Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

Official Rant Thread - Go for It

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12 3
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
Jack64
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2021
Posts : 285
Posted 5/12/2022 11:08 AM (GMT -6)
Having just trying to help Alephnull with his co-worker problem, I got a call from my PCP’s office.
His medical assistant called and asked if I checked my new results from my last blood draw on the patient portal? Having seen last night a new entry had been put in, I said, I already know what my last blood work draw was. I said that the last blood work was back in March, that it seemed a long time to get it into the portal. She said they had a new system and were just getting up to date. Here comes the shocker. She said the doctor reviewed the test and noticed that I was low in testosterone. He wanted to know if I wanted to boost it back up. I was dumbfounded. I blew up and said, “ I HAVE PROSTATE CANCER, TESTOSTERONE FUELS PROSTATE CANCER!!!” I continued, he is well aware that I have prostate cancer and should know better than to prescribe treatment for testosterone. She actually laughed and said he must have just glanced at the results. I said, knowing I have PC, why is he just glancing at my test results? What if I had dementia, I might have agreed. I was POd. She said she would make him aware of my concerns. Now I can’t wait for my next follow up with him. However, I am the type to forgive and forget and by then, I will probably forget. Anyway, I have calmed down and thanks for the rant.
Jack

Post Edited By Moderator (Tudpock18) : 5/13/2022 4:31:09 AM (GMT-6)

profile picture
alephnull
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2013
Posts : 2363
Posted 5/12/2022 11:36 AM (GMT -6)
I hear you my Brother!
You have to be your own advocate!

My PCP is also completely unaware of my current cancer state of affairs.
I went to him a few months back for a renewal of my BP medicine, they tried to get me to have a physical.
I told them I was seeing my Oncologist every 3 months and they knew the state of my health. So why did I need a physical?

Well when I got to PCPs office, he said well what's going on with your prostate cancer?
He was the doc that referred me to an Onco for a biopsy. He has access to my records

This is why I believe there is not a team involved in my PCa journey.
And this is why you have to be your own advocate, because one hand doesn't know what the other is doing.
profile picture
halbert
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2014
Posts : 5758
Posted 5/12/2022 12:49 PM (GMT -6)
While we are ranting...2 weeks ago today I had an upper GI Endoscopy, for suspected Barrett's. The report of the exam was posted the next day, and they gave me a hard copy before I went home. All good, right? Well, they also took some biopsies and some polyps for histology. No report AT ALL. After TWO WEEKS.

What's up with that?
profile picture
alephnull
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2013
Posts : 2363
Posted 5/12/2022 12:56 PM (GMT -6)
halbert,
Do you have a follow up appointment scheduled?
Or do they have something like MyChart where they post test results?
Of course something like a biopsy might not go up until a consultation.

But that sucks!
profile picture
mattam
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2015
Posts : 3747
Posted 5/12/2022 1:10 PM (GMT -6)
Maybe we should have a dedicated Rant Thread. 😉
profile picture
halbert
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2014
Posts : 5758
Posted 5/12/2022 1:52 PM (GMT -6)
Aleph, no follow up scheduled--the day of paperwork says repeat in 1 year. I'm looking on mychart, and no updates. I called the office and left a message on their test results line. Maybe they'll call back sometime.

grrr.
profile picture
alephnull
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2013
Posts : 2363
Posted 5/12/2022 1:59 PM (GMT -6)
Halbert,
Suggestion, call docs office and ask when to expect the results. Something like this would drive me knuts.
profile picture
Jack64
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2021
Posts : 285
Posted 5/12/2022 4:10 PM (GMT -6)

mattam said...
Maybe we should have a dedicated Rant Thread. 😉


Unless that was tongue in cheek, I am OK dedicating this thread as the official rant thread. I have already blown off steam for what happened to me. My best to all.
Jack
profile picture
Tudpock18
Forum Moderator
Joined : Sep 2008
Posts : 5291
Posted 5/13/2022 4:32 AM (GMT -6)
With Jack's permission, this is now dubbed the "Official Rant Thread". Feel free to air your grievances. Kinda like Festivus.

