Has anyone here (especially in the US) tried to change primary doctors recently? Oh. My. Goodness!
When I was pregnant with my oldest (who is almost 6) we moved about a half hour away from our old house; where all our doctors were. Since I'm home with my kids and I don't have many babysitter options I have to take my kids with me to the doctors. So basically; I haven't gone unless I've been sick. That's been twice. In 6 years. I actually need to allow 45 minutes just to get to an appointment and get in to their office (in a large building on an upper level). So you see; one appointment can waste half of my day. That's hard when your lugging babies or little kids along.
So I've had a long cold and I traveled recently. Both those things mess with my ears. Yesterday I woke up with a new, loud ring in my right ear. It didn't go away. I dozed off on the couch and when I woke up with was even louder. I only got a few hours of sleep and when I woke up this morning it was loud again and I couldn't go back to sleep. So that lit a fire under me for finding a new doctor. I called the group I had been considering (good reviews on the doctors care as well as appointment wait times and it's just 10 minutes from my home!!). They have 1 doctor accepting new patients. She is booking into MARCH!!!! I figured I would have to wait a month or maybe 6 weeks (standard when I worked for a few specialists). But 5 months!?! She actually warned me that if I wait too long; they'll be into April's schedule. That's fine for a well visit; but I'm not sure what that means for any sick needs that might come. Or what is going on with my ear at the moment. (i didn't mention my ear situation.)
So I don't know what to do. I've put it off so long already. Can/should I wait 5 months? I'm not sure if I can or should go to a walk in clinic; since I'm pretty sure I need follow up care to whatever they might be able to do. It doesn't feel infected. They may just say I need to get a doctor/ENT. There are basically 2 other groups I looked at. One is a single doctor practice and thats really not what I'm looking for. The other; I sat on hold for a while before hanging up before I even got to talk to anyone. That's not a good sign.
It's been almost 2 years since I saw anyone at my old doctors. I really do want someone closer. We have a doctor shortage in this area; that doesn't help. Why is this such a hassle? I should probably add that my old doctor actually left that practice so I'm assigned to a different doctor there now; but I've never seen that doc. I saw the PA last time because I thought I had an ear infection.
What a frustrating day!
When I was pregnant with my oldest (who is almost 6) we moved about a half hour away from our old house; where all our doctors were. Since I'm home with my kids and I don't have many babysitter options I have to take my kids with me to the doctors. So basically; I haven't gone unless I've been sick. That's been twice. In 6 years. I actually need to allow 45 minutes just to get to an appointment and get in to their office (in a large building on an upper level). So you see; one appointment can waste half of my day. That's hard when your lugging babies or little kids along.
So I've had a long cold and I traveled recently. Both those things mess with my ears. Yesterday I woke up with a new, loud ring in my right ear. It didn't go away. I dozed off on the couch and when I woke up with was even louder. I only got a few hours of sleep and when I woke up this morning it was loud again and I couldn't go back to sleep. So that lit a fire under me for finding a new doctor. I called the group I had been considering (good reviews on the doctors care as well as appointment wait times and it's just 10 minutes from my home!!). They have 1 doctor accepting new patients. She is booking into MARCH!!!! I figured I would have to wait a month or maybe 6 weeks (standard when I worked for a few specialists). But 5 months!?! She actually warned me that if I wait too long; they'll be into April's schedule. That's fine for a well visit; but I'm not sure what that means for any sick needs that might come. Or what is going on with my ear at the moment. (i didn't mention my ear situation.)
So I don't know what to do. I've put it off so long already. Can/should I wait 5 months? I'm not sure if I can or should go to a walk in clinic; since I'm pretty sure I need follow up care to whatever they might be able to do. It doesn't feel infected. They may just say I need to get a doctor/ENT. There are basically 2 other groups I looked at. One is a single doctor practice and thats really not what I'm looking for. The other; I sat on hold for a while before hanging up before I even got to talk to anyone. That's not a good sign.
It's been almost 2 years since I saw anyone at my old doctors. I really do want someone closer. We have a doctor shortage in this area; that doesn't help. Why is this such a hassle? I should probably add that my old doctor actually left that practice so I'm assigned to a different doctor there now; but I've never seen that doc. I saw the PA last time because I thought I had an ear infection.