Mild vent re appointment changes

[Thinkimjob]

I was all set for a two hour MRI on June 12. (This is to look at my coiled brain aneurysm, and MS in all areas.)

I had arranged appointments to follow with the neurosurgeon first, then the MS specialist who is very keen on Tysabri, then a second MS specialist.

He was there after I had the sub arachnoid haemmorhage.
I thought he'd be good for a second opinion. He was the least crucial link in the chain, but he can't see me in June anymore, only in July.

My mother, bless her, has changed ALL these appointments, without asking me.

The MRI is now a month later, and I have been psyching myself up for it.

The appointments are all out of my carefully chosen order.

I had booked a week off work, I'll have to change that too, if she hasn't done it already.

The first I knew of this was yesterday. Had she, or the various neuro offices, and the MRI people rung ME, I would have sorted something else out.

It is irrational to be angry with her, but I am soooo annoyed.

[michelerenee]

That stinks! How old are you? Why would she change without consulting you first?

Maybe clear this up with her so it doesn't happen again..

good luck

Micheel

[Redwings]

WOW! What a mess!

I have to disagree that it's irrational of you to be angry with your mother for changing your appointments. Anger is a completely appropriate reaction. Even if she meant well, your mom overstepped. (There's obviously a story behind that.) It sounds more like you're feeling guilty about it because the object of your anger is your own, dear mum. What you might do because of your anger might be irrational, but the initial feeling of anger isn't. You would be justifiably angry if someone else had done it.

It's also appropriate for you to be rationally angry at your medical professionals for changing your appointments based only on the word of someone who apparently isn't authorized to speak for your health. In the US, all of those medical providers would be guilty of violating medical privacy laws, subject to government sanctions. I hope you aren't feeling so guilty about your anger that you don't bring it up with them to prevent it from happening again.

I hope you get it all straightened out soon.

[Thinkimjob]

Oh there are issues. She's down as my next-of-kin, so I suppose that authorizes her to oh, turn off life support, but change appointments?

I've been on the phone half the day, getting increasingly furious.

Despite making these arrangements three months ago, despite sending referrals, and making sure they'd got them,

despite all three neurologists working in the same hospital, apparently I have to see them in that order.
Because dr a ordered the scan first, dr b can't see it until she has.

But they're different scans, says I, for two different things.
As for why didn't you ring me, not my mother, and tell me there was a problem - um, erm, um, yes, no, communication slip up, sorry. Three times?

Now I'm worried she has somehow got a leftover medical Power of Attorney from when I was at death's door and basically unconscious for a fortnight post burst aneurysm.

I do remember giving permission for the first lot of surgery, but not for the next two operations.

They did have to give approval for a shunt, they told me, but thankfully that wasn't necessary.

Is this possible? Or do those things automatically lapse when you come good?

She's going to have to come off my n-o-k list. Ironically, I'm her n-o-k.
I did ask how she'd feel if I changed all her arrangements. "I was only trying to help," she says, and had a little cry.

[rdmc]

WOW! What a mess!


It's also appropriate for you to be rationally angry at your medical professionals for changing your appointments based only on the word of someone who apparently isn't authorized to speak for your health. In the US, all of those medical providers would be guilty of violating medical privacy laws, subject to government sanctions. I hope you aren't feeling so guilty about your anger that you don't bring it up with them to prevent it from happening again.

I hope you get it all straightened out soon.

Yeah, now that is one thing good (sometimes it can be a pain) about our health care laws. They're called HIPPA laws with is some acronym for a long name having to do with privacy, as Redwings said.

You sign papers about who the provider can and can't talk to about your health, and who they can and can't release test results etc. to. Even whether they can leave a voicemail is covered by the law.

The only time I've wished I didn't have them is when I'm too ill to go get a test result and need someone other than my DH to pick them up. Then you have to get a form, sign it to include the person who's going to pick up your records, and have them take that with them. My husband is on my HIPPA forms, so now I've started adding one of my sisters, as well as my husband to the form, and it helps.

Your mom was way out of line. Did the original provider who changed give any reason? Drives me crazy, I've had a provider postpone appts., Then put the shoe on the other foot, and if the patient tries to get in and have them rearrange their schedule to fit in what I consider an emergency situation, that's not going to happen.

Sorry you have to wait.