Visiting our Hospital Has Turned Into a Cattle Call

[officerripley]

So I had to visit our local hospital for a medical procedure looking into my stomach, a procedure that I (correctly as it turns out) didn't think I needed. Tried to convince the M.D. of that, keep telling him my problem is elsewhere, in my intestinal tract.

He says, we'll since you were diagnosed with the stomach problem 9 years ago, we have to look into that first, make sure it hasn't come back before we can look at the other area. Well, okay, so Four. Months. Later I finally get the appointment to have the stomach looked at, and like I said, the test came back "Your stomach is fine, just fine" (I coulda told them that).

But what an ordeal: they had me check in at the hospital--where the test was done--3 HOURS before they finally started the procedure. Geez, I might as well as been checking in to the airport for crying out loud. So I had to lie there on a gurney in what had literally been a storage room waiting, getting a headache from having to cut out food and water for several hours before, also lying there having to pee because I'm always like that if I haven't eaten much so I'm asking them to get me up about every 30 min. to use the restroom since I was having to wait so long.

But I finally got the procedure--an endoscopy, they send a camera down into your stomach--done and everything is normal. Like I said, I coulda told them that. So I'm gonna call my primary care M.D. tomorrow and say okay, we got that out of the way, NOW can we schedule the scans to take a look at the other area like I wanted to in the first place?!

Well, thanks for letting me rant; medicine any more feels like being treated like a farm animal.

 

[Aneeda72]

So I had to visit our local hospital for a medical procedure looking into my stomach, a procedure that I (correctly as it turns out) didn't think I needed. Tried to convince the M.D. of that, keep telling him my problem is elsewhere, in my intestinal tract. He says, we'll since you were diagnosed with the stomach problem 9 years ago, we have to look into that first, make sure it hasn't come back before we can look at the other area. Well, okay, so Four. Months. Later I finally get the appointment to have the stomach looked at, and like I said, the test came back "Your stomach is fine, just fine" (I coulda told them that). But what an ordeal: they had me check in at the hospital--where the test was done--3 HOURS before they finally started the procedure. Geez, I might as well as been checking in to the airport for crying out loud. So I had to lie there on a gurney in what had literally been a storage room waiting, getting a headache from having to cut out food and water for several hours before, also lying there having to pee because I'm always like that if I haven't eaten much so I'm asking them to get me up about every 30 min. to use the restroom since I was having to wait so long. But I finally got the procedure--an endoscopy, they send a camera down into your stomach--done and everything is normal. Like I said, I coulda told them that. So I'm gonna call my primary care M.D. tomorrow and say okay, we got that out of the way, NOW can we schedule the scans to take a look at the other area like I wanted to in the first place?!

Well, thanks for letting me rant; medicine any more feels like being treated like a farm animal.

The colonoscopy will be next since you said the word “intestine”. Personally I will do a endoscopy with no problem at all, I have stomach issues; but I refuse any more colonoscopies. I have intestinal issues and am afraid of the doctor making an error.

 

[win231]

In a couple of instances, doctors wanted to do tests that I thought were not useful or too risky. I simply said, "No."
If they repeated their request, I said, "No," again. One doctor asked me why I thought the test wasn't useful. I said, "I've been living in my body for 69 years. You just met me a couple of months ago for a 10-minute visit."

A friend's doctor insisted on a cardiac bypass surgery. My friend (70 yrs old at the time) said he didn't want it. The doctor asked, "Why?" He said, "My father died on the table during his bypass surgery." His doctor said, "The surgery is much safer now. And you have 3 coronary arteries that have blockages; if you don't have the surgery, you'll be dead in 4 or 5 months."
My friend said, "I'd rather just have the "Stent" put in; it's only a couple hours procedure & very little recovery time. And I'll change my diet & lifestyle." He made a few changes.
That was 17 years ago. He's now 87 & still rides his motorcycle.
He did have a mild heart attack last year - the day after his second Covid Booster.

 

[officerripley]

I have intestinal issues and am afraid of the doctor making an error.

Boy, I hear that. A friend of mine was having intestinal issues; they did both the upper and lower G.I. tests on him, "everything looks just fine", his intestinal issues keep getting worse and worse. Finally, they did a CAT scan of his abdomen area and guess what, there's a really bad hernia--it was so bad, the doc asked him if he'd been in a bad car wreck since he'd only seen hernias that bad on anybody after they'd been in a horrendous car wreck--tucked away between the bottom of his stomach and the top of his intestinal tract (doc says it's like the hernia tried to hide itself); the hernia had his stomach so caved in that it was sending food down into his intest. tract almost completely undigested. Anyway they repaired the hernia and that took care of the problem. But you would've thought his stomach being so caved in would've shown up on the upper G.I. but I guess someone wasn't paying attention.

