Can I vent for a moment?
So, my back is bad. Really bad. But you knew that already. And I've been having EXCRUCIATING rib pain, but that's a whole other story.
So, my OB wanted me to see my spine specialist and have an MRI. She also wants me to meet with the head of the OB Anesthesia department at the hospital where I am giving birth.
So, about SIX WEEKS ago I called my spine doctor to make an appointment and I found out he doesn't take my insurance anymore. (I would like to point out that it is the same insurance that he uses for HIMSELF- he works at the same hospital as my husband.)
So, I began my search for another spine doctor. That was fun.
Most of them don't take insurance. (I'm sorry, but how many people out there are actually paying out of pocket to go to the doctor???)
I finally found someone. The first available appointment was for February 21st. Yes, I told them that I was pregnant and in pain. They don't care.
So, I went to my OB yesterday (regular check-up) and she asked me if I had gotten an MRI yet.
I realized that it's silly for me to go to the spine doctor on the 21st, THEN have him order an MRI. It makes much more sense for me to have the MRI first, so that when I show up we can discuss the results. Because otherwise, I will go to the spine doctor, he'll order the MRI, I'll have to wait a week for an MRI appointment, and then god knows how long for another appointment with the spine doctor.
Also, I can't meet with the OB Anesthesia doctor until I have the MRI.
So, I call the spine doctor's office and explain all of this to the secretary and she was all "That's not how he does things. He'll want to see you first"
And I (very nicely) said "I understand that's how he usually does things, but I was hoping he could make an exception because I'm pregnant, in a lot of pain, and my husband is a resident at the hospital. Also, I can't meet with the OB Anesthesia doctor until I have the MRI."
(I forgot to mention to you- I mentioned this to the secretary- that the new spine doctor works ACROSS THE HALL from the old spine doctor and could very easily access my file.)
The secretary started to get all huffy and rude with me. (I can't WAIT to meet her!)
So, I said "You don't have to lose your patience and be rude, I'm in a lot of pain and I'M PREGNANT."
And then I realized I wasn't going to get anywhere with her, so I asked her to have the doctor call me- which she LOVED. (Because I don't see how any doctor in their right mind, after I explain the situation, wouldn't be willing to let me get an MRI.)
So, do you think the doctor will actually call me?
I'm not holding my breath.
Comments
I hate when people who are supposed to offer a service to you talk to you that way, but I come across new examples every day. I hope she'll pass the message to the doctor but I have doubts.
Posted by: itsmylife2001 | February 14, 2007 01:28 PM
Maybe you are nice than me I don't know but I would keep calling back that Bitch of a secretary until she got so sick of you she had now choice but to say "DOC IF YOU DON'T CALL THIS LADY BACK RIGHT NOW I AM WALKING OUT OF HERE."
It might better your chances, anyhow.
Doesn't your hubby have any pull here? Don't you, as a doctor's wife - a PREGNANT doctor's wife in extreme pain - get any special privileges? I would have assumed you would, you know, after having to put up with 36 hours on call and all that...
Good luck.
Posted by: Farrell | February 14, 2007 01:39 PM
I don't know how the system works over there but that sucks. Vent all you like. Can Dr Torrie go over and talk to the guy at the hospital? Over here Receptionistsn are so rude and they just try and keep people away from the doctors but I bet he'd be different if your husband spoke to him...
Posted by: platypus | February 14, 2007 04:40 PM
Torie, I would wait until the office goes "on service", call, and then when the doctor returns your call, tell him the situation. And especially let him know about his secretary.
Posted by: SouthernBelle | February 14, 2007 04:43 PM
This sounds just so awful and frustrating. I reckon there are a few ways to go: first, keep calling the office if you haven't heard back yet- like, four, five times a day. Offer to wait on hold if the doc is busy with a patient. Like Farrell said, she will get so sick of it eventually she will get you through. The trick with this so she doesn't just hang up on you is to do it as sweetly, cloyingly sweetly as you can. But with just an undercurrent of malice.
