Annoyed with doctor's office (vent)

JessandIgli · May 2011

Yesterday I went in for my 31 week appointment and finally met the last doctor that I needed to meet (There are four in the practice). She was very nice, and during the appointment she asked me if I already had my Rhogam shot at 28 weeks. I said that no, I just did the one hour glucose at 28 weeks. She was surprised that no one had told me I needed the shot for my negative blood type, and said that it was fine if I did it this week or next. (Can't be at the lab I go to..needs to be done at the hospital).

As the receptionist was scheduling my next appointment, the doctor and nurse were in back of her checking my file and getting a paper prepared for me to get the shot. Then the doctor says, "Did you go yet for your 3 hour glucose test?" I said, "No, did I fail the first one?" She told I borderline failed by a few points but would need to get the 3 hour done. Now I'm sort of peeved no one told me this information either. I took the 1 hour 3 weeks ago..the lab told me no news is good news in a few days...so I didn't think it was my responsibility to call. Luckily, I can take care of the 3 hour and the Rhogam shot at the same time, I'm just feeling aggravated that the doctor's office (not the doc..she was actually trying to clear everything up) just didn't communicate and call me with things I should have done weeks ago. Is my baby going to suffer because the Rhogam shot and 3 hour test is late? No. But I would have liked to have known about these things earlier. You know..when I was actually supposed to do them (especially the shot which is usually given at 28 weeks).

Have you had similar experiences or is your office on top of things? Am I just being whiny? I really feel like the comminication is crappy, but at least I know now to call if I ever have a question.

FutureMrsWittig · May 2011

That is crappy communication on their part. It would irritate me too.

FrankieandTyler · May 2011

that would upset me too! my office has an online program where i can go in and check the results of most tests which i love. it's a perfect thing to print out and bring to my visits. hang in there and like you said, if you have questions, at least now you know who to call.

cburitz · May 2011

I would be absolutely livid. They are not giving you good patient care...

With that being said, I know my blood type and I specifically asked when I would be receiving the Rhogam shot. I also called after several days to find out the results of my glucose screening test. I was told by a nurse that I "passed" but I pushed for the actual number. I'm a firm believer in being proactive about your own health & keeping yourself informed.

I'm sorry you have to deal with that Dr's office. I really think you should speak up and voice your complaints/concerns to them. They are opening themselves up to a lawsuit if anything goes wrong...

Kendra409 · May 2011

I undersyand exactly how you feel! Every Monday I see Maternal Fetal Group for a cervical ultrasound & a fluid check ( I'm on bed rest for shorten cervix)...and on Tuesday my doc is suppose to call me with the results and if anything needs to change with my treatment plan. This Monday was my 6 ultrasound...ask me how many times I have heard from my doc office..with out calling them first.. 0! So I feel your pain on the laps in communication! It make me so upset! Thanks goodness for the ultra sound tech...she will tell me if everything looks better or worse than the prior week and depending on what she says I call my doc for instructions....other wise I might not ever hear from them!

Your not not whiny at all!

emsuski · May 2011

I have had many bad communication experiences with my OB since the beginning of this pregnancy. It all started when I was about 7 weeks along and they told me that I had a miscarriage. Only to find out 3 days later at a HCG test that I demanded before getting a DNC did I find out that they misdiagnosed me. After that they never called any of my test results. They have a similar policy about no news is good news but after my 20 week U/S I found out at 23 weeks that my LO was measuring ahead and that her kidney's were dilated, which needed follow-up. I consider this to be info that they should have called me about. I basically don't trust them to give me info at all, so I always follow up now if I want to know the results of something, I don't care anymore if they think I am bothering them.

JessandIgli · May 2011

cburitz:

I would be absolutely livid. They are not giving you good patient care...

With that being said, I know my blood type and I specifically asked when I would be receiving the Rhogam shot. I also called after several days to find out the results of my glucose screening test. I was told by a nurse that I "passed" but I pushed for the actual number. I'm a firm believer in being proactive about your own health & keeping yourself informed.

I'm sorry you have to deal with that Dr's office. I really think you should speak up and voice your complaints/concerns to them. They are opening themselves up to a lawsuit if anything goes wrong...

