I think doctors make me feel worse sometimes
Because I couldn't fall asleep, I've had a private concert for myself tonight. The show opened with The Mayfield Four and Alter Bridge headlined. I know, I'm crazy. Just played the albums one by one cover to cover and not in order. Still not sleeping. When I listen to music because I cannot sleep, I usually listen to something I kinda know and doesn't completely hold my interest. Not something I LOVE, know every word to and want to sing along. Oh well, better luck next time. It's not like I have any where to go today. All I have to do is stay home and try not to feel too sick. Remember to eat drink and call my neurologist's office who has f*cked up my appointment again. Sorry for swearing, I'm just really pissed at the receptionist.
The best neurologist in the Valley can't manage to get a secretary (to tell the truth it's not one woman, it's a whole office staff of them) who when she says, as soon as the next scheduling block opens up I will call you to make an appointment for January. Now the first thing wrong with this statement, this thing she is required to do for all patients I would think is: why after my appointment after the neurologist says I want to see you in 3 months is the receptionist unable to make an appointment for 3 months? Why is their "schedule block" not opened up so far away as 3 MONTHS? I would think that is a standard time allotment for your next appointment. As I see it, 3 months is not that much time. When you see your gyn for your yearly exam, you can usually make another for a year later. Dentists make their appointments for every 6 months. Why is it so difficult for a neurologist to do their scheduling?! Most other doctors I see on a regular basis do all the same things neuros do. They have hospital rounds, surgeries and emergencies. I don't get it. Neurologists are so difficult to see. But I really need to see him, or I would just give him up. And we need to say 3 months because whenever I go longer, something bad happens. It might be not so bad, like one of us needs to reschedule due to an emergency or bad wrong like I have a mini stroke. It calms me, for whatever stupid reason, to go every 3 months. Because when I do have that mini stroke before my 6 or 12 month appointment, I can't get into his office. Well, I'm usually trying to get in before I actually have the mini stroke. It's just, I feel weird before it happens; so I call and try to get in to maybe avoid something bad happening. And I just can't. Neurologists are so difficult to see.
The other thing I find wrong with the statement, "I'll have to call you when the next scheduling block opens up to make an appointment," is that NO ONE EVER CALLS! Isn't this a business? Are you not organized? Did you not just say you're putting me on a list? What is so difficult about having a list of patients who need an appointment when the block opens up and calling them when said block opens. I really don't understand.Then if some one actually does make me an appointment, they do not call me. No. They send me a letter saying, if this is not convenient for you please call us. Ok never mind saving the trees. I'll skip that point. But wouldn't it have been better and just as easy to call me to discuss open appointments. If you compare the time it takes to find me the appointment, write the letter and address the envelope then answer my call when I call to tell you how we discussed what time was good, I saw you make a note and you still messed it up and now we have to spend time changing it; to calling me to ask what a good time is; I have to think they are quite comparable. Frankly, I believe it takes less time and aggravation to call me and actually talk to me. And if I'm not home when you call and you need to leave a message, THEN it's my fault whatever happens. When I was in their office for the last appointment, they would ask, what's the best time for you. To which I say, early afternoon. I see them make a note. When I open my dead tree letter it inevitably says, 8:15 AM. WHAT?! Most days I don't see 8:15AM. If I do, it is for a bad reason. Like today I will see it because I don't feel well and couldn't sleep. Regarding my pain and assorted health issues, the best time of day for me is 11-3. That may be stretching it a bit. But if I need it, I stretch it. There is no way in HELL I'm getting to that appointment.
Anyway, I'm sorry to vent. I meant to just say one thing and this just all came out. What's so upsetting this time is, they were suppossed to call me to make an appointment in January and they didn't. I forgot too. I had bad pelvic pain which sort of occupied my mind. I went into the hospital for a few days and by the time I got home my meds were all messed up in my brain. I needed a refill of the migraine med I take, but it had expired. CVS tried to call the doctor for approval, but he never called them back. I don't have an appointment and keep forgetting to call because other pain and anxiety has been distracting me. Who knows when they will get me in and in the mean time, I haven't taken that med for about 6 weeks.
