So Disappointed

@phxbarb I understand. It hard to get an appointment because they are busy.

If you are in the Phoenix area, I know of an ear specialist I would recommend.
Dr John Macias, if you want his number, let me know.

Need more doctors

@SusanEllen66 Yes, thank you. Is he with Valley ENT? I am seeing one of them on Monday in the Glendale office. Thx for your help. I will keep his number too.

@lees515 You are correct, the US has a significant shortage of physicians and the forecast is it will get worse ....and something like 26% are foreign born... recent cuts to research and difficulty in obtaining visas is also interrupting the flow into the US . Medical school cost is enormous; we don't have an environment to improve the numbers. We have shortages of other medical personnel too.

It's frustrating when we need to wait for an appointment - so goes the care for us in the USA as well as in places where there is universal care. I attribute it to the supply of medical personnel and the demand from all of us needing medical intervention and follow-ups. May I suggest making an appointment ASAP even though it's so far in the future? Also, ask if you can be on a waiting list in case of a cancellation. Sometimes, though, periodic calls asking if there had been a cancellation will sometimes result in a (lucky) sooner appointment. It's easier for the scheduler talking to you on the phone than to have to search for the list. Good luck!

@phxbarb when I visit my daughter in phoenix in have gone to honor health. Great pcp and many locations accepting new patients. I have tried even with a referral from mayo roch and mayo AZ is not accepting new patients.

@phxbarb I am checking in to see you are doing.

How are you feeling? What did you learn at your Monday ENT appointment in Glendale?

@jlharsh I was pleased with the doctor and the services and they did an ear thing showing the movement of the ear drum (I can't remember what he called it.) He came back in and said no fluid, no infection and I just need hearing aids. "JUST" ?? I still have some pain in that ear and it still feels clogged. I am going to wait a while before looking into that because I want the ear to heal completely with no pain and maybe dry up a bit. Thanks for asking.

@phxbarb It takes a while to get an audiologist appointment, get the tests completed, make a decision about what type to get, order it, get filled and to program the aids. Hearing aids are funny things. People put off, put off and put off getting them. When they do wear them (everyone around you says "FINALLY!"), people ask themselves, "Why did I wait so long!" Good luck with your next steps. (Hearing aids have made so many strides in ease of use, quality and neat electronics in the last 50+ years.)

@walkinggirl I know but I am waiting for my ear to get a little better. I still feel it's somewhat plugged, although the ENT saw nothing. I have read that sometimes ENT can't see the fluid in the ear completely, and i want to be sure I am ready to go forward. In the meantime, I can hear ok even with TV. Much better than it was a couple months ago.