HealthQuest Medical Associates-UPMC

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Dr. Virginia Balderston is the best PCP I have ever had. She is professional, caring, and very thorough. The office staff has always been kind and efficient.

Dr. Virginia Balderston is the best PCP I have ever had. She is professional, caring, and very thorough. The office staff has always been kind and efficient.

It was January 2nd, and I got sudden chest pains. Chest feels tight and burning to point of feeling ice cold, left arm and hand feeling numb. At first, I think it's heartburn because you know it was the holidays, and I have been eating some of the unhealthiest of foods. So I thought that's what it has to be. So I take it light and easy with my eating thru the weekend. But Monday comes and I am still not feeling well. So I call my doctor here, and they want me to come in because of my symptoms. They do a bp reading - 158/108. Ok I am nervous because I really hope this isn't a heart issue, and when I am anxious my bp always skyrockets. They do an EKG, and it's normal. So I talk to the doc, and he doesn't think it's a heart issue. He thinks it's GERD. So I decide I will try some Prilosec. Then they take my bp again, and it's more normal. But the doc says that I should get the cholesterol checked and a stress test just to rule out a heart condition. So I agree to that. The doc says the lady in the office will be calling you tomorrow to get that scheduled. So the lady calls me the next day on Tuesday. She needs me to get the phone number off the back of my insurance card because the print is too small. Could you not of resized it when you went to make the copy of my card so that you are able to read it? There is a feature on copy machines called zoom. You should try it sometime. Ok so the lady says she is going to call this number and then call me back. So I am thinking I would get a call back later that day from her. No. Tuesday, Wednesday,Thursday go by with no word back. Friday comes, and I am still symptomatic as I have been since day one. That afternoon I feel more pains in my chest and once again the left arm and hand go numb. I immediately chew some aspirins and wash it down. Ok, I am calling her again because this is scaring me. I am told the lady is with patients right now, and she will call me back. So I wait at least a few hours, and then call back again. I am told she is still with patients. I get home from work, and my doctor's office is calling, I think, "Good, she is probably letting me know that the stress test is approved and scheduled!" No! She is calling again to get another number off the back of my card!!!" Really, I have been waiting since Tuesday! It's already Friday, and this much-needed test is still not scheduled??? You know, I may not be your typical heart patient. Yes I am young, only 41 (all the more reason to make sure this isn't a heart issue). I may not have it in my family history, but I haven't been your healthiest patient. My cholesterol and triglyceride numbers haven't always been stellar, and I am overweight and could stand to lose a few pounds. I have thyroid issues, which haven't always been managed well. I do believe that these factors individually put me in a risk category, no matter what my age is or family history. If this turns out to be a heart issue, which I hope not, I will consider changing doctors. I will not let you fluff this off! I went on a 14 day course of Prilosec, and it's day 5 with no improvement in symptoms. I am beginning to think this may be more than GERD! I don't know if this heart-related, but one shouldn't have to wait a long time to get the very important tests that determine that.