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Doctors appointment.

8/9/2018

8 Comments

 
Life is pretty restricted for me now. Not that I am complaining but, I am basically a shut-in at the moment. My days consist of rehab and rest. Even the simplest of tasks can be a monumental challenge for me. It is quite different for my wife. She juggles a demanding full time job, shuttles me to all my appointments and takes care of all the household chores.
 
I have very little social contact. I look forward to the days I get to go to therapy and interact with the people who have made it their business to help me every step of the way.  When I feel up to it, I go to the grocery store with my wife. A really big day is a doctor appointment. We plan doctor appointments like some people plan their vacations. My wife carries around a planner to keep it all straight.  

I have a plethora of health care professionals. Besides my GP I have my ophthalmologist, E.N.T. audiologist, neurosurgeon, oncologist, thoracic surgeon, speech therapist and physical therapist.  I even have my own case manager. Each doctor wants their own tests. If medical tests were tattoos, I'd be covered from head to toe like a cheap newspaper.  

Last week, after two previous failed attempts, we had the pleasure of "visiting" with my oncologist. I do believe its easier for a terrorist carrying a biological weapon to cross the border than it is for some doctors' offices to coordinate with insurance companies to get proper authorization for an appointment. Since it is a bit of a drive, we decided to give ourselves plenty of time. We left two hours in advance and arrived just prior to our 1p.m. appointment time.

We were greeted with the dreaded health history form. This, I am convinced, is a clever stall tactic. We carry computers in our pockets, cars drive themselves, robots vacuum our floors, yet somehow the medical community can't seem to keep an updated record of our health history. No matter how many different hospitals, clinics, Doctors we visit, we still have to fill out the form over and over again. Don't they know how to share with each other?

Once the form is completed, they inform us that they are running late and it will be at least an hour an half before they can see us. They knew we were coming right? We left the house two hours early, filled out the dreaded health history form, yet somehow they weren't prepared for us? 
The waiting room looked like the motor vehicle department. People were fighting over the restrooms like they were the last helicopters out of Vietnam. 

Now when you make an appointment to see Doctor A, and Doctor B walks in the room you have a right to be disappointed. It's a lot like going to see Bono only to have Bieber show up in his place. He walks in the room, shakes our hands and immediately lathers up with Purell. The least he could have done is offer us some. Who's to say he's not the one with the cooties! He then begins to ask us all the same questions that appeared on the dreaded health history form. Déjà vu I kid you not. So which of these procedures could we have just eliminated in lieu of efficiency?  Hmmmm. No wonder we had to wait 2 hours after our scheduled appointment time.

Doctor B does his job casting doubt, creating fear and ordering additional tests. During the exam he keeps looking at his watch like he's got a  plane to catch. Thats my cue to keep asking more and more questions. Hey doc, what do you think of the Lakers this year? Does this mole look suspicious? Who's your interior designer? By gosh, I want to get my monies worth!

So our 1 o'clock appointment turned into a seven hour day. All so we could see a "stand in" doctor. Do you think the box office will give us a refund? 
8 Comments
Jeanne Johnson
8/15/2018 08:28:03 am

Oh Brian! I really had no idea this was so horrible! I've been in my own health crisis bubble too long. I am praying for you and Brenda.

Reply
Brian Dietz
8/15/2018 09:31:05 am

Thanks so much Jeanne. Will keep you in our prayers as well.

Reply
Beth Stanford
8/15/2018 09:11:23 am

Brother, you have voiced my thoughts concisely! It is hard enough to go through stuff, but the health care community (most of them) makes it much more difficult than it needs to be. So frustrating! Sorry you are having to deal with all of this. You & your's are in my prayers.

Reply
Brian Dietz
8/15/2018 09:33:57 am

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers Beth. We will continue to keep you in our prayers as well.

Reply
Michael Brodbeck
8/15/2018 11:14:27 am

We have you in our prayers, Brian.

Reply
Brian Dietz
8/15/2018 01:47:36 pm

Thanks so much Mike.

Reply
Carol Stuebs
10/2/2018 05:30:02 pm

I always tell people that the reason I go to my chiropractor more often than any other medical provider is that it is extremely rare when I have to wait. I guess it must run in our family because I don't do "wait." I have learned to bring everything from half my work desk to computers along when I have a dr appt. It makes you wonder how an oncologist gets 2 hours behind. Do they have emergencies?

Reply
Brian Dietz
10/4/2018 07:58:09 am

Thanks Carol. Good question.

Reply



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    Brian Dietz

    Husband, Parent, Grandpa, Artist, Survivor 

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