Secondly, I would play the 'doctor' card. I know that here when I ring up to speak to my doctor, if I say it's just one of his/her patients I get the run around, never hear back from them. If I ring and say "This is Dr Jen, I'm one of the Anaesthetic Registrars at (blah) Hospital, I need to speak with Dr Dpoey about one of his/her patients" I get straight through (they never seem to twig that the patient is me, which I find odd!). I'm not suggesting you impersonate a doctor, but I think maybe Dr Torrie could do it for you.
Finally, can the OB Anaesthetist (sorry, Anaesthesiologist) order the MRI? Esp if Dr Torrie calls them? Can your OB order one? If you ring your OB and tell her how much trouble you are having, can she help you out?
I hope it all gets sorted soon.
BTW is the snoogle helping any? And *my*, it looks bloody cold over there...
Posted by: jen | February 14, 2007 06:15 PM
You poor thing. I'm hoping you're getting closer to resolving this ... use your Torrie powers! You know the ones!
Posted by: Schnozz | February 15, 2007 08:00 AM
Hi Torrie,
I am an MRI technologist and your OB can order your MRI for you so you don't have to wait for the spine doc. Especially because if they believe you have a bulging disc or something of the sort they will not give you an epideral. I get orders for lumbar MRI's from OB's all the time.Don't blame the secretary they get crap all day from both patients and doctors and there really is nothing they can do for you without an order.. they get in HUGE trouble for scheduling people without having an order and approval from a doc.
Good Luck!
Posted by: Chris | February 15, 2007 10:13 AM
I'm sure Chris up there is right. After dealing with patients and doctors and HMOs all day, the receptionist may have just been cranky. And since you're new there, they might not know that you aren't one of those hypochondriac, annoying patients. Skirt the issue by getting an MRI ordered by another doctor and try to move forward. I'm so, so sorry you're in pain! Would cookies help? :-)
Posted by: Charlotte | February 15, 2007 12:59 PM
I'm raising my hand for the "how many people out there are actually paying out of pocket to go to the doctor???" question. Yep. We have a health savings account and while it's nice (I guess) to pay our medical bills tax-free, that money still comes out of pocket. Our "insurance" sucks. Yes, it'll pay (after the deductible is met) for catastrophic events, but we had to pay just over $5,000 for my recent surgery. We have NO well-care coverage. None. I have to take the kids to the health department for vaccinations if I don't want to pay the $50 doctor's office visit PLUS the cost of the vaccines. Regardless of what our fearless "leader" says, HSAs are NOT the wave of the future. The only reason it doesn't *totally* suck for us is because we can actually afford it.
Anyway, I hope you get all this straightened out soon. I had severe rib pain when I was pregnant with Christopher and it turned out that he had his little foot rammed into my ribcage for most of his last trimester. They had to tape me up after I had him; just like a football player!
Posted by: candace | February 15, 2007 07:00 PM
HAve you tried a belly band? It is a long piece of elastic with velcro. The band goes under the belly and lifts it up a bit. Takes a lot of pressure off the lower back. Not a drastic change but ut was s great source of comfort for me. Can't hurt!
Posted by: NJSue | February 16, 2007 04:22 PM
Doctors are so horrible about following up with phone calls. Good luck!
Posted by: Em | February 16, 2007 04:59 PM
I'm coming out of lurker mode to make a quick comment here. As a longtime back pain sufferer, I've run into exactly one doctor worth seeing in recent years who took insurance. The sad fact is most of the good ones won't touch it any longer. The reason is basic economics: the insurance companies won't pay the doctors enough money to compensate for the time needed to properly diagnose and treat back pain. Moreover, in the major metropolitan areas (NYC, LA, Chicago, etc.) there are enough people who can and are willing to pay cash up front to see a decent doctor.
Posted by: Elena | February 18, 2007 07:15 PM
BTW: just saw the weather forecast for NY. Bloody hell!!! Hope you stay warm...
Posted by: jen | February 19, 2007 06:00 AM