Doctor's Appointment: Reschedule or stay with the schedule?

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I have a doctor's appointment for 3:15 pm on Tuesday at a specialists office in a "nearby" (200 mile round trip) city.

They have been trying to convince me to change to 1:00 pm. I would be happy to reschedule it until mid afternoon later in the week but they have no more appointments available.

I wonder if the doctor wants to leave early tomorrow.

I don't mind being accomodating, but ever since my thyroid failed, I have had a lot of back pain and it has been especially troublesome lately. This leads to issues falling asleep and staying asleep.

For example, I couldn't fall asleep this morning until about 7 am because of the discomfort.

So what do you do when faced with this? Do you stick to what you agreed with or do you just do whatever the doctor wishes?

I'm sorry you're not feeling well.

I've had similar requests from appointments. I normally just say I'd prefer to keep (whichever appointment time), and ask if it's an inconvenience to them. Most of the time it's because some other patient is looking for the time slot I have and that's the only time they can attend. Of course there might be other reasons but it's not usually "The doctor wants to leave". If the doctor really wanted to leave or didn't want to see you at that time for some reason, I imagine they'd say you had to change it, which they didn't.

Considering you aren't well I'd keep the appt as planned. Tell them you just can't wait another week.

Feel better soon, too!

In this case, the appointment is not directly related to my back pain.

It is an appointment to schedule a routine colonoscopy. I expect the colonoscopy will be for sometime in July. At least, that's how it went last time.

I've only had one previously. What was interesting was that my back pain disappeared for a week after my last colonoscopy -- I'm probably one of the few that wishes I could get a colonoscopy weekly.

Apparently one of the things they give to clear you out for a colonoscopy is magnesium citrate and that can apparently help a lot with back pain. It's also available as a supplement, so I tried taking it for a few months and my back pain pretty much went away, but I ended up having some side affects and quit taking it. So I'm looking forward to this appointment so I can ask the doctor about that particular side affect which I cannot find any mention of anywhere.

Magnesium helps with muscle pain, like a relaxant. Magnesium Bisglycinate might be easier for you to take than Citrate which can cause diarrhea. Maybe that's why it's recommended before colonoscopies. Did you try taking the Citrate but reducing the dose? That might be another option.

Off topic but I'm due for a colonoscopy too. I'm waiting until the results of an ultrsound on my liver next week but it will likely end up happening in July as well. I've had quite a few of them because of my bowel resection and I don't mind them either. I'd rather know what's going on, than not.

Since you're not feeling well, I think you should choose whichever you think will be easier for you. You have every right to keep the appointment for any reason at all, including the fact that you "called dibs," so to speak. You don't owe anyone any favors, nor do you own any apologies; the doctor is in business (presumably) to serve you. Let them/make them do it.

I hope you feel better soon.

If you want magnesium citrate, you must tell them. In the US, they don't seem to usually use that anymore, the same may have become true where you live.

In my case, the magnesium citrate was quite the opposite from causing diarrhea. It seems to dry everything out.

I rarely go to any town or city bigger than 2,000 people. In fact, I've been one only once this year and it is about 11,000.

The last time I went to the city I'm going on Tuesday was for a colonoscopy three years ago. So this gives me the chance to go to a couple of stores and also to get something to eat that I can't find around here.

Considering the time to drive there, eat, go to the appointment, go to two western stores and to a book store, and then drive home, it is a long day and I prefer to have as much sleep as I can get. I usually go to sleep about 6 am and so with a 3:15 pm apointment, that hopefully gives me about four to six hours of sleep.

I'm going to try to go to sleep earlier than normal and might be able to make it at 1 pm. If I can, I'll send them a message and ask if they would still prefer that.

My girlfriend had docs & dentists call & leave her messages about wanting her to reschedule the times of appointments. Cass didn't call back because she hates making phone calls & having to change plans without much notice. Luckily she checked online the morning of because her appointments were no longer listed or just listed as canceled.

I had surgery on my nose to correct a deviated septum(inside of my nose was crooked). The morning of my surgery they called & asked if I could come in earlier because there was an opening. I was not able to due to bus schedules. I woulda had to leave home in like 20 minutes to get there on time & I still had to shower. I got there like half an hour before I was supposed to & I was taken for my surgery two hours later. I guess they took someone else for that earlier spot & it delayed getting to me.

Good luck today, kokopelli.