I'm also having common gall bladder problem symptoms but the doc said gotta do this stomach scan first, sigh.

 

[Aneeda72]

Boy, I hear that. A friend of mine was having intestinal issues; they did both the upper and lower G.I. tests on him, "everything looks just fine", his intestinal issues keep getting worse and worse. Finally, they did a CAT scan of his abdomen area and guess what, there's a really bad hernia--it was so bad, the doc asked him if he'd been in a bad car wreck since he'd only seen hernias that bad on anybody after they'd been in a horrendous car wreck--tucked away between the bottom of his stomach and the top of his intestinal tract (doc says it's like the hernia tried to hide itself); the hernia had his stomach so caved in that it was sending food down into his intest. tract almost completely undigested. Anyway they repaired the hernia and that took care of the problem. But you would've thought his stomach being so caved in would've shown up on the upper G.I. but I guess someone wasn't paying attention.

I'm also having common gall bladder problem symptoms but the doc said gotta do this stomach scan first, sigh.

I was a patient in the hospital, the stupid radiologist read the previous years X-ray said I was fine and I got discharged. Got a phone call. His boss checked his work, realized his mistake, and back into the hospital I went. You can never be too cautious.

Had my glass bladder removed, laparoscopic surgery. Surgeon tore my liver, , yup liver surgery, hospitalized for a week. I try and avoid surgery. So mad that I have to have a new pacemaker installed.

Hope you do better than I have done

 

[Aneeda72]

In a couple of instances, doctors wanted to do tests that I thought were not useful or too risky. I simply said, "No."
If they repeated their request, I said, "No," again. One doctor asked me why I thought the test wasn't useful. I said, "I've been living in my body for 69 years. You just met me a couple of months ago for a 10-minute visit."

A friend's doctor insisted on a cardiac bypass surgery. My friend (70 yrs old at the time) said he didn't want it. The doctor asked, "Why?" He said, "My father died on the table during his bypass surgery." His doctor said, "The surgery is much safer now. And you have 3 coronary arteries that have blockages; if you don't have the surgery, you'll be dead in 4 or 5 months."
My friend said, "I'd rather just have the "Stent" put in; it's only a couple hours procedure & very little recovery time. And I'll change my diet & lifestyle." He made a few changes.
That was 17 years ago. He's now 87 & still rides his motorcycle.
He did have a mild heart attack last year - the day after his second Covid Booster.

Geez, give Covid shots a rest, will you? I’ve had 5 covid shots and no heart attack.

 

[win231]

Geez, give Covid shots a rest, will you? I’ve had 5 covid shots and no heart attack.

Geez, how 'bout YOU giving covid shots a rest? I never said his heart attack was related to his covid shot. It could have been coincidental.

 

[Kaila]

Having had the first 2 tests mentioned by above posts;
Neither stomach endoscopy nor colonoscopy (or other oscopies) are pleasant or easy or without risk or concern, so only at times when so desperate from pain, that I become more concerned about not having it than the complications of having it, I have had them both.
Myself, of the 2, the prep and the test of the stomach endoscopy was worse than the other, but hoping to not have either, again in the future!

It is very upsetting when a doctor is insisting you jump through their entire series of hoops, in order to get something checked that you actually need and want. Or in order to get their ongoing care, which might be needed in some other way.

 

[win231]

Having had the first 2 tests mentioned by above posts;
Neither stomach endoscopy nor colonoscopy (or other oscopies) are pleasant or easy or without risk or concern, so only at times when so desperate from pain, that I become more concerned about not having it than the complications of having it, I have had them both.
Myself, of the 2, the prep and the test of the stomach endoscopy was worse than the other, but hoping to not have either, again in the future!

It is very upsetting when a doctor is insisting you jump through their entire series of hoops, in order to get something checked that you actually need and want. Or in order to get their ongoing care, which might be needed in some other way.

At one doctor visit last year (they won't refill my Rx for insulin without it), the doctor asked me:
"Have you had a colonoscopy? Have you had a shingles vaccine? Have you have a flu shot? Have you had a pneumonia shot?"
Since I just wanted to get out of there with my insulin, I didn't object to the questions; I just said, "No." I was surprised they didn't suggest them. I was also surprised I wasn't asked about a Covid shot.

 

[helenbacque]

It's a lot about money. Many procedures will be pushed if they think Medicare will pay for it. Biggest fault of Medicare is that it was set up to work on the honor system and in a contest between honor and greed, greed often wins.

 

[officerripley]

It is very upsetting when a doctor is insisting you jump through their entire series of hoops, in order to get something checked that you actually need and want.

It's a lot about money

And it's also a lot about what Medicare and other insurances will allow. They've got doctors jumping through hoops as well. Very frustrating.

