Melissa Phillips4 said:I'm not sure why you felt the need to get so granular. You should have just asked to be connected to a specific clinic or requested their direct number. It’s much simpler to just ask for the contact info without over-explaining the "why." It sounds like you were dealing with a hundred different questions that day, so it's understandable if someone loses their cool after hearing all that... By the way, orders are handled through central dispatch, email, fax, or the online portal. That’s standard procedure for every hospital in Washington, D.C.
Try to follow the logic here.
Am I supposed to be transferred to MP3 if they claim the clinics don't have phones? Or should I just send an email to mp3@sd if they say they don't have an email address?
Secondly, where did you get the idea that I have to explain my entire life story to every single person I encounter? I'll just speak directly to the nurse at the specific clinic.
Thirdly, do you actually understand what a department administrator does and the scope of their responsibilities?
Fourth, I already explained this. It seems you aren't quite familiar with how the ordering process works. Not everyone is lacking common sense, Holy Spirit.
Melissa Phillips4 said:I’m not sure why you felt the need to explain everything; you should have just asked to be connected to a specific clinic or requested their direct number. It’s much simpler to skip the backstory and just ask for the contact info. It sounds like you were dealing with someone who was having a rough day and lost their cool after hearing too much chatter... By the way, orders are handled through a central office via email, fax, or an online form. That’s standard procedure at every hospital in Washington, D.C.
My apologies, but the Holy Spirit is a bit of a disorganized mess.
Do I really have to explain this again? - The Holy Spirit doesn't provide phone numbers or emails for individual clinics. Essentially, you can't call them or send an email directly.
- The Holy Spirit doesn't transfer calls because the clinic I visit doesn't actually exist as its own entity; they operate out of another department and don't have a dedicated line... okay, they might be making excuses, but that's what they claim.
- The Holy Spirit prints out emails and distributes them around the hospital 😂 Because instead of forwarding messages to the clinics, they just—print them. It’s absurd. No one operates like that.
- No, that's not right. You can send things directly to the clinic you visit; just check their website, like the one for Rebro. It was the same way over at Dubrava.
- The Holy Spirit lacks any contact numbers for general inquiries
- Honestly, even if I were the thousandth person calling, if I'm a patient looking for simple information, I expect an administrator to just give it to me. I shouldn't be snapped at.
- It is completely nonsensical to tell someone that if they can't reach someone by phone, they have to show up in person, especially since they don't take orders via email.
- It's the same story regarding test results that aren't sent by email. 🤦
Just trying to make sense of this lack of professionalism.
wanderingpanther68 said:I usually head down to the main office in San Diego around 1:30 PM since things quiet down then. Registration closes at 2:00 PM, so I get signed up immediately and usually secure an appointment for about ten days out. It’s much like avoiding rush hour; if you try to go in the morning, you'll just end up stuck in a long line.
Why bother going in person when you could just send an email?
boldnomad45 said:I just email the main office, attach the medical records they need, and then I get an appointment scheduled.
An appointment? I’ve explained exactly how they handle scheduling. Besides, I certainly wouldn't call the central switchboard to ask questions that could easily be answered by calling the clinic directly. Does that make sense to you? For instance, if something wasn't right, I would simply call the doctor directly to chat, or reach out to the department or the clinic itself. It’s like when she worked at her previous hospital—the one associated with Holy Spirit SF. Their approach to patient care and professionalism was night and day compared to SF.
As you can see, that's how things work at the Holy Spirit location where I go. I've been told that's just how that hospital operates.
After visiting twice, I'm done with Holy Spirit. Between the disorganization, the 19th-century mindset, the rudeness, the lack of knowledge, and the sheer amateurism, I won't be stepping foot in there again. By the way, I'm not the only one feeling this way. A few of us who were transferred along with our regular doctor are actually leaving her because of the total lack of professionalism at Holy Spirit. To top it all off, the administrator actually had the nerve to yell at me! Honestly, I'd love to upload a recording of that conversation to YouTube.
