What is it with doctors?
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
December 2, 2008 2:01pm CST
Today I had my 3rd eye doctor appointment since I was in the ER on Wednesday for a horrible eye infection. The first appointment was Thursday morning, then I had to return Friday morning, then again today. My eye is healing well, but the infection isn't quite gone yet. But now she wants be to come back again this Friday!
I can understand the appointment on Thursday. She's an actual eye doctor and knew better than the ER docs as to what I needed in order to heal the eye. And I can understand a follow up appointment to make sure it's healed and well again, but what's with all these appointments in between? It's a bit ridiculous if you ask me.
Have you ever had to see the doc a bit more often than you felt necessary?
6 responses
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
3 Dec 08
It does sound a bit excessive, but I guess you just can't bee too careful when it comes to your eyesight. If you think the appointments are excessive then you should ask her why so many. I am sure she has a reason. Hopefully it is not just to get your money every time.
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
3 Dec 08
I never had scratches bad enough to cause an infection in my eye, but I have had scratches on both of my eyes before. I got a lecture about wearing my contacts all the time. I was working 2 jobs a total of about 70 hours a week and taking a few college classes at the time, so contacts in all the time was kind of necessary.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
3 Dec 08
It's just to check on it and make sure it's healing. But at each appointment I'm lectured about wearing my contacts. I ordered glasses but they aren't in yet, so I have to wear a contact in my good eye, I know enough not to wear one in my bad eye, but she still lectures me about that. Well nothing I can do, my eyesight is terrible and I can't do a thing without at least that one contact.
@redkathy (3374)
• United States
3 Dec 08
OM Gosh it's all about money! The ER will always make you do way more than what is necessary. Then everyone wonders why insurance premiums are so high.
In fact, when my boys got stitches I removed them if they weren't the dissolving type. A few snips and you're done. I think like this, why pay hundreds when in just a few seconds it can be done by anyone.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
3 Dec 08
My son had stitches in his knee once, and doc said come back in 7 days to remove them. When I went back doc said they weren't ready to come out, come back in a couple more days. So I got home and said forget it, and removed them myself!
Although when he got stitches in his head, I did let the docs do that one!
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
2 Dec 08
If you feel that some of the appointments are unnecessary ask your doctor why so many?
All too often we take doctors' advice as direct orders. Very few things a doctor says is required by law.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
15 Dec 08
Yeah I have and it is pretty annoying having to keep going up and down all the time. I hate the having to fit it in part and then the waiting part it really gets on my nerves especially when my life is busy enough as it is. Ive got a hospital appointment on 29th december come to think of it, now that is really inconvenient lol
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
7 Dec 08
There have been a couple of times where I've had to attend meetings with my doctor which I haven't felt are necessary, but generally they've been to discuss something where the doctor has wanted to check I have a full understanding which I suppose is fair enough. He wouldn't want me coming back afterwards complaining that I didn't understand after all.
As the UK health system is different to the US one, it's tempting to assume that seemingly unnecessary appointments in the US are motivated by money. I'm sure that it happens from time to time, but it's unfair for me to say that as a generalisation. I'm sure your doctor just wants to catch any problems with healing in the early stages, before problems have a chance to escalate.
Glad to hear that it's healing well.
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
3 Dec 08
Sounds like she's milking your insurance, or you, if you don't have insurance. I have no idea why she thinks you need to come back that many times. The ophthamologist don't require you to return like that when you have surgery. My Mother had both her eyes operated on and never even had to go back.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
3 Dec 08
Yeah, it's getting ridiculous. I don't know if my insurance will cover it or not. I don't have vision, but was told the insurance would cover major eye things, like surgery or something like that. I don't know if this is considered major enough for them.
