Re: Dr. K visit - testing?

[Guest guest]

Hi RH,

It will depend on the type of testing he wants done. I am sure that he will

be doing a metabolic panel and other bloodwork on you, and if so I highly

recommend that you have it taken there since they know all about metabolic

blood work and how to properly do it and handle it.

Are you seeing any other doctors while you are up there ? Do you have other

problems that may require you to see

a different doctor or have other testing done other than bloodwork?

I personally always stay one day past my appointment just in case. I always

think " What if we don't finish my appointment and we need to continue it

the following day? " What if he wants to do some testing and they can't fit

me in or it is too late already.

Are you driving or flying up to Boston? If you drive you can just leave the

day after your appointment if nothing else has to be done. But if you are

flying then it creates a problem. I always stay the extra day. And it has

paid off many times.

My first appointment was alittle over 3 hours. Since your appointment is at

2pm. I would guess that it will last 3 hours (give or take) which will take

you to 5pm. and that leaves you no time for any testing or bloodwork to be

done.

Just my thoughts and experience. Give me a shout if you need any more help!!

Hugs,

Ann-Marie

At 09:09 AM 6/13/2005, you wrote:

>For those of you who see Dr. K., I'm trying to plan my Boston trip, but

>I don't know if Dr. Korson usually wants testing done locally (in

>Boston), or is okay with testing done near the patient's home

>(town or Philly in my case). What is your experience?

>

>I've been telling my husband that we should tentatively plan for at

>least one extra day in Boston after the appointment, but I'm wondering

>if that's necessary. The appointment is at 2 pm, so I'm not sure if

>there is time for testing on that same day.

>

>Any advice would be greatly appreciated - this is my first visit with

>him, so I'm thinking I should allow some extra time (are first

>appointments usually several hours?). I'm beginning to feel that I may

>have to schedule another appointment to have testing done, which gets

>difficult with the kids in school...

>

>Take care,

>RH

>

>

>

>

>Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained

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>and consult with their physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

>

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>

>

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>

>----------

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for all your responses, you guys are priceless! I kind of

figured it would be depending on how things go, so I told my husband

definitely one day, but possibly two days. He should be able to take

personal time for it instead of vacation time, that will help a LOT.

We are going by car, with the three kids in tow, and are hoping to go

on a bit of a vacation on the weekend before my doctor's

appointment. Since we have the kids, maybe we'll try the kids museum

or aquarium.

I am mainly going to figure out my high ammonia problem, it is very

difficult to control and unpredictable, and doesn't make sense to the

GI doctor. I've had some urea cycle disorder (UCD) testing, but not

lately, so I feel going to a metabolic specialist should help rule in

or out a UCD, and get a better treatment than the lactulose. I had

multiple weird things on my amino acid panels (blood and urine), but

I never had a follow-up on what they meant.

Malisa, I think I'll take your advice and call Margaret about my

concerns. At worst, I can stay in Boston and my family can leave - I

can take public transportation home. Since ammonia is my main

concern, and I'm pretty happy with my cardiologist and GI doctor

right now, I'm starting with only Dr. K And I think exhaustion is

an important point too - we have limited back-up care for my kids, so

if I'm out of commission, it will be very difficult to find someone

to take care of them. I try to space out appointments because of

that.

BTW, I am going to a hematologist next week, thanks for your

comments on that...

Take care,

RH

> Hi RH,

> I think it depends on what testing he may want done and who he may

want you referred to. I would suggest getting in touch with him or

his nurse practitioner, Margaret, beforehand and explain any

potential concerns that you feel may need to be addressed. For

example, do you need a cardiologist to manage autonomic issues, or a

GI doc to manage GI concerns? If so, these could be arranged ahead of

time so that you know how many extra days to stay.

>

> I am actually up in Boston right now and a is still here, as

well. a had her initial appt. yesterday at 2pm. It lasted 2

hrs and was basically just the history and physical. Dr K wants her

to come back today for the treatment plan. I think he typically

finishes the entire appt. at one time, but for out of state patients

staying close by, sometimes he brings us back the next day. Last

week, when I saw him on Thursday, it was late in the day and I was

really exhausted and he asked me to pick a time the next day that was

best for me and we finished the appt. then. My follow up appts. are

usually 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. The initial appts. are scheduled in 2 hr

blocks and take 2-3 hrs. Taking all of this into account, I would

probably plan on staying the next day just to be on the safe side.

If you need info. on how to contact his nurse practitioner

beforehand, just let me know. She's great at trying to coordinate

some of the other appts. you may need while here.