If anyone is still defending the idea that clinics shouldn't have phones or email access, or thinks it's perfectly normal for a central clerk to print out emails and carry them around the building... 😵 ... we might as well use carrier pigeons, since it's clearly the 21st century.🤣
Honestly, Holy Spirit is a total mess of a hospital. I spoke with a very frustrated woman on the phone—I was just trying to find an email address or a direct line for the outpatient clinic to ask a quick question—and she told me they don't work like that; they don't handle inquiries via email or phone. Instead, she suggested I email the main central office so they can print it out and physically carry it over to the clinic. 😂 It’s the 21st century, yet at Holy Spirit, the central office still prints emails just to run them around the building.🙏 🙏 To make matters worse, there isn't even a digital system to check their ongoing tests, so you have to send an email, wait for them to print it, and then wait for someone to walk it over to you.🙏 They even told me they couldn't email my blood test results; I actually had to show up in person to pick them up.
The absolute peak of this inefficiency—on top of printing and hand-delivering emails—is how they handle scheduling follow-up appointments for the day clinic. They sent me to a different outpatient unit than the one I actually visit, claiming the nurse there handles the scheduling for both. But when I got there, the lady told me there were no openings. She said I should try calling back in a week or two. The problem is, getting anyone on the line is nearly impossible. So now, if they don't call me back, I'll have to drive down there in person just to get an appointment scheduled.🙏 🙏
I’ve never actually received a clear answer from my doctor regarding what follow-ups are necessary once an APL diagnosis is in place, or which specific tests should be scheduled. Do people typically monitor things like clotting levels, LAC, or antibody counts on a regular basis? My primary care physician mentioned that once I tested positive for cardiolipin - IgG antibodies, there wouldn't be a need to keep checking them—though I have continued to do so because my rheumatologist sent over some lab orders, yet even then, I haven't been told exactly what to test for or how often. I could have posted this under the SLE thread given everything going on, but I stumbled upon this one instead, so here I am...
Rachel Jones8 said:Looking for some advice on rollators—you know, the ones with wheels, a basket, and a seat. There are so many models out there and they all look pretty much the same to me. Does anyone have any firsthand experience (maybe someone in your family uses one?) who can tell me which one is actually worth getting? (Planning to shop around in New York City) Thanks!
Edit Might be worth mentioning, it’s for a petite elderly lady.
After testing out quite a few different walkers myself—my mom, my aunt, and I have all put several models through their paces—I’ve found that nothing beats a Karl Dietz. It's the one I personally rely on. This one. Looking for a reliable mobility solution? This rollator is built to be a steady companion, much like a dependable sedan that handles every road with ease. It’s designed to provide both stability and comfort, making daily movement feel smooth and effortless. I can't quite recall which shop in Chicago I picked it up from, but if you give them a call, they should be able to point you in the right direction. I wouldn't dream of picking up another one from that brand again.
The model I’m looking at now feels a bit clunky because of those awkward wheels. Dietz offers a basket, whereas this one just has a little pouch hanging in front or under the seat. It’s pretty impractical since you actually have to lift the whole thing just to access it, and honestly, it's way too small. Dietz, on the other hand, has that handy tray that mounts above the seat. It's perfect for when you grab a coffee, a soda, or a snack from the kitchen to bring into the living room without needing someone else to carry it for you. This current model lacks that convenience entirely. While its basket is removable—which was great for grocery runs or tossing in a water bottle and a snack—it doesn't quite hit the mark. It folds up easily with two clips, just like the others, and while it might feel a bit heavier, that doesn't matter much since you're pushing it rather than carrying it. It does have brakes, though, and if you get tired during a walk, you can always sit down for a quick breather if there isn't a park bench nearby. To be honest, the other options just don't measure up. They lack the quality I'm looking for, and like I mentioned before, I wouldn't consider anyone else.
