I'm still trying to get into a frickin' doctor that takes my new insurance!!! Screw you, HMO!! AARRRGGGHHHH!!!

I'm sick of hearing that they aren't taking new patients or can't get me in until next month. I'm also sick of having to leave messages and then call again because no one calls me back.

Another day or two of this nonsense and I'm going to my old doctor, even though she's no longer on my insurance. She's been my doctor for the better part of 11 years and always makes sure I can come in when I need to.

Regarding the pain: it's still there and still in the same places it was before. No better and no worse. I am avoiding massaging just in case, which means that I can't schedule my full body massage until this crap is over. *sigh*

Thank you all for your concerns. I adore you guys. And I'll make sure to let you guys know when I finally see a doctor.

That sucks, youngergirl44! I hope everything works out for you.

well, take it easy if you can. Hope it works out too!

A word of free advice - document, if possible, the scheduling issues and the lack of contact. Before you go to your doctor, send a letter - registered/overnight - to the HMO requesting specific help in obtaining an appointment since you/we believe that this is a potentially serious problem. Demand a phone call from them within 24 hours of the receipt of the letter with an appointment no later than one week from the call.

Keep the appointment with your doctor and if they succeed in calling you, take the appointment, cancel with your MD. If not, you go to see your physician and then demand that your insurance cover it, because NOW YOU HAVE DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE FAILED TO GET YOU REASONABLE CARE.

If - heaven forbid - you need an emergency room trip before a long-ahead appointment with the HMO approved neglecticians, get thee to an attorney and find out if you can get monetary restitution, because this level of non-care is absurd.

Oh and just to give you some sense of scale, the hospitalization I had for a DVT cost the insurance company 6 figures in 1994 dollars. This is why preventative care is important. The insurance company shouldn't need this to be spelled out to them.

I hope you can get it checked soon. But you aren't saying it has gotten worse, which I think is probably a good sign.

Ironically, I took a call from our across-the-street neighbor this evening. She's just out from several days in the hospital with DVT and wanted to pick my brain on recovery time. She is an older woman (60s? maybe 70s?) with several pre-existing health concerns, so DVT was more of a serious issue for her than it was for me.

Her cause was classic; a sight puncture wound while doing yard work followed by a long drive (long time seated). You have to keep the blood moving!

Her symptoms were more typical as well, swelling, lots of pain, and redness. Her's did not progress to her lungs though, which is good.