The most useless doctor's appointment ever

[judecorp]

I've come to the definite conclusion that my Family Practitioner hates me. I mean, really. She never wants to help me. Ever. You see, Jen and I go to the same doctor. Whenever Jen goes to the doctor, she leaves with about 80 prescriptions, with room for slight exaggeration. I never successfully get a prescription out of this woman. Once I showed her these awful pimples I have on my arms. She told me to use lotion. The only thing she ever wants to prescribe me is something to make me get my period, and she tries to guilt me into it every time.

So today I went there because the left side of my face looks like I got punched hard. And it hurts. So I go there, and I tell her that I'm concerned because my tonsil swells all the time and the last time it got this big, it kept getting worse and I had to go to the ER. She asks me what they did at the ER, and I tell her that they gave me IV antibiotics and steroids, and referred me to an ENT surgeon, who told me that at some point I might have to get my tonsils out. So she says to me, and this is a direct quote, "I don't know what you want /me/ to do about this."

She scolds me because I went to Riverside Hospital last year instead of OSU Hospital, so she doesn't have any records. I tell her that my insurance told me to go to Riverside. I offer to sign a release, and she dismisses that. She asks me who I saw at Riverside, and I tell her that I can't honestly remember, and she tells me to go home and check my paperwork, and try to make an appointment with that person. And she asks me why I called her instead of a specialist I saw a year ago for 10 minutes. I was like, "Umm, because you're my doctor?" So I ask her, "What can I do about this swelling? Because it's really concerning me and I'm scared it will get worse and I won't be able to swallow or breathe again." She says that I should gargle with Listerine and take Advil.

Well, fuck you very much, Dr. Dull. Because I am /already/ gargling, and /already/ taking Advil, and now you're making me make my own freaking referral. SO WHAT AM I PAYING YOU FOR??!?! Oh, right, to berate me when I don't feel well. It's not /my/ fault that I don't have a fever and I tested negative for strep. And she could have said, "You really just need to consult with a specialist," in a nice way rather than being all snippy with me.

So I got home and found the business card for the ENT Surgeons I went to, and I called their office. The doctor I saw last year has an opening at the end of May. The earliest appointment with another doctor in the practice is next Wednesday. By next Wednesday, I will be all better - whether I have to go to the ER soon or not. This is so frustrating.

Geeze. I hope it doesn't get worse tonight, since, well, there isn't a damned thing I can do about it.

Comments

[serenity-coach7.livejournal.com]

Hearing you with the Not being heard piece
=( .....You need to do what you think is best.. and think about switching PCP's???? Sorry to hear you are so frustrated ....

[laserkitty.livejournal.com]

Wow. That really sucks Jude. I'm so sorry. I hate it when dr's don't listen to you and are just short and unhelpful.

I like mine, she's in Westerville though. If you want to switch Dr's her name is Dr. Stock and she's on Paris Rd.

I came to her after I had the last straw with my last Dr. He tried to tell me I was pregnant when I went to him with a fever and severe headache...but no symptoms like puking or anything like that...not to mention I was having my period when I saw him. Dickhead.

[michael622.livejournal.com]

You need a new doctor, and you need one NOW. It's good that Jennifer likes her, but you two don't have to go to the same doctor and this lady is not giving your health the priority it deserves. Get out while you still can!

[ducks-with-lips.livejournal.com]

Take pictures and email them to the doctor's office. Maybe you will get an appointment that way. ;-)

The other option is to take the appointment for Wednesday, take pictures now, and go into the appointment with the pictures. Tell them, "this has happened to me more than once, fix me."

And, kick your doctor in the pants. "What do you expect me to do about it" is not an acceptable comment from a doctor since you are asking for treatment, not refusing it.

[luloubelle.livejournal.com]

I had a bitch of a doctor in Rochester... sounds like yours... and she's still Abby's doctor, and she's still a bitch, from what I hear.

I'm sorry you don't feel well, and you had that to deal with. I want to go punch her in the nose!

Hold me back, Jude, I mean it!

I hope that you and Jen find a nice doctor when you move, and you have awesome insurance that pays for all of it.

Sending you good juju.

*hugs*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_epiphany_girl_/]

Evil Dr. D. Evil, evil, eeeeevil!

I'm so sorry. I send you psychic steroids and emotional antibiotics. It's all I can do for you. Rest. Try to take care of yourself. *hug*

[whirledpeas.livejournal.com]

Screw your DR. See if mine is in your plan. I see a Nurse Practicioner because I find that she has more time to really help me...but I really like the Dr in that. It's a woman-owned business, so I totally support that.

Dr Kerr-Casey is my fav... (http://www.monarch-health.com/) And they love the lesbos...their ENTIRE office always remember who I am, always ask how Sarah is (or how I am, when it's Sarah.)

AND....I can always get in, even in the same day.

[kieron.livejournal.com]

Actually, I don't like her.