I should mention that during the winter heating season, the dry air really takes a toll on me. Right now, I’m using a large dual-tank humidifier, plus eight of those small water pans hanging on my radiators, and even an extra liter of water sitting on top of the heater. Before I got the humidifier, I used to rely on soaking towels and swapping them out constantly as soon as they dried up. It might sound 😲 , but you just have to find whatever works to solve the problem.
Any hospital will do, just get to an ER immediately. They always have an ENT specialist on call who can be brought in if needed.
Actually, I had a similar experience, but for different reasons: my mucous membranes get really dry, which makes the mucus much thicker. I manage it by staying incredibly hydrated, using large amounts of saline nasal spray daily, and taking Bisolex to help thin out the mucus in my lungs so it’s easier to cough up.
When mucus gets too thick, it becomes much harder to clear out. The key isn't to try and dry it out, but rather to dissolve it.
Just keep in mind that once the Bisolex starts working, you might feel like there's more mucus at first, but it will be thinner and easier to expel.
You also need to drink plenty of fluids to keep everything diluted. Whenever I take Bisolex, I make sure to follow it with a full glass of water.
By the way, I deal with constant sinus drainage that's incredibly irritating; Bisolex helps a bit, and the heavy use of saline rinses helps dilute and clear things out, which reduces the overall buildup.
For me, the root cause is definitely those dry mucous membranes.
So, if I were in your shoes, I’d thoroughly rinse my nose and sinuses with saline—if you don't have any handy, you can boil water with salt, let it settle, and strain it carefully (just look up a recipe online for the right salt ratio so it doesn't sting)—and then take Bisolex. (I usually take 8mg twice a day, though during my worst flare-ups, I took it three times a day for a couple of days, even though higher doses aren't typically recommended for long periods). I'd pair that with about a cup of liquid, keep sipping water throughout the day, and sleep with my head elevated, since sleeping flat on my back usually doesn't work for me.
It might be a combination of acid reflux and thickened mucus.
I've got my fingers crossed that you start feeling better soon! 🙂 Keep us posted!
(I know I've spent a lot of time dwelling on systemic lupus on this forum, but there are definitely plenty of people facing similar issues who don't have lupus. Personally, when I take Bisolex, I can actually feel the phlegm moving in my lungs; it feels a little wheezy for a moment, but then it dissolves, I can swallow it, and breathing becomes much easier. It stops that choking sensation at night and during the day.)
Oh, and one of my symptoms was a dry cough, and they actually prescribed me a suppressant—which was totally wrong and contraindicated for my specific situation.
No private provider is going to take on a complex illness if there isn't a clear profit margin in it; frankly, they don't have much skin in that game. I'll be honest, I've completely lost the thread of your argument. If a case were truly complicated and serious, that’s exactly when you’d see a private clinic jump in. There's no way they can match the sheer scope of public healthcare; they simply aren't built to deal with high-risk patients who require exhaustive testing and long-term management.
Since you seem to be such a unique case, why not start a new thread about your condition? I'm sure someone out there will relate.
I am genuinely curious... not because I'm interested in people—honestly, I have plenty of social connections already—but because I want to understand how a private specialist could run so many tests and reach a diagnosis that the entire public health system missed during all your previous screenings. In my experience, that sounds like science fiction. But hey, there's always an outlier.
I believe I mentioned this earlier in the thread. I was previously taking Requip Modutab and Ferrum. Nothing at the moment. My iron levels were down to 10 a few months back, and I haven't followed up since. It seems my RLS is clearly tied to my iron levels, because it has flared up again. I've been awake since 4:00 AM, pacing around the apartment, trying to lie down for a bit, and now I'm just sitting out on the balcony. The cool air actually feels quite soothing right now.
