Re: Waiting for appts with specialists.

[Guest guest]

I've been reading thru the emails, and I know that it is so frustrating when we can't get into see a specialist for some time. When I first had to go to UC to see one of the top Rheumatologist's-- it took 3 months to get an appointment. Then it took another couple of months to get into the Pulmonologist- and then we waited 4 months to see the Neurologist.

The challenge is that these doctors are also Professor's- teaching at the hospital also. They only hold clinic one or two days a week- at most. The upside to having to wait to go thru this process is that "no stone was left unturned." I'm part of the classroom case studies, so that future MD's will have a better understanding of how to treat sarcoidosis.

Yes, I was in pain during that time- so I had to pull all my skills, the meditation, the visualization, the massage therapy, the pain meds, as well as learn to feed and hydrate my body correctly.

Dr. Baughman and Dr. Sharma are top in this field. They travel all over the world teaching other MD's about how to treat sarcoidosis. Unlike our General Practitioners-- who spend their time in clinic, and refer out to the specialists-- these guys aren't available 24/7. If they aren't in the office- then ask to be referred to someone you can see now--- if you can not wait.

This is not a personal attack- these guys don't even know you-- hell, he could be in Europe at a huge convention learning something himself, that may help you even more once you get into them.

This doesn't mean that we are bad parents, or bad patients-- and they have explained that his process is to review the chart-- see what tests have been run, what needs to be addressed, and then decide whether you get put ahead of all the other patients that want to be put in the front of the line also.

If pain issues are too much, get into your local MD and get them to prescribe something-- Duregesic patches (Fentynal) Vicodin, Lortab, etc- can help.

What doesn't help is to lose your perspective- when you go into the "I must not be important" mode- then the energy you are sending out is just that. Not to mention that if his staff had the "go ahead" from him-- they'd get you scheduled.

I know it takes patience- a lot of patience. I totally totally understand the anxiety that you're going thru. You know that the state of mind you are creating for yourself is so very unhealthy-- and it's not doing your pain levels any good.

We all talk about praying about what is going on-- and then our human side kicks in and demands immediate action. We don't know what is going on in those offices-- but I can tell you from having been in medicine for more than 17 years- the staff is not ignoring you. They too have many patients all demanding to get in-- and he may be gone right now.

Take some deep breathes, and get some perspective here-- trust that when the time is right, you'll get in and you will be taken care.

Sincerely,

Tracie

NS Co-owner/moderatorGet a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

Dr Baughman has at least one office I'm not sure if the sarcoid & interstitial? lung disease is a separate office or not, and the clinic and I believe he is also a professor. You'd think he could afford a decent haircut! LOLJoin our Sock Challenge for Orphans in Kazakhstan - 265 pairs needed by 9/15/07 http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Mittens_ for_Akkol/ grannylunatic@...

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[Guest guest]

As usual, Tracie, you have expressed everything so well. You do such a great job even when you are sick, your common sense mixed with compassion (would the politicians call that common compassion, or maybe sensible passion?). This is why I have an entire folder devoted to you!

Ramblin' Rose

Moderator

A merry heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22

From: tiodaat@...Reply-To: Neurosarcoidosis To: Neurosarcoidosis Subject: Re: Waiting for appts with specialists.Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:35:21 EDT

I've been reading thru the emails, and I know that it is so frustrating when we can't get into see a specialist for some time. When I first had to go to UC to see one of the top Rheumatologist's-- it took 3 months to get an appointment. Then it took another couple of months to get into the Pulmonologist- and then we waited 4 months to see the Neurologist.

The challenge is that these doctors are also Professor's- teaching at the hospital also. They only hold clinic one or two days a week- at most. The upside to having to wait to go thru this process is that "no stone was left unturned." I'm part of the classroom case studies, so that future MD's will have a better understanding of how to treat sarcoidosis.

Yes, I was in pain during that time- so I had to pull all my skills, the meditation, the visualization, the massage therapy, the pain meds, as well as learn to feed and hydrate my body correctly.

Dr. Baughman and Dr. Sharma are top in this field. They travel all over the world teaching other MD's about how to treat sarcoidosis. Unlike our General Practitioners-- who spend their time in clinic, and refer out to the specialists-- these guys aren't available 24/7. If they aren't in the office- then ask to be referred to someone you can see now--- if you can not wait.

This is not a personal attack- these guys don't even know you-- hell, he could be in Europe at a huge convention learning something himself, that may help you even more once you get into them.

This doesn't mean that we are bad parents, or bad patients-- and they have explained that his process is to review the chart-- see what tests have been run, what needs to be addressed, and then decide whether you get put ahead of all the other patients that want to be put in the front of the line also.

If pain issues are too much, get into your local MD and get them to prescribe something-- Duregesic patches (Fentynal) Vicodin, Lortab, etc- can help.

What doesn't help is to lose your perspective- when you go into the "I must not be important" mode- then the energy you are sending out is just that. Not to mention that if his staff had the "go ahead" from him-- they'd get you scheduled.

I know it takes patience- a lot of patience. I totally totally understand the anxiety that you're going thru. You know that the state of mind you are creating for yourself is so very unhealthy-- and it's not doing your pain levels any good.

We all talk about praying about what is going on-- and then our human side kicks in and demands immediate action. We don't know what is going on in those offices-- but I can tell you from having been in medicine for more than 17 years- the staff is not ignoring you. They too have many patients all demanding to get in-- and he may be gone right now.

Take some deep breathes, and get some perspective here-- trust that when the time is right, you'll get in and you will be taken care.

Sincerely,

Tracie

NS Co-owner/moderator

Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com.

More photos, more messages, more storage—get 2GB with Windows Live Hotmail.

[Guest guest]

I use to see Dr.Baughman at Univeristy Pointe way north of Cinci on I75. Sharon L. Schuckman sharupac@...http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-JWi9FSUic6c9n1.CvK6AmA--?cq=1

Re: Waiting for appts with specialists.

Dr Baughman has at least one office I'm not sure if the sarcoid & interstitial? lung disease is a separate office or not, and the clinic and I believe he is also a professor. You'd think he could afford a decent haircut! LOLJoin our Sock Challenge for Orphans in Kazakhstan - 265 pairs needed by 9/15/07 http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Mittens_ for_Akkol/ grannylunatic@...