 

[officerripley]

Myself, of the 2, the prep and the test of the stomach endoscopy was worse than the other, but hoping to not have either, again in the future!

Same here; having to go long enough without food or water causes me to experience stuff I won't go into here and since the doctor doing the procedure is known for being competent but neither sympathetic or understanding made it a fun (not!) experience. (I'd change doctors if I could but doctors are scarce on the ground around here--and most places, I hear--so I'm stuck with what I've got. Thank goodness my primary care phys. seems to be okay.)

 

[Kaila]

And it's also a lot about what Medicare and other insurances will allow. They've got doctors jumping through hoops as well. Very frustrating.

I agree. Not all of the doctors like the steps they have to go through, either. Or the ones they have to request of their patients.

 

[brenda]

I went in for irregular heartbeats a few yrs. ago. This was the only thing I marked for "reason for this visit". I was scheduled for a pap, mamo, colonoscopy, breathing test and genetic testing. Also sat through tirade of "Do you know how many people supplements kill every yr. I want you off all supplements". I never went back. I am 70 yrs. old, had my tonsils out at 4 yrs old and take a 10mg bp pill, and all my supplements. I think they schedule what they know will pay best. And I listen to my body not some snotty...........

 

[Mrs. Robinson]

At one doctor visit last year (they won't refill my Rx for insulin without it), the doctor asked me:
"Have you had a colonoscopy? Have you had a shingles vaccine? Have you have a flu shot? Have you had a pneumonia shot?"
Since I just wanted to get out of there with my insulin, I didn't object to the questions; I just said, "No." I was surprised they didn't suggest them. I was also surprised I wasn't asked about a Covid shot.

Get your insulin OTC at Walmart. $24.88 a vial.

 

[Aneeda72]

Geez, how 'bout YOU giving covid shots a rest? I never said his heart attack was related to his covid shot. It could have been coincidental.

I have never given a Covid shot, I have taken them

 

[win231]

It's a lot about money. Many procedures will be pushed if they think Medicare will pay for it. Biggest fault of Medicare is that it was set up to work on the honor system and in a contest between honor and greed, greed often wins.

Yes, & sometimes a doctor will tailor the diagnosis for something that's covered - to make sure he gets paid.
I was waiting for a friend to get released & I was loitering outside the doctor's office door (that was partly open) & I heard his doctor say to his assistant: "We have to find something wrong with him that his insurance covers."
When he walked out of his office & saw me, he looked horrified. That will teach them to keep that door closed.

 

[Jules]

Doctors are taught to rule out the most likely reasons for a problem first. Some don’t have the sense to know that this is not a hard and fast rule and that they should forgo those steps sometimes and deal what the real problem is.

 

[win231]

Doctors are taught to rule out the most likely reasons for a problem first. Some don’t have the sense to know that this is not a hard and fast rule and that they should forgo those steps sometimes and deal what the real problem is.

And sometimes, they want to milk it as much as they can. Example:
Several years ago, I saw a dentist for a tooth infection. I was in severe pain & I knew I needed a root canal. After 28 root canals, I can tell.
The dentist told me he will put me on antibiotics for a few days before doing the root canal.
I said, "Dr, I'm not going to delay the root canal while I'm in terrible pain; I want the root canal started NOW."
He said, "You won't be in pain; I'll give you a prescription for Hydrocodone."
I said, "No, thanks. After 28 root canals, I know I'll be almost pain free as soon as treatment starts."
He kept insisting on putting me on antibiotics & Opioids.....Until I said, "Fine; I'll go somewhere else," & started getting up to leave.
When he saw that he was about to lose $1,500.00 + $1,350.00 for the crown, he said, "Relax, I can start the root canal right now."

An hour later, after the root canal, the anesthetic was almost completely worn off & I only had mild pain - didn't even need aspirin.
He was a little surprised that I was almost pain free. I explained: "The pain is mostly caused by the inflammation, so when you drill into the infected root, the pus starts to escape, relieving the inflammation, & most of the pain." As if HE didn't already know that????
Oh, & one more point: It's very easy to see why doctors are blamed for the Opioid epidemic.

 

[OneEyedDiva]

I'm so sorry you had to go through that Officer. It's too bad you didn't just refuse to have the unnecessary procedure done. We patients can do that. When are you scheduled for the test(s) you actually need?

 

[Pappy]

So I had to visit our local hospital for a medical procedure looking into my stomach, a procedure that I (correctly as it turns out) didn't think I needed. Tried to convince the M.D. of that, keep telling him my problem is elsewhere, in my intestinal tract.

He says, we'll since you were diagnosed with the stomach problem 9 years ago, we have to look into that first, make sure it hasn't come back before we can look at the other area. Well, okay, so Four. Months. Later I finally get the appointment to have the stomach looked at, and like I said, the test came back "Your stomach is fine, just fine" (I coulda told them that).

