Do I Need A New Pcp?

[floridanative]

Back in Nov. I had a test to check for folic acid levels called a homocystene test. This was at my dad's dr.'s suggestion after his bypass heart surgery. It took me nine months to get the test done by BC/BS. So my pcp calls me with the results in Dec. and says it's a good idea to take a folic acid rx. I'm in the middle of all this Celiac testing at the time so I asked her if this could wait until Jan. She said fine. Well I ended up finding out from the GI who did my biopsy that I should indeed take a folic acid rx but he told me just to have my pcp prescribe it. So I've been dealing with my pcp's office for over two weeks trying to get an rx called in (that was gluten free of course) and I even offered to call the manuf. for the doctor so I'd get a safe rx. Well finally today the nurse called to tell me my pcp is more comfortable getting the GI to give me the rx as she doesn't want to give me the wrong thing. My first thought was well obviously I need a new pcp in addition to a new GI (which I finally found but can't get in until late April). Am I being overly sensitive to take my doctors actions as a sign she isn't not a good pcp to have anymore? She's the best doc I've ever seen and is not one to hurry you out the door with an rx as most other doctors do.

[tiredofdoctors]

This happens all the time. I juggle between my PCP, a Rheumatologist, a GI doc, and two Neurologists. Sometimes it's a nightmare just getting the meds you need. Luckily, one of my neurologists knows what it's like, so he'll actually prescribe the drug after talking to one of the others -- even if it's a stomach medication. I wish you the BEST of luck. And truthfully, I don't know if it's going to change if you switch to a new PCP. Today's healthcare market is CYA -- and 99.9% of them are so scare of a lawsuit, that they err way too much on the side of caution. But then, all it takes is one lawsuit to have their malpractice carrier dump them, not be able to get insurance again, and they're screwed. No doc wants to practice without insurance. I'm not saying that what you're going through isn't WRONG -- it is. I'm just saying that the docs are so afraid of litigation that they freak out when there's the potential for trouble. Just keep plugging . . . . Hope this helps a little, anyway . . .

[floridanative]

Thanks so much for your reply Lynne. It did help a lot. I realize that this new life is just going to take more work on my part to get the best healthcare I can and I just have to do it and try not to whine about it. The GI's nurse called to say that the GI should be able to call in an rx at least by tomorrow and he will note that I should not be switched to a generic unless the generic is gluten free. BC always makes me take generic and I'm pretty sure this will be more difficult to actually get the meds now but I'll just have to do what I must to get what I need. If I have to pay out of pocket for the first month supply then so be it. The good news is that the GI says as far as folic acid goes, I should not have to stay on it once my villi are healed.

[tiredofdoctors]

Just to let you know . . . it's O.K. to whine about it. This lifestyle is a pain in the butt.