I've been waiting so long to go to the doctor

GreenTeaDisease
GreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
edited March 2008 in All Encompassing Trip
I have a doctor's physical on the 26th. I made the appointment months and months ago. I have some things I am really concerned about my health, and it's driving me nuts waiting to talk to someone about them. I don't know what to do, I'm about to burst. Patience is not my strong suit...it's very frustrating having things that are on your mind that are concerning you and you just have to wait and wait until what will most likely be a 20 minute appointment and they probably won't even listen to you.
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Comments

  • josevolution
    josevolution Posts: 32,350
    i hope it all goes well for you i'm sure everything will be ok will send some positive vibes to you as well .......:)
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • cat72
    cat72 Oxford, MA Posts: 2,993
    If they don't listen to you, you need a new doctor.
  • GreenTeaDisease
    GreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    cat72 wrote:
    If they don't listen to you, you need a new doctor.

    I hope that is the case. I read that physicals are scheduled in 15 minute intervals for almost all primary care physicians. 15 minutes is not going to be long enough to get a full exam and talk to her about the stuff that is bothering me! (she's a new doctor).

    I think I'll have to go to a specialist too- I'm not sure she's going to be able to answer the questions I have. that'll be another 6 months of waiting...
  • redrock
    redrock Posts: 18,341
    GreenTeaDisease wrote:
    I hope that is the case. I read that physicals are scheduled in 15 minute intervals for almost all primary care physicians. 15 minutes is not going to be long enough to get a full exam and talk to her about the stuff that is bothering me! (she's a new doctor).

    I think I'll have to go to a specialist too- I'm not sure she's going to be able to answer the questions I have. that'll be another 6 months of waiting...

    GTD.. once you are in the doctor's office, you're in. Stay in as long as you need.
  • norm
    norm Posts: 31,146
    redrock wrote:
    GTD.. once you are in the doctor's office, you're in. Stay in as long as you need.

    yea...don't leave until your questions are answered....if it helps, write down all of your questions and concerns so you don't forget anything.....
  • GreenTeaDisease
    GreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    redrock wrote:
    GTD.. once you are in the doctor's office, you're in. Stay in as long as you need.

    I hope I can be persistent enough! (I tend to bow to smart, busy people like doctors)

    it just sucks cuz I feel like my life is on hold while I've been waiting for a freaking doctor. First I had to find one that was taking new patients, which took forever, then I had to wait for the appointment...
  • Lostdogsinthegarden
    Lostdogsinthegarden Posts: 844
    Full physicals get more than 15 minutes. Good luck.
  • blackredyellow
    blackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    cutback wrote:
    yea...don't leave until your questions are answered....if it helps, write down all of your questions and concerns so you don't forget anything.....


    Yeah we did that with my son's first couple of appointments... new baby/new parents, we were scribbling down questions for a couple of weeks before his appointment. Our doctor asked if we had any questions, and my wife pulled out this longs sheet of paper lol... The doctor laughed but said it was a good thing to do, and we got all of our questions answered.
    My whole life
    was like a picture
    of a sunny day
    “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln
  • PJPixie
    PJPixie Posts: 3,026
    I'm baffled as to why it would take soooooooooooooo long to get an appointment. I realize it's for a phyisical and those book out in advance but if you have things that need to be addressed WITHOUT a complete physical, I'd be pretty pro-active about getting in to see someone sooner. Your health is not something to put on HOLD, to fit into THEIR schedule. Most offices have appointments for these things.........good luck to you. The waiting would literally drive me mad.
    The best use of Life is Love.
    The best expression of Love is Time.
    The best time to Love is Now.


    I'm never as good as when you're there.........
  • edvedder913
    edvedder913 Posts: 1,810
    GreenTeaDisease wrote:
    I have a doctor's physical on the 26th. I made the appointment months and months ago. I have some things I am really concerned about my health, and it's driving me nuts waiting to talk to someone about them. I don't know what to do, I'm about to burst. Patience is not my strong suit...it's very frustrating having things that are on your mind that are concerning you and you just have to wait and wait until what will most likely be a 20 minute appointment and they probably won't even listen to you.


    do you need a referral to go to a speacialist? if not, just make the appt. ASAP so you don't have to wait again. General Practicioner's are good for physicals and curing the common cold. Any other "issue" they will pretty much send you to a specialist - which is honestly where you should go if you have conerns. I certainly would not rely on my regular physician to solve a health issue. I had migraines - went to neurologist. go straight to the source.
  • edvedder913
    edvedder913 Posts: 1,810
    GreenTeaDisease wrote:
    I have a doctor's physical on the 26th. I made the appointment months and months ago. I have some things I am really concerned about my health

    you do not have to wait for a physical to address major health concerns.
  • DaytimeDilemma
    DaytimeDilemma Posts: 2,008
    Cotton swabs are NOT cotton candy.
  • GreenTeaDisease
    GreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    blackredyellow wrote:
    Yeah we did that with my son's first couple of appointments... new baby/new parents, we were scribbling down questions for a couple of weeks before his appointment. Our doctor asked if we had any questions, and my wife pulled out this longs sheet of paper lol... The doctor laughed but said it was a good thing to do, and we got all of our questions answered.

