Some of you know that I attempted blood pressure medication a few months ago. It went swimmingly - as in, my head swam so badly by the third day that I could barely stand. Obviously, it was a no go, and at the time I took the medication back, there was a fire alarm in the building (no fire, but lots of nice, helpful firemen), so I didn't make my follow-up appointment and...decided returning could wait.
Earlier this year, Mike made me an appointment after 3 weeks of the Cold That Refused to Go Away, and (typically) by the time I got to the appointment, the cold was finally gone. I thought.
I must digress at this moment to explain that the doctor I'm currently seeing has the bedside manner of a member of the Spanish Inquisition. He's curt, rude, and resents being asked questions like "Why do I need all these tests?" I was reading something about how people can trigger you at one of the bipolar websites, and I realized as I was reading that this man has actually been a trigger for anxiety-related symptoms every time I've gone to see him.
Every. damn. time.
And this visit would be no different really. He laid out a couple of medication samples and something like 5 prescriptions, then he rushed out of the room to bark orders for something like a billion tests, subsequently scaring the hell out of me. (No joke, guys. When I remarked rather shakily that there were so many tests, he told me it was my fault.) I still haven't gotten two of the tests, and the prescriptions (which now cost an arm and a leg after changes in our insurance coverage) had to be filled on a one by one basis that still isn't done due to Caedyn's repetitive infection followed by the glasses thing (as well as seeing our rent raised twice in the last 4 months).
He even prescribed a cough medication with codeine in it - something I'm allergic to and my file had just been updated with that particular information for something like the third time THAT DAY.
Back on track...
He's really bent over my blood pressure. Never mind that he's the only one who gets the ridiculously high readings. I've been stopping at every one of those silly machines whenever I see one, and his own study people (where I got the blood pressure meds the first time) couldn't get a reading above a high normal. He insists it's not the 2-3 hour wait in his waiting room or the anxiety I go through waiting to see him while pacing in the exam room. Can't be. That wouldn't change anything. It's high.
Fine.
As I said before, I never got to a couple of those tests he ordered, and I've put off the follow up appointment to that last lovely encounter about 3 times now, mostly due to monetary issues, but also, I'm in a depression and I just feel terribly intimidated by the man. So, I really do need to go see him at this next appointment coming up next week.
Thing is, I took the antibiotics right away, returned the deadly cough medicine script, and didn't start on the blood pressure meds. The antibiotics were a type I'm familiar with, and I knew they'd knock me on my ass, but that would be the worst of it. Trying a new blood pressure med? *bites lower lip*
I'm the one that stays awake for 24 hours AFTER taking the sleeping pill. New meds tend to scare me just because of me and my funky reactions. If I'm not experiencing the rare side effect, I'm having opposite reactions than what was intended or no reactions at all. I've even taken meds that were meant to do one thing and ended up doing something wholly different. I just hate trying a new medication without at least 3 days ahead of me where I don't have to drive anywhere or do anything of national import.
But...I didn't take those tests, and if one thing is better, maybe he won't be so mean? At the time, I asked if this blood pressure medication was likely to make me fall over like the last one, and he said "It's a different class of medication" which I think was supposed to be reassurance.
So, here we go. Day two or three, and my eyes are so dry, even blinking feels like rubbing sandpaper over them. Then, the fatigue hit me tonight, and I just wanted to lay down. I'm told that fatigue in the first few days is normal. The last medication started out just making me really tired, so yeah, that makes sense.
I just have one question at this point: If it's gonna make me this tired, don't you think it'd be nice if it put my depressive insomniac butt to sleep?
It's one thing to be so tired, you just pass out. It's entirely different to lay there like a bump on a log, too tired to pick up your really really heavy arms, and be wide awake.
Someone tell me this is normal, but later...
I'm gonna go lay down again.
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4 comments:
It may not be somethign you have the option to do depending on your insurance plan, but have you considered finidng a new doctor who doesn't affect you in this way? Maybe even just one of his partners in his practice?
If his attitude is such that you're not following medical advice, then the healthy thing to do would be to find that doctor whose advice you DO feel comfortable taking.
I hope it works out for you.
Yeah, it's sorting through all the insurance company's crap to get a new PCP that's taking some time. In the meantime, I'm stuck with him, and if I want to keep getting my mood stabilizer refilled, I have to go back for my follow-ups, and to be without that particular med would be much, much worse than not seeing him while we work toward getting the new doctor.
Same with the psychiatrist, really. In order to get switched onto another one, I need approvals and crap, and they really don't want you shopping around for a new doc of any kind on their dime. They'd rather you just choose one and stick to him.
HMO's suck.
I'd suggest that you tell him he better ease up on the attitude, or the AMA will get a letter informing them he is not up to par on his doctoring. Use this part as your "proof"
He even prescribed a cough medication with codeine in it - something I'm allergic to and my file had just been updated with that particular information for something like the third time THAT DAY.
If that doesn't get him to mellow out and be nicer, then ask for someone from that office to take his place...and start writing that letter to the AMA, just in case.
Hun, I understand you have an HMO, but I also understand how these things work. If you write a letter, not only to AMA, but also to your insurance company, or even call them and explain the problem, as well as the potential threat to your life (codeine), then they will be more apt to respond to your need to change physicians. If the subtle request with this information does not work, you can always threaten them with a lawsuit over it and you'll be surprised how quick they jump to that.
Either way, it's time to fire your doctor. Yes, I said fire him. And that is exactly how you get to work it when you inform him you will be seeing a new doctor.
Remember, doctors think they are God and that you would never tell them no. I know you hate the confrontation, but when he starts telling you it's your fault he's requiring these tests, you need to tell him to STOP and explain why he wants them. IF he doesn't, that's when you hit him with the AMA letter and being fired.
You have RIGHTS. You PAY his wage, through your insurance. Without YOU, the patient, he has no business. And I can guarantee you, you're not the only one who's unhappy.
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