Let's face it, I have seen a lot of Doctors, Nurses and Technicians over the past year and it is amazing how different they all are. From bedside care through to pain management.
Until I went to University I had the same family doctor, which my parents still have. He went above and beyond and you never felt rushed in his office, which might also explain the long waits in the waiting rooms. I have actually been through several doctors since then as they have either gone on to specialize in something else or just plain moved to a different city.
I have been lucky for the most part ..until now... I have Dr. B. The one who couldn't tell me I had cancer. While people are curious as to why I don't dump him, I stay because he is out of a medical clinic and being a patient of the medical clinic allows you direct links to their specialists. While I prefer not to pit Dr against Dr, I will give you two scenarios and you can decide.
Scenario 1
I had been dreading going to see my family doctor, Dr. B as I hadn't seen him since the day he "kind of" told me I had cancer. I have two cysts on my foot which have been there since before this whole story began, but they are now bothering my walking so it is time to go see about them.
I call and make the appointment and the lovely receptionist knows my name and books me right in. I show up 5 mins early and low and behold he is on time and I go right into a waiting room. I look at the computer screen which says my name and : Last Date of visit July 22, 2011...D day in my books.
I quickly take a picture of this ...like I will ever forget it...then I wait...and wait....and wait. I do some texting and play on the Internet of my smart phone and continue to wait. I hear him in the room beside me and think..not much longer now. Then I hear the receptionist go into his office and say | Have you seen JJ yet..silence. Another 5 minutes go by and then he comes in, goes to the computer and brings up my chart. I take a look and the first line in bold letters is |BREAST CANCER MASS|
He turns to me and says, what can I do for you. I tell him about the cysts and he asks to see my foot, feels around and says...
Dr B: Who told you they were cysts
Me: No one, but they are round balls
Dr B: They might not be cysts, they might be a ganglion
Me: -I am thinking...are they not called ganglion cysts
He tells me that there is someone else here who he will refer me to..yeah...a referral. Get me out of here. He types in new notes asks if there is anything else and then his cell phone rings in his office and he is up and out. No...it`s been a year..how are you feeling...no bye...no nothing
Scenario Two
Off to have the results of my mammogram from my surgeon. Since I hadn`t been pushed up in appointments and I didn`t feel any different I assumed all was good. We go to the appointment and check in and are lead down to the room by a very funny East Indian lady and out into a waiting room..johnny shirt on, ties in the front.
I am changed for all of 5 minutes and the current resident of Dr. Ts comes in. Does and examination and asks
Resident: Do you have any pain
Me: just phantom ones
Resident: Do you have any nipple discharge
Me: ahh I don`t have a nipple
Resident;- laughter- I meant on the other one
Me: nope
Resident: Your mammogram was clean, but Dr. T will still want to see you
In walks Dr. T
Handshakes all around, remembers my husbands profession and jokes around while examining me, asks me about my prosthetic and whether it is bothering me and we talk about best ways to get to see a plastic surgeon faster. Says that everything looks good but he has a questions
Me: What
Dr. T: pokes me and say..not for you ,..shsh..for your husband...lots of laughter all around
Dr. T helps me sit up and tells me he will see me in a year after my next mammogram.
So there you go. All I hope is that my family doctor decides to move on to another city and I get someone who will at least read my chart prior to entering the room instead of forgetting me in the waiting room. Also, I have not heard about the referral yet and will propably have to call to ensure he put it in...sigh, what a difference a doctor can make.
No comments:
Post a Comment