I've been thinking about it since last week. My neurologist spoke with my psychiatrist and chose the med Lamictal because it would help my migraines and my psych issues together in one pill. This makes me wonder if I've had such bad anxiety attacks because it's no longer in my blood stream. I'm not a doctor, but it really makes me think. So I need to fix that right away. The office opens in a couple hours. Hopefully we will get it all straightened out.
Wish me luck. I hope all my DS friends are happy, healthy and safe this Monday morning.
The best neurologist in the Valley can't manage to get a secretary (to tell the truth it's not one woman, it's a whole office staff of them) who when she says, as soon as the next scheduling block opens up I will call you to make an appointment for January. Now the first thing wrong with this statement, this thing she is required to do for all patients I would think is: why after my appointment after the neurologist says I want to see you in 3 months is the receptionist unable to make an appointment for 3 months? Why is their "schedule block" not opened up so far away as 3 MONTHS? I would think that is a standard time allotment for your next appointment. As I see it, 3 months is not that much time. When you see your gyn for your yearly exam, you can usually make another for a year later. Dentists make their appointments for every 6 months. Why is it so difficult for a neurologist to do their scheduling?! Most other doctors I see on a regular basis do all the same things neuros do. They have hospital rounds, surgeries and emergencies. I don't get it. Neurologists are so difficult to see. But I really need to see him, or I would just give him up. And we need to say 3 months because whenever I go longer, something bad happens. It might be not so bad, like one of us needs to reschedule due to an emergency or bad wrong like I have a mini stroke. It calms me, for whatever stupid reason, to go every 3 months. Because when I do have that mini stroke before my 6 or 12 month appointment, I can't get into his office. Well, I'm usually trying to get in before I actually have the mini stroke. It's just, I feel weird before it happens; so I call and try to get in to maybe avoid something bad happening. And I just can't. Neurologists are so difficult to see.
The other thing I find wrong with the statement, "I'll have to call you when the next scheduling block opens up to make an appointment," is that NO ONE EVER CALLS! Isn't this a business? Are you not organized? Did you not just say you're putting me on a list? What is so difficult about having a list of patients who need an appointment when the block opens up and calling them when said block opens. I really don't understand.Then if some one actually does make me an appointment, they do not call me. No. They send me a letter saying, if this is not convenient for you please call us. Ok never mind saving the trees. I'll skip that point. But wouldn't it have been better and just as easy to call me to discuss open appointments. If you compare the time it takes to find me the appointment, write the letter and address the envelope then answer my call when I call to tell you how we discussed what time was good, I saw you make a note and you still messed it up and now we have to spend time changing it; to calling me to ask what a good time is; I have to think they are quite comparable. Frankly, I believe it takes less time and aggravation to call me and actually talk to me. And if I'm not home when you call and you need to leave a message, THEN it's my fault whatever happens. When I was in their office for the last appointment, they would ask, what's the best time for you. To which I say, early afternoon. I see them make a note. When I open my dead tree letter it inevitably says, 8:15 AM. WHAT?! Most days I don't see 8:15AM. If I do, it is for a bad reason. Like today I will see it because I don't feel well and couldn't sleep. Regarding my pain and assorted health issues, the best time of day for me is 11-3. That may be stretching it a bit. But if I need it, I stretch it. There is no way in HELL I'm getting to that appointment.
Anyway, I'm sorry to vent. I meant to just say one thing and this just all came out. What's so upsetting this time is, they were suppossed to call me to make an appointment in January and they didn't. I forgot too. I had bad pelvic pain which sort of occupied my mind. I went into the hospital for a few days and by the time I got home my meds were all messed up in my brain. I needed a refill of the migraine med I take, but it had expired. CVS tried to call the doctor for approval, but he never called them back. I don't have an appointment and keep forgetting to call because other pain and anxiety has been distracting me. Who knows when they will get me in and in the mean time, I haven't taken that med for about 6 weeks.
I've been thinking about it since last week. My neurologist spoke with my psychiatrist and chose the med Lamictal because it would help my migraines and my psych issues together in one pill. This makes me wonder if I've had such bad anxiety attacks because it's no longer in my blood stream. I'm not a doctor, but it really makes me think. So I need to fix that right away. The office opens in a couple hours. Hopefully we will get it all straightened out.
Wish me luck. I hope all my DS friends are happy, healthy and safe this Monday morning.
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