Uh-Oh Call about bone density

Kathy · #1 (**permalink**) 03-14-2009, 12:30 AM

Cathy, That is great. It sounds like you are doing all the right things to get to surgery. I know it can't come soon enough. I only have a few more days and it seems like an eternity. Your patience and diligence will pay off. As Dr. Garcia told me, "You have more knowledge on ADR than the nurses that will be taking care of you have". And it's all thanks to these boards. You will be glad that you did all that you are doing to make sure that you make the best decision for you.

On a funny note, Did you pray for patience? We always joke to never pray for patience; because God gives it to you by making you be patient!

treefrog · #2 (**permalink**) 03-14-2009, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kathy Earhart

On a funny note, Did you pray for patience? We always joke to never pray for patience; because God gives it to you by making you be patient!

LOL - that's funny, thanks.

treefrog · #3 (**permalink**) 03-18-2009, 04:48 PM

I am still waiting to get my medical records in the mail. It is driving me crazy. I want to move forward, toward surgery, and I am stuck. This is so frustrating.

Do you guys think I should do something about trying to find out what happened to my records when they were supposed to have been sent the last time? I mean should I be worried about where they ended up? I am wondering if I should call the place that copies the records and mails them out, and asking them to track it down and see if they can retrieve them. I don't think I want my records just ending up somewhere, where I have no clue. Isn't there some HIIPA violation at work here? Though I don't know how they are supposed to get records to people (offices) without some risk of privacy violations.

mmglobal · #4 (**permalink**) 03-18-2009, 08:13 PM

I'm curious about your hip scores. Your t-score average L1-L4 of -1.5 does not sound that bad, but the localized -2.5 at L1 raises some questions.

treefrog · #5 (**permalink**) 03-19-2009, 03:36 PM

Yeah, it was very strange that the scores got better the farther down my spine it scanned. But I know this isn't all the data that came out of my test, because I didn't see anything about the wrist or hip and they scanned those too. I guess I will see what they say when I see the Dr. next Thursday.
**edit: Oh, so wait - you are saying my hip scores, is that the femur?

Is there anything in particular I should ask?

Still no sign of my medical records.

phylly · #6 (**permalink**) 03-19-2009, 05:48 PM

Cathy,
I cannot believe that you still have not received your records. Isn't that a pain. Can you obtain them when you go in for your visit? I hope you can find out where they were sent, stuff like that also drives me crazy. Hang in there.
Phylly

treefrog · #7 (**permalink**) 03-20-2009, 07:40 PM

I wrote out the timeline for getting my medical records. I had planned on waiting till early next week before calling again, and maybe I should have. But I couldn't bear the thought of waiting all through the weekend, without knowing if any progress was being made. So, I called my doctors office, only left a message. I figure I will let them tell me how long is reasonable to wait.

But, if I still haven't gotten them by next Thursdays appointment with the osteoporosis doc, then I am going to ask them to copy them as I wait. I'm tired of waiting. It is almost the end of March, and back in January I had 'planned' on having surgery in March or at least early April. This is the timing that works well for us financially (as well as can be, and as early as financially possible), though not as ideal for my job. For my job, ideally, I would have already had surgery.

I know, as evidenced by people here, that having surgery with Dr. B can come about very quickly. Though, as far as airfare, buying a little farther out is beneficial. And I still need to figure out the finances, exactly where to get the funds. I imagine that a medical loan requires some sort of estimate of costs. That is one option, another is credit cards, though I don't know if the hospitals can/will take that as payment. At the very least, things like airfare, hotels, and food can go on credit cards.

I have a feeling that after all this waiting and not being able to do anything, all of a sudden there will be so many things to do, and not enough time to do them. I'm not looking forward to that part either.

I think I should start making lists, I do have some already. For instance, I don't know when I should approach my PM doc about extra meds to take with me, and asking to make sure she will treat me after having surgery abroad. I also think that I should ask the surgeon that I saw in the same practice, Dr. Musante, if he will be willing to treat me if I need it after having surgery elsewhere. Does that need to be done before I go, maybe not.

I'm so afraid that there are things that I should be doing now, but I don't know what they are.