Jim
profile picture
trailguy
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2015
Posts : 850
Posted 5/13/2022 5:21 AM (GMT -6)
...My Internist referred me to a rich boy Uro who had inherited his rich dad's practice. He stuck that claw hammer with condom up my arse then chatted up the intern with stories of local golf courses and restaurants for 45 minutes. Didn't pay much attention to me until I began to pass out from the pain. Then he got worried I would pass out and he would have to admit me to hospital. The result? "You have a big prostate." (PSA 4.5) 2 years later - lather rinse repeat, same 'results' (PSA 7.5) A year later PSA hits 11.1, Internist want me to go back again. I inform him that I will not go back to the quack (walked around the exam room flapping my arms like duck wings going "quack, quack, quack") even if he paid me. He referred me to an actual Uro who drop-kicked me into a biopsy (12/12 +), then in for surgery + leuprolide chemo + radiation. The rest is my ongoing story.....

I now consider my Internist - and every other "doctor" as an advisor, NOT an 'authority' and regard the 'advice' as suggestion to be checked out thoroughly before acting on same.
profile picture
RobLee
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2017
Posts : 1464
Posted 5/13/2022 7:42 AM (GMT -6)

Tudpock18 said...
Feel free to air your grievances. Kinda like Festivus.

Will there be feats of strength?
profile picture
mattam
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2015
Posts : 3747
Posted 5/13/2022 7:56 AM (GMT -6)
I had to look up Festivus, which includes airing of grievances, feats of strength, and the aluminum pole.

I chose not to pursue the meaning of the aluminum pole -- though it's probably quite innocuous. 😁
profile picture
RobLee
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2017
Posts : 1464
Posted 5/13/2022 8:30 AM (GMT -6)

mattam said...
I chose not to pursue the meaning of the aluminum pole -- though it's probably quite innocuous. 😁

It's the Festivus equivalent of a Christmas tree, though it also symbolizes the "tinselization" of Christmas.
profile picture
mattam
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2015
Posts : 3747
Posted 5/13/2022 9:45 AM (GMT -6)
I have a small rant, but in the spirit of the new thread I will air it.

What's going on with CVS? My CVS cut their hours to 10am to 6pm. They have so few staff they don't answer the phone and they close for lunch. I now have to drive there to order a refill for one of my scripts. While I'm there the phone rings nonstop.

Is the chain going belly up?
profile picture
Jack64
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2021
Posts : 285
Posted 5/13/2022 10:39 AM (GMT -6)
Stopped using CVS years ago as they got my daughter and one my scripts wrong. Mine was minor, but my daughter’s script was for the wrong antibiotic, one that she was allergic to. Luckily we caught the mistake before she used it. Their only reply was “Sorry,” we have used Walgreens since then.

On side note. I didn’t know a rant thread could be humorous. Even in the long run not humorous, trailguy’s overly descriptive post of his DRE exam and the arm flapping quacking in the docs office, started my ADT induced uncontrollable laughter. Thanks Todd and Matt for the thread, I hope it could be a place to blow off some steam when needed. My best to all.
Jack

Post Edited (Jack64) : 5/13/2022 1:03:40 PM (GMT-6)

profile picture
alephnull
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2013
Posts : 2363
Posted 5/13/2022 11:12 AM (GMT -6)
CVS stopped taking BCBS/KS insurance about 5 years ago.
Oh well, Walgreens here I am.
profile picture
TomTempe
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2020
Posts : 45
Posted 5/13/2022 11:31 AM (GMT -6)
I have a related rant. I've had Medicare Supplementary Insurance for 18 years.
Now that ny 81-year-old wife and I are probably getting to the age of actually having serious medical issues, the cost is through-the-roof.

I understand that with so many people getting Covid and spending weeks or months in the hospital, the insurance companies have to be taking a beating.

Coincidentally, Aetna was taken over by CVS and I know they want to maximize profits.
My rates have gone up 15% in each of the last 2 years. We now pay $709 each month and probably don't cost the insurance more than $700 in a year.

We're fortunate to actually be able to afford this, but it feels silly trying to shop for the cheapest groceries at the same time as being gouged by a darned insurance company. We only actually have Social Security and no pensions.
profile picture
Mumbo
Veteran Member
Joined : Nov 2018
Posts : 1789
Posted 5/13/2022 11:41 AM (GMT -6)
Medicare Part D drug plans drive me nuts. Every plan has a different formulary and they all go through the same few pharmacy benefit mangers so you would think the pricing would be the same for the same meds with the same PBM. Nope, too easy. They play a shell game with pricing so sooner or later you are paying way to much for a specific drug. We pay cash for a couple drugs since it is much cheaper than the price with insurance.

