appointment blues

[Guest guest]

Hi all

Last week I was scheduled to see my neuro Dr. Cros at MGH. I finallly got

the letter that I needed from him (after yet another frustrating string of

delays) and the radiology report from my neck MRI. So I figured I might get

referrals from him, for surgery (big lipomas all over the back of my head,

neck, shoulders, and back, which show very well with " fat-sat " MRI settings)

and to the MDA clinic (which, though actually IN his office of associates,

has a different gatekeeper and wants a formal referral).

Instead, on the day before the appointment in Boston (which is about 90

minutes from my home) my wife got very ill with some kind of food poisoning

(better in a couple of days, all gone in a week). I used to drive that far,

but in the last year or so I feel much safer with my wife driving while I

mostly sleep (I sometimes drive on the way back home). So I very reluctantly

had to cancel. I called the next day, and the best they could do for me was

THREE MONTHS LATER, in October.

I write this for no particular purpose, other than to complain and seek

commiseration. My main hope with seeing this doc again was to get referrals

so that I can get out from under these unbelievable delays with him, but

instead (due to a coincidental brief illness) I'm now on the slow track

again. Belatedly I realize that he's not really interested in treating me

anyway. But yet he doesn't seem anxious to send me to anyone who might. Just

endless tests (which wouldn't happen except for my advocacy) to little

avail, except to further support my claim that yes there really IS something

the matter with me. I wouldn't be so stuck in this cycle of MGH docs except

that I happened to obtained " free care " there (and I have no real insurance

otherwise).

Sigh....

Steve D.