Can't get an appointment: Any tips on what to do?

Posted by radiocity @radiocity, Jul 2, 2021

Over a year trying to get an appointment, Scottsdale/Phoenix. I have two issues that may or may not be related. 5 'regular' doctors and 2 years later reveals what are likely lumbar spinal issues, but none of them can account for an issue in my left abdominal area. Last Doc I saw sent referral to Mayo, April 2020. Mayo says 2-3 years to establish primary care. I asked for an appt (internal medicine, interns, anyone at this point) for a comprehensive physical, to basically start over, but I keep getting rejected. I don't understand.

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@christiane5

LOL, thanks for the only laugh I've had in weeks. I actually lived in Mazatlan, Mexico for 8 years. I bought a vacation home on the beach and ended up moving there from northern California and living there full-time. While there, I had 4 surgeries and had EXCELLENT care. Of course, Mazatlan is a city of over half a million people and an expat community of over 25,000. So hospitals like Sharp Hospital - which was affiliated with Sharp Hospital in San Diego - cater to the gringos. I'd go back to my MD in Mazatlan in a heartbeat if it wasn't for Covid. . He NEVER gave up on me when I had a life-threatening MRSA infection ( I did not get it in the hospital), All of my doctors there were trained both in Mexico and then trained in their specialties in the US. My surgeons were all FACS,
I had to leave the hospital the week before Xmas when I had pneumonia to fly back to CA when my mom was dying. I was so sick on Xmas Eve that I called my MD in Mexico who told me to get the first flight back and go straight to the hospital. I flew in early Xmas morning and was admitted to the hospital immediately. He left his family celebration to take care of me, then later brought 2 of his teenage children back with him to bring me flowers and candy. You won't find a doctor like that in the US. I moved back to the states almost 5 years ago and I still text him when I have questions. Did I mention that doctors there work 8am to 9pm, 6 days a week and give you their cellphone numbers to reach them whenever you need to?
Shoot, now I want to go back to Mazatlan.

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Is it possible for us to talk about how you found help for MERSA? I was diagnosed in a pre=op llabs last July, Docs here gave me Backtrim - sulfa - I had terrible reaction and rash. Doc said that was only thing he had to offer. Any help and infor appreciated I am scared and desperate>>

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@alagal Thank God my doctors were fantastic. I am allergic to most antibiotics, and as a last resort, I was given daptomycin. Thankfully it worked because nothing they had given me up to that point did. I was reluctant to have them give it to me because of my allergy history, but my doctor told me if I didn't let them try it, I would be dead within a week.
You can go to the NCBI website to read about it. I can't post a link here.

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@christiane5

@alagal Thank God my doctors were fantastic. I am allergic to most antibiotics, and as a last resort, I was given daptomycin. Thankfully it worked because nothing they had given me up to that point did. I was reluctant to have them give it to me because of my allergy history, but my doctor told me if I didn't let them try it, I would be dead within a week.
You can go to the NCBI website to read about it. I can't post a link here.

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Christiane, I noticed that you wished to post a URL to a resource with your post. You will be able to add URLs to your posts in a few days. There is a brief period where new members can't post links. We do this to deter spammers and keep the community safe. Clearly the link you wanted to post is not spam. Please allow me to post it for you.

- Daptomycin (NCBI 2021) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470407/

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Husband is dealing with
pretty recent oncoming of memory loss, fatigue and depression. Have done all tests and treatments possible that our physician recommended. He suggested the Mayo clinic neurology dept but not only can we not get an appt but there's no wait list or hope for the future. I never thought I would see the day when you can't get an appointment, even if a ways out. I would even be okay with a telephone appt which would at least be a start. Not sure what to do next. He has worked hard all his life and deserves some answers and treatment.

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@mcg6

Husband is dealing with
pretty recent oncoming of memory loss, fatigue and depression. Have done all tests and treatments possible that our physician recommended. He suggested the Mayo clinic neurology dept but not only can we not get an appt but there's no wait list or hope for the future. I never thought I would see the day when you can't get an appointment, even if a ways out. I would even be okay with a telephone appt which would at least be a start. Not sure what to do next. He has worked hard all his life and deserves some answers and treatment.

