topic Re: How long would you wait? in Wellness

How long would you wait?

ellaphant — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 20:28:21 GMT

My thyroid sonogram and biopsy results were sent to an Endocrinologist by my Internist on 9/14. Still, no call for an appointment. The results were not terrible ( cells are undetermined) but still a 20% - 40% chance of Cancer though most nodules are benign. I am concerned. My doctor told me to be patient. How long would you wait before reaching out to another Endocrinologist?

Re: How long would you wait?

tends2dogs — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 16:58:27 GMT

Knowing how nerve wracking this is, @ellaphant , I am afraid that you wouldn't get in any sooner with another specialist. We have been waiting close to 2 months to see a pulmonary doc and oncologist for my DH after going to the ER in July! His primary even put a stat on it. Needless to say, my DH is beside himself waiting.

Hopefully, your internist saw nothing on your test results to feel alarmed about. I know that doesn't help matters.

I hope you hear from someone tomorrow!

Re: How long would you wait?

chrystaltree — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 16:58:43 GMT

I'd wait 7 or 8 business days and then I'd reach out to them re the appointment.

Re: How long would you wait?

DrakesMomma — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 17:03:58 GMT

Does this provider have a patient portal that you might be able to see the lab results?

But, having been where you are if they haven't called by now perhaps it will be ok news. 21 years ago I had surgery, a follow up appointment for 10 days out and the surgeon's office called two days later "needing" me to come in. It was cancer.

Hoping no news is ok news for you

Re: How long would you wait?

millieshops — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 17:07:05 GMT

@ellaphant how long I would wait would vary from one area to another. Several years ago, I got recommendations for several endocrinologists. The first group I called had 25 on staff and the wait for new patients was 4 months. I tried the other group only to find out the wait for a new patient appointment was 7 months. Where I am now, the wait is less but still a whole month.

Unless your doctor is very concerned that you be seen immmediately 5 days seems premature to move on to another practice.

Re: How long would you wait?

ellaphant — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 17:45:31 GMT

@DrakesMomma wrote:
Does this provider have a patient portal that you might be able to see the lab results?

But, having been where you are if they haven't called by now perhaps it will be ok news. 21 years ago I had surgery, a follow up appointment for 10 days out and the surgeon's office called two days later "needing" me to come in. It was cancer.

Hoping no news is ok news for you

I know my results. The tests were concerning. Larger than normal nodule. Cell type undetermined Cancer chances 20- 40%.

Re: How long would you wait?

Glittergal — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 17:50:51 GMT

I would give them a little more time. I also have thyroid nodules with one being quite large. I also went through a biopsy (it was quite painful). It's very nerve wracking to wait. Wishing you all the best going forward.

Re: How long would you wait?

granddi — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 18:19:49 GMT

When I have the thought to change doctors, I always ask myself if the new doc would be any different.

I had an MRI of the skull and was terified that I had a tumor. I waited 5 days like I was told to do. I finally went to the imaging center and got a copy of my report and disc. The report said blah, blah, negative for pathologies....I never got a call from the ordering doc or never posted on electronic records. I gave it to my PCP for my official record.

Funny thing, when I picked up the report, the receptionist said "your doc had this faxed to him at 4pm."...my test was at noon of the same day. Waiting for any test result is agonizing.

Re: How long would you wait?

Trinity11 — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 18:42:56 GMT

@ellaphant wrote:
My thyroid sonogram and biopsy results were sent to an Endocrinologist by my Internist 5 days ago. Still, no call for an appointment. The results were not terrible ( cells are undetermined) but still a 20% - 40% chance of Cancer though most nodules are benign. I am concerned. My doctor told me to be patient. How long would you wait before reaching out to another Endocrinologist?

Honestly, @ellaphant , when it comes to medical issues I learned many years ago the squeaky wheel gets oiled. The person who acts swiftly and refuses to take no for an answer gets service. Being aggressive but polite works!

I would call the endo's office myself, express urgency and I would not wait for them to initiate the call. If they brush you off, I would find another endo.

Please let us know how it works out. Praying for a positive outcome.

Re: How long would you wait?

kitcat51 — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 19:04:10 GMT

I've found that most appts have to be patient driven, communication between Dr offices is poor & that goes for calling in prescriptions & insurance claims too. I would call tomorrow morning & get things going...don't wait for them @ellaphant. I tore my meniscus in May & after endless primary Dr visits, xray, MRI, an Urgent Care visit I'm finally going to see an Orthopedic surgeon next week...my knee has already healed but my Dr still wants me to go, Hey, what's another big bill from all this hurry up & wait nonsense. Ugh

Re: How long would you wait?

