Back from my Doctor Visit. (ugh)
And I'm going to put this entire entry behind an lj-cut, because I'm madder than hell, frankly...
(That way you don't have to read unless you really want to.)
I'm sure glad June took me to the doctor. She was sweet and supportive before
So here's what happened...
Good news, first. Even though I ate quite a bit over the weekend at the pool party and Mitch's house (cake and ice cream), I hadn't gained any weight. None lost, but that's okay.
Plus the doctor's assistant was so sweet to me. I was telling her I'd changed to Dr. Chan because the other doctor I'd had was very age-ist with me, treating me like I was old. Anyway, she said a bunch of really positive things to me that indicated she didn't view me as old at all. The last thing she said when walking out of the office was, "You ignore him [meaning the other doctor]. He doesn't know what he's talking about. You look fantastic!" Seriously, that's what she said! (grin)
But even with my perfect list of chronological occurrances and questions I wanted answered, I could barely get anything out of the doctor. He hardly glanced at the sheet I handed him. He didn't even consider the possibility that there might be a correlation between other incidents and my current injury. (I'd suggested I could have even originally injured the rib area when I had my fall in the shower, for example. Or asked if my current back pain -- that's not in the ribcage area -- might be the infection acting up again.)
And regardless of the pain I'm in, he wouldn't give me a note to excuse me from jury duty. He was adamant about that.
I specifically asked him about my recent blood test and he told me it had been fine. Then I mentioned that I'd brought in a urine sample, but he said he wanted a 'fresh' one. So we tossed the other one and I went to give him another sample. (Why he'd want it at all if he felt all was well with the other recent medical concern, I've no clue!)
When I came out from the bathroom with my sample, his assistant came over to me with a sheet that was my referral to go to Emmanuel Hospital to have an ultrasound on my liver. Next to Signs/Symptoms was written 'abnormal lab.'
Didn't the doctor just get through telling me my blood test was 'fine'???
Here's the kicker: the appointment on the sheet was for 8:30 a.m. tomorrow morning. "Um, but I've got jury duty at 8:00 a.m.' I tell her. She's already said that this was the 'only date' they had available and that I really need to go -- so I should speak to the doctor.
He says I really need to do jury duty, so she should reschedule it.
I took the paper with me and I'm now going to do the rescheduling myself. (sigh)
I love being lied to by my doctor. Remember earlier when I said I really liked him? I take it back. I was calling him a 'prick' when I talked to my sister Sue. (grin) Naughty, I know, but give me a break, doctor! You know, I think if he'd help me get off jury duty I'd have been less angry with him, but who knows? I mean, we're talking incompetence, aren't we -- and dishonesty? (And I'm not very good about lying. It really sets me off.)
Anyway, he gave me Celebrex for the pain, thank God. And told me to get and use a heating pad. (I stopped to buy one on the way home.)
Here's what I found out on line about Celebrex:
What is CELEBREX?
CELEBREX is a prescription medicine for:
Relief of the joint pain, swelling, and stiffness of osteoarthritis (OA). OA is a type of arthritis caused by wear and tear on bones and joints
Relief of the joint pain, swelling, and stiffness of adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an autoimmune disease that attacks healthy joint tissue, starting a process of inflammation and joint damage
Management of acute pain in adults (such as pain from strains and sprains) or pain after surgery
Treatment of primary dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual cramps)
Relief of signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, a painful form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine. Ankylosing spondylitis usually strikes young adults. It can cause inflammation, pain and stiffness in the shoulders, knees, hips, ribs, and feet
I guess I fall under the category of 'management of acute pain in adults (such as pain from strains and sprains).'
I'm allowed two pills today (to be taken with food and/or milk), then one pill every day after that.
As for jury duty, Marilyn mistressmarilyn is giving me a ride down in the morning on her way to work. And Sue said she'd come to pick me up. The idea of trying to ride the bus when I'm in this much pain makes me sick to my stomach. (ugh)
And I spoke with Mitch which was a good thing as we laughed about the situation and made fun of doctors in general. Or as Marilyn pointed out when I phoned her, I could be like a friend who has a serious condition he needs treated that requires him to go to a hospital where not a dime is covered by insurance. Or the fancy clinic Marilyn goes to where she still gets crappy treatment by the front office. Doctors are doctors.
Which makes me want to get on a rant about how we need socialized medicine in this country, but Marilyn also pointed out that we could then be getting bad treatment -- as is true for a lot of socialized medicine, I guess. She said we tend to think we can run to doctors with whatever pain or problem and they'll find an answer to solve it -- which is, of course, ridiculous, I agree.
Or, as I said, you could be me -- not bothering to go to the doctor even though I've had that back pain for six to nine months. And it appears I may have had an infection that entire time -- and this may well have given me liver damage...
But how in hell are we supposed to know what pain is 'normal' and what pain isn't? Like I've said before, if I went to the doctor with every pain, I'd be there on a daily basis.
Oh well. Rant over. Let's see what I can come up with after jury duty tomorrow!
Now I really need to lie down on the heating pad for a bit. (Come on, Celebrex! Get to work, will you?)
Then I'm supposed to go back over to June and Jim's. But I doubt I'll make it, as it's almost 5:00 now.
I need to just sit and read my LJ friends' recent posts and comment! I'm behind. Again. (sigh)
And I'm still working on tutorials that I haven't posted. And another new moodtheme, too! (Andy Roddick this time. I've got loads of good photos...)
As for my experience today, I'm pretty lucky. Marilyn was very soothing, June was very supportive, Mitch joked with me and Sue ranted with me. Now who has all that, may I ask you? (grin)
And there's one thing I can tell you one thing for sure -- my life is never dull! (smile)
Wish me luck tomorrow, please. I'd love to get away without being called for one month of Grand Jury duty...