On Tue, 8 Jul 2003 22:10:36 +1000, Poe Lim <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>I'm sorry to hear about Sue; I wish both of you the best, and hopefully
>it's not nasty.

That's what we're all hoping.

>
>I can tell you from personal experience that if there is something
>suspect, you don't go mucking around; you make sure the patient is
>seen to immediately, even more so if it's inconclusive.

The ENT Specialist's receptionist mucked around when I tried to make
Sue an appointment for a quick look DIANOSIS not knowing whether it
was some swelling on the neck caused by the sinus, or something
more serious.

That was unfortunately the week before the July 4 week, and the
receptionist was giving me all kind of nonsense about having to
wait three-to-four weeks, and then when blew a chance to schedule
Sue to see another doc on a temporary/emergency basis because of
some BUREAUCRATIC procedure of needing one doc to look at her
chart before okaying her to see another ... I finally told her
that if ANYTHING went wrong because of the SNAFU and miscommunication
of the delay in seeing an ENT, that all of them will be named
in a LAWSUIT, by one Dr. Ling.   :-))

That apparently did make the point, and my OWN ENT, who was
supposed to be out-of=town for 3 weeks, suddenly was available
the following Monday morning;  missed it, and reshceduled it
Tuesday.   When he saw Sue's swelling had signs of cancer, and
that collectively they had DELAYED seeing her for FOUR DAYS,
I sensed that the doc had warned the team of specialists he
referred to cover HIS ASS and the ass of that group of ENTs.

In any event, that was one reason (I think) for the extraordinary
series of diagnosis, where by now there were 4 specialists
involved, each not SURE of the specific diagnosis, partly to
cover their OWN asses.  :-)   But, I am satistified that Sue
IS getting the proper (and timely, NOW) attention she is
getting from this team of ENTs and SURGEONS.

Keep in mind that Choo Choo is not exactly where the Mayo
Clinic or Emory (ATL) is located.  A year ago, when I called
DAN for a referral of an ENT Specialist with SCUBA experience,
DAN couldn't come up with a single name in Choo Choo, the
closest city Knoxville in TN, or in Atlanta!  Sheeeesh.

It's still funny NOW when DAN finally gave me a name in ATL
to call, its office immediately DENIED that he is a ENT doc.
He merely attended some short course DAN offered.  Double sheeesh.



I assume from the CT scans
>that it's a tumour or growth? They are not uncommon in the sinus,
>but it's best to check it out.

It was one of those, located near the nymph node on her neck --
THAT was what made it dangerous that if it's not confined it
could easily spread and become incurable.
>
>Cheers,
>Poe
>[log in to unmask]

Thanks for your note and advice, Doc Poe.   :-)
When the receptionist (who screwed up and mucked around) tried to
tell me some bullshit about protocol on making an emergency
appointment and that the nurse could call in the pharmacy to give
sue some temporary relief -- THAT was when I finally BLEW UP
and threathen to SUE on behalf of Sue.   :-))  I don't have
to be an MD to know that NO DOC, much less a nurse, can
prescribe medication to an unknown patient wirhout have seen
the patient!  So I finally told her the TRUTH (which was
not the whole truth :-) that I AM a doctor (without specifying
which kind) and that I've TAUGHT MD's at the Harvard Medical
School (true, but only in statistics <G>, in the Harvard
joint 8-year Program of a MD/PhD-in-statistics combo, when
the student already finished his Harvard MD.)   I think that
was what got the ball really rolling because I could sense
the fear in the receptionist voice.  :-)))

ElPezNeuvo.