SparklyUnicorn Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I need a doctor to recover from the doctor. Well over 2 months ago doc quadrupled the dose of Prevacid. Said this was for a possible NSAID caused ulcer. Ok. Fine and dandy. They told me they'd call me to reschedule because they don't reschedule that far out (don't know how 2 months is far out, but whatever). So 2 months came and went and no call. I called them yesterday and said I needed to make an appointment. What for they ask? Follow up. Oh..ok. So I have an appointment 5 weeks from now. Meanwhile I don't know if I'm supposed to continue taking this much Prevacid. I don't notice any difference for what I initially went there for either way. I'm going to call them, but I already decided to cut that dose in half to start. Shi* happens. I stay on top of my own issues. Whatever. But like I said, he said 2 months, but I have no guidance as to what to do now. I'd look for another doctor, but I don't want to start over. I'd like to be off these things entirely. That probably won't happen because according to the diagnosis after some testing I have a hernia. I'm sure that didn't magically go away so yeah I probably need the stuff. But I may not need 4x the dose either. grrrrr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnificent_baby Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I wouldn't be comfortable with that high of dose either. The nurse should be able to ask the doctor for you and direct you until your appointment. If you aren't already, I would suggest going to a GI doctor, especially with the hernia concern (I assume you mean hiatal hernia?). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 I wouldn't be comfortable with that high of dose either. The nurse should be able to ask the doctor for you and direct you until your appointment. If you aren't already, I would suggest going to a GI doctor, especially with the hernia concern (I assume you mean hiatal hernia?). This is a GI doctor. I will call. Should have asked yesterday, but ya know how that goes. I didn't think I'd have to wait so long for an appointment. Last time I didn't have to wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnificent_baby Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 This is a GI doctor. I will call. Should have asked yesterday, but ya know how that goes. I didn't think I'd have to wait so long for an appointment. Last time I didn't have to wait. That's frustrating. You would think a follow up would be much easier to get into than the original appointment. In my area, the wait times for specialist are crazy long too. Ugh! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica_in_Switzerland Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 My son saw a pediatric GI a few times. We never had a wait of less than one hour- once we waited 2 hours past our appointment time. I told our regular pediatrician we'd never go back there. I have better things to do than wait in a room of people getting angrier and angrier as time ticks by and... surprise... the doctor hasn't even SHOW UP TO WORK YET. And, no, they weren't called away to an emergency, they just hadn't bothered to come in. I feel your pain. Disorganized doctors are the worst. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 First time I got in next morning. That probably was a freak accident. Although it just occurred to me that I said follow up and they may be thinking this is just some "eh let's give you a quick check". Uh no. I'm still having issues. I am in the middle of treatment and need guidance. This isn't exactly a follow up. I'm going to bug them today. Maybe they can get me in sooner and tell me what to do about the damn Prevacid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleowl Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Is it something about GI doctors? I also had a negative experience with a very disorganized GI practice. Among other things, it ended up costing me extra time and money because they left the most important part off my lab orders. I had to get blood drawn an extra time, which meant paying an additional draw fee, and then I had to come back for a second follow-up visit to the Dr because they hadn't had all the info they needed​ the first time. They did not charge me for that extra office visit, but I had to be kind of firm to make that happen. I was sure to ask if the lab results meant they could release my care on that issue back to my GP. If they'd said no I was going to look for a new GI office, but they said yes. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 What kind of doctor doesn't schedule two months out?? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 What kind of doctor doesn't schedule two months out?? I know. So odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 Is it something about GI doctors? I also had a negative experience with a very disorganized GI practice. Among other things, it ended up costing me extra time and money because they left the most important part off my lab orders. I had to get blood drawn an extra time, which meant paying an additional draw fee, and then I had to come back for a second follow-up visit to the Dr because they hadn't had all the info they needed​ the first time. They did not charge me for that extra office visit, but I had to be kind of firm to make that happen. I was sure to ask if the lab results meant they could release my care on that issue back to my GP. If they'd said no I was going to look for a new GI office, but they said yes. This happened as well. They sent me a results sheet in the mail saying everything was normal and one thing was pending. Pending? So of course I was like what the. So I called and she said oh yeah they forgot to do one, but had enough blood to run it. Ok. Why not just wait to give me all the results at once then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Be careful cutting the dose so much. You can get rebound reflux if you don't taper off the dose. (Not saying that will necessarily happen to you, but it can. ) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 Be careful cutting the dose so much. You can get rebound reflux if you don't taper off the dose. (Not saying that will necessarily happen to you, but it can. ) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Oh yes I know this very well! My initial plan is to cut it in half. I can't really do it any other way to start. But half would still be 30 mg. I will also take it with my dinner so I have the full effect through the night. