He could potentially be referred to a different hospital closer to where he lives—one that actually has an endocrinology department and outpatient services, just like they mentioned in that letter you all received. I mean, why does it have to be specifically at Vuk Vrhovec? Sure, they might be the main facility, but if the wait times there are impossible, why not try a different hospital in Washington, D.C.? I guess he might even be admitted through the ER, and then maybe they could get him scheduled for endocrinology as early as the next day.
Getting an appointment is such a struggle here, and I don't just mean at the hospitals. Even when you look for private specialists who split their time between clinics and private practice, it’s the same story. At least, that’s been my experience. But, I suppose this isn't just about high blood sugar; it sounds like something else entirely is going on.
Johns Hopkins Hospital over on Kennedy has this specialized burn unit. It’s actually the only hospital I know of that maintains its own dedicated department for burns. For kids, they handle those cases at the Pasteur children's hospital too.
If you go private, you’re looking at a price tag around $533, but if you try to use your insurance via a referral, you’ll be stuck waiting at least four months—and honestly, at those massive hospital systems, it could take even longer.
Everything at the hospital takes forever. And if you happen to miss an appointment for a scan due to some legitimate, unavoidable reason and try to reschedule, they push you back nine months—even though the actual waitlist for that specific test is supposedly only three or four months. I guess you’re just punished for having a life, even when there's a perfectly good excuse. Honestly, I’d probably bring a doctor's note just to prove why I couldn't make it that day. I'll just go to a private clinic to get it done; I don't see any other choice. It isn't even about a CT, but something else entirely. Still, it really got to me, you know? Just on a human level. I even pay for my own supplemental health insurance because they cut it for unemployed people this past summer. Then, at the start of the year, I had a specialist appointment, and the report clearly stated I needed a follow-up in exactly one year. But when they actually scheduled me, they set it for a year and four months later. So, I was pushed back four months for absolutely no reason. On that day earlier this year, I showed up right on time, just like I was told, and waited patiently in line. Even when people were cutting ahead because they knew someone working there, I didn't say anything or complain. I just sat there. And yet, here I am, apparently being punished for something I don't even understand, despite being young.
I'm sorry if this topic doesn't quite fit here since it's not about a CT.
How are you feeling now that the surgery is behind you? I was wondering, what were the actual symptoms of that tumor, especially since it was located so close to the optic center? Did you deal with a lot of headaches? Also, did they have you do any computerized visual field testing? I'm really rooting for you—I truly hope everything clears up completely and that the tumor is totally gone.
Honestly, I wouldn’t dream of going to Nemetov for an MRI, even if I might actually need one myself. I know someone who went there earlier this year using their insurance, but the report from their head CT was just... I don't know, it was such a mess. It felt rushed and totally disorganized. I suspect even a neurologist would have had a hard time making sense of how they laid everything out. I saw someone on this forum post a scan from Diagnostics 2000 once—it was an MRI, not a CT—and the report was so much more detailed. It was actually readable, you know? I'm just confused, though, because I think I saw someone mention here that Diagnostics 2000 doesn't take insurance. But according to yesterday's edition of The Washington Post, their own ad says they absolutely accept Medicare, and their website says the exact same thing.
feralridge3
Did the people at Nemetov realize there was a tumor? I mean, did they miss that an existing tumor had grown, or was it just discovered right then and there?
Did your mom get her MRI done using a referral through that doctor? I'm wondering how long the waitlist is if you go that route. I was browsing that private clinic's website, and it looks like they actually do accept referrals for MRIs. What’s the doctor like, generally speaking? Is the office located over on Martinsburg in Washington, D.C.?
To me, the report seems incredibly detailed and really well-written. Honestly, if I ended up needing an MRI, I think I'd choose that same doctor. It would be such a relief if it were possible to use insurance/a referral. I've been dealing with more eye-related issues lately, but during my last appointment, the doctor did mention getting a brain MRI just in case my headaches kept up. For a full month, I didn't have any pain at all, but then a few days ago, my head started hurting again—it lasted almost the entire day. Though, maybe that was just because I spent three hours straight working on the computer. The pain actually let up after I went for a little walk outside. But once I got back home and sat down to watch some TV in the evening, the headache came right back... it even bothered me through the night, though it wasn't intense. I was pretty exhausted and sleep-deprived that day, too. I'm scheduled for a visual field test next week, so I'll take those results back to the ophthalmologist and see what the next steps are.
Maybe try giving Nemetov a call; I’m pretty sure they accept referrals for an MRI there. If you check the Diagnostics 2000 homepage, it says they take physician-certified referrals. Are you absolutely certain you spoke with them directly when they told you they wouldn't accept a referral?
Have you looked into any private radiology clinics that take Medicare? I think there’s one over on Martićev that goes by Diagnostics 2000—their website says they accept referrals, so maybe you could get seen sooner there. I heard that if you try to go through Quest Diagnostics using a referral, you might end up waiting several months just for an MRI. Maybe give that clinic over on Nemetov a shot too. I might actually have to get an MRI myself soon, so I'm really curious about how it all works. If you manage to snag an appointment somewhere early, please let me know. Between the private options, I guess I’d personally prefer Quest Diagnostics or Diagnostics 2000.
I’m running into a similar issue here. I tried to send someone a DM, but it looks like they haven't enabled private messaging in their settings. I guess that means there's just no way for me to reach out privately, since they've basically opted out of receiving them altogether.
