The Waiting Game
by karenulijohn
Once you are a patient in the healthcare system, you become a player in The Waiting Game. You will learn to wait for an appointment with the doctor, then wait for a referral, wait for test results and the follow-up with the doctor, and then wait for the diagnosis and treatment program, and on and on. Can anyone wonder why patients are frustrated and anxious, particularly those with cancer where the watchwords are “early detection, prompt treatment?”
Harvey has found himself in this situation since seeing Dr. Graves last Wednesday. As we left the doctor’s office, we were told that the referral to the gastroenterologist’s office would be sent immediately, and that we should hear from them in a day or so to set up an appointment for the EUS and colonoscopy. Well, Thursday came and went, and by Friday afternoon, Harvey was concerned and phoned Dr. Graves’ office. The office assistant seemed surprised that he had not heard anything and suggested that he contact Dr. Dredar’s office directly. Following her suggestion, he spoke to Dr. Dredar’s office assistant, and after a lengthy patient identification process, he was told that she did not see any referral for Harvey. I really expected to see the telephone handset slam down and pieces of the phone scatter across the room, but to my surprise, he was quite sanguine, and telephoned Dr. Graves’ office again. Of course, it is Friday afternoon, so he knew nothing would be done before Monday. No call on Monday morning! After several more rounds of phone calls, the two doctor’s offices finally connected around 3:00 p.m. and an appointment was scheduled.
Please continue to keep Harvey in your thoughts and prayers, and particularly on Tuesday, June 14th at 11:00 a.m. The procedures will be performed on the same day in Sacramento. We are hoping that the tests will show no spread of the cancer to the surrounding lymph nodes and no metastasis to the colon. Once the results are reviewed, hopefully Harvey can leave the diagnostic phase behind and begin the treatment phase.
I find it curious that, in this world of fast internet connections and instantaneous newsfeeds, it took close to five days for the referral to go from one doctor’s office to the other a block away. Well, that’s The Waiting Game for you!
karenulijohn 
We are sending good thoughts Harvey’s way and hope time passes fairly quickly for June 14th to come and go so the treatment can begin.
Unfortunately, waiting seems to be the preferred way of treating those with serious illnesses. Carl was told April 3 by radiation oncologist to get the gamma knife radiation ASAP. 1) had to wait to see which of 2 locations in Seattle with gamma knife equipment were approved by the insurance co. 2) after first option not approved, had to wait for second option to be approved 3) had to wait for consult w/ doc to be approved 4) after consult, had to wait until the very last day for treatment to be approved (3 weeks) 5) had to wait for appt. for procedure to be finalized. All in all, it was 7 weeks before he had the ASAP procedure done.
We have such outstanding medical care in so many places, and the paperwork and approval process is just awful. You and Harvey have our most sincere sympathy and prayers. Love, Lynda
I am so sorry and praying for Harvey and you as you navigate this difficult road one more time. I am just around the corner if I can help in any way – just call me.
Our thoughts and prayers will be with both of you tomorrow.
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We are praying for Harvey & you too, Karen. Hoping all was accomplished today as planned. We just returned from So. Cal. where our nephew (only 48, wife, 3 young teens) was diagnosed last week with stage 4 colon cancer that’s already spread to his liver (not 50 yet so wasn’t old enough for colonoscopy.) Hope Harvey makes a full recovery.
Thanks Joyce. I’m sorry to hear about your nephew. Is that the young man that went fishing for salmon with us? It really is hard to imagine anyone that has not been touched by cancer. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.