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Avatar universal

Change Doc ?

I dont want to jump the gun, but the following incident has given me no confidence in the gastro I was referred to. I am at the very beginning of my journey as I posted previously. On Friday, I went for an abdominal sono and xtensive blood work to find genotype/strain etc. Anyway, the gastro never gave me a follow up appt so today I called the radiology lab who assured me they were faxing over the results for sonogram to gastro immediately.( I know the blood work is not in ) ! So, I call the gastro doc and was told I would receive a call back.  An hour later I receive a phone call from front office assistant was told that I was negative. I asked her what was I negative for ?? She did not know!! She asked ME if I was calling for blood test results. I had to tell her that NO, I called for the results of an abdominal sonogram and what exactly is negative...She did not know.....Obviously I am discouraged by the treatment I just received. Should the Office not have known I was Hep C positive and calling for the results of my sonogram? Please tell me that I am not crzy and over anxious. I believe that they did not know what the heck they were talking about, well obviously she did not cuz she had no paperwork and just gave me an appt. I know that I am positive and have my viral load from the primary physician....Please advise me. I am thinking of just switching drs now. Is anyone in the NY area,,,,I am on Long Island...Thank you for listening... Peace Linda
16 Responses
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Avatar universal
Again, thank you for the great advice.  I worked in  medical offices and in a hospital both as off mgr, transcriptionist, biller etc. I really do understand the traffic. I did not expect blood work results, I knew they would never be there yet. All I asked for was results of radiology report which had been faxed over. I would never have called a patient and just said Negative and "arent you calling about your blood work ?" which I KNOW is not in. Anyway, I am changing docs because I did not like the office while I was waiting to be seen. It was an assembly line. You guys are the best. I appreciate all the great advice and that no one judges here.  I WILL get copies of all my tests as advised and again thank you all sooo much.........Peace. Linda
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Avatar universal
I have to agree with the above comment and very much wish I had gotten copies of all my tests over the years.  Now I do that and it is a great comfort both because it quells my anxiety and because it is something to pass on quickly to a new doc who happens to come into my life.  I also can see how important advocating for myself and taking the lead in my own care has become.  Gone are the days when docs could be viewed as the perfect parent who would minister to our needs with aplomb, superior knowledge of everything there is to know about the universe of medicine and buckets of kind, loving attention.  I think we have to help them do their job in the new health care environment.  
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446474 tn?1446347682
I think frijole makes some excellent points. Certainly you don't want to "jump the gun" and burn any bridges if at all possible. (Bad mixed metaphor there. Anyway...).

Of course you are anxious. We all were when we started this journey. Anything new, even good things can disrupt our status quo and produce anxiety. There are so many unknowns. We have a hard time knowing if something is a minor issue or a major one. In time you will learn more and more about this disease. We are all learning no matter how many years we have been dealing with it. Knowledge is power and it will make you feel more secure  about this all means in the big picture of your life.

As you will learn front office assistants, technicians and sometimes nurse don't know much about hepatitis C or any disease. Office assistants are there to take care of office administrative tasks. They have no need to understand your or anyone elses illnesses or anything from a medical perspective. They do the administrative tasks so the doctors, nurses and other medical can take care of your health issues.

Get copies of all your test results for your own records. If there is ever a question about something you can post your results and that allows other on the forum to give you more fact based opinions as we have some idea of the true nature of your illness.

As frijole mentioned. Results of a test is dependent on the purpose that the test was giving for. One purpose of an ultrasound can be to look for liver cancer (HCC). So if the was the reason the test was conducted "negative" is what you what to hear. There are also many other things that an ultrasound can tell about your abdomen and its organs. So it is very important to know the reason the test was given. As you learn more of hepatitis C, its diagnoses and treatment you will be able to communicate more effectively with your doctor.

Best of luck to you!
Hang in there. You are taking care of yourself and doing the right thing. Congratulations.
Hector
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1735424 tn?1357433558
Great suggestions!!!
Helpful - 0
223152 tn?1346978371
oops - that is illegible handwriting, not ineligible!
Helpful - 0
223152 tn?1346978371
Did you know what the ultra sound was going to tell you?  If you were expecting it to tell you your degree of hepatitis and the nurse said negative, I can understand that you were angry.  However, that test isn't going to tell you that.  My guess was that the doctor looked at the test and wrote "neg" in his probably ineligilble handwriting and told his nurse to call.  It probably meant negative for HCC (heptocellular cancer).  

You are just at the beginning of this long journey and you still don't know the right questions to ask.  Since you went in on Friday for blood work and called on Monday it was probable that the blood work was not in yet.  Yes, you are over anxious.  I am a relapser waiting to start treating again and I am over anxious so I can relate.  In my experience, that anxiety does not end until you take the first shot.

I suggest no matter who you are treating with, to request copies of every single test run.  That includes all bloodwork and all ultrasound reports and anything else.  Start your own file.  Get a book on how to read blood work.  Ask questions here.  Post your bloodwork and Vl test here.    Should you change doctors? Maybe - I think a hepatologist would always be the b/tter choice over a GI.  However, that can be very inconvenient.  Is there one in your town?  I have to travel 350 miles to see one.

