ok I know I'll be calling the doctor when they open, but I'm kinda wondering why nobody called already. Mother had an ultrasound of the liver (which we've had so many issues already) they posted the results and stated they tried to call doctor and sent a STAT fax. and also mentioned nonocclusive thrombus.
should I be concerned about the STAT note added to the ultrasound results?
We just spend 5 days in the hospital for infection after a paracentesis. They sent us home with antibiotics and I'm watching for any changes and keeping everything sterile. Scared me, I wasn't sure she could fight an infection. Still not sure how long it will take to heal, but on antibiotics for 7 more days for cellulitis. So now we have had to reschedule liver dr. apt for next week.
Now, I completely support this, but it does mean that we see the unedited lab and imaging reports…. in unedited “doctor-speak /medicalese”…without any explanation, interpretation, or context. And often off hours. What to do?
My personal belief is that all of these findings have over the years developed emergency notification systems internally. In other words, if it’s an emergency result, the radiologists are highly motivated to pass it off to the ordering doctors (and will pursue them even more aggressively than you can). I’m comfortable that emergency things will be handled as emergencies. I know this requires a certain amount of faith in the system, but I think it’s probably reasonable. I’m not saying we should wait days and days for a callback, but I do think that urgent things will generally be (automatically) be handled urgently.
It isn't OK just to wait until the doc calls. You need to keep calling until you get an answer. A clot can move quickly if not dissolved. Keep calling. Failure to get the doc means a call to your local ER.
Whatever you find out about the new problems, perhaps it would help to talk to hospice about her care from now on. Knowing how things will go until the end may help you to get on top of it. Try not to feel “so lost and helpless’. The end comes to us all.
I think we will get a clearer picture after seeing the liver doctor on the 15th. I plan on asking about hospice care.
This says "nonocclusive" which means it is not occluding or obstructing any blow that they can make out.
But as a clot this is dangerous and the doc may (or may NOT ) want blood thinners started.
I take it that this message just went out to the doc. Not emergency or you would have been contacted to bring her into ER. But is "emergent" in that they want it seen as soon as MD in office. So I would follow up on that.
Call your local hospital ER, esp if there is an advice nurse who can hurry this up to in front of the doctor's face.
If you are seeing symptoms, pain, jaundice, any changes, blood pressure or pulse problems do not TAKE her to the ER but call EMS for transit to ER.
Hope you will update us.
They will see her originally on the 15th.
So far she's not doing anything out of the ordinary but I will take her if I see anything like that.
Pray they call me back soon.