Friday, October 3, 2008
Pain Doesn't Count as A Serious Symptom...
We are now apparently going to a rhumatologist. Goody. Our doctor was kind enough to apologize for not having answers, but he somehow neglected to include in that apology how he had kept us waiting for over an hour while he shot the breeze with some guy who brought him an expensive gift for saving his life or something (our wait would have been longer, but the lady in front of us had to leave because she was late for work), or that he had not even read the other doctor's notes, our letter with Bryan's worsening symptoms (not the kind of thing you can briefly scan which he half-heartedly tried to do), but hey, at least he apologized. Then, he jokingly said, "if it were affecting your breathing, that would be another story, but your lungs seem to be the one thing that's working." Thanks doc. Here's your check for an arm and a leg...enjoy your golf game this sunday. Hope your cart looses control and finds you headfirst in a sandtrap. love, me.
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8 comments:
hahaha! I dare you to actually send that letter to the doctor...even if you did it anonymously it would be awesome! I'm so sorry that you guys are having such bad luck - I'm not a big doctor fan either.
Hmmm...I guess the cookies didn't work. Darn it! I sure wish there was something I could do to help. We'll keep praying for you guys.
-Laura
DANG! That really stinks. It is so difficult to get answers these days. SORRY! I know you were hoping for a different outcome.
Stupid health care system, with their practicing of medicine, and by praciticing medicine I mean working on their drive with their new Big Bertha ...
But it IS a really nice time of year to go golfing. Y'know, if you're not in pain.
I'm so sorry you're going through this and not getting help. If there's anything I can do ...
We haven't had a lot of experience with this type of thing, but Preston had A LOT of doctor's appointments and referrals his first few months of life. Now that I've been there, I know I would handle it differently. I'm a type A personality, but my mom always taught us to be brave and strong and not complain. Sometimes the squeaky wheel does get the oil. I thought I was being brave and waiting out my epidural but when I realized it wasn't working and they'd cranked the pytocin up to a 12, I thought I was going to die. I should've been more assertive and less brave earlier on and I wouldn't have had to wait an hour and a half with tears streaming down my face for them to get everything working properly. Stupid, brave heroic me. With Preston, his doctor's problems started in the NICU. He was born a month early, but was breathing fine and was plenty big. I waited patiently by myself in my hospital room and finally asked Marcos to go find out why the "bath" was taking so long. I found out he was in the NICU. No one even told me. Then they came in to talk to me because Marcos told them he didn't think he could explain it all. They explained that it was from low glucose levels and wasn't serious. He nursed well and everything seemed fine, but they wouldn't even turn his glucose drip down for 24 hours, let alone take the stupid thing out. And here I am a hormonal mess, having never dealt with this before, just trying to hold it all together. Now I know, I should've gone to all the consultations and taken an active part to be an advocate for my baby. I was so frustrated with the process. And my midwife said the hospital's rate of keeping babies for low glucose is way higher than most hospitals and she thinks they tend to be overly cautious especially when they have fewer NICU babies. But it's hard to be assertive when you're relying so much on what they tell you. I felt like I was completely in their hands (and not only to cure him, but to allow him to leave the hospital). I honestly wanted to just leave with him and worry about it when I got home. He didn't need tubes and ventilation stuff. My rights were definitely not considered during the whole process. I was so afraid they would call CPS and tell them I was a horrible mother if I suggested he was fine. Hard stuff.
So when we found out he had to follow up with a specialist that month down at Primary's, I tried to take a more active roll, but it was a roller coaster of emotions. But by the time the need for a third specialist (for another problem) came along and my Pediatrician (I really like him) was just ignoring it, I got myself on the internet, did some serious research, and went assertively back to him and told him why we needed a referral and who we wanted to see. He listened! It was different because we did know what was wrong with him, but I knew he needed to be treated soon and with someone who knew what was going on. Anyway, I can't totally relate, but I can empathize with the frustration of feeling like just another number on their calendar and not a person whose life this visit could really affect.
Sorry you're having to deal with this over and over again. Good luck! You're in our prayers!
Why is it people grouse so much about lawyers?! We rock compared to the docs.
Chris
you guys are all great, thanks :)
Maria...how scary with Preston! I am so glad someone finally heard what you were saying and got the help you needed. I keep hoping we happen upon a similar person in our situation. That gives me hope to think other people eventually get that help, so thanks :)
Have you guys looked into Acupuncture or anything alternative? I know it always sounds crazy, but it works. I have a ton of faith in it and it couldn't hurt to try, right?
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