This shows that you were way more proactive than me in finding things out. In hindsight, I should have called about the glucose test, but I didn't even know I needed the Rhogam shot. I'm definitely going to be more proactive about my care from here on out..but still feel mad at the doctor's office!

clo1982 · May 2011

I have 2 Dr's in the practice I go to. One seems really on top of things, the other seems like his main concern is getting out of the room as quickly as possible and he has let a few things slip. First, he told me we would wait until my next appointment (at the time around 20-something weeks) to schedule the quad screening. By the next appointment, the other dr said I was basically too late to get it done and why had I not had it already? I said the other doctor told me we would schedule it at this appointment. So I had to go that day since he said the test is not set up to accurately read results for people who were much farther than I was at the time. Then for the glucose, same exact thing. Went in and the good dr asked why I had not had it done; when I told him the other (bad) dr told me we would schedule at my next appointment he basically said go upstairs and get it done now because it should have been done already. The same dr (bad one) also told me 'you are measuring behind' then left the room. I'm a FTM so I had no idea if that was bad, good, or what so of course i"m freaking out until my next appointment where the god dr explained it all to me. It's really frustrating to deal with, so I completely understand where you are coming from. I get that they do this every day but it would be nice for some dr's to realize that we don't do this every day so a little guidance and extra care would go a long way!

jdm7 · May 2011

cburitz:

I would be absolutely livid. They are not giving you good patient care...

With that being said, I know my blood type and I specifically asked when I would be receiving the Rhogam shot. I also called after several days to find out the results of my glucose screening test. I was told by a nurse that I "passed" but I pushed for the actual number. I'm a firm believer in being proactive about your own health & keeping yourself informed.

I'm sorry you have to deal with that Dr's office. I really think you should speak up and voice your complaints/concerns to them. They are opening themselves up to a lawsuit if anything goes wrong...

I'm sorry you're experiencing this. I do agree wtih cburitz that you should speak up and let them know your concerns. But you should also take a more active approach to the tests/shots.

I was asking at my 23 week appt when I'd get my rhogam shot because I know I'm - and DH is +. I also had my 1-hr glucose test done a few days before my 27 week appt so when I went in, I asked my doctor the results. However, I only see one doctor in my practice (there are 2) and I know that if I don't hear from her, I don't need to worry about my results. If something is wrong, she always calls within 24-hours of me taking the test (the lab I use is really quick at doing results). And I get my rhogam shot right in the doctors office, which is nice.

lissiealkie · May 2011

I go to a maternity center at a hospital with a fairly large rotating staff. I pretty much get a different doctor every time I go. I had the Rhogam shot late as well. I also get differing opinions on whether or not I am going to be able to VBAC or not and other minor things. They are the top hospital in my area so I'm not too worried about the treatment. I just try to make my appointments with the specific doctor(s) I like. I don't think you're being whiny at all. It is frustrating that you get differing opinions or when the doctors have to ask you if you got this or were told about that instead of already knowing, and when things are done late because they just didn't check.

miller4285 · May 2011

I can see the rhogam thing. I'm wondering, though, if another doc saw your glucose and felt it was OK as it was. However, if that was the case, he should've documented in the notes that he felt the level was acceptable and would further test if any issues. the golden rule is, if it's not documented, it didn't happen.

nicf10 · May 2011

I had a similar problem with my dr today. I didn't do the glucose test until this morning at 31 weeks because I needed to get the same shot. I thought the girl who made the apt at the dr's told me to go start the glucose test and get the shot to bring over in the hour I have to wait when we'd schedule my next apt. Well, the apt got canceled, I had to work from home today and I get to the glucose test 1/2 hour before my dr apt to find out the shot takes an hour to get ready. Needless to say I was over an hour late for my dr apt!

They were nice about it, but like you I also now got the shot at 31 weeks instead of 28. My practice is just one dr and her staff if sometimes so swamped there's been lack of communication. I guess the grass isn't greener on the other side in terms of a larger group.

Good luck with the 3 hour test!

Nellebelle1 · May 2011

That does suck. My doctor's office definitely has some crappy communication. I get my ultrasounds done at a hospital and each time they did not have the results to be discussed, which has been so annoying. I'm not going to switch though because I like my doctor and hopefully there is no issue when it come to delivery time. Good luck with your 3 hour test.