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 I did put in a call this morning. All I could do was leave a message on a machine. I decided I'm going to just be more demanding. I think they should squeeze me in sooner if possible, or at least tell what to do in the meantime. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Well you know what they say, "50% of doctors graduate below the class average." There are going to be some duds out there, and there are lots of great dr as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 Well you know what they say, "50% of doctors graduate below the class average." There are going to be some duds out there, and there are lots of great dr as well. I like him as a doctor so far. I'm chalking this up to craptastic staff. But his staff is a reflection too. That part matters. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 (edited) I'd get a message to the dr asap asking for advice. bypass the front office by leaving a vm on the nurses line. or send an email. let him know *he* told you to come back in two months, his office staff wouldn't schedule two months out when you were there and said they'd call to set one up, which they didn't - so now you need follow-up info and don't want to wait another five weeks at this high a dose of a rx. so, what is his recommended dose? or get you in sooner. the front desk is the. front. desk. they don't do anything but schedule. (I had one move all their appointments from one calendar to another and they rescheduled me. so, they told me I missed my appointment. uh-no. never ever in a million years would I make an appointment at 8am when I was dropping kids at school at 8:30am.) they don't understand some patients need to be seen today - it's not their job. (nor any of their business for the particulars.) (had that happen after a car issue- the front desk tried to reschedule me for three days out. uh - no. it has to be today as part of a procedure. three days meant starting all-over.) eta: drs don't know their staff is crap unless their patients tell them. Edited March 16, 2017 by gardenmom5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 I'd get a message to the dr asap asking for advice. bypass the front office by leaving a vm on the nurses line. or send an email. let him know *he* told you to come back in two months, his office staff wouldn't schedule two months out when you were there and said they'd call to set one up, which they didn't - so now you need follow-up info and don't want to wait another five weeks at this high a dose of a rx. so, what is his recommended dose? or get you in sooner. the front desk is the. front. desk. they don't do anything but schedule. (I had one move all their appointments from one calendar to another and they rescheduled me. so, they told me I missed my appointment. uh-no. never ever in a million years would I make an appointment at 8am when I was dropping kids at school at 8:30am.) they don't understand some patients need to be seen today - it's not their job. (nor any of their business for the particulars.) (had that happen after a car issue- the front desk tried to reschedule me for three days out. uh - no. it has to be today as part of a procedure. three days meant starting all-over.) eta: drs don't know their staff is crap unless their patients tell them. Crazy thing is they have a scheduler. I know because they had me stop in her office before leaving. She is the one who set up the appointments at the hospital for labs and the ultrasound. I did call the nurse line. So hopefully someone gets back to me within this century. But yeah, he may have no clue about these details. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Crazy thing is they have a scheduler. I know because they had me stop in her office before leaving. She is the one who set up the appointments at the hospital for labs and the ultrasound. I did call the nurse line. So hopefully someone gets back to me within this century. But yeah, he may have no clue about these details. did the scheduler tell you they don't schedule two months out? or some other peon? I have dealt with peons who don't know how to do something - so they just say they "don't". when I was having a procedure done that required scheduling at the hospital/medical procedure - the office had a scheduler who didn't nothing but that - they didn't do "regular" dr visits - the front desk was expected to do that. the one I went through the front desk was very minor in my drs office (and I had to really push to get in, and I was ticked I had to be frank about WHY *it had to be today*!) - but timing was everything. . . . in the aftermath of that (I did NOT say anything to the dr.) - I think the desk clerk who didn't want to schedule me 'that day' got fired. - another staff member witnessed some things she did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 Yep, they just called. Got an appointment MUCH sooner. The 6th of April instead of the 21st. She said she was sorry about that and they should have never given me something that far out. Something about some new reminder system that they have been using and they weren't using it quite right. Blah blah. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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