Doctor progress...maybe

So last week on Thursday, after a month of waiting, I finally called my doc's office to ask if they had the results of my A1C and my rheumatoid arthritis panel. The receptionist passed me to the nurse, who put me on hold and then came back to tell me the A1C was fine, at 5.8, but the RA panel wasn't back yet. I expressed my concern that while the A1C might be in the normal range, my blood sugars were not in the normal range when I was testing several times a day, and that had me a little worried. The nurse assured me that the A1C was fine and the doc wasn't worried. Great. BUT I AM.

Friday, another nurse, same office, called me back to give me the RA panel results. Apparently they got into the lab system to get the results. Surprise...no RA. Surprise...the markers for lupus are high. Great, always wanted to be a wolf. ;) Oh...not that kind of lupus. Also, the doctor wants me to cut back on carbs, add more protein, and watch my blood sugars because the 5.8 was on the higher end of normal. I seem to recall hearing that somewhere before... ;) Nurse leaves me with the promise to make an appt with a rheumatologist (which, incidentally, I requested at the December appointment based on my "imaginary" fibromyalgia).

This week, Wednesday, I call to see if they have had any success getting this appointment, because this has been a week with some really ouchie days and I am ready for some answers. Receptionist informs me that Nurse has the file and is "working on it" for me. Great.

Friday this week, still no answer. I called the insurance company and the one (literally) good thing about the new insurance as of January 1st is that I no longer need the primary doc to make these appointments or get referrals. FABULOUS! 15 minutes later I had a rheumatologist appoint for March 9th. It is a month out, but for a specialist appointment, I considered it victory.