[kungfoogirl.livejournal.com]

You know....my roommate's mother died today because she didn't get the attention she needed quick enough. Or at least that is what I gather from his story. And that has put an end to my patience with lengthy delays in medical care. It's best to just get taken care of.

No, I don't think you're going to die.

But when Corey's mom was getting her asthma attacks, she didn't think she was going to die either.

Sometimes things just start a chain reaction, and you never know where it's going to end.

Don't let your cunt (and you know i NEVER use that word) of a doctor keep you from getting better.

*nods firmly and taps her foot a bit*

[sudrin.livejournal.com]

This is similar to the feeling I had when my ears first started ringing and I tried to get answers.. I'd go to doctors who would refer me to other doctors, who may run a test or two, but ultimately they didn't seem to give a crap about me. I got so frustrated with not understanding the problem (and burning a lot of money) that I just said "Screw it" and I haven't been to an MD since.. Just my nice dentist. So they will be able to identify the dental records. ;-)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm only going to be here for 2 months. So there's really no use switching PCPs. I'll get a new one when I move, I'm sure.

Bleh!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

If we were staying in Columbus, I would definitely check whether your doctor is in my insurance network. As it is, I'll be here 2 months, so it's not really worth it to me.

I mean, on one hand, I can see that there wasn't much that she could do. She tested me for strep and it came up negative. She's a family practitioner, it's her job to refer out.

I just wish she'd been a little more helpful. Like, you know, maybe made a referral for me, helped me get in somewhere sooner, that sort of thing.

Blarg.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I don't make a habit out of going to doctors. I hate them, personally. And with some things (pap smears, for example) she's really good and mellow.

I will be getting a new doctor when I move in June, so there's not much reason to switch now just to move. I had my annual exam in November, so I'm good.

I was just really hoping she would help me with this. I mean, she's a GP - she's /supposed/ to be my first course of action, you know?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Good idea about the pictures. I will take a picture tonight for when I go to my appointment next week.

Hopefully this won't even be an issue tomorrow.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

*holds you back*

Dude, I can totally see you coming up here and getting all in my doctor's face. That would be hysterical (and awesome).

I just hate doctors so freaking much. ARGH! And they totally have us by the balls.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm going to continue the gargle stuff and I will start taking Advil on a regular basis, even though I /hate/ taking medicine.

Hopefully that will do the trick. I have no other symptoms, so it seriously bugs me to stay home. I mean, aside from this swollen stuff, I feel fine! Like, able to go on a long bike ride fine.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I wish I had known this sooner! I will check to see if they are in my network, and if I have problems tomorrow, I will check them out. I will tell them I have your and Sarah's high recommendations!

I just always thought doctors were supposed to help people, you know? Not just see how many people they can book into the same time slot.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh, that's terrible! Please tell your roommate that I am so very sorry. :(

If it gets really bad, I guess I will go to an urgent care place or ER or whatever. I know if I went to the same ER I went to last time, they would get me right in to those ENT surgeons. Not that I particularly want to have surgery.

Ugh.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I've been REALLY bad and haven't been to a dentist since 2000. It's one of the things I have SWORN to change after we move back East. I was going to the dentist regularly in Maine, but only after not going to the dentist for 7 years prior.

I am much better about going to the doctor and getting annual exams and stuff. But I need to get on it with the whole dentist thing.

[vorpalbla.livejournal.com]

Maybe I won't go back to Pamela Dull again (I'm in good health, have only gone once).

"I just hate doctors so freaking much. ARGH! And they totally have us by the balls."

No, they have us MEN by the balls! I suppose they have you by other things.

[zuzubailey76.livejournal.com]

YIKES. I hate doctors.

The same thing happened to me two weeks ago, and I got the gargle/Advil speech the first time I went in as well. I had to wait until it developed into a full-blown infection to get any antibiotics, despite the fact that both doctors I saw were shocked at how red and swollen my throat was. Grrr.

I hope you feel better soon, Jude.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but "balls" sounds so much better. :)

I've only seen her a handful of times. She's great for the yearly check-ups! I've never seen her for an illness complaint before yesterday.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Well, don't take this personally, but I sure hope I don't turn out like you! :)

Seriously though, sometimes people irritate me. I know there are worries that antibiotics are being overused and all of that, but I think you should look at a person's history. I mean, I certainly don't have the "record" of a chronic prescription-fiend. I don't take anything except vitamins.

On the up-side, it seems a little better today, or at the very least not any worse. So we'll go with that, and I'll see the ENT dude next week, and see what he wants to do.

Hope you get better treatment in the future!

[michael622.livejournal.com]

Well I hope that when you two move, you are able to find a doctor you both /do/ like! You two need to be well taken care of! :)

[folkyboy.livejournal.com]

sounds to me like you need to get another doctor. she's probably lashing out because she lost some sort of cut off of you going elsewhere.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Ha - maybe. Or maybe she's just a bitch!

:)