Re:[RE]spinal surgeon says I don't know wha

[Guest guest]

Almost forgot to comment on the getting in to see the surgeon situation. They

may put you off as much as two months! Go ahead and take that appointment so

you can fall back on it. Then be sure to repeatedly request to be on the " move

up " list if there is a cancellation. Call them frequently . . . in other words,

make a pest out of yourself, so that every person that picks up the phone in

their office recognizes your voice instantly. <VBG> Always have a lead-in line

like " I'm so-and-so and still dealing with a lot of pain. How is your day and

can we move my appointment to something sooner? Can you work me in, pretty

please? " Sugar coat it, be super nice and just explain that you are suffering

more than you can bear and can't imagine waiting that long (not hard to do if

you're really hurting!).

Also make a list of your questions so you can be sure to get some answers. If

they try to get you out too soon, tell them you have not been satisfied with

getting enough info, so you'd like to come back in - next week, while they still

have your specific situation " fresh " in their minds and you both don't have to

start over again. They will see that you mean business and (hopefully) take a

few minutes while you are already there so they don't have to take more time to

rehash things again on the next visit.

Make your notes short and to the point, put the most important first on the

list, highlight it, put a star on what you want to point out first (especially

symptoms that are related to the most significant pain cause).

KEEP IT ON ONE PAGE. Simplify it for your doc/nurse. Group symptoms together

if you can so it's shorter. Then have the details on the back for future

reference and tell them you want this document in their files - let them have it

(copy it for yourself before the visit). I can't tell you how many times I've

had the nurse call me back in a few days, because they have been working in my

file an she " ran over that page " or the doctor just happened to catch something.

Make sure that page is in there on your next visit. Hold them accountable!!!

Take good notes too. Take a tape recorder if you have to.

BTW, if I'd have a tape recorder to help me take notes, my hip bursitis problem

would have been documented for my Disability claim. She told me a lot that

really helped, but didn't note in the files. They are not stupid, even though

she didn't know I'd filed for Disability. They learn what to say, how to say

it, and what needs to go in the files.

And get your files for yourself! Make copies, take notes, etc. You have this

right, as a patient, to look at your files anytime the doors are open. You may

be surprised at what your doctor and nurse are writing about you but not telling

you to your face!

My PCP is also a psychologist and he knows how to word things so he can " use "

them later if needed. I've had some diagnoses that I would have argued with but

they later led to progress so I learned to rely on his notes and

interpretations.

Debbie Dahl

Oklahoma