Why so long between visits?

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Lana

Senior member
Joined
Apr 6, 2014
Messages
223
Reason
DX FIBRO
Diagnosis
05/2012
Country
CA
State
ON
Hi I just have a question, Does anyone know why I have to wait so long between visits with my Rheumatologist, my next appointment is in six months. Maybe its because he is so busy I don't no. Do you have to wait that long between your visits with your Rheumatologist? Maybe things are a bit different here in Canada? I am just curious if all Rheumatologist schedule patients months to the next visit?
 
How long is the wait between visits? I see an endocrinologist for an unrelated issue every four months.
 
My rheumatologist is similar. However she will fit me in within a week or so if I start having problems.

I know she doesn't work all the time. Sometimes she goes on Sabbatical? My GP says that having to constantly deal with people with chronic pain who don't get better is even hard on doctors. So there aren't that many rheumatologists and they need a lot of breaks.
 
It varies from doctor from doctor, some want to see you earlier, others don't. Some of my docs want to se me every 2, 3 or 4 months, but never every 6 months. I actually don't like to see some of them so often and wished I could see them only every 6 months, but oh well!
 
Gee, I'd like frequent breaks too! No, I do understand why Docs need to get away from their patients. When a med is changed, added or tweaked I usually have to return in 2-3 months.
 
I guess it all depends with the Physician, and also their schedules could be fully booked, but some Physicians do schedule the appointments far apart, to the point when you go back it seems as though you are a new patient.
 
I think some of it has to do with how often and much a insurance company or even Medicare or Medicaid, will pay for visits. The specialists usually space visits every four to six months, while family doctor's space visits around every three months. Once they have seen you and have all testing done, unless an emergency arises they rely on your family doctor for the most of your care. In a way this is good as it saves you money in the long run, and also gives you time to learn coping skills of your own between visits. :)
 
I am in Canada too. I was referred to a rheumatologist in January '14. They said the soonest appointment for an initial consult would be August '14, now they're saying January '15. I called all the rheumatologists in a 50 km range and they all said the same. I am a medical office assistant and I can tell you its due to the shortage of rheumatologists. Not enough for the amount of people that need to see them.
 
I'm in uk I saw mine once after that I was told no point seeing him again,that Dr would do the same things ,always make me cross but then I guess there no better at management then my Dr pain wise
 
Mine is every 3 months but we can email her. I signed up for the email thing but I lost the paperwork. I can't keep track of all this stuff.
 
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