I suggest you wait until you get the results from this bloodwork before you change doctors.

frijole
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Avatar universal
I think what cross meant was time to shop for a "HEPAtologist" not HEMAtologist. I agree it is time for a new doc
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I didnt walk but RUN from the gastro guy my pcp refered me to. The first apt. was at 8am told me to get there early to fill out paper work. Hello they dont open until 8am so I sat in the parking lot until I saw the lights come on. Red flag #1 Then he came in and asked why I was there. Hello #2 Then they charge me $40.00 for my co-pay and he doesnt do a thing never put a hand on me and told me to reschedule cuz he didnt have my file. Second apt. didnt have my labs! I said bye and never went back. go with your gut. I found a wonderful dr. that is a hepatologist at a teaching hospital connected to the university who heads up the organ transplant something, something. Anyway again. Trust your gut and an office person should never ever be giving out lab results. Good luck. Hope your find a good Dr. that you have faith in.
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Avatar universal
BTW one of the first questions both hepatologists I have seen (one a very well known research doc in this area) was where or how did I think I contracted the virus?  I have since found out that there may be a link to treatment receptivity and mode of transmission.  I don't think it is a measure of competence to ask such a question.  In general I have found PCPs to be very warm and compassionate but surgeons and other specialists are often brusque and not user friendly.  However, their expertise can often be very different from their bedside manner.  
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Avatar universal
You had the test done Friday and you called Monday for a result?  It does sometimes take some time to get back with patients.  What might have occurred had you waited would be the administrative assistant calling you back to schedule another appointment after the doc had a chance to read all the results.   May I suggest a different scenario?  Suppose this doc was extremely busy because he is very good?  Suppose he is in a group practice and has little say so about the office staff unless someone like you informs him?  Suppose this assistant made an honest mistake about the results?  One of the biggest problems that Hep c patients have is their own anxiety and we tend to see things as emergent even when they can wait awhile.  I would really check out the situation before going to see someone who you weren't referred to.  You may be turning away from a good thing.  I have this same problem with my PCPs office.  He was such a superior doc that I stuck with him.  In all direct contacts he was very respectful and was extremely intuitive with regard to translating my signs and symptoms into accurate diagnosis.  His office staff was and is brainless and I have had a separate relationship with them.  I would call them back and make sure they gave me the right info.  and pass along info I needed them to give to the doctor.  Nowadays, when docs have to maintain huge caseloads in order to make a decent living; their offices can run amok. I have learned the hard way.  I would suggest to give him a chance and go to another doc only if you have substantial evidence that his doctoring is poor not his office management.  
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Avatar universal
Thank you very much for the prompt responses. I have been shaking my head since the call this afternoon. I am very confused and I guess you all know that I am scared to begin with. I feel that once I know what I am dealing with at least I will have some cards on the table. Right now I am at the what if stage and know very little while I wait for my results. I will look into a Hepatologist....Oh and Gerbils, I know exactly what you mean. The day of the consult, in walks this gastro dr and his first question to me was " How did you get Hepatitis C"....First of all, what diff does it make at this point medically to him??? I have it and he was supposed to be there to treat me not make me start the consult on the defensive. I did not get a good feeling from him.  My primary who gave me the results and knows my family for 16 yrs was soo compassionate and never asked me any questions...he just wants me to move forward. Once again, thank you all.
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Avatar universal
Yes! If you have any concerns get a good doctor and staff as soon as possible. I had a Dr. and nurse that treated me for something else and when I was diagnosed I was sent there. Hep c changed their attitude toward me completely. I will say that prior to the diagnosis I noticed that they had office protocols that were not patient friendly; such as never picking up the phone when you are calling- they will call you back in 24 hours. No appointments could be scheduled sooner than two weeks even if need based and if you wanted to get in sooner you had to call every day to see if they had a cancellation- and then it was pure luck. They both claimed alot of experience w hep c and were just fine until they found out what I had. Then they assumed and insisted there had to be drug use (even just once!) because of my age even though I had a major injury and received blood 34 years ago. I am grateful that I listened to my instincts and made a change before beginning treatment. I found an awesome doctor who listens, will talk to his patients, and even calls back. He and staff are tremendously experienced and what a difference. I know they have more than a few hep c patients, often participate in trials but always know me when I call. I hope you find someone great. Take care,

G
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419309 tn?1326503291
First of all, any medical practice that would allow a patient to be given results by an office assistant who doesn't know what the results are raises a red flag.  The fact that you are not confident in how they've handled you so far is good enough reason to seek another provider.  Being on LI, you should have good options within traveling distance; hopefully someone more familiar with your area will chime in.

Change doc? Yes, I would.
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244899 tn?1313624639
You took the words right out of my mouth
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1654058 tn?1407159066
IMHO - Time to shop for a hematologist. You're gonna need compassion and info from an office staff used to dealing w hep c.  Follow ur instincts.. You r your own best advocate.. Karen :)
Helpful - 0
244899 tn?1313624639
The best move I ever made was to get rid of my gastro and go see a hepatoligist. They gastros only have minor experience with hep c where as a hepo is up on all the new treatments and rescue drugs. My gastro only had a few people on treatment. Good luck.
Joe
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