Posted by akc on November 28, 2001, at 16:29:38
In reply to thyroid, depression, doctors, and HMOs, posted by mist on November 28, 2001, at 15:24:27
I doubt the doctor is putting people with other health plans before you. Usually it is just hard to get in to see a specialist -- especially the first time. Specialist seem to reserve spots according to certain formulas -- if they do surgeries, then those first, then established patients according to diagnosis, then finally new patients. And if the specialist is especially good or if the specialist is one of a few in a particular HMO (i.e., sees lots and lots of patients), then it is even more difficult to get into. So being a new patient -- that pretty much explains the delay. It has to be so frustrating.
It is funny -- I had a cat with a thyroid problem that was never tested. The test was expensive, but she had all these other signs that she had a thyroid problem. So the vet suggested we try the thyroid medicine and see what would happened. I was assured that for a short term test, it wouldn't hurt her, and depending on her response, it could very much help her. Sometimes I wonder why we just don't take that approach with us humans. I wonder what the risk would be.
akc
poster:akc
thread:85423
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011123/msgs/85429.html