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Hi @mcg6, have you considered trying to book an appointment with neurology at a different Mayo Clinic location? You may also be interested in looking into the HABIT program for people with mild cognitive impairment. See more information about HABIT here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/living-with-mild-cognitive-impairment-mci/tab/resource-5394/

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@mcg6

Husband is dealing with
pretty recent oncoming of memory loss, fatigue and depression. Have done all tests and treatments possible that our physician recommended. He suggested the Mayo clinic neurology dept but not only can we not get an appt but there's no wait list or hope for the future. I never thought I would see the day when you can't get an appointment, even if a ways out. I would even be okay with a telephone appt which would at least be a start. Not sure what to do next. He has worked hard all his life and deserves some answers and treatment.

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@mcg6 , I live in Fla and I had records and referral from a GI here sent to Mayo Clinic Jacksonville.. took a few calls but finally after 4 months on waitlist I got a televisit for 2 months later .
I had televisit in early Sept with Gastro Dr there . Im going for my 3 tests Sun Tues this week .
Don’t give up . Keep calling and ask for the specific dept you need him to see .
Have your Dr. send medical records and referral ahead of time . Best wishes. Rosemary

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Extremely disappointed in my conversation to get a cardiac appt, NONE available. And they don't offer a wait list. I have blue cross, excellent credit score. I would like to know what the criteria is to get an appointment there?

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@wa34937

Extremely disappointed in my conversation to get a cardiac appt, NONE available. And they don't offer a wait list. I have blue cross, excellent credit score. I would like to know what the criteria is to get an appointment there?

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I had my General Practitioner, Pulmonologist, Rheumatologist send referrals. That was in June. We call weekly. They say they haven’t received anything every time. I can’t breathe on left side, hoarse voice, MRIs came back normal, blood test show double dna with Ana titers..which usually means lupus but they are saying it is not lupus. I have herpes, hpv1 since I was young so that could be the double dna. Can’t take a deep breath..diaphragm test came back as functions great. Neurologist says the NCS and EmG normal..great he said. I have super sore joints in my hands on waking. Random pins and needles in feet and legs throughout day. The left side is so uncomfortable all the time and I have no energy. Since Mayo hasn’t responded my Pulmonologist has ordered a bronchoscopy and that is a very invasive procedure. Scared. They don’t know what else to do for me. I’m 51 and am healthy, was. I get a cold every five years…maybe. Sorry this was so long. I am putting you on prayer list that you get seen. Hang I there and keep calling no matter what.

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@wa34937

Extremely disappointed in my conversation to get a cardiac appt, NONE available. And they don't offer a wait list. I have blue cross, excellent credit score. I would like to know what the criteria is to get an appointment there?

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@wa34937 @cindajune Mayo Clinic has a care network where other hospitals work in conjunction with Mayo specialists to care for patients nationwide in the US. Here is a map with locations of hosipitals in the Mayo Clinic Care Network. Perhaps you can find a cardiologist at one of these locations who would have the benefit of consulting directly with Mayo specialists. There are also a lot of Mayo trained specialists at hospitals across the nation.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic/care-network/network-members
With cardiology, it really is best to have a cardiologist near where you live because if you have a cardiac event, you would want your cardiologist who knows your history to be able to see you. If you do live local to one of the Mayo campuses, you could try again.

My dad was a cardiac patient and I was with him through a lot of it and I was working with my dad's doctors as his caregiver and advocate. I even sent my dad to the emergency room several times when my parents didn't recognize the cardiac event that had occurred. One of those was an electrical problem in the heart where my dad collapsed on the floor, but then recovered and was OK again. His pacemaker defibrillator had fired and saved his life after an arthymia. Those devices are closely monitored by a receiver that sends information to the doctor around the clock. This illustrates why a local specialist is needed for the cardiac monitoring.

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@cindajune

I had my General Practitioner, Pulmonologist, Rheumatologist send referrals. That was in June. We call weekly. They say they haven’t received anything every time. I can’t breathe on left side, hoarse voice, MRIs came back normal, blood test show double dna with Ana titers..which usually means lupus but they are saying it is not lupus. I have herpes, hpv1 since I was young so that could be the double dna. Can’t take a deep breath..diaphragm test came back as functions great. Neurologist says the NCS and EmG normal..great he said. I have super sore joints in my hands on waking. Random pins and needles in feet and legs throughout day. The left side is so uncomfortable all the time and I have no energy. Since Mayo hasn’t responded my Pulmonologist has ordered a bronchoscopy and that is a very invasive procedure. Scared. They don’t know what else to do for me. I’m 51 and am healthy, was. I get a cold every five years…maybe. Sorry this was so long. I am putting you on prayer list that you get seen. Hang I there and keep calling no matter what.

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So sad to know you're struggling, I'm sending my hopes and blessings.

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