I have been going to Dr Duke's practice for a year now for steroid injections every 3 months, for both knees. They are deteriorating very quickly. The steroids no longer give me relief for more than 6 weeks.
I called last week to make an apt to see Dr. Duke. Now, mind you, I have been a patient there for a year and never seen by him, just his PA, which was fine with me because steroids were what I needed. But things have changed.
I was told that he would only see me after I did my pre op clearance by my PCP, Chest x ray and pre op labs. We would not see me, period, until those things were done.
That really turned me off. He has been signing off on my care for a year now and yet will not see me?? I am a RN and I get the need for PAs and NPs. But my MD should see me if I want to be seen. i don't know if I am ready for TKR, or if there are other options. That is why I wanted to be seen by him.
I called Dr Nguyen on the same day. I have an appt with HIM for next week in Maitland as he no longer comes up here on Fridays. But I don't mind driving an hr if I will be seen by the surgeon and we can discuss my options, waiting, not waiting, bilateral TKR, etc.
I set my appts for the pre op stuff that Duke wants and he will see me in late April. Dr Nguyen is seeing me a month earlier and I have never been to his practice.
I have the feeling that I will already be on the surgical schedule with Dr Nguyen by the time Duke is willing to see me.
This has been a big turn off for me.
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