That was actually an ad for something else (which Brenda Parker5 posted), not about Pregabalin. Well, I agree with what Nicholas Myers wrote: Brenda Parker5 has her own specific situation and is suggesting her own therapy to people who don't share her exact condition. Regarding Pregabalin, I know it's prescribed, and some studies suggest it has a lower incidence rate of augmentation. So, that was just my response to Brenda Parker5 regarding that advertisement—it had nothing to do with Pregabalin. If I recall correctly, she posted a link to something discussing a certain dietary supplement, noting that they hadn't found any studies linking it to RLS. Again, there wasn't even a mention of Pregabalin in there. I think you might have misinterpreted what I was responding to and commenting on.
Head over to the clinic with those lab results so they can give you the referral. From what I understand, you have to see an allergist first; you can't jump straight into testing without that consultation, as they need to evaluate your situation and decide which specific tests are necessary.
Melissa Bailey5 said:- hauling trash all the way to Pittsburgh, then out to Kraljevac, then back to Jakuševac (thanks X Corp) - scrapping the special education program, which is currently tied up in court (thanks German)
And you can just add the special ed kids to that list, since TT hasn't given a single thought to where they belong, and VUS basically just saved him from an even bigger disaster by pushing things off for a bit.
small correction: it's Celakoski, no "v"
I’m honestly struggling to follow what’s happening here. I’m firmly against state-mandated child support—your child is your responsibility, and unprotected sex isn't a business model—but I can't wrap my head around why this is sitting in court, let alone why it would be treated as some permanent, lifelong right. Can someone catch me up? It seems illogical that a decision made by any mayor—regardless of who they are—would be set in stone forever, immune to change. I'm crossing my fingers that the courts reject this. It feels completely unnecessary and discriminatory; it’s an insult to all the responsible people out there working hard and taking care of their families rather than treating parenthood like a political calculation.
David Flores68 said:Someone mentioned once in this thread that you can access your test results through the government portal—is that actually right?
Can I find older records there, say from back in 2013?
Sandra Nguyen22 said:I’ve been using the official government portal since last year, and the oldest result I could find was from 2016. I have a whole stack of older records due to my diagnosis, but they aren't showing up online.
My earliest records date back to 2016. Even though I've used the government portal since 2015, I'm not too familiar with WebMD; I think I might have started using it around 2016, which is why everything from then on is listed there.
Just remember, on the government site, you have to navigate over to the WebMD section to actually see your medical data.
You should have a neurologist you can actually talk to; you shouldn't just be picking up anti-epileptic drugs on the black market based on a whim. Anti-epileptics aren't something you play around with, much like dopamine agonists.
For me, alpha-lipoic acid didn't really make a difference—I tried it, but I didn't notice any real change. Still, everyone responds differently.
So, if you're dealing with RLS, did your neurologist prescribe you gabapentin or perhaps pregabalin, or one of those?
This advertisement focuses on peripheral diabetic neuropathy—which isn't the same thing as RLS at all. It even explicitly states they haven't found studies linking this supplement to RLS. It's just a way to splash money around for marketing.
placidstag7 said:I find myself agreeing with Nicholas Davis4. My psychiatrist actually prescribed me Pregabalin. I have an appointment at the pain clinic this coming Friday, so I plan to bring up my RLS issues with them as well. For me, it isn't exactly a feeling of tension; rather, it’s more like a buzzing sensation—almost like a swarm of bees—coursing through my legs. It offers a momentary reprieve if I move my legs around, which makes me think this is primarily a physical sensation. That said, alongside that buzzing, there does seem to be a slight sense of tension, though I suspect that might just be a byproduct of that constant urge to keep moving my legs.
Yes, and it is a physical sensation. For me, the tension in my legs is absolutely overwhelming. It feels similar to when you flex every single muscle to its limit and stretch every tendon simultaneously. Add some tingling and an electrical buzzing sensation on top of that, and you have it.
This is textbook RLS. The symptoms either show up out of nowhere or get significantly worse in the evening once you lie down (or whenever you're just sitting still, like at a movie theater), and you find relief only by moving your legs (some people even deal with it in their arms).
