Surgeons office keeping my results from me..

Chelee · 06-29-2007, 03:36 PM

I've had a on-going problems with a LARGE seroma in my rt side of chest. HAD to pressure my surgeon recently to get him to have it drained. I had the *orignally* US of seroma on 6-6-07. I had requested a *copy* of that report from day one. (Told DAILY its in the mail.) Not.

Ended up having it drained a wk later. Then I started requesting BOTH reports...the orignally US...& the results of the stereotactic guided biospy/draining. (Again, told daily there in the mail.) So I told them yesterday I am *coming* down there & will pick them up in person. I *finally* got them both. I'm NOT happy. Both reports has a BIRADS 2 rating which I know is most likely benign. I'm not worried about that. But recommenations on BOTH reports from TWO different places said to FOLLOW-UP with US's of BOTH breast in 3 months. (Remember, I am a stage III'er with positive nodes & NO radiation.)

Shouldn't they have TOLD me I had a BIRADS 2 rating on BOTH reports...& BOTH recommended me to have a follow-up ultrasound in 3 months. Its already been 24 days & they did NOT call me & set-up an appt to discuss these findings. Nor did they even mention what was found on the reports when I called. I spoke with my surgeons main nurse almost daily over this 3 wk period. Isn't there some kind of law that they HAVE to *inform* you of your test results & follow-up?

I *wouldn't* even know about any of this had I not marched down there in PERSON to pick up these reports. Let alone I had been a bit stressed *wondering* what was found in the fluid they removed? I wanted the path report on it to make sure NO malignant cells were found. What YEAR were they going to tell me any of this if at all? Do they have a RIGHT to keep this from me? They had the results back in two days...the paper is dated. I feel like they TRIED to keep this from me. Seems my surgeon should of had me come in to see him?

Chelee

Bev · 06-29-2007, 08:02 PM

C. As survivors, I agree we want our results and we want them now. For my past 2 mammos at the time of scan, they have told me things look fine. Then I receive official notice 2 weeks later(smiley face). You'll know if your'e in trouble if they hold you up for repeated scans. Where thet first missed my C on mammo felt very third world, Where I go now is almost like a spa.

Birads 2 shows nonmalignant things like cysts to be watched.

So I agree they shouldn't leave you hanging. But for now it looks like you are OK. Bev

Chelee · 06-29-2007, 11:55 PM

Bev, Thanks so much for your reply. I am not at all worried about the BIRADS 2 rating. I am just mad that I called almost daily for "3 wks" to get the reports sent to my house. Was told over and over there in the mail. Talked to the nurse almost daily and NOT once did she mention the results to me...or that I should be followed-up in 3 months with *US* on both breasts. I have a *right* to know...and not months later.

I've had lots of pain & burning in both sides so I wanted the results and they knew it. I just feel its my business to know if they rated it a BIRADS 2 on both tests. And I had a right to the path results of my seroma...and not a month later.

Thanks again Bev.

Chelee

Sheila · 06-30-2007, 05:20 AM

Chelee
There is no excuse for such a wait....I never leave the hospital until my mammo is read and the radiologist comes and talks to me....maybe this isn't standard for everyone, but where I go, it is standard for anyone with a history of Breast Cancer. We have enough stress in our lives without waiting for test results.....have you talked to the Dr. or office manager...or better yet, get your reports directly from the hospital....bypass the Dr. office. You should be able to get them from Medical Records within a day of having the procedure...it is your privledge as a patient.

Andrea Barnett Budin · 06-30-2007, 01:56 PM

Hard not to take this PERSONALLY. I so understand. Of course, you are entitled to your records. And better, faster treatment in general! Sounds like your surgeon's office is mismanaged and overwhelmed. My internist, whom I love, has the same issue. I have mentioned to him that 15 urgent messages to him, from 8:30 AM went unanswered more than one day (during my husband's Shingles and complications crisis). He heard me. The situation still persists. I can't deal w/such an office.

The only way I got through was when I called my daughter and said, I'm not thinking clearly (been 3 X to emerg rm in 1 wk with Paul's issues). What can I do? Do they have a "prompt" that says IF YOU ARE A DOCTOR OR A HOSPITAL...? Yes. Push it! But -- I'm NOT a doctor or a hospital. You've called 10 X and no one has answered your call for help! Push the button. So I got up my courage and did! And they didn't even question me. They put me straight through. To a live person, not a machine.

You can't work w/an office that is so messed up they don't give you your much asked for results, you have to go in to procure your results in person. Medical records is virtually non-functioning in that doc's office. His nurse is utterly inefficient or maybe too backed up. Not your concern. You need responsive docs and efficiently run offices. Anything less is unacceptable. So, Chelee, don't take it personally. I honestly don't think they are keeping your results from you. They just don't know which end is up. Pathetic excuse for a doctor's office. Can you switch surgeons from here on? Get great references and move forward. You deserve the best of care!

Cancer patients are generally treated like royalty I have found in my 12 yrs of experience. That's what you should have, not further agitation. We have enough to contend with. Be good to yourself, Chelee. We all love you. Sending healing energy your way, honey... ANDI

BIG hugs!

CLTann · 06-30-2007, 07:04 PM

The slow or no response to a patient is inexcusable. Perhaps a fax machine will resolve the slow mail procedure. Tell the nurse that I am waiting for the report by the fax machine and I need the report for a second opinion.

Chelee · 06-30-2007, 08:32 PM

Shelia, My feelings exactly...that there is NO excuse. I've never had problems like this getting my reports from my surgeons office. The only thing that's changed is he knows I am not satisfied easily with words like "probably benign". I always push for more tests so I feel like they CHOOSE not to tell me thinking I would request a MRI of both sides of my chest. (Expensive!) They like to save money. I have a good relationship with his nurse...or I use too. She *always* got me my reports or read them to me over the phone. This office has NEVER done me this way...it was intentional.

Next time I won't leave until I get them in my hands if I have to sit there all day. To add insult to injury they made sure I got them in the mail the day AFTER I went down there and picked them up in person.
That was no accident. They wanted to cover their butts in case I made a complaint...then they could say they DID mail them. Argh.

Chelee

Chelee · 06-30-2007, 08:43 PM

CLTann, I never thought of telling them to FAX them to me. That is a good idea. They change their stories all the time at this place. Once they told me they *couldn't* mail them or give them to me UNTIL I came in to see the surgeon in person....that is was the ONLY way they could give me the results to any of my scans/tests. Then the next time he didn't have too. It always changes! They can't remember what they tell me from one visit to another. Thanks CLTann.

Chelee