How to approach this situation?

[meecies]

never mind,
the dr I wanted won't see me because I saw another dr in the same practice and they will not switch you to a different dr

 

[Ziggy100]

I think you can just say the old doctor just wasn't a good fit. Try not to worry too much about what people think about you. They are going to think what they think and there's no stopping them. Just don't let others make a difference in your life. I have PTSD too so I get what you are talking about about. You are advocating for your own needs and you are doing the right thing. It's important to be comfortable with your doctor.

Hope you don't have to wait long for surgery. Sounds like he is a popular doctor!

 

[mendogal]

I think you can just say the old doctor just wasn't a good fit. Try not to worry too much about what people think about you. They are going to think what they think and there's no stopping them. Just don't let others make a difference in your life. I have PTSD too so I get what you are talking about about. You are advocating for your own needs and you are doing the right thing. It's important to be comfortable with your doctor.

Hope you don't have to wait long for surgery. Sounds like he is a popular doctor!

There are practices that simply won't let you change providers within the practice. It's not a matter of "what people think." It's their internal policy.
One who is dissatisfied with their initial physician then needs to seek one who is part of a completely different practice.

 

[Ziggy100]

I think you can just say the old doctor just wasn't a good fit. Try not to worry too much about what people think about you. They are going to think what they think and there's no stopping them. Just don't let others make a difference in your life. I have PTSD too so I get what you are talking about about. You are advocating for your own needs and you are doing the right thing. It's important to be comfortable with your doctor.

Hope you don't have to wait long for surgery. Sounds like he is a popular doctor!

There are practices that simply won't let you change providers within the practice. It's not a matter of "what people think." It's their internal policy.
One who is dissatisfied with their initial physician then needs to seek one who is part of a completely different practice.

Very true in some cases. My comment about "what people think" was not about the doctor's office, though. With PTSD people wonder what (outside) people think about their behavior often times more than others, because they are used to being judged for "overreacting."

 

[meecies]

With PTSD people wonder what (outside) people think about their behavior often times more than others, because they are used to being judged for "overreacting."

so true! I get this all the time, this as well as people not believing you have PTSD and demanding some explanation that will suit their belief system.
yes I am working to not let other's judgements affect me but there are times when their judgement means I don't get what I want or need...... and that really angers me.

but life is too short to waste time with anger, I vented to a friend about not getting the surgeon I wanted and she helped me see that I was already having issues with this particular office- I tried them for a shoulder issue, they were awful.. well I did find ONE good PT there but the office staff were horribly rude and scattered and really just mean. It's hard to get in touch with your dr there as well, so overall this was probably for the best.
How people treat you does make a difference. I know when it comes down to the actual surgery, the personality or social skills of the surgeon is the least of my concerns, but if he has been hostile towards me, or disinterested, etc, it does diminish my trust in them. they may be great at what they do, but I will have it in the back of my mind that this person didn't seem to care for me or about me, and this will leave me on edge. It's just human nature, you need to feel some measure of trust in the person who is going to be cutting you open and putting you back together.

Anyway I am moving on to my second choice. He was kind and respectful and and by all reports seems like a good surgeon. He doesn't do outpatient surgery, which is what I wanted, but I may not have been a candidate for that anyway.

I am seeing a foot dr first to address some issues my toes etc and am waiting for the PT pre hab order to be sent to where I go for PT. I go to the Neuro spine institute for PT because it's the only place that treats you like a whole person and not a single body part. I can go there and have both my SI joint and my knees and even my shoulder worked on at the same time, no problem
No where else I've gone does this.

I'm doing nightly chair yoga and have re joined an exercise class at the Sr Center that I can do thru zoom for free.

I am stuck on the advance directive, I have one already but need to update it and I have NO ONE who is able or willing to be my health care proxy. According to the laws in my state, if I don't name one, they give that job to the next closest relative and on down the line so I need to specifically state somehow that those are the WORST possible choices, there is no one in my family that can be trusted to do what I want.

so that is a tough one. I do have a friend who is willing but she is truly just too young. I don't know what to do about this, I will have to ask around.


I am also doing odd jobs to raise the $ I am going to need for the Iovera treatment and to pay for food delivery services and all the things that won't be covered.

I wish I had someone who could bring me meals but I eat a very restricted diet, and no one is willing or able to prepare the meals I need. I will have some soups and veggie burgers and chili made and frozen...

hmm. also trying to figure out the best time for this- weather wise esp.
I hate the heat, and typically spend most of Aug indoors in an air conditioned place (our Aug tends to be the worst lately) so it might be good to do it then, since I won't want to go out anyway
LOL
when do you feel like you can get out and walk around outdoors and such?
I have no clue what to expect.
I do know that all my friends and others I've met at the Sr Center disappear for a month or so when they get a TKR
so I"m guessing that first month you are just not up to doing much

Also getting some books ready... not sure what else I might feel up to doing.
Will I be able to sew? (with a machine, I made pet items mostly)


so much to think about and do!

but I think I am emotionally ready and I know my body is like, why didn't you do this sooner?

LOL

 

[eaglemom]

I would just like to let you know how I handled changing surgeons in an office. I'd seen and had had a procedure with one of their surgeons. He was ok, nothing I didn't like per say, but a revision wasn't his specialty. When I tried to get an appointment with another surgeon the front desk said I had to stay with the surgeon I'd been seeing. I explained why I wanted to switch, which didn't impress her at all!! I got no where. So I used the patient portal and sent a "note" to the new surgeon's nurse. She responded and said its not really done, but if I would get ALL of my knee surgery records to her, she's show the surgeon. So I did just that - it was quite the booklet. Then a week later I showed up at the office with a hardcopy of all my x-rays and ask the front desk if I might speak with his nurse! She came up front quickly, which surprised me. I explained who I was and that I'd not heard from her, but I had x-rays for her. She stood there with her mouth open. She said no one has ever done that before. I explained I wasn't messing around that I wanted that surgeon to do my revision, or at least see me. Much to my amazement she ask me to take a seat in the waiting room. maybe 15 minutes later, she came out and took me to an exam room & the surgeon walked in!

I had no appointment, nor did I ask for one. I simply wanted to drop off more information for the surgeon to review. I'd filled out no paperwork, etc. We had a meet & greet - he did a very brief exam and said "here's what we're going to do......" Meaning he'd accepted me as his patient. I realize it doesn't always work that way, but occasionally it does. If you get to the correct person you might get to change the surgeon.

 

[lrj]

I went to 7 local doctors over 6 years. Then I traveled 6 hours to see a specialist who referred me to another specialist, also 6 hours away. I know what it like to struggle to find a good doctor.
Multiple times, I left an office and immediately scheduled an appointment with a different doctor. If they don't listen, just move on. I finally found a great surgeon who listened, examined me more thoroughly than any others, and explained things very well.
I hope you find a good doctor faster and closer than I did!