Am I going to lose my Wizard?🙀

[DRunnerchick]

Hello to all my fellow comrades fighting the good fight!🫶💪🏽🙏🏼🦓🦄🌟✨

I got a call from my neuro Wizard’s office last week saying they needed to reschedule my 14 July appointment because he was going to be out of the office (mind you, my appt. was already supposed to be a 6 week f/u from the end of April but he was booked out). So, I’m thinking to myself that this is just peachy…

Heather: casually says, “ I just don’t know where I can fit you in, can you hold?”

Me: “Of course.”

Heather:”Thanks. Let me see where I can fit in next week. He won’t be here because he’s leaving.”

Me: “Do you know where he’s going, or if you can’t say….

Heather:”Haven’t a clue but maybe you can ask him during your appointment. I can fit you in Monday at 3:45. Does that work?”

Me:”Perfect. Thank you so much!”

I was floored! I got the impression that I was on the short list of patients that he needed to see before he left. I have been his patient for 5 years and really didn’t see this coming at all. I know things have changed where he’s at. (I’m in the U.S.) I’ve known him since he was a epilepsy fellow at the University hospital and was treating my daughter. Then he taught for a year there after fellowship. Left and did research and eventually landed in private practice attached to a community hospital. He loved the office and his 3 colleagues. Then, sometime around 2018, the Uni hospital bought out the community hospital. I wondered if it would affect the practice. Then around 2020 they started changing the logos😮I was hoping it wouldn’t change it for him since I knew he left once before.

The pandemic was hard on people in healthcare and patients. At my last visit, he had just gotten back from being out for three weeks— 1st his dad had emergency cardiac surgery back in CT. While there, he contracted Covid so he had to quarantine. Then he had to wait to test negative before he could fly back (he said his sister was a pain)🤦🏽 So all his patients had to be rescheduled. Talk about work piling up. I really feel for him. He looked rough around the edges and he always looks so professional, so I knew he dragged himself in. I just wonder if it was the final straw. I don’t know.

I know I will feel adrift without his care. My PCP has been lacking for quite some time. I’ve been with her for over 10 years. Practice mgmt has changed, not for the better. I always had the Wizard to get things done though- or so I thought. It is possible he will be on my insurance but doubtful. They usually have to sign a noncompete clause unless they are moving out of the area.

I really don’t have the brain cells to spare right now. My daughter is currently being worked up for carcinoids/neuroendocrine tumors. She’s been quite sick lately. It’s been so frustrating trying to keep tabs on the doctor/provider screw ups, and trying to catch them or prevent them before x,y or z happens. Who IS watching the watchers?🙆‍♀️

Thanks for letting me vent. I just needed to let that out. Y’all have a wonderful day! Smell the roses 🌹✨

D🏃🏽‍♀️

[honeybug]

OMGOODNESS D. 🥰

Sooooo sorry about all of this hun.

I’m in Michigan and this has happened to me too many times to recall.

I’m so sorry about your daughter. I pray she’ll be alright.

The stress you’re under is immense.

My heart and empathy go out to you.

I just said a special prayer for you and your family.

Take care sweetie. Much love.

EJ 🤗♥️🥰🙏🕊🤝🌿🌸🦋

[DRunnerchick in reply to honeybug]

Thank you EJ. All prayers are appropriated!😘

[honeybug in reply to DRunnerchick]

Most welcome sweetie. 🥰

[stiff19]

sorry to hear your news I hope all will resolve well, best wishes to you and your daughter 🤗🙏

[DRunnerchick in reply to stiff19]

Thanks Stiff. I hope you are doing well. I know I’ve been hit or miss around here lately with everything going on in my neck of the woods the last little bit. It’s hard for me to keep up on just the usual stuff when the doctors aren’t doing what they’re supposed to be doing.

I’ve had to instruct my daughter on pre-lab prep because she didn’t get it from the doctor or the lab (it’s a 5-HIAA , serotonin metabolite so you can’t have food that boost serotonin like bananas or fruit in general, tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline or notriptyline, or caffeine for 3 days before and during the 24hr test). If you don’t prep, the test is inaccurate. Makes me think PCP/GP should not be ordering highly specialized tests if they don’t know about them. You would think a Uni lab would do that but then again, they have to send it to Arup Lab (Utah) for processing.🤦🏽‍♀️

[stiff19 in reply to DRunnerchick]

Hi I’m ok thanks . I know what you mean I haven’t been seen still .Thank goodness your daughter has you 🙏 sorry to hear of your wizard moving on, it’s seems to happen a lot, my good left a few years ago because of system beuracracy and was as sad at leaving as I was sad he was leaving. Medical care is being hit hard here too, no one filling positions.i feel your loss snd your struggles all round ,here’s hoping the one you are being referred to will be a good one. 🤞🙏Swim dory 🐟 swim. Love and best wishes to you and yours 🤗xx

[KayHimm]

Oh, this is like being in a boat with no paddles. I have been there before. But try to remember he could just be transferring to a nearby hospital. You have the legal right now to follow him.

