Yearly ct scan moved up

[DarknessEmbraced]

I'm feeling worried because the hospital called and told me that the doctor wanted my yearly ct scans moved up to September 22nd from October 30th. I called the doctor's office and they wouldn't tell me why. I do see that doctor tomorrow for the rheumatologist referral so I will ask why it was moved up. I have been having more digestive issues lately. Even when my CA 125 was a little higher my doctor never moved up my Ct scan. I wish they had told me why on the phone. Please keep me in your thoughts.

[Beckster]

Just a question....why would they call you on the phone when you have an appt tomorrow? I think it is very unprofessional to call a patient, especially one who has had cancer, to change protocol without a reason. Just saying.....

[TXLiz]

You are in my thoughts. Stay positive and remember it's just part of the process. You are getting good medical care to help fight this disease and even though it's scary and concerning, it is in your best interest to do these things.

Maybe the moved date was purely scheduling conflicts or facility issues? Don't forget that the people who work in medical facilities have vacations, family issues, have to be out of the office, etc.

Good luck! Update when you can.

[ANDRETEXAS]

I had my doctor move my appointment this week to earlier this month (the 2nd)....when I arrived, the doctor told me he was going with a group to Wyoming to see the eclipse.

[DarknessEmbraced]

All my blood tests, ct scans, etc. are all done at the local hospital here. It was someone from the ct scan department who called me to reschedule. They told me the doctor said that October was too late to have it done. It has been scheduled for October 30th since July. I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow to get a referral to rheumatologist. My stomach has been much worse this month. Thank you everyone! I will let you know what the doctor says tomorrow. I'm glad we're going to Toronto so I can relax before getting my scan on September 22nd.

[NHMike]

My GI guy usually has his nurses call me with setting up appointments as with my second colonoscopy. I did ask the nurse for the reason and she spoke to the doctor and gave me the reason (mop up any other polyps). In general, I can't get direct access to doctors - I usually have to go through an intermediary.

[DarknessEmbraced]

The doctor filling in for my family doctor (she's on maternity leave again) is the one who schedules the ct scans, the blood work and the colonoscopies. I barely see my GI at all. None of my doctors have nurses they only have receptionist who won't tell me anything over the phone and won't go to ask the doctor. I wish they would. At least I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow.

[NHMike]

The doctor filling in for my family doctor (she's on maternity leave again) is the one who schedules the ct scans, the blood work and the colonoscopies. I barely see my GI at all. None of my doctors have nurses they only have receptionist who won't tell me anything over the phone and won't go to ask the doctor. I wish they would. At least I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow.

My GI guy ran point for a while. He got all of the necessary testing to verify cancer and got me set up with the local oncologist and radiologist and helped me with getting second opinions at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. He faded into the background as we set up treatment (Oncologist, Surgeon, Radiologist). I think that this GI guy was voted best doctor in our state by his peers in the past. The hospital with the oncologist also has a patient portal which I haven't logged into yet.

I was able to get into the Partners Healthcare Patient Portal to get access to the second opinion stuff along with the test results. At this point, it's the oncologist that's running point though I suspect that shifts to the surgeon in a few weeks. It looks like how things are run varies widely from hospital to hospital and doctor to doctor. Dana Farber is completely different - they are all about managing a ton of volume.

[susie0915]

You will get an answer tomorrow and I'm sure it will be nothing serious. I wish doctors would understand how stressful it is for us when it's time for our scan, blood test, colonoscopy checks. I'm able to email all my doctors, and most of the time the doctor answers directly within 24 hours, it's been a great way to communicate and all my doctors have been responsive and answered any questions I have. Hopefully tomorrow your mind will be put at ease.

Susie

[DarknessEmbraced]

I don't have an oncologist because I didn't have chemo. They referred me back to my family doctor. I wish there was an online portal here. I wish doctor's offices wouldn't reschedule things without letting us know why! Yes, I will find out tomorrow why it was rescheduled. I can email my endocrinologist, my dentist, my Gi surgeon and my optometrist. Most of my doctors use paper files

[NHMike]

I don't have an oncologist because I didn't have chemo. They referred me back to my family doctor. I wish there was an online portal here. I wish doctor's offices wouldn't reschedule things without letting us know why! Yes, I will find out tomorrow why it was rescheduled. I can email my endocrinologist, my dentist, my Gi surgeon and my optometrist. Most of my doctors use paper files

Electronic Medical Records systems are expensive. Partners is spending $1 billion on their implementation. My local hospital has EMR as well. So it is convenient but I'm sure that it increases costs in the short term. I guess that someone has to run point and it sounds like it's your family doctor.

[DarknessEmbraced]

Yes it is but this doctor is only filling in while my family doctor is on maternity leave for the second time. I wish it was my regular doctor.

[Utwo]

I'm feeling worried because the hospital called and told me that the doctor wanted my yearly ct scans moved up to September 22nd from October 30th.

From point of view of medical science there is no difference between 11 months and 12 months intervals between colonoscopies.

Most likely reasons for rescheduling:
1) Vacation, training etc. of your doctor
2) Upgrade or maintenance of CT machine on your original colonoscopy date
3) Stuffing/scheduling issues of the radiology department

Changing interval between colonoscopies from 12 to 6 months could have been a red flag.
No need to worry in case of a change from 12 to 11 months.

[DarknessEmbraced]

Thanks Utwo. I'm more relaxed about it now."

[Basil]

My spidey-sense is telling me this is not not worrisome. If the doc had reason to panic, which is unlikely to begin with, you would be moved up until tomorrow or next week. This smells like a scheduling issue on the medical side.