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Time To Find a New Doctor?

SaskiaKC

SaskiaKC

Expert
Messages
6,313
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I just started going to a new doctor last April. There I was diagnosed T2. She wanted me to come back every week for about a month, then back in another month for my second A1C. So far, so good, I really like her and her clinical staff. I was scheduled to go back for an A1C in September.

In September when I called to make sure of the date and time of my appointment I was told she was away on leave, had been away for a month and would not be back until mid-October. So I made an appointment for the week she was due back.

That week I got a call from the office saying she wasn't back yet and to reschedule for the next week. I did. THAT week I was called to say she still wasn't back and the doctor who had been covering for her wasn't able to cover for her anymore.

Now it's November. I had an appointment scheduled for next week, and guess what? Yesterday (Friday) I was called and told she STILL isn't back. I also learned that her two clinical staff have left. I was told that there is no rush about my A1C check, and that the doctor will either be back next week or they will hopefully have another doctor to cover her appointments.

Am I being really stupid? Both clinical staff gone, no doctor covering appointments; should I just realize that she isn't coming back and that I need to start looking for a new doc? I really like this one, and I really don't need the stress of starting all over again looking for another new one. But maybe it's time I realized this one isn't coming back?
 
Could you ask that at least you have the blood draw if nowt else? If the GP still hasn't made an appearance by the time the results are back then I would be asking for a review with someone else.
 
Thanks. :)

I asked, and was told that I should wait 'til she comes back because she might do the test there or send it out to another lab. The other times she did it right there.
 
SaskiaKC said:
Thanks. :)

I asked, and was told that I should wait 'til she comes back because she might do the test there or send it out to another lab. The other times she did it right there.
Click to expand...

Whoever told you that does not seem to appreciate that reviews can't wait indefinitely.
 
@SaskiaKC - An I correct to recall you are not in UK? If that is the case, are you able to have the A1c done without the Doctor prescribing it? I know in lots of countries one can just turn up at a lab and ask for blood tests to be done, provided you have the money to pay for it.

I know I have done that overseas. A verbal request, based on a "menu" of available tests, followed by the presentation of my credit card, and I was done there and then (8am), with an email by lunchtime containing my results, with a copy to my Doctor, if I chose that option. There was zero need for a Doctor's involvement at all.

When I had mine done, a coupe of years ago now, I had a full Diabetic Panel done, so it included kidney, liver, lipid profiles, plus full blood counts and electrolytes etc., it cost the equivalent of c£55 or about US$75. A straight A1c would have been less than that.

It's just a thought.
 
zand said:
Maybe she is off work with stress?
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That's what I've been wondering. They said "medical leave" so of course I've been worried a lot about her, and that's another reason I've waited hoping to see her rather than look for someone else. I just qualified for Medicare last year and got horribly stressed every time I had to find a doctor before, let alone afford to see one, then finally got on Medicare and found a good doctor only 2 miles from home. It was such a relief to find a good one I could finally afford to see, and now this, and I'm worried about her.

@Guzzler, I've been wondering about that too. I got so used to letting things slide when I couldn't afford doctors so I had no choice. How often are T2s supposed to have A1C checked?

@DCUKMod , you're right, I'm in the US. I've been thinking that I should just be able to go in for an A1C. If she isn't back within the next week or so I will try to switch to one of the other doctors in her practice.

Thanks, everyone.
 
SaskiaKC said:
That's what I've been wondering. They said "medical leave" so of course I've been worried a lot about her, and that's another reason I've waited hoping to see her rather than look for someone else. I just qualified for Medicare last year and got horribly stressed every time I had to find a doctor before, let alone afford to see one, then finally got on Medicare and found a good doctor only 2 miles from home. It was such a relief to find a good one I could finally afford to see, and now this, and I'm worried about her.

@Guzzler, I've been wondering about that too. I got so used to letting things slide when I couldn't afford doctors so I had no choice. How often are T2s supposed to have A1C checked?

@DCUKMod , you're right, I'm in the US. I've been thinking that I should just be able to go in for an A1C. If she isn't back within the next week or so I will try to switch to one of the other doctors in her practice.

Thanks, everyone.
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Hi Saskia, I hope you get it sorted! Things like this remind me of how lucky we are in the UK as a whole, I know we pay into the NHS of course but we know that we will always get medical help when we need it. For all our moaning about some of the Drs and DN's, I for one think they are pretty good. x
 
Hi @SaskiaKC

I guess docs are humans too. They get ill, get stressed, have babies, take holidays...
Your health takes priority - for you. So i would look into finding a doc who will handle your health as you need.

But your doc needs to make taking care of her health her priority. So from that point of view, I hope she takes as much time off as she needs, and doesn’t come back to work until she is ready to.
 
SaskiaKC said:
That's what I've been wondering. They said "medical leave" so of course I've been worried a lot about her, and that's another reason I've waited hoping to see her rather than look for someone else. I just qualified for Medicare last year and got horribly stressed every time I had to find a doctor before, let alone afford to see one, then finally got on Medicare and found a good doctor only 2 miles from home. It was such a relief to find a good one I could finally afford to see, and now this, and I'm worried about her.

@Guzzler, I've been wondering about that too. I got so used to letting things slide when I couldn't afford doctors so I had no choice. How often are T2s supposed to have A1C checked?

@DCUKMod , you're right, I'm in the US. I've been thinking that I should just be able to go in for an A1C. If she isn't back within the next week or so I will try to switch to one of the other doctors in her practice.

Thanks, everyone.
Click to expand...

I do not know the protocols in the US but here a person with T2 should have a full review once per year which includes the following:
HbA1c
Liver and Kidney function tests (sometimes a full blood count if HCP deems it necessary)
Lipid panel
Foot checks
Retinopathy scan
Any other tests and/or referrals as necessary
Review of medications.

Generally two HbA1c tests are done if Diabetes is suspected, the second is to confirm diagnosis.
After this the HbA1c are done every three, six or twelve months depending on progress.

I should imagine it is similar in the US and I hope you get seen very soon. Best wishes.
 
This was to have been my 3-month A1C check. It's now been only 4 months so maybe that's why they told me it could wait 'til she gets back. It's just that when I heard that both her clinical staff had left that I started thinking maybe she's not coming back and they're just not allowed to give out that info.

I'm still so new to this T2 stuff that I don't know what checks are done when. I do know that Medicare will pay for an opthamologist to check for diabetic retinopathy but not to do a vision exam. But it is great that I pay only a couple of dollars for some prescription meds -- and the diabetes testing supplies are free!

@KK123 I agree y'all are lucky and I have no idea why on earth we don't do the same over here. :)
 
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