Deep breaths.

😘😘Kay

[DRunnerchick in reply to KayHimm]

I just got off my video appointment. He’s moving out of state. He’ll be around until mid- August. The practice will then be down to 1 FT and 1 PT (2 days/wk). They are looking to hire another neurologist but haven’t yet. He’s leaving due to administering issues. He’s moving to a private practice that does more neurophysiology, which is his specialty.

[DRunnerchick]

As Dori the fish says,”Just keep swimming!”🐠🐠🐠

I will hopefully find out where he’s going during my appointment this afternoon. 🤞

[thestorm]

O boy dear DR. Your hen house is full, but not laying eggs. 😇The rose is just beautiful 🌹, and smells so sweet!! I'm in N.Y. and the same things are happening here with Doctors and Specialist. Community hospital here was bought by corporate medicine, and over 3 years, I have lost most precious care Doctors, no replacement's, my insurance won't jump states, I'm literally stuck, corporate hospital wants patients to drive 3 hours one way just for an appointment. What is so going on behind the curtains in this country with care. My PCP is no good, unless you have a hang nail. ..... Ask right out to your Specialist next Monday, are you staying in service for my care. Neurologist are hard to come by.tell him that I fully understand your fears. All my prayers going out to you and your daughter , try and stay calm, remember you are large and in charge, a fighter, and loved so very much. We are here for you , please keep us informed on you, and your daughters journey. Much 💕 and cyber soft hugs from me and Storm

[KayHimm]

What a loss. Very sorry. He will miss having you as a patient. All of us here who know your struggles realize how much you will miss him.

Take care 🏃‍♀️.

😘 K

[DRunnerchick in reply to KayHimm]

I WILL miss him. I told him his new patients are 🍀 lucky to have him and that from day one, I never worried about my care with him. I knew he was brilliant and would figure it out. I always felt I was in good hands. Godspeed to him!

At least he is offering his colleague who has been in that office. I haven’t had care by him but I have did have an EMG by the other doctor (the one who just went PT) and she was fantastic. I’m guessing she is nearing retirement age. I think the one I’m being referred to might be late 40s-50ish. He’s a little older than the Wizard. Still younger than me.

I understand the insurance fiasco. I live near the only University hospital in my state and the largest metro area. I’ve live here for the past decade or so and in that time, the hospital went from being Pill Hill with the main hospital, children’s hospital and Shriner’s plus half a dozen clinics to a broad system that bought out community hospitals and their associated clinics, and another smaller system outright. Some they started rebrand by saying they were associated partners to give better, comprehensive care across however many counties. Then they eventually changed the names outright and erased the culture and “feel” of the other entities entirely. But you still can’t seem to get a stinking appointment in a timely manner.🤬🤷‍♀️

D🏃🏽‍♀️

[Hidden]

Well the picture is lovely at least. Try not to stress it will only make things worse.Hoping your daughter gets good news.

[DRunnerchick in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Stills. I’d say,”No news is good news” but, it probably means they have just dropped the ball. (Follow the bouncing ball 🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾😂😂😂At least I still have my sense of humor. Here’s another picture.

Peonies

[CecilyParsley]

Oh no 😞. I am so very sorry to hear this. He has been such a wonderful doctor.. Can he recommend someone he thinks is a good alternative? I am so very sorry about your daughter. I hope everything goes well for her. What a huge worry for you both. Sending love and big Cwtches your way xxx

[DRunnerchick in reply to CecilyParsley]

Thanks CP. Hugs (gently) to you love.

He is leaving me with the FT doctor in the office and a 3month f/u. I have never met this doctor or even seen his shadow. He did say it would be a longer appointment because I haven’t seen him before. I’m guessing it’s the formality of establishing care even though it is in the same office. The office staff will call me to book it end of September…but I bet it’s much later than that with them down one doctor and the other going to only 2days/week. It’s going to be messy. We’ll see how it goes. If it gets bad, my daughter has offered to put in with her neuro who is also with the University but at a different office. She’s willing to share. I don’t think hers is taking new patients other than consults at the mo, but might make an exception for family members with rare ish.

Time will tell. We have bigger fish to fry right now. I’m trying to keep my girl together while we get her through the diagnostic process and treated. Gotta keep the darn system from killing her in the process or because of the process. Healthcare is killing Medicine. And Medicine is killing the People.😿😡

[CecilyParsley in reply to DRunnerchick]

I hope you and your daughter hold each other up at such a difficult time. Lots of love xxx

[DRunnerchick]

Like Thelma and Louise holding Healthcare hostage!🤣🤣🤣