So, after I had my ultrasound and some other intstrument listen to the blood flow in my arms, I was to go back to the doc and have him tell me the results.

When I saw him the results were done but they had not been sent up to him yet. He told me he would call me with the results. He also said he wanted to operate on me for it.

So...no one ever called me.

I called his office and the nurse was weirded out by me calling since I had seen the doctor after the test and should have surely been told about the results. I reminded her that the results were in fact done but that he did not have them in his hands. She gave me his physican assistants number to call for the results.

So i played phone tag with that assistant and finally he was able to reach me today and, guess what, he didn't have the results in his hands.

I got so mad. Why are you calling me without having the results in your hand?

He said he just remembered that the blood flow was restricted by having my arms over my head.

I asked if veins and arteries and he said he only remembers veins on there.

I am sure I had arteries done too.

He said it is all an art and not a science. Surgery helps roughly 70 percent of people. If it affects your life have surgery.

So apparently it is all my call.

Could I have some help on what the test can actually tell us? How do I compare maybe to others? Where did you see it contstrict exactly?

How can I trust them with surgery if they wont' even tell me about this test? geesh!

Was this one of the tos drs from our drs & PTs list?
That scenario would kind of make you think , Hmmmmm
Perhaps it was a 1 time snafu, hopefully the office/staff doesn't have that happen very often.

But you'd think with many results being on CD /DVD and reports available by email or fax things would be ready for the follow up appt or phone call.


Oh, ask for copies of everything to be sent to- you imaging, reports any tests...it helps to have your own copies in case you want to take them for a look see by another doc. It's best to ask at the time of the testing , if later on they may charge you for the extra paperwork or making copies.

This kind of stuff blows my mind. If I had behaved so cavalierly in my job I can only imagine what the result would have been. I understand your reluctance to have someone who can't manage simple ministerial duties do surgery. I would run, not walk, to the nearest exit.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Kelly

Heybro,

What you describe has been my general experience with the University/teaching systems in my area (UCLA, UCI), and even some group practices (Kerlan-Jobe). I've had much better experience with physicians in private practice.

I consulted 4 vascular surgeons before I selected the one I felt was right for me. I would have traveled out of state if I hadn't found anyone local to my satisfaction.

Good point Jo-mar.

I should really request all the paper work be sent to me AND THEN GO BACK TO THAT DOCTOR with the paper work IN MY HANDS. And say, these are the tests that YOU HAD ME DO HERE, can you please have a look at them and tell me what you think?

hahahahahahahaha!

I'll go walk the paper work up from downstairs no problem!

No, he was not on any list from here. I had found him doing a search on vascular doctors and actually it is not a university or anything but one of the top named hospitals in my area. ugh.

i will get the paper work and go to the doc that is on the list.

i really really appreciate your support. it is just crazy.

Kelly - exactly! if i messed things up like this at my job (which has no impact to human life).... I'd be paying big time for it!

ugh.

it just really helps to vent about this.

i get more information from you guys, who are not doctors at all, and nothing from the real doctors. they can't even tell me if it is nerological or veins or arteries!

i went in telling them i had TOS. if i would have went in and played dumb, they probably would have sent me home with no diagnosis what so ever.

geesh!

Oh, definitely! I've gone to various neurosurgeons, orthopedists, internists and chiropractors & not one ever mentioned TOS. Or that cervical rib that is so obvious on xrays.

But at least they agree with you, right?