Another Doctor Fail

Anyone who knows me knows that I am, without a doubt, against doctors. I believe in many cases they are out for as much of your money as they can get with minimal effort in getting it. I feel like they think they know more about my body than I do and are more capable of telling me how I feel than me telling them and being heard. I have been subject to sub-par care while I was an adult with no health insurance VS having the same life altering issue taken seriously when I had insurance. I have had experience with a great doctor or 2, but the majority have left me wondering why the in Hell I bothered going in.  With the exception of actual emergencies or illness that time won't seem to heal, I have a pretty strict no doctor, no medicine policy.

With that out of the way, I was seen by a doctor not once, but twice in the past week.  The first was a trip to the ER due to a very severe dizzy spell that lasted for hours and the second at a routine appointment I made 2 weeks ago because I have not been well and decided it was actually time to see someone who might be able to help.  Trust me, you know its serious when I make  the appointment.

Over the past 2 months I have lost all my stamina.  I have pretty bad joint pain(I'm talking all my joints, fingers and toes included).  My hair is falling out in quantities that are out of this world and I have started gaining weight for no reason. I exercise through the pain and exhaustion 4-5 times a week and my eating habits have no changed in a way that would cause the weight gain.  I am not myself.  I have never felt this way and clearly that needs to be looked at.

So at the ER in addition to seeing me for the dizzy spell they went ahead and started a few blood panels. The doctor only looked me in the eye and chilled out after not introducing himself when I started questioning the meds he wanted to give me to stop the dizziness.  Suddenly he was like, Wow, informed patient and became very nice and talkative and answered all my questions. But what if I had not been that type, would he have continued to roll right over the top of me without explaining anything?

Monday I went in to see my doctor about the other issues.  She first informed me that the blood panels ordered were not complete and I would need another draw, secondly the ER said my blood work came back fine when in fact my white blood cell count was elevated enough to make the doctor concerned and want to recheck it.  Wow, way to fail the patient ER.  Now, I went on to tell this doctor about all my symptoms.  She said she had no idea where to start.  Listened to my heart and lungs and sent me to the lab. THAT'S IT.  She did not ask more questions, she didn't feel any of my joints or check movement.  NOTHING.  She didn't ask more about the hair loss, she didn't ask about my diet when weight GAIN was a concern.

How is she supposed to help me?  SO here I am with as much information as I had prior to the appointment, less blood and a blown vein. So I guess unless the blood work is glowing some weird color with the issue spelled out I won't be getting answers anytime soon.  She was however nice to ask if I wanted pain pills to manage the pain.  I declined and said I didn't want a cover up, I wanted answers.

Screw Doctors.  They don't know shit.


***UPDATE 7/21  Received a call saying all my blood work came back normal.  I should call and make another appt if my symptoms don't get better.  Well they aren't better and do I want to subject myself to another appointment where chances are I will again not get any answers?

The Illusion of Freedom

Skip and I got into a discussion about freedom the other day. With the upcoming election, so many people are afraid of losing more of their freedoms or seem to think we haven't lost anything. My thought is this, we aren't actually free.  It's just a matter of what rules we are willing to put up with.  Nearly everything we do has a law or ruling about it.  We are not free at all.  So long as we follow all the rules set for us, there is no problem.

I will use this as an example:   There are places in the world where girls are not permitted to have an education. We cry out and call this unjust.  We say these women are being suppressed and abused.  Yet here in America, I am REQUIRED to provide an education for my daughter starting at the age my local government deems fit.  I have to provide proof as well as subject her to standardized testing.  Is there freedom in that?

I think all these "rights" that we all think we have are an illusion to make us feel powerful.  We have the right to follow or break the rules.   That's about as free as it gets.  So quit rallying against losing your "rights".  Rally against stricter rules.