Long Winded But! Good News

After all the frustration...all the run around...the calls that were never returned...the letters that were never answered...the unnecessary surgery...the medication errors...the incompetent Dr.'s I have been to that I swear got the license to practice out of cracker jack boxes...the refusal of Dr's I have been to here to even discuss my back and neck injuries because it is covered under NYS insurance so of course there has been no treatment for it since I moved here...how I have to repeatedly (3 - 4 times) ask for TSH (thyroid - I'm hypothyroid) tests which need to be run every 3 to 6 months and finally...a miracle...

I applied to Mayo Clinic a couple months ago asking to be placed on their waiting list. In my letter (email) I went into detail about the run around I have had since moving here, the lack of treatment, unnecessary surgery, the fact that I haven't even had 'standard blood work' done in 2½ years, etc...and much more than what I'll put in this post...

Roughly 10 minutes after sending the email, Mayo Clinic called me and the woman I spoke with was absolutely livid over what I had been through...I was immediately accepted to their waiting list! WooHoo! I cried! LOL She suggested I try and get my current Dr to refer me to one of their other Dr's which would get me in to Primary Care even quicker b/c then that Dr would refer me over to Primary Care.

Pt. 2 D) Been having major issues with my thyroid and even though I religiously take my medication it is not under control as it should be and I suffer all the classic symptoms. My last Dr's appt. (06/06) Chris went in with me so we could nail my Dr. to the wall and demand a referral to Mayo's Endocrinology dept. Who better to treat me for it then a Dr that specializes in it right? Come to find out my last TSH test (01/06) showed my levels were low but the Dr took it upon himself to not only not tell me, but never increased my medication to compensate for it!

We asked for the referral to Mayo and my Dr said Mayo wasn't necessary that there were some good Dr's nearby so he rattles off a couple names. Note: Mayo Clinic is a little over 2 miles from us. We stick to our guns and insist on Mayo. He finally agrees and I get the referral. His nurse then gives us a hard time saying with your insurance you can self refer so we explain how with a Dr's referral I can get the appt. right away but if I self refer I go on a waiting list. She says she'll take care of it and to call them (Mayo) on Friday.

I call Mayo on Friday...Dr's office never called. I call Dr's office they say they did call so I give them the # Mayo said to call and they said they would call right away. BTW, Mayo pulled up my info and asked if this was the same Dr's office I mentioned in the original letter I wrote them, which it was. The next day Mayo calls me again and wants to know if I ever called my Dr's office b/c they still had not heard from them. ^)%($%^)^ At this point I start to blubber...I'm so frustrated b/c this is the type of crap I deal with all the time and I should have expected it AGAIN b/c they really didn't want to give me the referral in the first place.

The woman at Mayo (Bless her heart) says...we're not suppose to do this but what is your Dr's phone number I'll call them myself, this is ridiculous. I cried harder (lol) and thanked her profusely. She called me back about 5 minutes later and said she had the referral and was processing me for scheduling.

So now, I was in NY for 3 weeks so didn't get my appointment set up with Endocrinology yet but I will do that today.

The Best news is I got a call from Primary Care late yesterday...they actually wanted me to come in today but it was to short notice for Chris's work schedule so I have an appointment for later this month. WHAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOO

Finally...after all the run around and practically begging Dr's to take me as a patient only to have doors slammed in my face I'll be treated by Dr's at one of the top facilities in the world. I feel...I dunno...hope...relief...WoW! http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f368/star-n-abby/smilies/bounce.gif

 

Wow! That Dr you used to go to seems like he's appointed himself to the next Dr Mengele, terrorising patients by not giving them treatment and making their lives difficult!

I hope you don't have to ever go back to him again! Congratulations on your appointment, and I hope it works out better for you!

 

I have about had it with all doctors. I myself have been misdiagnosed for years too. Nothing really serious, but still, why the hell can't they pull their egotistical heads loose from their asses long enough to get something right for once?

 

EXCELLENT Abby...EXCELLENT!!!! I don't know you REALLY well but just your history that you've briefly talked about around here...I know you've been through hell and back, not only with having to put up with a$$hole doctors, but also the pain you've had to deal with because he/they aren't the least bit interested in helping you!!

I don't know what it is but you get caught in this vicious circle...either they are just trying to milk the insurance money, or they don't give 100% attention because you don't have insurance and they know they won't be recompensated for their treatment whether it helped you or not!! I swear they forget they are dealing with a HUMAN LIFE here!!!! And the most frustrating thing about it...there is no way to reprimand them, and they know this!! Sure, you can go to the state medical board, but you that is all a bunch of beaucratic crap, and it takes years to get something pushed through!! Nine times out of ten, it is your word against the doc's, and who do you think they are going to believe!! So that all goes to the wayside!!

