Since when?

cllinda

I went for a six month checkups and a Prolia Shot at the oncologist. They took my temperature before I walked in and they have me a paper saying I was ok.
Had a blood test. They weighed me, did blood pressure and then the Nurse practitioner came in. She talked to me, listened to my heart with stethoscope, and then told me they are not doing breast exams right now because of social distancing. That is one reason I try to go every six months so I know I'm ok.
What has changed at the doctors office for you?

GregP_WN

So far, they don't come in and shake hands anymore, they are wearing rubber gloves and do still do an exam feeling of my neck for swollen lymph nodes. Other than that the biggest change is getting into the building. It's like armed guards keeping people out. Temp check, a few questions, then they let you and 1 person in. No matter what you're having done only one person can come in.

junie1

At Moffitt, I get temp checked outside the building,, and a sticker that says I've been screened.. everybody is wear mask and gloves. Im ok with all of this.. inside,, it's just doctors and paitents. the only other person allowed with someone is if the patient isn't able to walk,, & needs assistance with that,, or the person is unable to make decissions on their own. When i go to blood draw,, they can have that person in the lobby,, but a Moffitt person comes and get the patient to take them to get blood drawn.
In my visit with the doctor,, the have checked my neck area for the lump that's there,,but have not done any exams for awhile,,
Also for Moffitt always had a coffee machine on each floor in the lobbies,, but not any more... no more self serve coffee stations.
But that's ok also.
I haven' been to my PCP since the beginning of the year,, my last visit was over the phone. Im ok with that also.

JaneA

My husband just went in for a physical exam at our colorectal surgeon - a DRE (digital rectal exam). To make sure that a spot that had been removed was indeed gone. They called us with instructions: to both wear masks, call when we got to the parking lot, took both of our temperatures. The waiting room had the chairs spaced out. But they perform the DRE - everything had healed and was fine. Gave him a follow-up appt. for six months.

I imagine that you'll receive the NCCN recommended followups but probably not any extra things that involve close contact. They are trying to protect their patients who are on active chemo and trying to protect their medical staff so that they can continue to care for patients.

msesq

My yearly appointment in person was canceled and I was offered a virtual appointment or wait 4 months. I choose to wait as I thought a virtual appointment would be pretty useless for breast cancer

beachbum5817

@msesq, this has happened to me at my oncologist's. I have been rescheduling since March only to have them call and cancel. I space my appointments out between my breast surgeon and oncologist, so I am seen by one of them every 6 months. When they canceled for this month, I told them that I would call later to reschedule for March 2021 since I will be seeing my breast surgeon in September, hopefully.

TerriL

I had a 3 month follow-up appt earlier this month and they did a breast exam.

fiddler

Sounds like their $cheap. What's the big deal? So they can wear gloves and toss them after the exam. I'll bet they don't toss the masks they wear, and we all know now that the droplets are cumulative ...

Speaking of 'the virus', do an experiment to see just how effective the masks are. Put on the mask, make it as secure as you usually do, then lightly spray Febreeze in the room and see if you can smell it through the mask. If you can, that'll tell you how effective the masks are against COVID-19.

Carool

My dental appointment for June 11 was just canceled. I have my annual mammogram and breast sonogram set for June 24 at MSKCC. No cancellation yet. And a friend is going tomorrow to their Basking Ridge, NJ, building to have a CT scan for a lung nodule.

ChicagoSandy

Across the board, all my providers have switched to e-visits except for emergencies/urgent problems.

Bengal

My hospital has initiated parking lot phone check in. They have also added a locked door between the reception/check in area and the inner sanctum. Someone has to let you through. No one allowed in other than patient unless special reason, ie. disabled assist or translator. Everyone just wear mask. Several of my non- critical follows have been by phone. I had to go for bloodwork yesterday and waited in parking lot until they were ready for me. I have no problem with any of this. I would rather be overly cautious than the opposite. Lest we forget:; this virus has killed over ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE in this country and counting. That's not just a number. It refers to someone 's loved ones who are gone forever.

