really mad at my radiologist - am i over reacting?

[Guest guest]

Hi all, I'm pretty new here. I see that some of you use this group

to vent... so I won't be shy...I really need to VENT! Sorry this

will be long.

I've been preparing for my 1st follow up scan since my RAI

ablation/scan in 6/2002. My endo took me off Levoxil on 1/8 and put

me on Cytomel for two weeks. Now I'm med free and waiting for my

scan. Anyway, I called my radiologist to talk with him about the

upcoming scan and agree on the date. He suggested that (based on

timing with being off my meds and getting bloodwork done) I should

schedule my scan for Feb. 11th.

While on the phone with him, I asked some questions about what to

expect after the scan. He told me that he would compare my scan to

the original that I took after my ablation, and that he would look at

other indicators in my bloodwork. Given all these factors, if it

appeared that the cancer still exists, he would want to have me do a

2nd treatment. He said he would want to do it ASAP so that I

wouldn't have to stay off my Levoxil for too much longer - basically,

to make it most comfortable for me. OK, fine. This is all

hypothetical anyway, but I was glad to hear that he would be managing

my case.

When I called back to speak to the receptionist to schedule my scan,

I was told that I need to come in on Feb 11th to get the dose (pill)

and then return on Feb 13th to have the scan done. This sort of

bothered me because my radiologist never told me that I would

actually be doing the scan on the 13th not the 11th... he just

brushed over that. Anyway, really trivial point. Just annoyed that

he didn't tell me this. I wondered if he would even be there that

day? I told myself not to worry.

But then, I found out today (because I had called the receptionist)

that my radiologist is actually going to be on VACATION until the

18th and that another radiologist from the practice will be reading

my scan!!!! I don't even know this other person! I suppose this

OTHER guy will be deciding whether or not I will need another RAI

treatment!? I mean, if my doc isn't going to be back from vacation

until the 18th, how could he be involved? WHY DIDN'T HE TELL ME

THIS? It's only a decision about my health, right?

I think he should have told me about this... he made it sound like he

would be involved. I mean, what am I supposed to do if my scan turns

out to be positive? Stay off my meds and keep eating LID until he

returns so that I can get an opinion from the doc that actually knows

me and my case?

I'm really bothered that a patient can't depend on her doctor to

follow through and be involved in her case, or at least be honest

about who will really be involved. I feel like I should go somewhere

else to get all of this done. There are plenty of other good

facilities in the area... But I don't want to disrupt the process.

Jen (really sorry for the length)

***

Diagnosed follicular 4/2002. LL removed 4/9/2002, RL removed

4/13/2002

RAI ablation 6/2/2002

1st Follow up RAI scan scheduled for 2/13/2003