I just went thru a day from h*** & I was wondering if it is just me or do other people experience problems when given referrals by either their neurologist or GP.

I left my last neurologist because his staff was REALLY DISRESPECTFUL - REFUSING to take messages, RELAY NEED for prescriptions etc. Last week I saw a neurologist that I LOVED for the get go - seems to really be on top of things & made PROMISES of resolving so many long standing issues or at least make living with them easier.

I was given several referrals. 1 was an Internist, 1 was a physical therapist, 1 was a psychiatrist & what I thought was a DREAM 1 was a CARE COORDINATOR who would set up the appointments for all, set up the EMG for my left hand that has not worked in MONTHS, be a voice of reason & someone to listen when I ran into trouble - sounds great right?

Well I MUST HAVE called the CARE COORDINATOR 6 times - ALWAYS got a voice mail ALWAYS left a message & NO ONE CALLED ME BACK! OK I will make my own appointments. I called the psychiatrist - her secretary was foreign I have trouble understanding thick accents & when I said I did not understand what she was saying she got annoyed & HUNG UP on me. I had a referral from someone else who said they spoke to the psychiatrist, she would take my insurance & was expecting my call - 3 messages left for her & she DID NOT call back.

I made a PT appointment for this afternoon, I was really impressed with the facility & when I met the PT I was had a REALLY GOOD FEELING. We spent OVER 1/2 an hour discussing my long, sorted medical history - 20+ years with MS, Type 2 Diabetes, Asthma, etc., etc. Then he said before he could do anything physical he had to take my vitals. OK been there - done that - spent 6 days in the hospital in February I know the routine. Well he takes my blood pressure 170/130. I said "no the blood pressure cuff is too small it was very tight" he gets a larger cuff & gets equally high number. He gets the centers coordinator waits a bit. ut it is still high. The policy of the center is to call 911. I wanted to go to the ER on my own fearing that if I left my van @ the rehab I would have no way of getting back. The coordinator loaned me money to take a cab back.

Spend the rest of the afternoon being poked & prodded in the ER. They call the internist that the neurologist referred me to. With medication they get my BP down to about 133/95 & I am released & told to call the internist BEFORE 6 pm. I called up until 5:45 & all I got was a recording saying they were there until 6 pm - no way to leave a message & no one answered - huh?

Before having to retire because of the MS I worked in a professional capacity. I could get calls @ 8 am or 2 am & I took care of business I cannot understand how all of these professionals (I use this term loosely) cannot return calls?

Oh my fears about getting back to my van were justified. 3 cabs refused me because of my 11 pound service dog. The security guard in the ER even called & explained the situation they showed up saw the dog & left. I finally walked with great difficulty to the train station a few blocks away - could not figure out which train to get close to the rehab. Had to take an elevator to the upper level go across an overpass take an elevator down walk a half block (you realize I am near death by now) to a car service someone directed me to. IT WAS THE SAME CAR SERVICE THAT KEPT REFUSING TO TAKE ME. My Service Dog had her vest, identifying patches & tags on & the dispatcher argues with me about whether she is a Service Dog. I had to threaten to call the police & relayed another instance where someone refused me service & was fined $500 before they agreed to take me. Then I get a driver who DID NOT know his way around the corner let alone to the rehab & he REFUSED to follow directions from me or the dispatcher. We FINALLY got to the rehab & after spending 20 minutes wandering around the parking lot because he refused to believe me when I said you could only get to the rehab from the side street we arrived at my van. At most it should have taken 15 minutes to get to the rehab & MAYBE 35 minutes for me to get home - well from time of discharge from the hospital to the time I arrived home was OVER 3 HOURS.

I don't want to seem PARANOID or anything - but why aren't people calling me back? And hasn't anyone ever her of Federal Service Dog Laws?

Yikes! I am frazzled just listening about your day. I guess the good news is that you survived. And that which doesn't kill you will make you stronger, so you certainly can expect to one heck of a strong woman today! I've got some furniture that needs moving. Wanna come on over to help?

Seriously, though, you deserve a break today. Do something extra nice for yourself.

(((( BIG HUG ))))

im so sorry you had a bad day.

Perhaps you can call this new dream Neuro and explain what troubles you are having with his referals and ask for someone on HIS staff to help you. With MS comes congnitive issues and an inability to help co ordinate your own care can really add to the stress when those you count on drop the ball. Im sorry that the accent lady hung up on you. She should have put you on hold and gotten someone else to act as a go between. Is she the MDs wife and they refuse to get someone else? or was she just filling in for lunches? Perhaps you wont have to deal with her very much. I would report your day to your neuro and ask for help.

Why are so many folks giving you a hard time about your dog? is it not a normal "helper" style breed? Is your vest for him not the official reccognized vest? It seems you have been having doggie issues for a while now. Perhaps if you find out why folks are having such a hard time believing this dog is a real "helper" style dog you can correct it and not have to deal with it over and over.

I hope you got a long nap in after that.

I'm so sorry that you had such a horrible day..

What, exactly does your service dog do for you?

OMG, what a nightmare.

i commend you for walking all that way. i couldn't have done it.
i've had trouble with getting info and calls back but not to that extent.
i'd report it all to the referring dr. and/or ask to speak to the office mgr.

i'm glad you had your dog with you. hopefully for protection as well as safety.
i think calling the police is a good idea.

my dad had a certified hearing dog and got refused a lot too.
i'd complain to the mayor or the tv stations about the dog/cab thing.
the city should resolve that. gosh, my BP is up for you.

BTW, be sure you keep getting your BP monitored. you could even check it in the grocery store or by the pharmacist. i use a lg cuff too and know what you mean.

maybe you want to carry with you the paperwork that certifies your dog as a working dog. much the same way that we wear pads for incontinence. We'd prefer to NOT have to, but we know the consequences of not planning ahead. And the relief we get when were are glad we did the right thing.

I know I would feel disrespected if someone called me and left 6 messages. I'd get it that they needed something but if they were not my only client how could they know my priorities? I see respect as a two way street.