But anyway....*stepping down off my soapbox*

Congratsa Abby, that is excellent news!! I bet that feels like the weight of the world off of your shoulders!! You'll definately have to keep us posted!! I know you probably don't want to get too personal, but i'm sure you catch my drift!!

BTW...on another note...what's the latest on you guys selling and getting another place!?!? Or have I been out in lala land too long!!

Roger

 

Sorry to hear about your plight. You should know that I commiserate fully on your plight. You DON'T have to take that kind of crap from ANY doctor, or at least you shouldn't have to. They just aren't making the same kind of docs that they used to. Medicine has changed tremendously in the 40 years since I began to practice.

You have to try to find a doc out there who will advocate for you, if you need it, with your insurance company. Many won't, or don't have the time.

Sorry to say.

Keep us posted.

 

Congrats on the interest and help from the MAYO Clinic, Teresa. Good to see there at least SOME quality people left in the medical fields. As Gensu said, it's all changed dramatically in the last generation or so, not all of it for the best, sad to say.

Sounds like you get the same "Dr. Doofus'", with delusions of omnipotence over there, as here. There are a few good 'uns left, but not many, I'm afraid. A lot of what you said, with the run around and lies, I've also had the huge displeasure of experiencing.

Anyway, good news in all, that you will get the issues looked at by the best.

Take care (*Hugz*).

 

Teresa,

That's great news. My wife suffers from Hypothyroid and all the requisite symptoms. Fortunately we have a doctor that runs all the required tests at proper intervals. Unfortunely the condition isn't under control; yet.

Good news for you with Mayo taking on your case.

Best Wishes,
Kevin

 

That's GREAT news Teresa! Been praying you'd get shut of that quack and into Mayo's care for a long time now.

I'm surprised Chris hasn't broken kneecaps or sprinkled e-coli around the quack's office, or done something else dark and dastardly. Chris isn't normally one to sit still for this kind of BS for long.

 

Thanks everybody! I'm so excited about finally getting a primary physician that is reputed to actually take time with his patients and cares. With the Dr I have now a complete new patient physical consists of taking your BP, weight & height, temp and listening to my heart. That's it. No blood work, no checking my thyroid for nodes, no checking of the lymph nodes, no questions about the paperwork I filled out (re: 3 generations of breast cancer & other family history that puts me at risk) No nothing, nada, zilch. Chris basically got the same when he went.

The only reason we stuck it out this long is I couldn't get another Dr to take me b/c of my insurance and I needed a Dr who would at the very least give me my prescriptions, mainly my synthroid.

@ SPD...have your wife check out http://www.thyroid-info.com/ I have read a couple of Mary's books (available at the library) and it was like a revelation. So many things fell into place for me. The site has links to quite a few articles and other information...you know how it goes...one thing leads to another. I've been researching for a few months now online and at the library and have come to the conclusion that Synthroid most likely is not the right medication for me which is why I want to go to an Endocrinologist. I was diagnosed in 1991 and have been taking Synthroid ever since. My dosage has steadily increased but I have never felt like me since I got hit with this. It's long past time to explore other options that I never knew about before.

@ GT...it has been difficult to hold Chris back! OMG! *thud* The plan has been that once I got into Mayo it's open season on Dr N because then I won't have to worry about getting my medication as I would have a new Dr. I expect the bomb to drop very soon.

 

I'll check it out, and have my wife take a look. She's taking Synthroid also; doesn't seem to be doing much, dosage has been steadily increasing since she was diagnosed last year. Thanks for the info.

 

Awesome News!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When they get your thryroid all straightened out you are gonna feel like a new person. Went thru that with my wife and they removed her's. Now the medication is about where it should be and what a difference its made in her daily life.

Again congrats Abby im very happy for you!

 

Aw hell, here I was thinking our relationship was strong....

 

Good news Abby. Glad you are getting everything straightened out, not just the red tape.............more importantly, your health.

Steve

 

Your breath is strong. Your relationship is unbreakable.

 

I can just imagine holding Chris back.

Don't know if the details will be publicly disclosable, but I eagerly await the hammer drop. Actually, I suspect once you get actual testing done by the Mayo crew, a malpractice suit may not be out of order. Calling that fool a quack is an insult to ducks everywhere.

 

Babs!!! That's simply awesome news!! NO ONE should have to go through what you went through. I sincerely hope that the Mayo helps.. and if not.. try spicy mustard

 

Any update for those of us who missed the good news but still say

YA-Hoooooo!!

