I would sure appreciate extra Quacker prayers. Frustrating morning. I'm waiting God willing to receive a phone call this afternoon from one of two orthopedist's assistants to schedule my appointment. I was told on Friday that indeed I could make a virtual consult. I was to hear by tomorrow evening. I called this morning to try and expedite the process for the new week. After being disconnected among other things, I was told that new patients generally are not able to do telehealth visits! I made it very clear that I am in a lot of pain. I was promised a virtual appointment. The woman I spoke to finally said she would make a note that this was urgent and that I sincerely need an exception to be made for a virtual consult. I'll keep all of you posted. Thank you always for listening and all your love and prayers.
Mona. I’m sorry you’re still in such pain (which seems to have increased over the past week or two?) and I’m sorry you’re still experiencing these ongoing frustrations.
That said.
You are not going to be able to get a tele health appt for this. This warrants a hands on evaluation. You can’t expect any doctor to diagnose the problem you have in a virtual visit. It just doesn’t work that way. This is the type of thing that needs a full, in-person evaluation.
As I’ve said before, you really should be starting with a primary care physician to FIRST get a handle on your overall health, especially if you haven’t been having regular physicals for the past several years (and I don’t know if you have or haven’t). If you have, this might be easier - then they’d have your most recent health statistics on hand and that all plays into what’s going on with you. As part of an exam, an orthopedist will want to look at your general health (as well as your foot pain), and if the information’s not there, they may refer you back to a PCP before they feel comfortable proceeding. They can’t be expected to make an accurate diagnosis without a full health picture in front of them, kwim?
So honestly, again, you might have best results putting your energy into finding a PCP and booking your exam that way, first. I really think, should you get in too see an orthopod, they’re not going tio be able to do much for you if they suspect there could be a corresponding physiological component, and they’ll refer you back to a PCP to get that in order before they proceed. They might not even be the right type of doctor for you to see, idk - but a PCP can easily make that determination. I hate to see you waste your time and feel frustrated waiting for people who may not be able to do what you want them to do for you at this point. The lady was likely right when she said new patients generally aren’t able to do virtual visits.
I tried to see if there was anything that helps explain this.
https://www.cnet.com/health/skip-th...-issues-a-doctor-can-solve-over-a-video-call/
Mild conditions that don't typically require an office visit:
1. Pink eye. Doctors can diagnose this contagious infection remotely.
2. Cold and flu symptoms. There's no need to expose fellow patients in a waiting room if you're feeling sick. Doctors can review your symptoms from afar, especially if you're in otherwise good health.
3. Hair loss. Doctors can examine you for hair loss through a video call or if you send them photos.
4. Allergies. Itchy eyes and a runny nose? Yep, a doctor can give you guidance on what to do if you have allergies.
5. Erectile dysfunction. Telemedicine is usually enough to diagnosis and treat this common disorder.
6. Urinary tract infections. Many infections, including UTIs, require just a round of antibiotics to clear. Doctors can easily do that over the phone.
7. Vomiting and diarrhea. Whether it's a stomach bug or something else, you can stay home and chat with a doctor as a first step for dealing with these symptoms.
8. Skin infections and rashes. Many telemedicine services let you send photos to your doctor, which is perfect for identifying rashes, infections and other skin concerns.
9. Cold sores. Just like skin issues, the same guidance applies to cold sores.
10. Sinus infections. Like UTIs, a remote doctor's visit and some antibiotics is usually all you need to clear up a sinus infection.
Of course, not everyone can or should use telemedicine for certain medical conditions. Those who have underlying health issues or require ongoing testing will likely still need to need to head to a doctor's office or clinic. Telemedicine can be a good starting point to identify any health issues and
during a video or phone appointment, the doctor might recommend you see a medical professional in person.
When not to use telemedicine
Some non-life-threatening conditions may require more hands-on care, which is why it's best to communicate with your doctor if you are sick and are not sure what type of care you need. "Any condition that is potentially life threatening should be evaluated in person given they require immediate advanced testing and careful examination," Emdur says.
Non-life-threatening conditions that require hands-on care:
- Injuries like an ankle sprain or potential broken bone.
- Conditions that require any kind of in-person testing to diagnose, like strep throat or diabetes.
- Any other medical issue that warrants an x-ray, blood test or other test only a doctor can order in person.
For more serious conditions including those that could be life-threatening, like a heart attack or stroke, you should always go straight to the emergency room or call 911.
Symptoms of life-threatening conditions that need emergency care include:
- Abdominal pain
- New onset muscle weakness
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
HTH
Sad for them.
(ETA we were posting at the same time.)
to all my cherished Quacker family. Footballmouse, extra hug on the baby. Lynn, you know you have all of my extra care and prayers right now! To each of you, my sincere thanks forever. Quieter morning here except for, as usual, hurting feet 
This is so old! I am supposed to by tomorrow be getting a phone call to set up a consultation. I sure pray I do and that offers relief! Thank you all for all your care and extra XO.
Good for you! - Glad the problem is fixed and that they responded quickly. Hugs on the rough night.
. The payment card they send is only good for 6 months so I won't be able to use any of it for the hotel.
. I'll eat about 3/4 of it and she gets the rest.
. I had to call and it took the person and her supervisor over an hour to figure out what was wrong. Finally got both TV's working 
. Good news is that I elimated 1 remote! I hated having different remotes for things.
