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Thursday, May 15, 2008

Exit light, enter niiiiight....

So I have been trying on and off, unsuccessfully, since about 10:30 this morning to take a nap. I feel fatigued, I know that the trip to the doctor's will probably wear me out, so I figure if I rest, then I will be able to have some energy, right?Easy, simple, I'll just lay here for a few minutes.....um 20 minutes....25.....30....

Nope. Damn. Three times I tried.

So I gave up, got dressed and came here to kill some time after catching up on the ole twitter.....

I totally do not want to go to this doctor's appointment.

Not that I fear he's gonna tell me I have pneumonia, cause I really think I'd be a lot worse if I did. I'm not scared of anything, really. I just don't like the guy I am going to see. He was a total tool to me at my last visit, and I have been uneasy at the thought of going back.....

You see, folks, who don't know anything about Military Benefits, when your Primary Care Manager (PCM) is not available for a same-day appointment, they just send you to some other PCM in the clinic. Usually I score awesomely with the Doc lotto. I even changed my PCM to get the guy I have now, due to 1 appointment with him, he was that awesome...and unfortunately is on vacation, so I got a replacement Doc. This is apparently not my week, because although it is somewhat hazy (hey I did have a 102 degree fever after all), I do specifically recall the Lieutenant who I was assigned to for the appointment was terse, impatient, and had horrible bedside manner.

One specific thing really set off all my alarms: cough medicine with Codeine.

He wanted to give it to me so I could sleep...this is what happened...that I can recall...

Cissa: "Yeah, that doesn't work for me."

Doc Jerk: "It doesn't work for you?"

Cissa: "Nope, when I had bronchitis back in February or March, I was given some and--"

Doc Jerk: "Ok ok, fine I'll give you Mucinex" *scribble scribble into my file*

Cissa: *blink, blink, turn to look at Misk and shrug* O...Kay....*hack hack hack* ugh....

Now, I don't claim to be any kind of medical genius. but I DO have a bit of a college education, have friends and family that are nurses, AND have spent enough time in the military medical system to know that when a patient tells a doctor that a drug that is supposed to do one thing does another, the doctor should inquire more into it....Call me crazy, insane even. But I do know basic medical and military protocol, especially the Navy: it's ask questions till the horse is dead, beaten, disintegrated and turned to dust before solving the problem or jumping to the next issue.

Maybe this Lieutenant didn't want to be there past 4 pm, but that is no reason why he had to be a jerk to me, a patient who was ill...and still is. If he didn't want to be in the Navy, where there are no set hours, then he should have though twice before signing the dotted line. Even if he's Lieutenant, he's still getting paid nicely by the navy for being an officer and a doctor. Surely that nice little paycheck, that's most likely twice what Misk makes at his rank, could soften him a little into a better bedside manner?

Today is his second chance. if he's a jerk again, I am going straight to the patient advocate and registering a complaint.

No one messes with a sick Cissa. I can be a total bitch when I am sick and cranky.....
as opposed to the rest of the time when it's bitch on a whim hehe......

*hacking, although not as much this afternoon*
~Cissa

2 flame(s) added to the fire:

Bee said...

what the hell man! I never understand why docs act like pricks!
I had one once, I broke out in some weird allergy that was swelling up my arm and turning it purple.
After waiting, this doc gets called away to an *emergency* so he came up to tell the receptionist who told him I was waiting. He looks at my arm and says you should be fine for another day. Come back tomorrow. Seriously?? He couldn't take 2 minutes to tell me what it was or give me a shot??
I went to another one that same day said I needed to take some antibiotics ASAP.

Anonymous said...

Poor Cissa! I'd call the advocate anyway. There is no excuse for that kind of treatment-especially if you have to see him through a "lottery". I hope your regular doctor comes back soon! Can you take someone with you that will help you ask questions or demand that he listen?

Feel better soon!!