I am not always nice

[HVAC]

I had my yearly Neurology appointment this week. At the last minute they switched me to the Nurse Practioner. I realize something about myself. I became angry about seeing the nurse and told her so. I realized why I was angry I am so sick of having to start from scratch. I spend so much time at the hospital these days and I want to see a familiar face and not have to tell the whole story again. I do not see the doctor but every 16 months to now two years.

She in the end could not answer the only question I had which was how have I progressed from last year? She was very knowledgable and did a good exam but she had never seen me before and as she admitted had not looked at my chart which is not very thick since I have only been going since February of 2010 and do not see him but once a year. I do not get prescriptions all I do is come in to see if I have progressed. She asked me if I have friends, what business is it of hers if I have friends. Well it would have been hard to believe I had any at that point I was not being friendly. I had to explain my whole diagnosis process isn't in my chart?

I have the BRCA1 gene and a 87% of Breast Cancer so I have to see a Breast Specialist once a year in case I get Breast Cancer. I again see her NP. I just feel it is a waste of time and money. I am at the hospital every week. I go in every week and see at least 6 people I have to give the same information to. My date of birth, address, I have to show a photo ID. It is so impersonal and sometimes I want to say None of your bleeping business when they ask me questions. Why even have computers.

So I am not always nice. I feel like my health care is dealing with an airlines. You wait, you have to answer the same things over and over. And I forgot every one is tied to a computer as they ask you all these questions and its right there in the computer! Oh and I have to pay a $70 copay whether it is a Nurse or the Doctor.

My rant.

Alex

[HVAC]

Ess,
  I had so much problem with the Pharmacy it would take many phone calls every month for the financial assitance which was a VISA Card simple. When I stopped because my Doctor and I decided Copaxone was not working they called me and begged for me to go on another drug. Any drug they were losing monthly revenue. They actually said another drug in that price range.

Alex

[essdipity]

PS  I'm hardly ever nice ;-)

[essdipity]

Alex, I really get it!!!

Right now I'm dealing with extreme incompetence on the part of the specialty pharmacy supposedly to provide me with Tecfidera. You'd think this was the first time anyone had ever ha!d a prescription there. Lots of weird logic, claiming they'd never heard of me when they were the ones to call. Round and round it goes, with last night someone from them calling my home number and asking for my neurologist.  Arrrgh!

Finally, what I did was call Biogen and dump the whole thing on them. After all, they are the ones who will get whatever the negotiated price is, with wholesale estimated at $55,000 a year. So maybe they'll be interested in straightening this out.

And personally I don't mind being seen by an NP, since my last one was better than any actual neuro I've had. But I'd certainly be angry if I had to start at the beginning, over and over, because someone either didn't know me or hadn't bothered to read the notes. Once again, arrgh!

Rant away, Alex.

ess

[beema36]

You said it well Alex! I feel the same way and at my last neuro appt I know I wasn't very cordial to the NP. In my case she wasn't very knowledgable and that frustrated me. I pay to see the dr not someone else. They tell me that's their rule.