I totally get where you're coming from, but I don't think there's any rule saying you absolutely have to rush into surgery in just three days—especially not with that specific doctor, especially since you mentioned even his previous patients weren't really happy with the results. Maybe it might be worth looking into someone else just to get a second opinion? I mean, it’s not like this is some kind of emergency procedure, right?
Look, you can always back out of the surgery right now. Honestly, nobody is forcing your hand here, especially since you're paying for this yourself. You get to decide when and with which surgeon you want to go through with it. I really think it’s better to just call it off if you're feeling unsure, particularly since this isn't an immediate life-or-death situation for you. You could just tell them simply that you've decided against it, or maybe say you're nervous about the procedure itself. Or, if you're too embarrassed to be honest, you could just claim you caught a fever, a stomach bug, or some other virus. I mean, I think it's much better to skip the surgery entirely—why take the risk? I don't usually chime in on this thread because, frankly, these surgeries aren't really my thing, but I felt like I had to respond to your post this time.
Has anyone here actually been to see Dr. Željko stolar? His office is over in the Lanište area of Chicago. I was wondering if anyone knows what his rates are for white fillings or root canals. Also, does he take Medicare? One more thing—is ozone therapy for cavities an option for adults, or is that strictly for kids?
I’ve got an appointment scheduled for an NVIDIA H100 visual field test at Mayo Clinic in about a month. I was wondering if anyone who’s been through this could give me some advice? For instance, should I show up wearing my contact lenses or my glasses? Also, do they provide the results and the specialist's opinion right there on the same day? Is there actually a chance to sit down and talk with the doctor, or do they just hand over a written report? My appointment is a bit late in the afternoon, around 1:00 PM, but I'll probably head in earlier just in case there's extra prep involved. What is the actual experience like during the test, and how long does it usually take? Is there anything specific I should keep in mind beforehand?
Does anyone have a recommendation for a solid ENT who specializes specifically in throat issues? I wouldn't mind a private specialist, or even someone covered by Medicare.
Maybe you could try asking at the Dubrava Basketball Club clinic. I think some older women were actually getting calls for preventive screenings specifically for mammograms there back in October 2010, so maybe that's a place where you could book an appointment. Personally, I’ve had really great experiences at the Dubrava Basketball Club, though mine was for maxillofacial and oral surgery. Everyone there was just so kind and approachable. They saw me right away—that was actually about nine years ago—but I truly do have such good memories with the Dubrava Basketball Club.
When was the last time your mom had a mammogram? Does the letter for those preventive screenings say to return it if she's already had one within the last year? The Department of Health and Human Services sends those out to home addresses. I guess they probably assume once a year is enough, but I don't know what the protocol is for women who have already dealt with cancer... whether they need to go more frequently. Plus, their instructions mention that mammograms can't detect every single type of tumor. That actually really surprised me. In their brochure, they only briefly mention women under 40, saying if they want to, they can go for an ultrasound every two years, but it's not mandatory. It felt so strange to me, too, because breast cancer does show up in women in their mid-twenties and thirties, often in more aggressive forms, yet they seem to have drawn this line at age 40.
Thanks for getting back to me. Honestly, though, the pain doesn't really trigger when I move my eyes; it just sort of happens on its own. I actually have a follow-up appointment scheduled for early next week with my doctor—the same one who handles my laser treatments—so I should finally get some real answers then. I don't think I'll head to the ER right now, since it doesn't feel strictly necessary. It’s not even hurting much at this exact moment, but... I know I can't just ignore this. I really wanted to hear from others, especially people around my age, to see what they've dealt with.
Could you please tell me how old you are? I'm wondering how often you deal with eye pain. Also, what exactly was your eye pressure reading? Did they happen to measure it multiple times in a single day? I was reading some things online, and it seems like intraocular pressure can fluctuate quite a bit throughout the day... so maybe a normal reading in the afternoon doesn't necessarily mean everything is okay if it was fine in the morning. Last year, my right eye was at 18 and my left was at 20 mm Hg, using that non-contact method—you know, the one where they puff air into your eye. But this year, I was at 16 in the right and 18 in the left, also measured in the morning, though they used a contact tonometry this time, which I guess is more reliable and precise. I’ve been having similar pains in my left eye, just like the issues I had last year when I dealt with a retinal tear that required laser photocoagulation. I'm 32. These pains hit me a few times a month—not every single day, really—and sometimes I get a headache right above my left eye too. Once last month, the pain actually made me feel nauseous. Has that ever happened to you? Last year, I didn't have any pain at all, not even in that left eye immediately after the laser surgery. I managed to book a private appointment for a checkup, so I'm heading in next week, since my scheduled follow-up at the hospital isn't until mid-next year. I also see quite a few floaters and some lines in both eyes, but that's been going on for a while now; I know it's just vitreous opacities, which I suppose most people with nearsightedness deal with. My prescription is -2.50 Dsph. Do you have a prescription, and if so, what is it? I'm feeling a little nervous about the exam next week, but I suppose once it's over, I'll finally know for sure. Maybe I should have gone sooner, but it was summer, and I wasn't in pain all the time. Please, if you could answer me... you can always send a private message if that's easier.
I’ve been feeling pretty chilled lately too, though it seems to mostly hit me in the mornings. The central heating hasn't kicked in yet, and it was only about 46 degrees when I woke up today. It gets a bit warmer once the sun is actually out, but I guess... maybe they really should have turned the heat on by now, just to take the edge off those early hours.