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Not being able to see an actual gastro doc at Mayo
I wrote before but I had an appointment with one of my other docs at mayo yesterday. Extremely concerned about my condition and asking why I am not yet on a feeding tube for nutrition. Told me to call and ask to get an appointment with an actual doc there and not just the NP. I been told this twice. They say there is nothing they can do, it is up to the gastro dept. My hepatologist even wrote them herself. had zero luck. So again, at their suggestion, I called and explained and again was told it is not possible to get an appointment with one of the doctors and I have to keep seeing the NP, who seems a bit over her head and is not listening to my other actual docs there. In the meantime I am eating less than 300 cals a day for months. Looks like I have to leave Mayo and find someone else. I was in hopes they all worked together as a team and one doc would get with the others and collaborate on how to treat my condition. This has not been the case. Not one of the docs I see even knows what the other is saying or doing. Is this normal? I am so disappointed.
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My husband was fortunate enough to finally get appt with GI at Rochester Mayo clinic, after being denied earlier this year. They received all his records prior to us going there. It is disappointing to see the Drs and then review all the records, and that is the appointment. They need to see you again but in over a week. More appointments had to be made with other disciplines. We live 400 miles away and have to get lodging, meals, transportation and it really gets expensive. At this point with nearly $1,000 spent, we don't know more than before we went. We understand that there are so many people being seen, but it's disheartening. We are trying to think positively. Just think that people should be aware of this before they arrive. I think we should check into short term apartments. Hotel rooms are expensive there, but one good thing is that there are shuttles that take you back and forth to the hotels. Good luck everyone.
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1 ReactionMy husband Ken has had all the GI studies including CTs MRIs all the scopes. He has been to Omaha for special enteroscopy Ken couldn't get closer to home. (The enteroscopy was done less than a month ago.) Believe it or not, all have to be repeated and needs to do exact same bowel preps 4 days apart, (don't know why they couldn't get both procedures done the same day,) no explanation when we called to ask them. He needs answers to all the issues he is living with, but this is a lot for him to deal with. I pray a lot.
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1 ReactionPrayers…..For Comfort…And For Solutions….🙏❤️
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1 ReactionI am going through a similar situation if you ever wanted to talk.
Yes, I have had a gastric emptying test. Everything was fine. So frustrating!!
I have been trying. Supposedly I am seeing “the best”. My husband says I am a 1 percenter and the doctors just don’t know what to do!
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2 ReactionsHave you had any previous abdominal surgeries that could have created adhesions in your abdominal area or are you lactose intolerant or have SIBO? Have you had an MRI? Are all your blood tests normal….. I had one of my blood tests low normal for over a year & didn’t think too much about it, but it was a signal…. Until I had a little old urine test from a walk-in clinic for a job change was another signal…. My PC did a 24 hr urine & found lots of protein in my urine & that’s what my blood work had showed that I was low normal in my protein…. I then went to an internist who thought I had lupus, but no….. I then went to a nephrologist & had a biopsy done on my kidneys & bingo….. amyloidosis diagnosis….. all because a former primary doc told told me my symptoms were because I was old & on my feet a lot…. Or probably stress related….. that’s why I quit my job (as an RN) & went somewhere with no benefits doing the same thing, but I had to get a physical for the new job & It saved my life!!!!! Keep digging & reading whatever you can & you will get your diagnosis! I had the diagnosis before I went to Mayo… The nephrologist sent the biopsy to Mayo for testing!! Don’t Give Up!!!! Prayers For Answers…🙏❤️
I had surgery at Mayo and was set up with a NP for follow-up. But I also have a Specialist and he is really the governing doctor for future treatment. Note that Mayo is not the only place that forwards the patient to a Nurse Practitioner. I had angiogram done at local hospital and after was set up with NP for follow-up including medications. They had found a severe blockage, but I could not do stent at the time because of pending surgery. I asked some technical questions and informed them that I had lung cancer so the NP then set me up to talk with the Cardiologist since it was now tricky when I could do stent. He did take more of an interest in me because of my situation and he had trained at Mayo. It depends on the surgeon, but many do not see patients and just do the procedure. Then there are the regular specialists who still pass you to their PA or NP. These can be good people, but they do not have the clinical training that an MD does - and they cost less than an MD for the organization. It looks like the American medical system is employing increasing number of lesser qualified healthcare individual ....is it profit driven (they can push more patients through) or is there just a lack of doctors? We should be making sure that medical school is AFFORDABLE for talented individuals!
Also not to forget Urgent Care which are often staffed with PAs and not doctors