The Colon Club

I'm feeling really frustrated. I found out why I don't have my appointment for the echocardiogram and stress test. It was marked elective so there's a 10 month wait! The woman said I would have to get my family doctor to send a new requisition marked urgent to get it done sooner. She said that I could go to another area with a 2 month wait but I don't have a vehicle and don't drive so I can't get there. My symptoms are worse. I can't wait 10 months! My family doctor only answers the phone until 3:00pm and it's 3:28pm. Messages left after hours are only checked for cancellations and aren't returned!

I am sorry, how frustrating
This certainly does not help with stress/anxiety...

Thank you and no it doesn't. I called and my doctor isn't in the office today. Her receptionist said she would ask her to send a new requisition asking for me to have my tests sooner. The Internist's office called today. I have a telephone appointment with him on the 28th. I'm to check mu blood pressure and pulse first thing in the morning and in the afternoon or evening. I have an automatic blood pressure machine. I have been noticing that my blood pressure is higher in one arm so I have been checking it in both arms. Sometimes the difference is only a few points but other times it's more. This morning the blood pressure in my left arm was 118/81 and the blood pressure in my left arm was 118/92. It's usually the diastolic which is higher. The swelling in my calves is getting worse. I get it in the bottoms of my feet too but it's worst in the calves. The swelling is worse on the left calf. By the evening the swelling is enough that it dents when I push it in. Sometimes having my feet up helps but what helps the most is when I go to bed. The swelling gets worse if I stand for a while.

Ugh! That is definitely frustrating. I've been finding out due to changes in jobs within our family that insurance coverage is changing also. Where before we'd have a deductible we had to meet but were still covered for basic care, now we're finding most insurance only covers what they call "preventative" care whereas "diagnostic" care is subject to the deductibles before being covered. And by diagnostic, they mean anything pre-existing, or that has just occurred. So basically, everything. And these deductibles (and we were paying for the "good" coverage) was $3,000 per person, or $6,000 per family.

I know insurance has never been problem-free, but wowee.

What made me relate your post to this is when I called the insurance to clarify how the deductible worked, the person on the phone mentioned it's all about how your doctor marks the paperwork. And he went on to say most doctors don't even realize unless you ask them. Gives being our own advocates all new twists. <<sigh>>

I hope they're able to straighten things out for you. I can only imagine how the frustration must add to what you're already going through. Try not to let it shake you too much.

Hugs,
Tracy

Thank you WriterGirl! I will try! I hope things are difficult with your insurance.*hugs* I hope things will work out for you.

The Internist is going to do a stress test. If it's normal then I won't be able to get the echocardiogram sooner. That I would have to wait 10 months. If the stress test is abnormal then the Internist could get the echocardiogram moved up. He said the stress test isn't urgent so the wait will be over a month. He said I should get pulmonary function testing done. I told him that it had already been booked. The thyroid test was normal so it's not hyperthyroidism causing the weight loss. I'm thinking I won't find out anything until I have the colonoscopy on October 28th. I doubt the H. Pylori test will show anything. If the colonoscopy is normal then maybe the weight loss and everything else is my fault! I woke up early and don't feel satisfied. I know it sounds strange but I was hoping I had hyperthyroidism because then something could be done right away about it. He kept forgetting that I'm not overweight.

Yeap.
As soon as I saw "10 month wait", I realized that you were a fellow Canadian.
Do you have an option of paying out of your pocket in your province or in the US?

Everything is Medicare here in New Brunswick. I can't afford to go the US. Also we don't have a vehicle. Thank you Utwo.

I'm so sorry you have to wait! That's got to be super frustrating. I hope that it all get sorted out soon.

Thank you. Yes, it is very frustrating.

Goodness, I feel the frustration thru your words. It's terrible you have to suffer so many more months before you get answers/help.
Thinking about you!
Keep us updated please.

I have the stress test at the end of June. The Internist will be there. If the stress test is normal then I won't see him again because he won't run anymore tests. Thank you beach sunrise! I will keep you updated.