I actually had to push my insurance provider to expedite a neurology appointment outside of my regular check-ups. This happened after I spent two weeks pacing my apartment until 4:00 AM every single night just to survive. I’d lie down... move my legs... feel a momentary sense of relief... but it was never enough, and I had to keep getting up constantly.
If I recall correctly, you're only seeing entries from the day you signed up. Anything prior to that isn't showing up. (I highly doubt anyone would bother uploading old records into a system like this. Besides, you decide who gets permission to view your digital health record; and honestly, there isn't much in mine... I'm pretty frugal with my data, so there's barely anything written down 🤣 ))
mistyjackal842 said:Everyone is overcomplicating this. They might just be adjusting to a new computer system. Mayo Clinic is actually a great hospital; the cardiology department is wonderful, and both the doctors and nurses are so kind. They always went out of their way to help my immobile father in urology at Mayo Clinic, and I’ve always trusted them. Even during our last visit, they did everything they could to assist us. Wasn't it mentioned yesterday that another major hospital was struggling because too many people showed up on Friday to take advantage of the holiday weekend? Some people didn't even have appointments. I often end up calling Quest Diagnostics, a private lab, for my dad because they are so reliable—it’s really the only way to ensure his bloodwork gets done. The home health nurses don't have enough experience with blood draws, and honestly, they're too busy with other tasks to manage it. In a few days, I’m heading to Breyer to get some tests done that my pulmonologist ordered. One perk of using a private lab is being able to request what you need yourself. For instance, I’ve had my BNP levels checked several times, even though no cardiologist specifically ordered it. Quest Diagnostics even offers heart disease screening packages. My BNP was actually quite elevated once, so I'm glad I took the initiative to check it myself.
😂 That trashy CNN news outlet was just quoting employees saying Mayo Clinic uses the same BIS system as everyone else... which they... well... use. And they've been using it since 2003. Seriously, if they are still "adjusting" after 19 years of using a system they pray to, maybe they should focus more on medicine rather than administration? 😲
The private options are nonsense.
Cardiology is nonsense too, since I don't go there.
A lab that doesn't email results or even have me registered in the system while I'm physically in the outpatient clinic is working for all hospital and external patients; saying we don't send results via email is just plain unprofessional.
You're supposed to make an appointment for bloodwork. That's the rule everywhere except here. Only a few specific tests don't require one. So, when they say too many people arrived, it just means they were being nice enough to take walk-ins, even though they got completely overwhelmed that day.
Mayo Clinic uses the same systems as any other hospital; the only thing they are "adjusting" to is continuing to refuse to do the things everyone else does.
Home health care depends entirely on the agency you call. I called one that does a great job, but they don't have flashy advertising and aren't a private firm.
Nonsense regarding which tests are performed; it sounds like someone is describing a different set of services than what I use.
Nonsense about private labs; they make most of their money from people who order their own tests.
Basically, it's nonsense for all the departments at Mayo Clinic that function just like any other hospital... assuming they actually work. But I couldn't care less about the place I'm visiting now, or a hospital lab that won't email results—that's usually just pure incompetence.
It's just like how their website lists three phone numbers and three emails, hiding everything like a snake in the grass. It's like they're telling patients, "Please, just stay away from us." The lab doesn't even list the tests they offer, for example. Amateur hour. Just look at the websites for Johns Hopkins or a Suburban hospital to see what a real medical site looks like; Mayo Clinic's site is a joke, especially with all the typos. 🤣
Honestly, CNN is total trash, but I was searching for something about the Holy Spirit and this popped up—it looks like they’re starting a petition. 🤣 I'm not even debating whether we need a new system. It's more about how they completely fail to use the resources they already have. I spent an hour and 45 minutes being bounced back and forth through the hospital, with people insisting the department I was sent to didn't exist or wasn't where the signs said it was. It was a nightmare. To make matters worse, when I called a week ago to check on my results, they told me I wasn't even registered at the lab. Like, wtf holy spirit, how can you run tests if I'm not even in the system?! Is this incompetence just the legacy left behind by Ed Koch?