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Need help, please! So mom in under two weeks time has outgrown all of her pants...unable to button them and if they get do get buttoned...way too tight. Took her to PCP immediately and they didn’t like this, did a cat scan ...left a message on her phone instead of ours (after KNOWING SHE CAN'T ANSWER, AND WE CAN'T RETRIEVE HER MESSAGES) only way I knew they had called is I kept checking her phone for incoming calls... anyone have something similar? We can’t get a hold of the Dr., as it is after hours and they won’t call us back for test results... thanks.

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Why can't you retrieve her messages?

Yes, it's after hours, but isn't there an answering service? You tell them that you simply need to know if the test results require mom to go to the ER right away or if this can wait until morning.
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Her voice mailbox is always full because she does not always remember how to answer the phone. We have gone to service provider over and over, had password reset and it always happens again.

That is exactly what we stated to the answering service, and they told us if it were something that required immediate attention, they would have left that in the message.
How can the Dr knowing that she is incompetent leave her a vm to begin with? They should have called us...
She is not it pain, not complaining about it at all. It infuriates us as we feel this is irresponsible on their part...
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Does the doc's office have an online presence? I signed up online to access Mom's account, which includes all test results, can schedule/reschedule appointments, and so on. She has one for her doc's office and another one for the local medical center. It holds a wealth of information. Can take just a few moments to sign her up.
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Wornout, if mom has no other symptoms, I would call in the AM. Get the results first ( before you get angry at them, as hard as that is going to be).

After you find out what's going on medically with your mom, you want to speak to the office manager and find out why YOU weren't called. Do you have HIPAA form on file?
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Is your mother suffering from a high level of edema that you believe is causing the pants not to fit? And this has happened in only 2 weeks? Is she in pain or discomfort?

I would call the doctor's answering service. You probably would have difficulty getting information unless there's a HIPAA authorization on file, but it doesn't hurt to try.

Where are you physically in relation to your mother? Is it possible to just go to her residence and check her messages, if you know her password?
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It does not take a lab test to know how to treat edema, just the cause or origin.
The doctor, if competent, should have rx'd her with a diuretic unless it was contraindicated at the first visit. Did she fill an rx? Take it?

Why is she alone at this point, if there is a possibility she needs to go to the E.R.,?

We call this: "Boots on the ground". Go there, or send someone to check on her.
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I would call the nurse helpline provided by my insurance company, and describe the situation. Another options is to call the ER. If they are not insanely busy at the time I have found them very helpful regarding what constitutes an emergency.

Are you medical POA for your mother? That should definitely be on file at her clinic, with a notation that they should call you.
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I’d send her to the ER , this sounds very worrisome... I am a RN and the doctors office should of called ..it sounds as if she is declining,,I would send her 911 to be checked , she needs blood work and more scans , ultrasound, and I’m sure other things ,,please keep us posted
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Not that this helps you now but I have quit giving my aunts number out due to this very problem of her getting a call she can do nothing about.
Some doctors offices have forms that are signed by the patient or POA that ask if results can be left on VM, which number, etc. write out how you want to receive information and both you and mom sign and give it to drs office.
Be sure to let us know what you find out.
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I have been known to tell someone I am my mom to get information. Due to Alzheimer's she was not able to manage the calls herself.
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Do you have a Power Of Attorney for Health Care. That is one way to be on their call list instead of your Mother. We do not have that problem as Mother and I share a cell phone/number and I have POA of Health Care. Are you with your Mom 24 x 7? Our solution works but then I am with Mother 24 x 7. When we have a question Mother's Dr. is in a practice group. They called back within 10 minutes several nights ago when I had a question if her blood pressure warranted reducing her nighttime BP mgs. We had a difficult time getting her new BP dosage at the pharmacy due to the pharmacy and her office passing the buck but finally got it worked out. It was very stressful but we overlooked that as it was corrected. Be pushy when you need something and if that doesn't work out, look for another Dr. and ask them what their specific policies are before you switch.
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Workout does Mom have any other symptoms, swollen legs, shortness of breath or anything else unusual. Does she have any other diseases going on? Is there any history of cancer or heart failure or kidney problems?
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