My wife has a problem that probably requires the services of a gastroenterologist. We've had three ER visits, two CT scans, a consult with our GP and a visit with the gastroenterologist. No one can definitively diagnose the problem or recommend a treatment plan. The last word from gastro boy was come back in two months if it doesn't get better. Well, it's getting worse. We've spent the last two hours on the phone trying to get another appointment. The best we can get is July 17, and go to the ER if it gets that bad. WTF is up with medical care? They say ER's are overcrowded, but regular doctors and specialists don't want to do urgent treatment type care. Oh yeah, gastro boy required two enemas prior to the consult. No, he didn't examine her, just an interview. Sure am glad I paid him a lot of money, too.

Have you tried searching for a naturalist or a natural dr.?

Don't you have an Urgent Care facility that you can go to?

I've seen them before but never knew what they were for until I went to my doctor for some xrays. Then I get a call from the doctor's office saying the doctor found something in the xray but since she's on vacation for me to go to the urgent care facility.

So I take it that Urgent Care is for urgent care but not enough for emergency. I think you get faster service at an urgent care anyway.

The specialists really gets my goat. They're worse than mediocre chiropractors who want to string you along. I had one specialist after several MRI's and biopsies. I ask, "Do I have lung cancer?"

"Well, no, we can't say that."

"You mean I have lung cancer?"

"Well, no, we can't say that either."

"What can you say?"

"I can say come back every six months and we'll monitor."

Urgent care didn't really work, they sent us the the ER. There was a radical change last night, and the situation may have resolved itself. I think there has been a shift in care protocols in the last few years I may have missed. Looks like GP's are all handling only routine stuff like vaccinations, etc. Anything requiring tests/diagnosis gets passed along. And the ER's are ridiculous. They'll script you for 50 Lortabs in a hot second. They were argumentative when she said to only give her 5. (She's had 2 of them in 2 months.) Hopefully this thing is clearing up, but it has been an bad year for her with medical issues. Nothing fatal though, so I'm counting my blessings. I will look for a naturist though.

Wife is same way. But our Gatsro boy is better. We both really like him. Our PCP evaluates the labs and does refer to specialists.
No cure and no apparent specific triggers. Just something she tries to manage with various pills that speed up or slow down digestion. And Tramadol

Indianapolis

You are getting substandard care. See another gastroenterologist. I am happy with mine and have seen at least four. Sometimes it takes a while.

If you are unhappy with the care given by the Gastroenterologist perhaps you should seek a second opinion. The MD won't be upset I assure you.

I've contacted 5 in the Central Ky area. July 17 is the earliest appointment. I'll start calling Louisville. Thanks for all the good advice!

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
I've contacted 5 in the Central Ky area. July 17 is the earliest appointment. I'll start calling Louisville. Thanks for all the good advice!

Cincinnati is not bad to check either.

For a pediatric GI specialist we were told October a little over a month ago.
We ended up going to Cincinnati Children’s. They told us July initially but had a cancellation and got in last week.

We really would like to spend more time with our patients but we're busy typing into our mandated electronic medical records, whether or not there are any guns in your home and filling out all the new Medicare forms, hoping to prevent being paid ten cents on the dollar, instead of fifteen cents. Oh and we all work for the hospitals now, not for you, so they and the insurance company now call the shots, not us, so direct your ire at them. Sorry, this is not what we signed on for.

quote:

Originally posted by NK402:
We really would like to spend more time with our patients but we're busy typing into our mandated electronic medical records, whether or not there are any guns in your home and filling out all the new Medicare forms, hoping to prevent being paid ten cents on the dollar, instead of fifteen cents. Oh and we all work for the hospitals now, not for you, so they and the insurance company now call the shots, not us, so direct your ire at them. Sorry, this is not what we signed on for.

That matches what my primary doctor told me last year. He told me he now gets only 8 minutes per patient and that includes dictation. He dictates all notes with the patient in the room. Hospital and insurance rules.

It's gotten quite hard to find a doctor willing to tell you what's best for you instead of what the insurance and hospital wants to you hear.