I need a new doctor!

[indigo_rose99]

Officially, we have had the same general practitioner doctor for years. But I have always felt she is too drug-happy. Too busy to find a new one, so this week when I noticed that I am down to my last sleeping pill (necessary for those long flights!), I called Tues morning and asked for a refill. Of course, Monday was a holiday, so Tuesday was the earliest I could call.

Surprisingly, someone answered. I have this vague memory of my last two attempts at an appointment or advice going unanswered by even a machine. They said they had no record of me, and must therefore treat me as a new patient (my last for-sure appointment was March 2007). So, no refill without an appointment. Grrr.

This is in contrast to
(1) the shoe store who found their record of my 2004 purchase of work shoes and happily provided me with a replacement insole.
(2) the travel clinic who found their records of my June 2004 shots and was more than happy to update my tetanus, MMR and start me on a Hep B regime.

Fine, my plane leaves on Thurs, any time between now and then. Robert reluctantly and at last found me a slot... Thurs at 2:30pm. I gently reminded him that I would be at the airport, as that would be when My Plane Leaves. As I had said. He got snippy and flatly told me it was impossible. Fine. I think I managed to keep the sarcasm out of my voice as I thanked him and we hung up.

Today when I landed in Ca, there were two voicemails from the doctor's ofc. Evidently I missed my appointment, and they want to reschedule. I called, but their office is closed (as usual!) and the answering service flatly refused to take a message of any kind. I Must Call Back Tomorrow Morning After Some Specific And Highly Inconvenient Hour.

The policy of the doctor's office, is of course to charge me for any "missed appointment." Never mind the fact that I never AGREED to an appointment!

I can tell this is going to be a fun chat tomorrow. Yes, THAT was sarcasm.

Comments

[livingdeb.livejournal.com]

As soon as they were going to treat you like a new patient, that was the time to let someone else treat you like a new patient.

You still wouldn't have gotten an appointment in time, though.

Agreed.

[indigo-rose99.livejournal.com]

My every interaction with them for 5 years has left me with that same doomed feeling of "I should really get someone else!"

Which really was NOT the feeling I wanted when going for support, prescriptions, and advice after I crashed rollerblading. That feeling of doom? Came with a $1500 bill beyond what the insurance would pay, and the feedback of "looks ok." No, seriously, guys, for the kind of money I just paid, I want a bit more feedback. ...20 minutes on hold... "Consistent with your medical history." What does that mean?! REALLY NOT COMFORTING!!!

And that would be why I have not been to see them since 2007.

Re: Agreed.

[cat-napp.livejournal.com]

$1500 beyond what insurance would pay??? Geez, what did they do--seal your wounds with platinum? Definitely get rid of these people! Looking for new doctors is annoying, but on the upside, it sounds as though you couldn't do worse. No matter who you choose (even if it's the time-honored method of throwing a dart at the appropriate section of the yellow pages), improvement is practically guaranteed!

Re: Agreed.

[indigo-rose99.livejournal.com]

You know, "seal your wounds with platinum" was not what THEY called it, but it might have been less painful! And I mean that above and beyond the financial pain. They called it something like "a spinal MRI" but I called it "an hour of sheer HELL!!!"

Re: Agreed.

[cat-napp.livejournal.com]

BTW, *love* the new avatar up there!

Re: Agreed.

[indigo-rose99.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *smile* I went ahead and paid for a LJ account. I wanted the increased avatars and... Really, I wanted to be able to post pictures without jumping through a painful amount of hoops.

But being able to upload some of my collected avatars is a nice perk. ;-)

[fraeuleinchen.livejournal.com]

SUCKAGE! Fail!

Grrrrr. Bitchiness justified.

[reedrover]

Argh and good luck.

[raaga123.livejournal.com]

Too late for this case, but I can recommend my doctor, whom I like so much that I keep going to him even though he's moved to ... [drum roll] ... ROUND ROCK!

In defense of your old doctor, though, it can be problematic to prescribe medication to a patient who hasn't been seen in years.

[indigo-rose99.livejournal.com]

Actually, if you could put that recommendation in an email, I would really really appreciate it! We want to start interviewing doctors (they will call it "come in for a physical," but we will know the truth) when I get back.

Thanks!

[tiger-stripes.livejournal.com]

That really sucks. I hated shopping for a new doctor, and probably read why I fired that cheeky cow.

Btw, am I seeing you tomorrow?