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Frustrated With Doctors!
My 81-year-old father had a radical cystectomy/prostatectomy back in April of this year. As some readers already know, he had a major complication that put him back in the hospital for an 18-day stay just one day after he was released. It took him awhile, but he seems to be adjusting and feeling stronger.
His current problem is pain in his left leg and he’s had MRIs, a bone scan, CT scans, blood work, X-rays, you name it. He’s been to a nerve doctor who found no pinched nerves or nerve involvement that would cause his leg pain. Every doctor he sees seems to think the pain is symptomatic of an arthritic hip.
His primary care physician sent him to a spine doctor who found two spots on his spine in an MRI and ordered a biopsy, which was performed 9/13/07. The radiologist who did the biopsy told Dad the results would be sent to the spine doctor no later than the following Monday, 9/17/07. By the way, this same radiologist hit a nerve when doing the biopsy which really caused MAJOR pain for my Dad. Also, when pressed by my Mom to give his opinion about the specimen, the radiologist said he thought it looked malignant!! I can’t believe he would offer an opinion and not wait for the pathology report. Talk about a kick in the gut! We all did our best to not react to his guess. But, I’m sure his statement has made this waiting period even harder for my Dad.
Throughout the paperwork process for the biopsy, Dad always requested that the biopsy results also be sent to his primary care physician. For some reason, the hospital only wanted to send the results to the physician requesting the test. After a lot of insisting by Dad, the hospital said they would send the results to Dad’s PCP.
It is now over 10 days later and Dad still has not received any results of the biopsy! He has called his primary care physician (but of course, only gets to speak to and/or see the Physician Assistant) who tells him the office has not received any results. Yet, this week Dad received a call from the PCP’s office asking him to come in for blood and urine tests! If they haven’t received results, why the extra tests? And, to make matters worse, when Dad got to the PCP’s office, they had no record that he was supposed to be there! Talk about incompetence!! They took blood and urine anyway, and when the PA walked in, Dad asked her if biopsy results were there and she said “no” and she wasn’t sure why he was having more tests. Yikes! Dad asked the person drawing the blood what the tests were for, and she said she only knew the numbers of the test and not what they were looking for.
Dad told the lady drawing the blood that he was wearing a pouch and that the urine for a sample would be contaminated if taken from there. She said “a pouch?” and then went off to ask someone if urine from the pouch would suffice. She came back and told Dad to take the urine from the pouch. What good does that do and why did they not insist on a “clean catch”?
Dad strongly disliked the spine doctor who ordered the biopsy in the first place. According to Dad (and my brother who went with him to this doctor) the spine doctor is an arrogant ass who has absolutely no bedside manner whatsoever. If you call his office, you never get to speak to a real person, and when you leave a message, your call is never returned. He has called this doctor’s office several times to inquire about the test results and finally reached someone who told him he would have to make an appointment and come in for the results. Okay, when? Sorry, the person who makes the appointments left at noon today and won’t be back until Monday. Call and try again.
So, Dad decided to call the hospital and try to get the results himself. After lots of run-around, the hospital tells him the spine doctor got the results of the biopsy and ordered MORE tests to be made on the specimen! Dad thinks the hospital is just making that up to cover up for their incompetence. Who knows?
I told Dad he should go to the lab and get his results himself and walk it over to the primary care doctor and say “here’s my test results, now let’s decipher them and decide what I do next.” Yeah, like he could even GET IN to see this doctor!
Any ideas on how my Dad can get his biopsy results? I’m so frustrated with uncaring, incompetent doctors and staff who can’t seem to follow through.
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3 Replies
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I never wait for my test results to go to my doctor…i always contact the hospital and tell them i’m coming in to pick up the results and they are right there on their computer. Its never been a problem. And i’ve never been charged either.
And the leg pain seems to be a pretty common complaint with this surgery.
Sorry you’re having such a difficult time Harley…Pat -
Find out the laws in your area. In NY State a patient has a right to a full copy of his medical record from any doctor or hospital. The law limits charges to reasonable copying and handling fees (I think 75¢/page). Ask for what you want a copy of by contacting the lab or medical records. If you don’t get immediate satisfaction ask to speak to a supervisor. If that doesn’t work, speak to the hospital administrator. If all else fails, threaten legal action.
-Warren
TaG3 + CIS 12/2000. TURB + Mitomycin C (No BCG)
Urethral stricture, urethroplasty 10/2009
CIS 11/2010 treated with BCG. CIS 5/2012 treated with BCG/interferon
T1G3 1/2013. Radical Cystectomy 3/5/2013, No invasive cancer. CIS in right ureter.
Incontinent. AUS implant 2/2014. AUS explant 5/2014
Pediatrician
I had significant pain in my left leg after my surgery; it resolved gradually over 5 to 8 months or so. I’ve read that others have had similar pain after abdominal surgery. The pain may be due to nerve damage due to the position of the body during surgery.
Maybe others can explain this better.
[quote author=harleygirl link=topic=1201.msg8255#msg8255 date=1190503633]
His current problem is pain in his left leg and he’s had MRIs, a bone scan, CT scans, blood work, X-rays, you name it. He’s been to a nerve doctor who found no pinched nerves or nerve involvement that would cause his leg pain. Every doctor he sees seems to think the pain is symptomatic of an arthritic hip.
[/quote]
Dx 7/04, CIS + T1G3, Age 50
2 TURBTs
12 BCGs
Cystectomy 8/05 USC/Norris
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