I changed from BC to WellCare and found that they both use CVS/Caremark for the same drugs at all different prices. Old people should not have to do so much work. I am not sure I want the government to fix any problem given I always get screwed in this deals but this drugs stuff is maddening.
profile picture
halbert
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2014
Posts : 5758
Posted 5/13/2022 1:44 PM (GMT -6)
For people with ADD/ADHD who use Adderall, CVS has gotten totally crazy lately. Getting the monthly refill has become a wait/refuse/wait more/come back tomorrow/we're suddenly out of stock nightmare.

I suspect they've been investigated and are compensating.
profile picture
mattam
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2015
Posts : 3747
Posted 5/13/2022 2:46 PM (GMT -6)

halbert said...
For people with ADD/ADHD who use Adderall, CVS has gotten totally crazy lately. Getting the monthly refill has become a wait/refuse/wait more/come back tomorrow/we're suddenly out of stock nightmare.

Yep halbert,
With these sorts medications, and probably with the other more controlled meds, you can't refill automatically or from the app. You have to call every month to get a refill. Having refilled this sort of script for many years at many pharmacies, I have run into a few pharmacists who clearly have made a personal judgement and act like you're a criminal scamming for drugs

That sort of behavior really ticks me off.
profile picture
theswan
Veteran Member
Joined : Nov 2005
Posts : 1104
Posted 5/13/2022 5:35 PM (GMT -6)
I've been on testosterone replacement treatment throughout my cancer save for several months after my first biopsy when my primary stopped prescribing testosterone injections.
I am severely hypogonadal and have near zero natural testosterone. I was in dispair and life was a horror show. Anxiety and depression along with extreme irritability.
I found a clinic for TRT and restarted injections.
Yes my radiologist is not pleased nor is my urologist. I however made the choice of chancing less effective treatment over living a dismal quality of life.
That's my rant and I'd add thus far post SBRT I'm doing okay with the PSA dropping and symptoms not too bad.
In my 6th month post SBRT
PSA pre greenlight surgery was 5 to 6 post greenlight 2.74 post SBRT 2.2

Besides the fuel on fire paradigm is slowly changing.

Glen
profile picture
theswan
Veteran Member
Joined : Nov 2005
Posts : 1104
Posted 5/13/2022 5:55 PM (GMT -6)
Oh mumbo, I have Medicare and use AARP United healthcare and I'm on a couple of wildly expensive meds. One is a blood thinner Xaralto and the other Victoza for diabetes.
Copays alone were over three thousand dollars per year.
If not for my wife I'd have to choose food over medication each month.
I'm glad they included part D but I feel for those who have to make hard choices each month and hope the system gets better.

Glen
profile picture
TomTempe
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2020
Posts : 45
Posted 5/13/2022 6:31 PM (GMT -6)
I'm like theswan in that quality of life trumps the possibility of T affecting my PC.
When I went off it last year, it aged me about 5 years, my libido completely crashed, and I didn't want to live that way.
So far things are going well and the PC doesn't appear to be expanding.
profile picture
RamonV
Regular Member
Joined : Sep 2013
Posts : 45
Posted 5/13/2022 7:58 PM (GMT -6)
Rant: Awhile back I crashed my mountain bike on the side of a mountain. My kneecap was sticking thru the skin a little, so I went to urgent care to have it taken care of. When the doctor comes in to look at me, the very FIRST thing he says is " you're not getting any drugs today".
Really ticks me off, being treated like an addict when all I wanted was to get stitched up. He didn't even tell me to take tylenol. Jerk.
profile picture
trailguy
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2015
Posts : 850
Posted 5/15/2022 5:02 AM (GMT -6)
Personal opinion: I think all drugs should be legal O.T.C. Prohibition and interdiction simply do not work, have never worked and will never work. For every shipment found, 10 are missed. For every tunnel, submarine, speed boat and low-fying-aircraft caught, 10 are not.

I spent many years studying this, have a ton of solid sources for the above info. My response to that 'doc' (quack, quack, quack) would be colourful.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
123


More On Prostate Cancer

Side Effects Of Prostate Cancer Radiation Treatment

Side Effects Of Prostate Cancer Radiation Treatment

Positive For Prostate Cancer

Positive For Prostate Cancer


HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn
© 1997-2022 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.