But what an ordeal: they had me check in at the hospital--where the test was done--3 HOURS before they finally started the procedure. Geez, I might as well as been checking in to the airport for crying out loud. So I had to lie there on a gurney in what had literally been a storage room waiting, getting a headache from having to cut out food and water for several hours before, also lying there having to pee because I'm always like that if I haven't eaten much so I'm asking them to get me up about every 30 min. to use the restroom since I was having to wait so long.

But I finally got the procedure--an endoscopy, they send a camera down into your stomach--done and everything is normal. Like I said, I coulda told them that. So I'm gonna call my primary care M.D. tomorrow and say okay, we got that out of the way, NOW can we schedule the scans to take a look at the other area like I wanted to in the first place?!

Well, thanks for letting me rant; medicine any more feels like being treated like a farm animal.

You just repeated what I went through two weeks ago. Hurry up and wait. Mine was the other end which the prep is miserable. Sounds like that’s next for you officeripley.

 

[jimintoronto]

The colonoscopy will be next since you said the word “intestine”. Personally I will do a endoscopy with no problem at all, I have stomach issues; but I refuse any more colonoscopies. I have intestinal issues and am afraid of the doctor making an error.

You might want to do some reading on line about the new procedure called a " Virtual Colonoscopy " which does not involve passing a scope up your rectum. This procedure uses a CT scan combined with a SMALL tube (approximately 2 inches long ( that is inserted into your rectum. The tube uses a low pressure air source to gently inflate your lower GI tract for about 5 minutes. The CT scan records the entire lower GI tract and produces visual evidence that is just as good as using a traditional scope procedure. I have had a number of traditional rectal examinations because I have had long standing Irritable Bowel Syndrome for over 30 years. I MUCH prefer the Virtual Colonoscopy, and so does my Gastro guy. I have been on Remicade infusions for 6 years, with no symptoms at all, but I still get a scope every 2 years, to be sure.

JimB.

 

[officerripley]

Thanks, I hadn't heard about the Virtual Colonoscopy, if I ever have to have another I'm going to ask for that one! I hope that the next step will be a CAT scan to check for a hernia and/or whatever they do to check for gall bladder issues. 2 people I know who were told for years that they just have IBS, 1 found out it was a hernia hidden away and had his stomach caved in to the point where it wasn't digesting his food hardly at all before it went into his intestinal tract. (And the endoscopy had shown "nothing wrong" supposedly with his stomach!) The other person, it turned out to be a gall bladder problem which they removed and she's been much better since. But I have to wait 'till the biopsy results from the endoscopy come in and then I contact my prim. care physician to move on to the next tests. Thanks for listening.

 

[Aneeda72]

You might want to do some reading on line about the new procedure called a " Virtual Colonoscopy " which does not involve passing a scope up your rectum. This procedure uses a CT scan combined with a SMALL tube (approximately 2 inches long ( that is inserted into your rectum. The tube uses a low pressure air source to gently inflate your lower GI tract for about 5 minutes. The CT scan records the entire lower GI tract and produces visual evidence that is just as good as using a traditional scope procedure. I have had a number of traditional rectal examinations because I have had long standing Irritable Bowel Syndrome for over 30 years. I MUCH prefer the Virtual Colonoscopy, and so does my Gastro guy. I have been on Remicade infusions for 6 years, with no symptoms at all, but I still get a scope every 2 years, to be sure.

JimB.

I have not heard of this either and have refused a colonoscopy but I am going to ask about this, thanks

 

[Kaila]

I'm so sorry you had to go through that Officer. It's too bad you didn't just refuse to have the unnecessary procedure done. We patients can do that. When are you scheduled for the test(s) you actually need?

We definitely do have that power to refuse, and we patients do need to remember that, and feel completely free to exercise it, if and whenever, we want to. Even if you are at the appointment to have it, when you find out something they do with it, that you do not want.

I have refused, more that a few times over the past years.
One of those that I decided to refuse once right there, I did decide to reschedule later on, after I had more fully researched the methods and reasons and options. I was then more comfortable with deciding to have it.
Another one, I decided to have done later, at a different Provider that would listen to my requests regarding it.
The others, I decided not to have at all, and was very glad not to have them. Other doctors agreed, I didn't need them!

On the other hand, and in the OP's post, I think, we sometimes decide or feel it is the best thing for our own health, after we have tried other methods, to have the unwanted and likely un-needed test or procedure, for the reason that: the doctors and/or insurance, etc, might refuse to give us the needed procedures that we do want, until after we've had the ones that they want first.
A bad spot to be in, but then, we have to decide between our options.