More complications and saline/neb

First take a deep breath. I am assuming that you are like so many of us who get the results of tests way before we ever hear from the doctor or his assistant. I recently had a CT scan and the report showed atelectasis. If you have not gotten confirmation yet from your doctor it could be a case like mine where he told me on my follow up visit that when the voice on the CT scan tells you to take a deep breath and hold it, it may just be that you did not get a deep enough breath and is being missed interpreted. It didn't really concern him. After all, no one is standing over you in the room during the test to actually confirm that you took a deep breath. Hopefully you will see your doctor soon who can go over the results of the test with you. As far as your problems with communication, try to remember if our doctors took every call as they come in they would have little time for anything else. I have had great success using MyChart to communicate with my doctor. If you are finding that no one is returning any of your questions I would first suggest talking to the Office Manager. You may have to be a little persistent in calling but eventually you should be able to talk to her or him. The Office Manager may not be aware of the problem if no one speaks up. If all else fails maybe it is time for a different doctor. Good Luck!

Doberdoo what northwestern Hospital is Your doctor with? I see dr Zinn who is part of the northwestern Medicine bronchiectasis program. I would see her in lake forest or Glenview. I cannot drive to downtown so I see her- the system works unfortunately this way but her nurse emails me back the same day or I know she screens the emails and probably there is a code how she does it because the doctor if there is a need emails me back. Never calls though. If I am desperate I usually find an opening to see her in a day or two. I also, I know crazy, but I schedule one or two appointments ahead of time just in case and cancel if not needed. Oh and when I had any test I email that I have done it with the date.

Thank you for your response Lilliana. I live in Indiana so it is usually over an hour and a half to get to the downtown campus. I started out in their Lung Nodule Clinic. Dr. Sean Smith did a bronchoscope which cultured MAC. Bronchiectasis has not been confirmed. I do like Dr, Smith but he is an Interventional Pulmonologist and therefore cannot treat. He told me to schedule with a regular pulmonologist and ID specialist, who also have to consult with my cardiologist due to a severe heart condition which prohibits me from taking the Big3. I kid you not, it took over 3 WEEKS to get the Pulmonary Clinic to call me back JUST to schedule an appointment with ANY pulmonologist. I had to go to the hospital's Patient Advocate to intervene. I am working with three very incompetent doctors and don't know what to do next. And no, their nurses are just as bad. They do not respond. One that did screwed up big time. She showed a CT scan from months ago to the doctor for goodness sakes. Do I ask for new doctors there? I am being left to my own devices with no contact or credible help from them. The nurse forwarding a very old CT is an example. I am trying to keep myself alive as long as I can but their Nodule Clinic is deplorable. I guess I will have to get Patient Advocacy Involved again.

Agree with your statements and do very much the same when wanting to see the doctor. Spot on. As we know, all require our being able to handle it all ourselves, mentally, physically, time wise etc. and thank goodness for you and I for now we can do it all for ourselves.
I often wonder how it will be when I can't do it for myself as a single person or for others who have no children or children close by, no family left on this earth and all friends are incapable to help because of their own age and health problems. Lucky are the ones who find and can hire help that take a sincere interest in helping. Preparation is the key and hope we all have the keys to do it when needed. May we all be able to, and find our way to, working our way through each and every challenge that life brings to us.
Barbara

I am terribly sorry you are going through this as am I. This morning, as I brace to write a very long letter to the ombudsman at Kaiser Permanente in San Rafael, CA, I was reminded that I need to stay calm in the midst of the ordeal ahead with intentional stress release, meditation, deep breathing, bodily relaxation techniques and also prayer in my case. It is so demoralizing when doctors don’t do their job, but we need to stay strong to maintain clarity of mind and emotional health as we navigate ignorance that directly impacts our disease progression. Know that you are not alone, and that advocating for oneself requires a foundation of equanimity. And bravery that comes from accessing that reservoir of well-being within us and the support of kind and generous people like our community here.