So I havent yet decided whther I am coming or going.I would like to try and stand still for once and see if I can make some sense of what is going on in my life at the moment.
I went to the hopsital for my appoinment yesterday,and they failed to mention at the time of booking that this was the week that the doctors are writing their exams.
I know,seems a bit strange that a doctor still needs to write exams - but it was apparantly to do with obtaining registrar and professor ship - well - what happens to us patients,who dont really have the time to sit and wait for some doctor to sit and finish an exam paper,before he come to the clinic.
I know that I am being selfish - but I was at the hospital from 5 3oam yesterday morning and only got seen by a doctor at something to midday.So by the time that happened I was pretty tired and pretty pissed off.I am slowly running out of patience with this whole thing.
Then I was pushed off down to MRI ,cos they need to have that before I get a booking for the op.
Off I trudge down the corridoor,only to find that most of the staff had gone on lunch.Well,I suppose it was round about that time anyway - but dont they work in shifts???
So I eventually get it done and go back to the neurosurgery clinic,only to find that the surgeons have all decided to go for lunch as well.
Just my luck
On my return I began to remonstrate with one of the head nurses,as by this stage I was beginning to lose my temper.Which I dont normally do -but I eventually got seen and was told 'you know what? -we dont actually have any space available for an op in January -how about March,say the 18th?'
Now somebody better tell me what the fuck is going on now,I thought to myself.
It apparently has everything to do with the fact that I am having elective surgery and not emergency surgery.i was told that if I was having emergency surgery,they could have me in OP in 3 days.
MMMmmmmm 3 days vs 5 months?? Doesnt really make sense.
Anway -I have to go back on December 3rd for my next app.I am going to have a meeting with the head registrar and find out what is going on.I know that I can get some sense out of him,considering he was the one who was pushing for the surgery in the first place and will be doing the op.
Sometimes,I wonder if is all worth it.
Come December I think I will find out
cuppajava posted on Oct 21, 2008
| views: 77
Comments
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skald said on Oct 21, 2008....
The is preposterous. No wonder you were pissed off. I would have been too. Raving mad I think lol
I did not know you were sick. What do you need an operation for?
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MissMimi said on Oct 21, 2008....
You should have been told that there would be a delay, and given the option of rescheduling your appointment. Emergency situations of course come first, but endlessly waiting to be seen by a doctor is maddening.
You have every right to be angry. I would be too. I hope your next appointment goes more smoothly. Maybe your doctor can rescheduled for surgery sooner. Waiting for March must seem like forever.
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MissMimi said on Oct 21, 2008....
If you'll be seeing the head registrar (is that the doctor in charge?), he may be able to make things happen a bit sooner than March. You must have been terribly frustrated. I've had the same kind of experience, and it's maddening. -
uniquely-ironic said on Oct 21, 2008....
I've always found it ridiculous that doctors, in private practice or at hospitals, don't have the courtesy of scheduling patients realistically. Even when I was the scheduler for doctors it always made me angry when they insisted that I pack their schedules so that patients had to wait forever to see them. I swear, it's an ego thing with very little to do with being considerate or efficient.If you're having elective surgery you should be able to request that you be put on a standby list if you're able to go on short notice. Often other patients will have a change of heart and spots will open up.I hate waiting to see any medical professional. I will often call ahead to see if the doctor is running on time or late. -
cuppajava said on Oct 21, 2008....
Hello Skald - I have posted about my illness quite a few times before.I have debilitating back condition that can only be cured with major surgery which i am supposed to have in Jan next year - well WAS supposed to have !
Hello Miss Mimi - I am so glad that you stopped by,and are gracing my post with your presence.This is South Africa and it has got to a stage where only the suitably well off can afford to be treated in a private hospital that works by appointment.The rest of the country and people like myself have to contend with a government or public hospital like this one.Where it is first come,first serve.This is the only specialist hospital in the province that I stay in that can treat my condition.So I am stuck.They dont give you a time of your appointment,they just give you a date and it is up to you to get there early enough to be seen early.I dread going - every 4 to 6 weeks.But i have now choice.
Hello Uni - I am glad that you can understand some of the stress that I have been going through.The neurosurgery clinic that I go to in the hospital normally sees about 60 patients a day with 3 neuros on duty.But on Monday they had only booked in 30 patients,of which i was one - who all had to wait to be seen by ONE neuro,and as you can imagine - each patient is there for say ,about a half hour - you can work out how long you have to wait to be seen.
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skald said on Oct 21, 2008....
Cuppa I am sorry to hear that Cuppa. I know how bad it is to have back trouble even though yours might be worse than mine. I hope in the end all will go well and your operation will help you. -
Lucytorial said on Oct 21, 2008....
Send them a bag of shit.Okay I'd be totaly off my head having to go through that... urrggghhhh definitely phone ahead next time, and ask if you can go on a waiting list if its appropriate for you.Aweee CJ I just wanna hug you for all you're going through.