So, I wrote about talking on the phone a couple posts ago. Today I had to talk on the phone...twice. Well, I guess I've talked on the phone 4 times today...but two of those were with my mom, and I don't feel the same level of phone anxiety with her...like at all.
During my "annual exam" at my doctor's appointment on Thursday, she said my abdomen felt firmer than she expected. She said she wasn't concerned about it, but she was curious and suggested I get an ultrasound so she could check it out. Ok, sure. Why not? It's not the first time I've been a medical curiosity for someone. I have a CHRPE in my right eye that my eye doctor thought was cool. Whatever.
So, she gave me the number to call and schedule the ultrasound. I hadn't gotten around to it, and the lab called me to schedule it. Phone anxiety trigger #1. I scheduled an appointment, asked if she had an idea of the cost, and when she told me that I'd have to call customer service to get a cost estimate I explained to her how frustrating that is as someone with phone anxiety. She seemed mildly understanding, but didn't give me all the information I needed and was about to hang up when I caught her to ask a couple more questions. Sheesh.
So, I called customer service. I asked for information about the cost for my ultrasound, and she asked for a code I didn't have. I told her no one had given me a code. She said without the code, she could not give me an accurate estimate. She said she could pull up a code on google, but since it may be slightly different the estimate may be different as well. I told her no, I'd rather get the accurate estimate so I can plan financially for this ultrasound. I also explained to her, acknowledging that she is not at fault or to blame, that I have phone anxiety and having to call multiple places to get the information doesn't work for me.
The thing with my phone anxiety is that I can "ignore" it pretty well until it intersects with other areas of my anxiety. Being unprepared for something is a HUGE trigger for my anxiety. Not being able to get an estimate from the schedulers was frustrating and set me off, because I was anticipating the second phone conversation. That second call REALLY set me off. I was triggered by not having the information they thought I should. I was triggered by their bad customer service that created an anxiety-provoking situation for me. It's not ok that this is the "norm" in our society.
I am capable of making phone calls. I can talk on the phone with people who call me. I do not like it, and I sometimes cry after I hang up. I seriously think the majority of it has to do with feeling unprepared and being confronted with something unexpected.
So, the result of today's phone calls is...I still don't have an estimate for the cost. I did not call the scheduler back, and I did not call my doctor. I was told one or both would have the code I needed. Instead of calling, I found the message option on the online system to see if I could get the information that way. Of course, the system said they would respond "within two business days". So I may have to wait a couple days to get the information and THEN I'll have to call customer service again to get an estimate. This is all to decide whether I keep the appointment I already scheduled or not.
I'm beginning to think I should just cancel the whole thing and tell my doctor, "no thanks," next time. If I end up doing the ultrasound, they better find something really worthwhile.
Originally posted 7/23/18 at 12:31pm Pacific.
Edit 7/23/18 at 3:28pm Pacific:
I got a response quickly with the code. I called and found out the ultrasound would be $360. I checked if insurance would cover it, and because it isn't necessary right now they won't. So, I sent another message to my doctor asking to verify that it isn't necessary at this time. She said it's not, and that if I have stomach pain insurance will cover it. She said she'd order it again if I have stomach pain. I then called to cancel my appointment for the ultrasound.
All that to say...this was a pointless adventure in anxiety. Yay?
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