LiveWithCancer

I haven't been yet ... but I was supposed to go on June 8. I got a call today telling me that I would be conversing with my doctor over the phone. I am glad, for the most part ... and had considered requesting this ... but ...

I am guessing if my scan is okay that we'll just go to once every 6 months scans instead of every 3 months like it has been. If that happens, I won't see my oncologist for a year! After years and years of seeing them every 2 weeks, what a change that will be!!!

My husband doesn't have cancer, but he has lots of serious health issues. He was supposed to have a visit with the doctor today. He was actually on his call (rather than visit) today when I got the call from my doctor changing how my appointment would be done.

It's a new age

GregP_WN

A different age for sure Live! At Vanderbilt, they have taken steps to funnel everyone coming into the facility from 6 elevators to one floor and one entrance. There they check your temp and ask questions, then give you a mask if you forgot yours and left it in the truck like I did. After this, you can go back to a different set of elevators and go on up past the second floor to your original destination. We know our way around the facility pretty well but this has gotten us lost a few times and causes you to have to walk a long way. But, I understand why they are doing it. People will not do the simplest of things (like put your damn mask on) unless they are hit with a stick and made to do it. On the way to and from Nashville, we stopped at a few places. 80% at least, of people are not wearing a mask and are acting like it's just another sunny day in the summer.

LiveWithCancer

@GregP_WN, we have mostly stayed in since all of this virus stuff started, but this week, we did venture out to pick up food from restaurants. There was a long line for drive-through at Braums so I went in to get my husband a malt. One of the kids making ice cream sundaes had a mask on ... his neck was benefiting from it. Mouth and nose - exposed. This disturbs me since kids are more likely to be carriers and not even know it ...

We went from there to Whataburger drive-through. Again, a kid who was serving food had his mask down on his neck... I have to say ... I said a prayer for continued protection from the virus before biting into that food!

I'm not sure what our big clinic is like since I haven't been there since the pandemic hit, but I went to a satellite clinic for a port flush. They had someone sitting right at the door as you go in to make sure you have a mask and that you have no temperature...

BoiseB

I have personally canceled my follow-ups because I did not want to risk it. The clinic that checks blood set up an outdoor blood draw. We drive up and they come to the car and take your blood. Then they call you with the results The medical system had been screening for measles since fall so they started a form of screening the day after the first covid-19 case in the US was announced.

Bug

BoiseB, I was just about to make an appointment for the first shingles shot when the shelter-in-place happened. I was thinking it would be nice if I could do a "drive up" for that.

meyati

Talking about phones- that seems to be a bummer. Dentist and vet--I couldn't get through to the desk, because their phones are ringing off of the hook.

I went in to a patio area at my dentist-tapped on the window to let them know I was there.I waited til they hollered at me to go in.

The vet was nicer, I got the parking spot in front of their front window. I called, left a message. They finally came out and asked me who I was. They said- keep calling- they check the messages first thing in the morning, and later on the day, so keep calling or tap-pound on the window.

meyati

Bug- What shingles shot are tou getting? The Zorster is a live vaccine and non-cancer patients sometimes get Shingles from the vaccine. Cancer patients and others with a compromised immune system get Shingles more often. My family doctor didn't know that, but my radiologist did know. He recommended SHINGRIX He also told me that it takes 2 shots, 90 days or more apart-you can get the 2nd even 2 years later and it must be with the pharmacy that gave the first shot.

I checked with DR. Google and all of that was true.

Now the hard part-*-I called several pharmacies, and they weren't cooperative.
* I went to Costco, Walgreen, Smith's (Kroger to the rest of the world), Albertsons, some independent pharmacies. I went and asked if my name could be put on a list-some said no-and others said Yes. I asked if they could contact me. They said -Sure-yes- I asked when they expected Shingrix to come in-they didn't know keep checking. .

