Not The Doctor

I've been dealing with asthma for a while now, and the back spasms and more recently the breathing difficulties have really gotten to me. I did find some relief from my chiropractor, but I thought it was time to get checked out by my general practitioner, and see about upgrading my asthma meds. The current meds get me too amped, then I quickly crash and burn, and I don't like that feeling. Coffee usually does the trick for me, with out the crash and burn, but it doesn't always work, especially if breathing becomes more difficult.

My insurance is through Kaiser, so I see who ever is on the schedule. I only get to see my personal GP (who I like) if something serious is going on OR if I get lucky. Sometimes I get lucky and I'm assigned to a great new doc on duty who really listens,as I did when I was diagnosed with arthritis. I was not lucky today. The Dr assigned to me did not once ask about my life style, what meds or supps I'm currently taking, and so on. I did volunteer that there are a couple of meds that disagree with me and that I have asthma/back spasms right now. He listened to my lungs and looked in my ears and nose, asked me where my back hurts, checked my arms for range of motion, and that was it. He totally blew me off to anything I said and wrote a prescription for the two meds I can't take plus three other things. I even went as far as telling him what meds I could take that are similar. He didn't listen. He was too concerned with entering his information in the computer. I kind of felt like I wasn't even present at my own appointment. When I went down to the pharmacy to pick up my 'scripts, even the pharmacist that was sent out to talked to me was perplexed. I did refuse two of the meds, and the pharmacist pretty much backed me up. GAH! Basically the meds that I did get were band-aid fixes for the symptoms, not really a treatment. Since I was there at the pharmacy, I did pick up a bottle of Arthritis Formula Tylenol since I was out, and the pharmacist said THAT was better for my needs than the stuff the Dr wanted to prescribe to me. I guess I am spoiled by working with doctors who do have a fantastic way with their patients. They ASK a ton of questions pertaining to lifestyle and health issues, they always ask what medications and supplements a patient is currently taking, plus they are personable and LISTEN to their patients.

Things do get a little better, though...

On the way home from my time at the medical clinic, this young guy in an older style, souped up BMW was completely checking me out as we were driving next to each other and at the traffic lights. I don't even know how to react to stuff like that anymore. I'm probably old enough to be the guy's mother, for all I know. Perhaps it's because I drive a Jetta, a car that you see people younger than myself drive? Maybe he thought I was his mom? Maybe he just liked my car? I dunno. I had my giant sunglasses on, so my face was pretty well covered. It was weird, but in a good way, and it made up for the jerk of a doctor I had today. So, thank you, guy in the BMW, even if you were just looking at my car.

Yesterday's Song:
Modern Nature - Sondre Lerche

PEACE