health sort-of update

[redbird]

!markdown

So, the follow-up test for C. diff was also negative, and the pills Carmen prescribed in the hopes that they would improve my symptoms had no apparent effect. (That was dicyclomine, 10 mg, twice a day.)

With that information, I am trying to make an appointment to see a gastroenterologist. The current state of things is:

• I have a new-patient appointment at Brigham and Women's Hospital on September 22nd, and am on the waiting list for cancellations.


• To get an appointment at Beth Israel Deaconess (where my neurologist practices) as a new patient, I had to fill out a form, and they say they'll probably get back to me in 2-5 days. (Mt Auburn is a different system, despite them both being Lahey Health.)


• The scheduler at Boston Medical Center told me yesterday that they are currently scheduling in July, but can't do anything without an order faxed from my doctor. Once they receive it, someone will contact me. I asked Carmen's office for that yesterday afternoon, and the receptionist said they'd do it right away. If I don't either hear from BMC, or see evidence of the order on my (new) account on their MyChart tomorrow, I'll check with them and if necessary call Carmen's office again. That's a hospital requirement, even if the patient's insurance doesn't require one.


• Mass General Hospital _also_ needs a referral from my doctor to do anything, and they just said they're scheduling 6-9 months out. I'm holding off on that for now, rather than confuse anyone by having two requests for referrals pending at the same time.


• Mount Auburn's website showed me doctors and a shared phone number when I picked "find a provider" on their webpage. I called just after 5:00, and will need to call back in the morning.

Also, after I cancelled my trip to Montreal because I was worried I would suddenly need a bathroom while I was traveling, yesterday, which would have been my travel day was fine. However, today and Tuesday weren't.

Comments

[otter]

I'm so sorry you ended up cancelling your trip. Those are, unfortunately, the kinds of timelines I've seen in the past when I needed referrals for things. At least once, I could hardly remember why I was even going once I finally got there.

[redbird]

I am hoping that someone has a cancellation that gets me seen sooner.

[otter]

I hope that for you, too.