I was picking up some greens at Albertson- and a sign was up-saying 9 Shingrix doses left. I paid and ran over with my groceries-i I got the first shot. The pharmacist said it is a shame they didn't have a list. I got my shot.

After 90 days, I started going to that Albertsons twice a week. About 120 days, they had the Shingrix, and I got my booster.

NUMBER 1-- the Internet said that the shot was very painful, and the pharmacist also said that. My shot was painful for the first 30 minutes, and then no pain at all. So make sure you have aan anti inflammatory pain killer. I'm allergic to those and Tylenol, So, I toughed it out. That might be because I had broken bones.

NUMBER 2---Shingrix was developed and made in Holland-the Netherlands-The shot lasts forever, no annual shoots, no 3rd or 4th booster. It is those 2 shots- period-I paid about $90 a shot because I am a cancer patient and a senior. Healthy younger people can end up paying $300 a shot. I met that one woman paid $120 for each shot. This might just be a NM thing-we do way too many things different from the rest of the world-or at least the rest of the USA.

OK----Shigrix is made several times a year. A Shingrix batch is sent out to a different country each time. A batch can be sent to China, then a few months later to Canada and Japan, then another batch to China for the booster shot. Me, being me, I called the Shingrix phone number and they were nice and happy to explain how the company worked. I got my shots about-2 years ago.

I'd go to one of the prescription sites like GOODRX-whatever- and you can find out the pharmacies that carry Shingrix, which is almost every pharmacy in your county-but you might get lucky. Then go to the pharmacies around you-talk to the staff and ask for your name to be put on a list-that might work. Then go to the places where your name is on the list, and ask- be pleasant-thankful-explain that you are a cancer patient or survivor--.

Anyway--I'm glad that I have Shigrix, it really gives me peace of mind. So, good luck-this is the era of scavenger hunts for food, medicines, clothes/shoes, bread, flour, and so on.

Bug

meyati, I believe it's the Shingrix shot(s) but I'll double check. My sister said her arm was sore for a couple of days with the first shot. She said that she felt like she had a bit of a flu for 24 hours with the second shot but it wasn't really a big deal. My husband had both shots and he did not have the flu feelings. Of course, I'm assuming I'll be more like my sister.

I didn't realize you could wait up to two years to get the second shot. I thought it was 90 or 120 days.

meyati

No, it can be a while, part of this is manufacturing and distribution problems. I know a woman went 18 months before she got her second shot. I never fully trust what companies say, as even the best can have idiots working for them.

I was told to get the second shot as soon as I could (always best), but not to stress myself out if it took me longer. For me, it took almost a year-to get the first shot, and I wanted to get it over with.

Bengal

I've been on a list for so long I had forgotten about until it came up here. It's been months! Some friends of mine had the shots and both complained it was very painful and didn't want to go back for the second one - they did. I had the original shingles shot a few years ago but wonder if that gives me at protection.

meyati

My stupid opinion-MSO- remember that everyone-LOL-- Seriously--the Shingles virus lives in a body for years and years, waiting to be set off by something. I do think that Shingrix works and protects us from the virus.

After WW2. it seemed that there was a shingles epidemic. It was what was talked about in the media of that time. I find myself thinking of that time, and I think shingles was probably set off by the stress of WW2. Back then the thought was if the shingles worked around your body and made a ring that you died.

So go get your shingrix as soon as possible, because these are stressful times. We've had plenty of stress-2008- and so on.

Bengal

Thankfully I have never had the shingles but I know several people who suffered severe cases, including my mother (twice), my aunt, a family friends who got them on her face, it is a horribly painful experience. I gotta remind that drugstore I'm on their list and encourage everyone to get on a list sonewere. Apparently vaccine is used up faster than they can manufacture it. And if course right now all are concentrating on Covid19.

meyati

@bengal--try to check every week, because it goes quickly most of the time. Like I said- I waited 8 months. It was pure chance that that I bought some greens at Albertson's when they had the sign up.
Believe me, I told the pharmacy how delighted I was that they put the signs up at the cash registers.