> Malisa

>

> Dr. K visit - testing?

>

>

> For those of you who see Dr. K., I'm trying to plan my Boston trip,

but

> I don't know if Dr. Korson usually wants testing done locally (in

> Boston), or is okay with testing done near the patient's home

> (town or Philly in my case). What is your experience?

>

> I've been telling my husband that we should tentatively plan for at

> least one extra day in Boston after the appointment, but I'm

wondering

> if that's necessary. The appointment is at 2 pm, so I'm not sure

if

> there is time for testing on that same day.

>

> Any advice would be greatly appreciated - this is my first visit

with

> him, so I'm thinking I should allow some extra time (are first

> appointments usually several hours?). I'm beginning to feel that I

may

> have to schedule another appointment to have testing done, which

gets

> difficult with the kids in school...

>

> Take care,

> RH

>

>

>

>

>

> Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements

contained herein are

> not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e

mail is

> entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of

their

> responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult

with their

> physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

>

> Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends

one is

> automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the

attack.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for all your responses, you guys are priceless! I kind of

figured it would be depending on how things go, so I told my husband

definitely one day, but possibly two days. He should be able to take

personal time for it instead of vacation time, that will help a LOT.

We are going by car, with the three kids in tow, and are hoping to go

on a bit of a vacation on the weekend before my doctor's

appointment. Since we have the kids, maybe we'll try the kids museum

or aquarium.

I am mainly going to figure out my high ammonia problem, it is very

difficult to control and unpredictable, and doesn't make sense to the

GI doctor. I've had some urea cycle disorder (UCD) testing, but not

lately, so I feel going to a metabolic specialist should help rule in

or out a UCD, and get a better treatment than the lactulose. I had

multiple weird things on my amino acid panels (blood and urine), but

I never had a follow-up on what they meant.

Malisa, I think I'll take your advice and call Margaret about my

concerns. At worst, I can stay in Boston and my family can leave - I

can take public transportation home. Since ammonia is my main

concern, and I'm pretty happy with my cardiologist and GI doctor

right now, I'm starting with only Dr. K And I think exhaustion is

an important point too - we have limited back-up care for my kids, so

if I'm out of commission, it will be very difficult to find someone

to take care of them. I try to space out appointments because of

that.

BTW, I am going to a hematologist next week, thanks for your

comments on that...

Take care,

RH

> Hi RH,

> I think it depends on what testing he may want done and who he may

want you referred to. I would suggest getting in touch with him or

his nurse practitioner, Margaret, beforehand and explain any

potential concerns that you feel may need to be addressed. For

example, do you need a cardiologist to manage autonomic issues, or a

GI doc to manage GI concerns? If so, these could be arranged ahead of

time so that you know how many extra days to stay.

>

> I am actually up in Boston right now and a is still here, as

well. a had her initial appt. yesterday at 2pm. It lasted 2

hrs and was basically just the history and physical. Dr K wants her

to come back today for the treatment plan. I think he typically

finishes the entire appt. at one time, but for out of state patients

staying close by, sometimes he brings us back the next day. Last

week, when I saw him on Thursday, it was late in the day and I was

really exhausted and he asked me to pick a time the next day that was

best for me and we finished the appt. then. My follow up appts. are

usually 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. The initial appts. are scheduled in 2 hr

blocks and take 2-3 hrs. Taking all of this into account, I would

probably plan on staying the next day just to be on the safe side.

If you need info. on how to contact his nurse practitioner

beforehand, just let me know. She's great at trying to coordinate

some of the other appts. you may need while here.

> Malisa

>

> Dr. K visit - testing?

>

>

> For those of you who see Dr. K., I'm trying to plan my Boston trip,

but

> I don't know if Dr. Korson usually wants testing done locally (in

> Boston), or is okay with testing done near the patient's home

> (town or Philly in my case). What is your experience?

>

> I've been telling my husband that we should tentatively plan for at

> least one extra day in Boston after the appointment, but I'm

wondering

> if that's necessary. The appointment is at 2 pm, so I'm not sure

if

> there is time for testing on that same day.

>

> Any advice would be greatly appreciated - this is my first visit

with

> him, so I'm thinking I should allow some extra time (are first

> appointments usually several hours?). I'm beginning to feel that I

may

> have to schedule another appointment to have testing done, which

gets

> difficult with the kids in school...

>

> Take care,

> RH

>

>

>

>

>

> Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements

contained herein are

> not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e

mail is

> entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of

their

> responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult

with their

> physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

>

> Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends

one is

> automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the

attack.

>

>