 

Update: taking a half-day off tomorrow from the mother ship as Abby's appointment and examinations are scheduled. Will be going in even earlier in the AM as Atlantis' rollout is at midnight +00:01, and don't want to miss it.

I'm sure she'll update you folks on her status. For an FYI on this place (Mayo Clinic), it's the same place where the Reverend Billy Graham, among others, gets treatments for his ailments. Abby not only needs good medical care, she deserves it, and this should go a long way in giving it to her.

Or else.

 

Absolutely!!! Can't wait to hear what comes of it!! provided you guys decide to make it somewhat public!?!?

Roger

 

Spicy mustard...yum! lol Thanks to all who responded with well wishes that I missed replying to. Been so preoccupied with other things I lost track of my own thread...*sniff, sniff*...thanks b00m for bringing it back up...and Chris for reminding me..repeatedly.

All I can say is OMG! MAYO is AWESOME! My new Primary Care Physician spent about an hour and 20 minutes with me. Other than a complete physical from head to toe (more thorough than I've ever had..EVER!) he actually did something I've never had a Dr. do before. You know that paper work they always have you fill out with your medical history, family history, current complaints, allergies, medications, etc? He actually went through ALL of it with me one line at a time. He actually read it...completely....he didn't just glance at it or stick it in a file..he READ it and asked questions about everything! *THUD*

Toward the end of my appointment he explained that they prefer, if it is ok with me to have all of my medical care taken care of at their facility...for example: gynecological, cardiology, etc. because they work so closely together as a team to provide the best overall medical care for each individual patient. I of course said YES! please! That's what I want too! LOL He then went on to explain what Dr's he wanted me to see and what tests he wanted me to have done.

He then left the room for a few minutes to get the head Dr. of the department so he could discuss my case with her and bring her back to meet me. Wow! If I ever need to go in and he is not there or unavailable she is the one I would see so this way she is familiar with my case and we've already had a chance to meet.

So, I have a full day of appointments scheduled for the 14th of August with various Dr's and for tests starting at 7:30 AM, a follow up with my Dr. the beginning of Sept. and the week after that another appointment.

I am in total awe of the Mayo Clinic....


Honey...even though we both almost ended up on the floor when I 'lost' it....thank you! ROFLMAO

 

Yup, an old lady coming out of the elevator, saying "hi" to us, then letting one rip will do that.

By the way, Atlantis is still hanging out in the hangar; the weather wouldn't cooperate and we have no intention of rolling out the world's biggest lightning rod.

Trying again tonight at 2200 hrs, not looking much better weather-wise.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/star17abby/ryyy.jpg

 

Excellent!!

 

Wow Abbey...That is AWESOME!!!!

It is a shame that anyone doesn't have acces to the care they need!! I am very excited to hear that you are now on the road to proper medical care!!!!

Ofcourse, as always...keep us posted!!!!

Roger

P.S. Chris...couldn't you just have someone fly a kite while you guys do what needs to be done!?!?

 

Funny you should mention that; we have a trainee named Franklin that is gonna do that very chore if we can't get it out the door tonight.

 

Funny how the noob gets the s$%^t end of the stick!!!! But you gotta start somewhere, I guess!!

Roger

 

pssst...come on rog... kite....Franklin

 

Duh...I know!! I was trying to come up with something a little better to keep the joke rolling, but being as I only got a C- in my witty 101 class, so that was the best I could do!! Sorry...I will have to try harder!!

Oh well...maybe next time!?!?!

Perhaps we could get Lev to set up a class on how to be more quick on the draw??

Roger

 

Abby, this just gets better and better. Mayo is not just good for sandwiches.

Star, remind Franlkin not to forget his key.

 

Abby. that's a great start to proper care. Too bad other Doctors aren't willing to dedicated thereselves that way.

Chris, make sure Franklin is grounded properly, before you let him fly that kite. Wouldn't want him to look like Albert.

 

Quick draw 101 starts next Monday - I expect you to sign up and be first there Rog

Anyway, DID Franklin actually fly it??? There's the question!

@Abby....I am so happy for you hun. When you start to get the correct medical care that you deserve, your whole mental approach becomes more positive and lifts so much stress you automatically start to feel a little better. Chris is going to be watching you cartwheel down the street by the time Mayo have done with you

 

Lev,

You forgot to include the starting time of the class.

I believe that Franklin tied the kite string to a Cherry tree, after he got it aloft.

Abby, great news, and best wishes to and for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

No,no,no,no...he couldn't have...I thought Washington chopped it down!!

Roger

 

I am so happy for you Abby. Just got back from vacation, so catching up on the threads.
mayo is a very good hospital. I know many people who have been helped by the one here in Mn.