Appointments

[susanep]

I am getting worse at this all the time. How do I stop canceling appointments? I cancelled my last appointment to the OBGYN which I need done. My hubby rescheduled a better time for me, and explained to them how easily I feel so bad and tired.

I had to get a new referral for the time I tried to cancel and reschedule for my pulmonologist appointment. Now I know better on that one. I did finally see him, and he put me down for 4 months later. That helped some.

Today, I called to see if I could get into my regular nurse practitioner due to my throat sore, and running a low grade fever. Now the the hot, glaring sun outside it doesn't seem worth it with how I will feel after ward. To be worked in I would probably have to sit there a long time, so I am thinking of getting an appointment and going in Monday if I can.

This has got to change for me. It makes me feel like my life is so out of control. At the nurse practitioners where we go, they told my husband last time they now have a counselor there on certain days. Maybe I need to see her.

susanep

[litliwlowa]

I go through spells where I can have consecutive weeks of 2 or 3 appts followed by a long awaited "vacation" from doctors.

I don't know what to tell you except I manage it by lightening my "load" on day to day activities on those appt weeks, rest up a day or two ahead of an appt, as I know from experience I'll be wiped out afterwards.

Over time, I have requested the respective followup to either be pushed up or pushed back depending on the specialist. That seems to have helped not have so many come up at the same time.

Also, since I am at my peak energy in the mornings, I try to schedule my appts in the mornings, preferably first appt if available. Afternoon appts wipe me out too much.

On your consideration of seeing the counselor, if you think that would be helpful, by all means go for it.

I rarely have to cancel an appt - learned the bumpy road way that resting more the day before gets me through the appt without too much of a flare in the aftermath.

[warmwaters]

I hear you about the appointments. I do try to pace myself on them, only 1 per week, or do a "batch up" where I get two done on the same day at the same place. But I usually need help to pull that off.

I also have IBS, which means an appointment that I've waited 4 months for can get disrupted if my diarrhea won't let me get out of the house. I usually call and ask if they can work me in later in the day, if I can get it under control.

I've figured out my best time is between 10-12.  I have enough energy then.  I used always take the first appt of the day but I can't do that anymore - too many issues first thing in the morning.

It's hard when you need help, but you're too sick and tired to go and get it. Can your hubby help with the driving? 

[irish]

I have gone through this myself at times. It gets so old going to the doctor and this week and next week are so busy with doctors. Yuck!!! I have had times lately when I wanted to cancel and I am learning to make myself get ready and go. I know that I need to go, but I feel so ill most mornings that it isn't fun getting ready.

I do know that when I get in the car and get going my frame of mind improves even though my body doesn't. The good thing about a doctors apt is that it feels so darned good to come home and sit in my chair. Hang in there. It might be that you need to talk with a counselor just to talk with someone who isn't a relative or sick themselves. We chronically ill people do have trouble hanging out with "normal" people and I think the social deprivation is hard on us.

All of us from this site should probably line up and go with you and have a grand old time. It might perk us all up!!!! Good luck. Irish

[sixty]

I find myself cancelling appts. quite often too.  I just try to make them later in the day and it sometimes helps a lot.  One thing I try not to do is beat myself up over it.  It's just something I can't help depending upon my pain level when I wake up and try to overcome.  If I call to cancel any appts. the staff is usually understanding when I explain the reason. 

[susanep]

Irish that is funny about lining everyone up. Now that would be worth it. lol.. Seriously though, it is true that I can feel stuck in being a sick person image all the time, and my closest physical buddies are my doctors so to speak. 

I really do need to get out more, but not on bright sunny days.

susanep

[quietdynamics]

I have needed to rest a day or two before appts just to get there.
And that is with DH driving me to the ones which are a distance away, parking,etc.
Just roll out of bed, shower, dress, not make-up, what Dr. sees .. is what I live.
Sypmtoms are on running outline on Word.
Dr. and Meds on Chart I made on Word.. update all night before .. Hit Print.

I make all standing appts the same month. So RX are filled same month too.

Missed one appt. Son was driving me and symptoms were so outrageous ( it was early in journey) he took me to ER.

Early during this I wished they had a medical building where we could just start .. and have all appts in one day.. In my mind it was a giant lego man..start at head for Neurologist.. work our way down and then out to parking.. whew. 

[Carolina]

1.  Appointments for 10 am.  This is early enough the doctor isn't running too late yet, and we can miss the rush hour traffic getting there, and 10 am is about when I start having the energy I'll have for the day.

2.  Most of my doctors automatically schedule the next appointment at the current appointment.

3.  All of my doctors are 'on line' and I get email reminders and phone reminders the week before.  AND I put them on my computer calendar which reminds me the day before and the day of the appointment.

4.  All I do is the appointment on that day.  Next week I see my Immunologist on Monday, have my IVIG on Tuesday, see my cardiologist on Thursday.  All appointments before noon (the IVIG appointment takes 4 hours however).

5. I can call my Primary Care and see her nurse practitioner on the same day.

6.  I can make appointments on line.

7.  I can send questions through the messaging system on my computer to any doctor.  The doctors are on a drop down menu.

This is the Duke University Medical Center System.  It is amazing.  We moved here for this very reason.

Still, being plagued with a chronic illness (illnesses) is never easy and always stressful. 

One of the best sources of help is 'counseling', having someone to listen to you, objectively.  I have used it constantly for 50 years.

Hugs,  Elaine