Being assertive vs being a jerk

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I’ve been to the hospital recently with nausea and vomiting that won’t stop.

They took good care of me and got my symptoms under control,

Then referred me to another doctor that I was to see ASAP.

You call the office, it immediately puts you on hold to let you know you’re tenth in queue,

After about twenty minutes some sassy lady comes on and asks you to go back on hold.

Several minutes later, a woman answered, I told her I had been in the hospital and needed to be seen as soon as I could.

She made me the first available appointment, in ■■■■■■■ June.

Not acceptable.

I told them I need an emergency appointment or to be worked in sometime much sooner than that.

So she left a message for the doctor and told me to wait two days for a response.

Sick, I waited two days and called back, going through the whole waiting on hold forever thing.

Doctor hasn’t responded yet.

So I left a message for the office manager and called the ER doctor.

SHE called and got the same ■■■■■■■■.

Had to leave a message for the office manager too.

Now it’s been a week and I’m sick, also pissed off.

They haven’t called me or helped at all.

Today, I’m going up there and making a scene.

I won’t leave without an appointment.

Is that too much?

I don’t see another way.

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I really wished specialty clinics priorized patients based on needed. I have seen too many times patients wait long periods of time for appointments and they need immediate care.

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With some doctors you just have to wait for months to get an appointment. I have had that experience with a neurologist and a periodontist.

Sometimes they have slots for emergency appointments.

I’m in a different country though! But it might be universal.

It’s easier to get an appointment with a pdoc here.

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geez, yeah, sucks. what do You think your illness is.

I know you shouldn’t self-diagnose, but sometimes you can.

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Be a jerk if you have to be.

These doctors and nurses become so inured to the situations, that you just become a number in their waiting line.

I’ve raised hell a few times when my daughters were young and ill. It was the only way to get any medical attention for them.

Good luck. Hope you’re feeling better. :low_brightness:

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Show up at the office and vomit on their floors until they see you.

At this point, it’s still being assertive. You tried being polite and following the chain of command, and they still screwed you over.

Jerks are people who go straight to stubborn demands without trying other options first.

Continuous vomiting can cause you serious internal damage, as well as dehydration and malnutrition.

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I think waiting for Dr appointments in the U.S. has gotten a lot worse in recent years for a variety of reasons. It didn’t used to be like this.

Good luck

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I would call the ER doctor again (since it seems that you can get that doctor on the phone). Explain your situation to the doctor, and provide her with the specialist’s fax # and email. Also, ask the ER doctor if she can do a video consult with the specialist, if needed. Lastly, ask the ER doctor for a referral to another specialist. In the meantime, you can talk to a pharmacist.

It’s frustrating, but doctors are much more likely to respond to other doctors than patients, especially patients they haven’t seen before.

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you need to check this asap.

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I would find a different office. I’ve driven 2-3 hours one way to get in sooner. The only cardiologist in the entire state that specializes in one of my conditions it took me a year on a wait-list to even get to make an appointment. I’ve been waiting 2 years now and my first appointment isn’t until middle of September. And he’s about 2.5 hours north of here, so that’s going to suck since it’ll be a regular visit type thing.

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They’ll just call an ambulance and send her to the ER.

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Honestly, I think you have a good plan, IMO. Show up there, in person, and demand to have an urgent (soon) appointment. If it were me, I’d tell them the graphic details of what you’re dealing with. No sugar coating. Just spit out the horrific details.

Make them see how much you’re dealing with.

Good luck. :blue_heart::purple_heart:

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Say that chronic vomiting and nausea require urgent attention because it can be the symptons of a life threatening condition and that neglecting you that is putting your life in danger. treaten to sue them in the future for the consequences of their neglect. that may trigger some action that needs to be taken.

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wow, yes go in…so sorry this is happening.

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Well, I called and bitched them out.

Fully expecting them to hang up on me and I would have to see another physician.

Surprise!

They DO have an appointment available.

Tomorrow.

I don’t care if I pissed them off,

I got an appointment.

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Try to get admitted to the hospital
Then you’ll be able to see gi doctors right away

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Nice job @Charles_Foster . You got it done.

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@Charles_Foster - I hope your appointment goes well!

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Woohoo! That’s great. I hope you have a good appointment, tomorrow.

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Right on. Good job.