    I usually make lists when I go to the doctor, and then chicken out and don't mention half the stuff :). I just have a lot of vague-ish problems, and I feel like it's a toss up whether they're taken seriously.
  • ReleasH
    ReleasH Posts: 743
    GreenTeaDisease wrote:
    I hope I can be persistent enough! (I tend to bow to smart, busy people like doctors)

    it just sucks cuz I feel like my life is on hold while I've been waiting for a freaking doctor. First I had to find one that was taking new patients, which took forever, then I had to wait for the appointment...

    New patient appointments with a complete physical exam are generally scheduled for 45 minutes to an hour. If you have things you specifically want to address, then I agree with writing them down OR call the doctor's office and ask them to put a note in your chart about issues you want to cover. This will help your doctor out prior to the appointment in terms of planning and questions to ask you. Good luck.
  • norm
    norm Posts: 31,146
    GreenTeaDisease wrote:
    I usually make lists when I go to the doctor, and then chicken out and don't mention half the stuff :). I just have a lot of vague-ish problems, and I feel like it's a toss up whether they're taken seriously.

    do not be intimidated.....you're the boss in this situation....unless you're seeing dr. nick a good doctor will listen to everything say....
  • GreenTeaDisease
    GreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    PJPixie wrote:
    I'm baffled as to why it would take soooooooooooooo long to get an appointment. I realize it's for a phyisical and those book out in advance but if you have things that need to be addressed WITHOUT a complete physical, I'd be pretty pro-active about getting in to see someone sooner. Your health is not something to put on HOLD, to fit into THEIR schedule. Most offices have appointments for these things.........good luck to you. The waiting would literally drive me mad.

    edvedder913 wrote:
    do you need a referral to go to a speacialist? if not, just make the appt. ASAP so you don't have to wait again. General Practicioner's are good for physicals and curing the common cold. Any other "issue" they will pretty much send you to a specialist - which is honestly where you should go if you have conerns. I certainly would not rely on my regular physician to solve a health issue. I had migraines - went to neurologist. go straight to the source.

    I guess I really just don't understand how it all works. #1, I needed a pap test, but I figured to get one from a primary care dr, I'd have to schedule a physical (I'm already like 6 months past due on it- I had an abnormal last year, so this is concerning in and of itself). the other stuff isn't very specific, and yes, will probably require a specialist. but I'm not sure what types of specialists I'll need or how to find them. I originally tried to find a gyn but gave up because I was just looking at the insurance site and I couldn't tell who was good or not, and the few I called weren't taking new patients, so I just decided to go to a primary instead.
  • ReleasH
    ReleasH Posts: 743
    It sounds like you have two issues: gyn and general medical. For the most part, general practioners/internists don't do screening Pap smears, but it can't hurt to ask at your appt. She may be able to include that in your general physical exam. Probably the most important thing you can do is ask your new doc for a recommendation of a couple good gynecologists to go to. Then you can just search to see if any of them accept your insurance.
  • The Champ
    The Champ Posts: 4,063
    GreenTeaDisease wrote:
    I hope I can be persistent enough! (I tend to bow to smart, busy people like doctors)

    There is so much wrong with the elitist tone of this statement, but I'll refrain and simply wish you and the doc best of luck ;)..
    'I want to hurry home to you
    put on a slow, dumb show for you
    and crack you up
    so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
    god I'm very, very frightening
    and I'll overdo it'
  • GreenTeaDisease
    GreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    ReleasH wrote:
    It sounds like you have two issues: gyn and general medical. For the most part, general practioners/internists don't do screening Pap smears, but it can't hurt to ask at your appt. She may be able to include that in your general physical exam. Probably the most important thing you can do is ask your new doc for a recommendation of a couple good gynecologists to go to. Then you can just search to see if any of them accept your insurance.

    I've gotten them from the general internist before. they always ask if I need one. when I made the appointment I specified I needed one.

    well yeah, that's what a figured regarding getting a recommendation for a gyn- it was too hard to just randomly find one, otherwise I would have for the pap. it's just very unfortunate this has all taken so long because I was supposed to have one in oct!

    the other problems are all just stuff I need to figure out regarding medications and possible hormonal problems...it's all very complicated so I figured a general internist would be the best place to start.
  • GreenTeaDisease
    GreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    well I called to see if I could get in sooner. the woman kept asking me what it was for, so I just said I am having problems with my medication. I didn't know whatelse to say! So I have an appointment...maybe it will expedite things. I'm just hoping that it doesn't get me on the dr's black list!

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