newly tested-medical question

[jgking30]

Looked around on the boards and I think this is still best posted here-

So I was tested positive this week and was having trouble getting in to see the specialist my doctor suggested-at minimum it will be 2-3 weeks.  My doctor seems very determined I see this particular specialist, who he knows personally.  All his other recommendations in the past have been very good people in their field.  Should I hold out for this guy?  I'm worried because I am going to Europe for a week in the middle of all this and don't want to put off anything i would need immediately.  Since I don't know anything about actual blood counts, I'm obviously incredibly worried about where i stand right now.  With the news hitting me out of the blue this week, I am so torn up over everything that I feel like I'm already letting myself get run down.  Trying to make myself eat, but even that is hard with all this on my mind.  So my real question - is this kind of time frame right?  Should i be out knocking on doors asking for someone to take my blood?
help!
 

[redhotmuslbear]

Be happy you're being told 2-3 weeks and not 2-3 months!  Some HIV specialists are overwhelmed with patients and simply won't take on more, relying on their existing patients to schedule their next visit when they leave the previous one.  If your primary hasn't let you down on a referral yet, then chill.  Still, your primary should at least be able to order the labs and let the specialist "interpret" them and have more a detailed discussion about treatment with you--putting you through two waits, one to see the specialist, then another for labs to come back, borders on inhumane.

[J.R.E.]

  Still, your primary should at least be able to order the labs and let the specialist "interpret" them and have more a detailed discussion about treatment with you--putting you through two waits, one to see the specialist, then another for labs to come back, borders on inhumane.

I totally agree with that.


Ray