scanxiety nightmare part 5

This is just starting to become a joke. I called yet again to see if I can get the infamous comparison report. I figured after the oncologist's call to the imaging center that something would get done but, alas, that was me just trying to be positive, something I have not ever been very good at.

There is only one person in the records department who will even speak to me at this point. He informed me that the radiologist was to have this report done a few days ago. I corrected him and said, "don't you mean weeks ago?" He then informed me that the radiologist was running into problems doing the report because "it is complicated." I told him that I found it amazing that after now five weeks of waiting for this all important report, why can't the radiologist ask for help from her boss or another more qualified colleague. I mean if there was something I didn't know how to do in my job or was having problems with I would ask for help. It's not like we are dealing with a broken arm or a cold - he has STAGE 4 CANCER!!!!!!

I am seriously considering pitching a tent in the middle of their reception area and staging a protest until I get that damn report.

scanxiety nightmare part 4

So we went to the oncologist today for our usual check up and chemo #10 and guess what still no comparison report. The doctor is beyond livid and got on the phone right then and there in the hall way and we could hear him yelling at the imaging center about how this needs to have been done weeks ago. We shall see if that gets theirs asses moving. Just unbelievable.

As for the kidney stone and spinal degeneration things, there is nothing anyone can do to fix them so we just have to wait it out and see what the comparison report says about the tumors and to see if Paul passes the kidney stone. Trust me I am NOT looking forward to that at all.

scanxiety nightmare part 3

Well, guess what, after numerous calls from me, I finally received a report for the PET and CT scans but it's absolutely useless to us. There is no comparison, no measurements of any of the tumors, nothing. The only thing it revealed is that Paul has a 3mm kidney stone in his left kidney and some form of spinal degeneration. I sent it to the oncologist, who had also directed his staff to demand a copy of the report and by the tone of his email, he was none too pleased with the half-assed report that we received.

We shall see if he gets anything in tomorrow morning when we go for Paul's check up and chemo appointment.

And people wonder why my blood pressure is through the roof.

scanxiety nightmare part 2

Will this nightmare please end? Today's call with the imaging center was yet another chapter in the file "I couldn't make this up if I tried." So after last week's debacle of getting DVD's over to them, they call me late this afternoon to ask me if I have a copy of Paul's former scan reports. Little did they know, that in my backpack I have every document that you can imagine since this whole thing started. Thus, the guy on the other end of the phone was shocked when I asked him what his fax number was so I could send it over right then and there and that I would not hang up the phone until he told me that he was in receipt of the reports.

He tells me that he has what the radiologist needs and that it should be another day, two at most to get the reports. I tell him that that is good to hear since Paul's next chemo session is on Friday and we need those results no later than 9.30 Friday morning.

Let's just see what transpires in the next 48 hours.

scanxiety nightmare part 1

I got a call yesterday from the imaging center. It appears that no one thought to inform either myself or the oncologist that they needed a copy of Paul's previous scans. So I get on the phone to the hospital to their records library to see what I need to do to get this done. Well it rings and rings and rings and rings. No voicemail, no answer, nothing. So I talk to my boss and let him know what's going on and that I will be in late the next morning because I need to swing by the hospital to get these DVDs.

Good thing I tried calling them on my way there. Finally someone answers and informs me that they need Paul to fill out a form to allow me access to pick up the DVDs. I get it filled out and as I am passing my best friend's work, I swing by and drop off the fax for her to send over so that it will be there by the time I find parking and find the location.

I get there and I'm told that they have received everything and are currently burning the discs. Far too easy. Keep in mind I didn't have Paul's social security number on me so I just made one up on the form and they never even checked it. Just goes to show you what I'm dealing with.

They hand me over the mystical DVD and I go to the car, pull out my laptop and in true MI5 style, I start uploading and copying the disc to my hard drive just in case I ever need to reference it. I, then, make my way to the oncologist's office and drop off the DVD to them because that was the instruction given by the imaging center. I'm still not sure why I couldn't just drop it off to them since the doctor already has access to the scans in his system but it is what it is.

I call the imaging center later that day to make sure that they have received it and they ensure me that they have and that the report should be forthcoming.