Cirrhosis Support Group

This is the perfect example of "the squeaky wheel getting the grease!"

At my last EGD my hepa had found several grade-III varices needing banding and so it was scheduled. Normally he does his procedures at a part of his office building called "The Endoscopy Center". However, if a banding procedure needs done, it's scheduled at the hospital in case there are any complications the hospital is better equipped to handle.

At the same time I was experiencing the sensation of "pounding" in my head and upper torso, and I guessed it had something to do with the pressure since I was out of Nadolol. I kept leaving messages on the voicemail of my hepa's assistant to please call me in another refill of Nadolol but the call-in was never done. I kept checking with my pharmacy to see. As the "pounding" was getting worrisome, I called my hepa's office again, this time telling the receptionist that I DID NOT want a voicemail this time; I wanted a human being! After being transferred numerous times, someone finally picked up and demanded, "What do you need, Anita?" By now I was exasperated and almost yelled into the phone, "NADOLOL!" I gave whoever the phone number to our pharmacy who drop-ships our meds in three-month prescriptions, as well as the local store in order to have some to tie me over until the main company could process it. They finally dispensed 15 pills to hold me over and after getting back on track, the pounding began to subside. However,the large varices were evident on EGD.

Today was my esophageal banding, but only one vein had to be banded because the Nadolol was restarted in time and had taken care of the others. If I hadn't been persistent until I could find a human, I would have had to have all three grade-III varices banded individualy at the hospital, with a five-week waiting time between each one. What a waste of money and time-- just because someone didn't do their job! Additionally, I could have had a big bleed until the bandings were completed.

Now, I'm one who is perfectly willing to give a person the benefit of the doubt-- thinking they were too busy or out of the office, etc., BUT coming from the medical field myself, I've worked in doctors' offices which employed nurses in a triage setting for med refills and simple questions, thus, tending to the care of patients in a more timely manner.

Solution: As there are several locations of the digestive office I use, I saw my hepa's PA-C just before this banding today and complained about the situation. She told me I could call their location instead and request HER exam assistant. I could switch physicians, but I don't want to do that while my disability appeal is pending.

My warning to others is, when someone's assistant promises to oversee an important request within 24 hours, make them stick to it, and don't quit until it's done!

Post edited by: hepatomegaly, at: 07/26/2012 07:34 AM