What do I do?

[Freddie]

Now that things have calmed down around here, I now realize I'm kinda in a pickle about this matter.........

But what does one do?

As you all know, I did receive my prescription on June 15 to get a home monitor from my cardiologist ? which has not been filled yet, and he was going to send my GP a letter informing her about the prescription.

Well??..it appears to me that my doctor (GP) has received that letter and has assumed I have a home monitor.

It?s troubling that she (my GP) hasn?t phoned me, as she always has when my INR was too high or too low, and I have been as high as 4.3 to as low as 2.0 in the past month and I have heard nothing from her ? Thank the Lord for all of you and Ross?s calculator. I haven?t spoke to my doctor since June 18th. I guess to a point I?m partly to blame, as I have not called her to inform her of the dosage change when it was needed.

So what does one do?

I went for blood work again today and she?ll get the results by the end of the day ? I can phone for the results.

Should I call her and ask:

1) ?What gives??
2) Maybe I should apologize for not keeping her informed.
3) Maybe she?s been on holidays, but another doctor would have called me when my readings got to be so low. ? but no one has.
4) Do I go and get my monitor even without her approval? Besides everyone here, doesn?t there have to be a doctor to over look your well being when you?re on warfarin?
5) You?d think that since I?ve been going to the lab every week for the past 5 weeks my doc would realize that I don?t have a monitor or that I?m testing the monitor with the lab results.
Crap! What do I do?

I?m lost. I don?t know what I should do. My biggest fear is that I have lost a damn fine doctor all over the assumption that I have a home monitor.
I don?t want to loose my temper and I sure in the heck don?t want her to loose hers.

Does anyone have some input on how I can handle this?

Thanks for letting me vent my frustration.

 

[Eva]

Freddie,

What comes quickly as a response: If you think you might get edgy over the phone, write down a note and go over it again and again to get the edge out, especially if you like her and do not want to lose her. This is what is good about writing, you have time to resay what you want to say before damage is done. Send the note to her by fax and call the office to alert them about it, and call later to make sure it was given to her. Doctors have so much on their minds and so many different patients with different requests every day.

 

[Bina]

I've only got 5 minutes, so I'll make it fast.
Your prescrip is from your cardio, you don't need the GP permission to get it.
So get it.

But do mention to your GP that you will continue to be under her care, and report results to her, and that the ONLY difference for now, is that you don't have to run to the Lab every time you need a test.
That should be enough for the GP to digest for today.
I understand that you don't want to get her all freaked out.....docs are very hard to find and keep right now.
But on the other hand, she has no right to deny you the convenience of a tester.
Remember: you have the prescrip. use it.

 

[Dina]

Sounds good,just write or call to refresh her memory of recent events,its probably some misunderstanding on her part,as you say she has been a good doctor to you for a long time..It doesn't sound intentional or even negligent.
I don't think you should apoligize,just keep things neutral and informational,
atleast,I think this is what I would do..not that this is any assurance of
good etiquette

 

[CThrock]

Hi Freddie,
Bina is right your GP does'nt have anything to do with your monitor. Infact I don't even think mine knows I have one. So I would get the presrip filled and take care of the other matter when you cool down alittle. My cardio clinic (protime) nurses do the reading. Why does your GP do your readings? Anyways just take a step at a time till you feel your ready to talk to your GP.
Good Drs are hard to find , Im sure this whole thing is a miss understanding and will be taken care of when your ready.
Hope that helps my friend and don't stress out about it your BP going to go up.

 

[Dina]

So get it.
But do mention to your GP that you will continue to be under her care, and report results to her, and that the ONLY difference for now, is that you don't have to run to the Lab every time you need a test.
.

I'll second this too...aren't I something? I just agree with everyone else

 

[Freddie]

Well, as stated in another thread - INR is 4.9 today - this should warrant a phone call from the doc.
And here I thought all the alcohol and the high "K" intake I had over the weekend would be out of system by now.

 

[Freddie]

Yep the doc called and no mention of the home monitor. Maybe....just maybe I'll go and get an early Birthday and Anniversary (24 years on the 13th) gift for myself tomorrow.

Thanks for the input on how to handle this situation. I really do appreciate it.

 

[COLLEEN S]

Docs care alot less about us than you think. Most are feigning concern out of politeness, some dont even bother to do that. My point is, you are worried over saying this or saying that when probably the doc couldnt give 2 yanks. Dont worry. Just update her when you can, apologize for nothing...you didnt do anything wrong.