Dear Readers, it is probably safe to say that I have an advanced degree in being a medical patient. I have spent years getting dicked around with tests that go nowhere and doctors who want no part of what I'm selling because I don't fit into their little box. Let's review the past six months or so.
I have continued to see Dr. Garcia at the FFC. I would give the presentations at their clinic if they gave me a free B12 shot and some water. I love that woman. Here's the thing about Dr. Garcia and the FFC. They do not take insurance. I have bitched relentlessly about the costs in other posts. Hell, I have that other blog about how much their costs helped the Danielle Deficit. However, when I make an appointment with Dr. Garcia, I get at least thirty full minutes with Dr. Garcia. Not the nurse. Not a PA. She listens to me. We go over my past labs and current labs and anything else. I have gotten accustomed to this sort of doctor patient relationship.
Earlier this year, I sprained my ankle. That led to Dr. Doom. Then to Dr. Gubler. My appointments with Dr. Gubler were relatively quick in duration, but how much time can one take for that sort of thing. I agreed that I needed additional tests. When the additional tests came back, I got a shot that did nothing and I honestly believe was a complete waste of time and money because I don't have tarsal tunnel.
When that didn't work, I was given two options: surgery or go see a neuro. Off to the neuro I went. Especially because I don't need a scar and a tattoo on the same damn foot. Neuro spent about ten minutes with me at the first appointment and it was test time. Two MRIs, labs and other tests done in her office.
I went back to get my results today. My tests were clean. (Whew, because I was worried about MS.) She tells me that my central nervous system looks fine and have I considered that it might be fibro. What???? She knows about Dr. Garcia, so I am assuming this was a slip up. I gently remind her that I have been treated for fibro for years and i was there because the symptoms changed. Before I could get anything else out of my mouth, she was writing an Rx for a spinal tap. What? My CNS is fine, and now I am going for a spinal tap... An invasive test which will require me to miss more work and will also require my husband to miss work. But for what? She said everything else was fine. Sure, it's nice to rule stuff out, but this is a bit much.
Also, within the past week, I've had the pleasure of visiting the Emergency Room twice. First, because the neuro told me to go because I couldn't work my right arm, and that turned out to be a pinched nerve. But, instead of seeing me in her office, I had to go there to get a cardio workup. 6.2 hours in the ER and they gave me the same stuff that the neuro would have. Does that really necessitate an ER visit over a quick office visit?
That was last Monday. On Thursday, I felt like crap at work and assumed it was the pinched nerve or the meds and I went home. Took my temperature and it was high. By Friday morning, the temperature was soaring and I was starting to have trouble breathing and I was making strange sounds while coughing. I gave up and asked Brian to take me to the ER. Again. Fortunately, our stay was only 2.5 hours. My second chest xray in five days. Pneumonia. I'm going to be honest, this was a new one for me.
For the past four days, I have felt like ass in a way that I haven't felt in years. I take millions of naps. I cough millions of times. Sitting up is a huge chore. (I am currently sitting up in an attempt to see if I can make it through some of my work day tomorrow.) I realize that if this continues, I need to go back to the doctor. Nothing annoys me more.
In these recent experiences, I have noticed a huge difference in the standard of care: If I want attention from a specialist, I need one who doesn't take insurance. If I want attention on something "easy," I need to go to the ER. I can't wait to see what my insurance bills will look like for this one.
Obviously, healthcare reform is widely discussed. I think it is total bullshit. We need insurance reform. I posted something on FB about my frustrations and one of my friends, who is married to a doctor, remarked that they get about two minutes with each patient and they order a battery of tests because if they miss something, it's on the doctor, rather than the insurance company. I think everyone can agree that this is the sad state of healthcare in our country.
So, while I might bitch about Dr. Garcia's rates, it's pretty damn reasonable when I think about my hourly rate. She has made more progress than 8 years of other doctors have.
I am respectfully declining my spinal tap until a need arises. I am simply not giving into the overabundance of testing and making my insurance premiums even more costly for my employer. I'll stick with the doctor I pay for out of my pocket directly and I'll get the level of care that I imagine most doctors wish they could give their patients.