YorkiMom — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 19:39:13 GMT

My DH is a retired radiologist who use to perform thyroid biopsies. He said if he ever got an undetermined results the biopsy would need to be repeated. Undetermined is not good enough. It should be either negative or exactly what type of cells it is. It could be a sampling error.

Re: How long would you wait?

ellaphant — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 21:06:16 GMT

@YorkiMom wrote:
My DH is a retired radiologist who use to perform thyroid biopsies. He said if he ever got an undetermined results the biopsy would need to be repeated. Undetermined is not good enough. It should be either negative or exactly what type of cells it is. It could be a sampling error.

Thank you BeachTime. I know and agree AND it could aslo be a 20-40% chance of CANCER! Which is why I am freaking waiting for the Endocrinologist office to schedule me!!

Re: How long would you wait?

NYCLatinaMe — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 22:26:04 GMT

@ellaphant I don't have thyroid issues, but saw an endocrinologist earlier this year, she had a concern about my results for my lab test and asked me to come in again in a very short amount of time. After the second blood panel, she called me to discuss the results within a day or 2. I have never waited as long as you have for follow-up on test results, but maybe this is a geographic issue. Are medical facilities overwhelmed with covid patients where you are? Our medical facilities are not.

Re: How long would you wait?

apt901 — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 02:57:54 GMT

I am not very patient and would likely be calling the doctors office myself.today. As someone else posted you most likely are going to have to be the proactive one.

That being said, some insurance companies have case managers or nurse advocates who might be able to help move this along.

Re: How long would you wait?

CelticCrafter — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 12:08:46 GMT

The wait in NJ for new patients to see an endocrinologist is at least 3 months.

Even then you have to be persistent because they will tell you "well, the doctor really isn't seeing new patients. Maybe have your primary care doctor fax the records and then it's on a case by case basis after the doctor looks them over."

Re: How long would you wait?

michmi — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 14:10:25 GMT

If you have a general surgeon you trust, I'd proactively make an appointment with him/her and ask their opinion. An endo would just send you there anyway if they decide the nodule(s) need to come out.

If you don't, I'd wait for the endo appointment. Thyroid cancer is slow-growing and that is why there is no urgency for them to see you.

I can tell you here in Michigan doctors are leaving medicine and my own PCP left, when I contacted the same practice to transfer to ANYONE in that practice last month, the first appointment if I didn't care what day, what time of day or even which doctor was MID-OCTOBER.

Doctors are leaving for other careers/retirement and they are not being replaced. When was the last time you heard some kid say he/she wanted to be a doctor when they grow up? Medicine is very corporate now and everything run by insurance/health systems.

Re: How long would you wait?

gertrudecloset — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 20:07:18 GMT

@michmi wrote:
If you have a general surgeon you trust, I'd proactively make an appointment with him/her and ask their opinion. An endo would just send you there anyway if they decide the nodule(s) need to come out.

If you don't, I'd wait for the endo appointment. Thyroid cancer is slow-growing and that is why there is no urgency for them to see you.

I can tell you here in Michigan doctors are leaving medicine and my own PCP left, when I contacted the same practice to transfer to ANYONE in that practice last month, the first appointment if I didn't care what day, what time of day or even which doctor was MID-OCTOBER.

Doctors are leaving for other careers/retirement and they are not being replaced. When was the last time you heard some kid say he/she wanted to be a doctor when they grow up? Medicine is very corporate now and everything run by insurance/health systems.

yes.

Re: How long would you wait?

gertrudecloset — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 20:13:29 GMT

@ellaphant

Many sub-specialties have an abundance of doctors and then there are those other specialities who are harder to come by.

This is State/County specific as well as regional. The good thing about having Medicare is that we can go across the country if we needed to see a specialist that is limited in our area.

Lots of OB docs; Cardiologists; but less endos and pulminologists.

You have to be proactive. They might not have even seen what your doctor sent over and might not even know it's there. Call them.

Re: How long would you wait?

ellaphant — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 20:27:32 GMT

OP here, Thank you all for your comments. I have called the Endocrinologists office 3 times. I am told she has my paper work and they will call when they are told.

My internist told me to 'be patient.' I am not at all happy.

The state of medicine is indeed terrible.

Re: How long would you wait?

icezeus — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 23:02:15 GMT

@tends2dogs wrote:
Knowing how nerve wracking this is, @ellaphant , I am afraid that you wouldn't get in any sooner with another specialist. We have been waiting close to 2 months to see a pulmonary doc and oncologist for my DH after going to the ER in July! His primary even put a stat on it. Needless to say, my DH is beside himself waiting.

Hopefully, your internist saw nothing on your test results to feel alarmed about. I know that doesn't help matters.

I hope you hear from someone tomorrow!

@tends2dogs

You mentioned an Oncologist and you have been waiting for two months without contact. I think that both you and your husband have been more then patient. It's time to escalate.