Renal doctor today

[Yvonne]

John's appointment for his low clearance clinic was today. The nurse got the doctor in to look at John as we have been up most of the night with his cough. Renal doctor examined his chest, and said nothing to worry about see your own doctor, looked at his swollen arms, hands and neck said see your own doctor. Told him about the passing of blood in his urine and said yes he did have an urine infection, on his last visit. Make an appointment with your cancer dept. I know John has two issues being treated under two different hospitals, half the time we don't know if he is coming or going. The renal doctor said I know you don't feel well, but going on to dialysis is not the answer at this time as there will be a lot more issues when you go on that.  John was not happy to hear that.

[okarol]

I am sorry you didn't get more help. Sounds like you need a nephrologist who is at the same hospital where he gets his other treatments... is that possible? Unfortunately doctors work autonomously and the patient has the responsibility of making sense of it all and trying to get the best care possible.
 

[rose1999]

Oh Yvonne what a total waste of time,  You must both be so fed up.  All these Drs seem to want to do is look at their own particular 'bit' of the person, no-one looks at the whole.  I remember telling the vascular surgeon (at a clinic visit with Dad) that we were very concerned as Dad was vomiting all the time (it was renal failure but they took another 2 weeks to find that out!) his reply was "I don't deal with vomitting, I'm a vascular surgeon" I'll never forget those words - if he'd taken me more seriously then maybe things would never have got as bad as they did.  Anyway that little anecdote isn't helping you and John.  Can you get your GP to step in and get him fast tracked to the oncologist at least?
Good luck.

[monrein]

Yvonne, how thoroughly frustrating for both of you.  I like both Karol and Rose's suggestions.  John really needs some one to be the manager of his situation, like a central hub who would then direct him to the appropriate resource.  I'm hoping you can get better help somehow.

[David13]

It really is quite frustrating when each doctor you go to seems to want to send you to another doctor because they don't deal with a particular issue.  It is one of the down sides to there being so many physicians who are "specialists" and who do not even want to hear about anything that doesn't have to do with their specialty.  I hope you find a physician who is willing to take some responsibility and help you with John's needs.