??? And he is so booked up--he was on vacation last week.

 

[lemondog]

I know it's so hard not to worry, but if it were something really serious you better believe they would have had you back in the doctor's office today or tomorrow. The fact that they are waiting to give you the results is a very good sign (this I learned firsthand from my doctor).

Secondly, I have heard that with the HIPPA laws being the way they are that doctor's offices are no longer supposed to leave medical test results on an answering machine, yet another reason why they may not have said anything.

Hope it's all good news on the 10th!

 

[Christine]

I know it's so hard not to worry, but if it were something really serious you better believe they would have had you back in the doctor's office today or tomorrow. The fact that they are waiting to give you the results is a very good sign (this I learned firsthand from my doctor).

Secondly, I have heard that with the HIPPA laws being the way they are that doctor's offices are no longer supposed to leave medical test results on an answering machine, yet another reason why they may not have said anything.

Hope it's all good news on the 10th!

Thanks, I really hope you're right! I guess if he hadn't specifically TOLD me that he would discuss it with me on the phone I wouldn't worry. He told me that if it was nothing serious, he would relay results over the phone. AACCCK!!! I wonder how they automatically knew I had a Jan 10th appointment? Do they do a computer search on you or something when you get results in?

Here's the "bad" side of my thinking:

Dr. to Staff: I've just read Christine's MRI report and it looks bad. Call her up and get her in here as soon as you can!"

Staff: Dr., you are all booked up since you were on vacation last week--but I see she already has an appt. on Jan. 10th, is that okay?"

Dr: Well, I guess that will have to do, won't it?

I must stop, I must stop, I must stop...

 

[Dan Murphy]

We have been there a number of times over the years, Christine, with Marie's tests, mammos, mri's, biopsies. Always nerver wracking. I agree with above, I think it will be fine.

 

[laurabelle]

Christine I'm so sorry you are going through more worries...praying everything is ok...

 

[froglady]

"Unusual" doesn't always mean serious. Perhaps there is something on the MRI which COULD be treated, but doesn't NEED to be treated. For instance, DS was having neck pain from time to time when he turned his head. We had an MRI done. He had an unusual finding (extra cervical bones) but it may or may not contributed to his pain. Interesting, but not anything I would seek to correct at this time (if anything could be done), since he doesn't have any other symptoms, and the pain is rare.

The same goes with lower back pain. There MIGHT be something there, he would like to discuss treatment with you, BUT he would like to consult a specialist to get his/her "read" on the situation BEFORE discussing it with you.

I wouldn't worry about it. If it were anything potentially life threatening, I'm sure you would be scheduled to see a specialist instead of your GP. More likely, he's trying to formulate a pain control/exercise plan for you, which would be easier to discuss in person.