My Doctor Died

[MIGrandma]

I was supposed to have a diabetic check-up on April 21st (if I remember the date correctly). A couple of weeks before that the office called me to re-schedule, saying "Cathy won't be back by then." I just assumed she was going to be on vacation, at a medical conference, etc. So they re-scheduled it for a week later. A couple days before that they called again to re-schedule and I'm not going until the 27th of this month because the PA filling in for Cathy only comes one day/week.

We received our local paper (printed once a week) yesterday and I was shocked to see her obituary!!

One of the places to send memorials is to a hospice, so she must have been sick. I just feel so bad, and am really going to miss her.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Oh that would be a hard thing. I am sorry about this

 

[FINFAN]

awwww...sad news. I don't think I have met anyone that this has happened to ( tho obviously it does) I imagine it is difficult since in general doctors are thought of as the healers, not the ones who get sick.

 

[MIGrandma]

awwww...sad news. I don't think I have met anyone that this has happened to ( tho obviously it does) I imagine it is difficult since in general doctors are thought of as the healers, not the ones who get sick.

Maybe that's why I was so shocked to see her obituary.

I saw her for a check-up in October and she seemed fine, her normal self. Now I just wonder, when they called me to re-schedule and said "she wouldn't be back yet", if she had cancer and was having surgery to remove it, but they weren't able to get it all or something.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

My doctor died. He was my midwife's back-up OB, a really really nice man, very supportive of out-of-hospital birth and breastfeeding. He had cancer, and he had quit taking his own OB patients, but was still taking my midwife's patients. After I had DD I had complications and a lot of issues and ended up seeing him quite a bit. I last saw right before Christmas in 2007 and I was finally getting my strength back. Then a week or two after Christmas I got a letter in the mail about releasing my medical records to myself or something like that...then my midwife called me and told me he had died. Very sad! He helped me through the hardest part of my life so far and I will not forget that.

 

[cabanafrau]

That is a hard situation to deal with when you've been seeing them a long time.

Just over 2 years ago my dentist who I had been going to since I was 4 passed very suddenly & unexpectedly. It was & still sometimes is very rough to think about. My father was the first in our family to see him and was one of his very first patients when he was establishing his practice. Our dentist had a very difficult time when he found the evidence of oral cancer & had to give my dad the diagnosis. Ultimately my father passed away because of it & our dentist really took it badly.

He was the only dentist my DD's had ever seen & the adjustment to a new dentist was a little bumpy because of our feelings and his practice became a small corporate-style practice. By twist of fate my younger DD needed some specialized care & I asked her ortho, who was recommended by our dentist initially, who he would recommend. We have left the dentist/company who bought my dentist's office & are now happily being treated at the dentist recommended for my DD by the ortho. I feel sort of like it was a recommendation from my dentist because it came through someone he trusted.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Maybe that's why I was so shocked to see her obituary.

I saw her for a check-up in October and she seemed fine, her normal self. Now I just wonder, when they called me to re-schedule and said "she wouldn't be back yet", if she had cancer and was having surgery to remove it, but they weren't able to get it all or something.

I am just really shocked that someone from the office didn't make calls to the patients. It seems almost irresponsible and reckless. I mean, YOU and all the others need medical care. They should have a plan (i.e. names of other doctors, immediate appointments at other clinics, etc)

Sorry to hear about the loss. It is hard to replace your doctor-especially when that person has had a long history with you. It is hard to start all over.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm sorry.

 

[Deb in IA]

I am just really shocked that someone from the office didn't make calls to the patients. It seems almost irresponsible and reckless. I mean, YOU and all the others need medical care. They should have a plan (i.e. names of other doctors, immediate appointments at other clinics, etc)

Why would they do that?

They already have her scheduled to see the PA.

 

[Carina]

My Doctor died a few years ago. They said it was a Heart attack, but it was whispered by many (who would know) that he actually commited suicide.

The office did not phone all the patients, word jsut got out between people who phoned for appointments and the obit.

 

[MIGrandma]

I am just really shocked that someone from the office didn't make calls to the patients. It seems almost irresponsible and reckless. I mean, YOU and all the others need medical care. They should have a plan (i.e. names of other doctors, immediate appointments at other clinics, etc)

Sorry to hear about the loss. It is hard to replace your doctor-especially when that person has had a long history with you. It is hard to start all over.

They probably did call people that had appointments set with her, before she got sick. But after they re-scheduled my appointment for several weeks later and it is going to be with a PA who is helping them out they probably didn't feel the need to call me, or anyone else who had their appointments re-scheduled. Plus there is another doctor in the practice as well.

 

[charming23]

That is so sad. I wonder why they did not inform her patients. When my dad's heart surgeon unexpectedly passed, the office sent out letters informing them and telling them that the other doctor in the office would be taking over his patients.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

That is so sad. But, please don't assume she was sick, because she asked for donations to go to hospice. When my mother passed away, we asked that donations be made to Breast Cancer Research (her sister died from Breast Cancer) and everyone that didn't know assumed incorrectly.

Suzanne

 

[MnParrothead]

 

[MIGrandma]

That is so sad. But, please don't assume she was sick, because she asked for donations to go to hospice. When my mother passed away, we asked that donations be made to Breast Cancer Research (her sister died from Breast Cancer) and everyone that didn't know assumed incorrectly.

Suzanne

True, but since she has been out of the office for weeks I think it's safe to think that something was definitely wrong.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

True, but since she has been out of the office for weeks I think it's safe to think that something was definitely wrong.

I don't disagree with that at all.

 

[goofyernmost]

That is so sad. But, please don't assume she was sick, because she asked for donations to go to hospice.

I guess your right, but most of the well, healthy people that I know are still alive. One usually dies of something.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I guess your right, but most of the well, healthy people that I know are still alive. One usually dies of something.

Sorry, I just realized my mistake, I didn't mean that, I meant to assume she wasn't terminally ill or necessarily in need of hospice care. I was talking on the phone and not paying attention to what I was typing.

Well, my mom wasn't "sick" either when she passed away.

Suzanne