This is INSANITY!!!
So... a little background before I begin ranting about our health-care system.
As most of you know, when I returned from my honeymoon I was hospitalised with Congestive Heart Failure. After being released, I was followed up by the pulmunologist I saw in the hospital, I will call him Dr. S.
Cut to present, for the last few days I have had escalating symptoms of the CHF. My legs and feet swelled, I began having trouble breathing,I started tiring more easily then normal, and started randomly falling asleep when I was just resting.
So, today I called my doctor to see what he thought should be done to help.
So, as about 9am I called Dr. S and was told to leave a message and the doctor would get back to me. At 1pm. I tried again. This time I got his service... though it is likely that I got them at 9am too, they just didn't identify themselves as such. Anyway, service told me that Dr. S was on vacation this week. they took my info and told me that the covering Doctor, Dr. A would get back to me.
So, I just got off the phone with Dr. A's office... they informed me that Dr. A was not in the office today, and in fact was unavailable. they told me I should speak to Dr. S's office.
Seething slightly, I called Dr. S's office and got his receptionist. I told her the story and she told me that Dr. A was covering for Dr. S who would not be back in the office until next week.
I informed her that Dr. A was not in the office today. She then told me that she didn't know what to do then as Dr. A was the only listed cover for Dr. S. She said that another Dr would be in the office on Wednesday. Like that helps me today.
When I asked her what I should do today she told me she had no idea, but that if the symptoms were really bad I should go to the ER. Despite the fact that the medical profession frown on using the ER as primary care, this is apparently my only option.
And in a supreme example of "not getting it" the receptionist asked me if I wanted her to give me the number of the covering Doctor. In a vague hope that this was yet another Doctor who might be able to help me, I said yes, She gave me Dr. A's phone number and then hung up before I could complicate her day any further.
*AAARRGGHHH*
So, now I sit here and wait, deciding whether or not this is bad enough to trade my evening at home with my family for a night in the ER. Some choice.
I hate our medical system.
As most of you know, when I returned from my honeymoon I was hospitalised with Congestive Heart Failure. After being released, I was followed up by the pulmunologist I saw in the hospital, I will call him Dr. S.
Cut to present, for the last few days I have had escalating symptoms of the CHF. My legs and feet swelled, I began having trouble breathing,I started tiring more easily then normal, and started randomly falling asleep when I was just resting.
So, today I called my doctor to see what he thought should be done to help.
So, as about 9am I called Dr. S and was told to leave a message and the doctor would get back to me. At 1pm. I tried again. This time I got his service... though it is likely that I got them at 9am too, they just didn't identify themselves as such. Anyway, service told me that Dr. S was on vacation this week. they took my info and told me that the covering Doctor, Dr. A would get back to me.
So, I just got off the phone with Dr. A's office... they informed me that Dr. A was not in the office today, and in fact was unavailable. they told me I should speak to Dr. S's office.
Seething slightly, I called Dr. S's office and got his receptionist. I told her the story and she told me that Dr. A was covering for Dr. S who would not be back in the office until next week.
I informed her that Dr. A was not in the office today. She then told me that she didn't know what to do then as Dr. A was the only listed cover for Dr. S. She said that another Dr would be in the office on Wednesday. Like that helps me today.
When I asked her what I should do today she told me she had no idea, but that if the symptoms were really bad I should go to the ER. Despite the fact that the medical profession frown on using the ER as primary care, this is apparently my only option.
And in a supreme example of "not getting it" the receptionist asked me if I wanted her to give me the number of the covering Doctor. In a vague hope that this was yet another Doctor who might be able to help me, I said yes, She gave me Dr. A's phone number and then hung up before I could complicate her day any further.
*AAARRGGHHH*
So, now I sit here and wait, deciding whether or not this is bad enough to trade my evening at home with my family for a night in the ER. Some choice.
I hate our medical system.