(no subject)

[the_rck]

Well, the doctor says it's not asthma. His best guess is reflux. I'm dubious. It *feels* like asthma not like reflux. I've had both problems long enough to know the difference. I have tightness not burning. Basically, though, my lungs are clear in as much as I'm not wheezing, so from their point of view, it can't be asthma.

They did do a resting EKG which was normal, and they've referred me for a treadmill test. They also changed the medication for my reflux. I protested that I'd tried the suggested medication a decade ago and had major problems with it then (in as much as it made the reflux worse), but the doctor didn't want to hear it. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to make the change. It's possible that the situation's sufficiently different now that my body will respond differently, but... I think the doctor was annoyed that I'm still nursing, too.

At any rate, I think the medication change is more of a shot in the dark than anything else. Hopefully the treadmill test will be normal. Though right at the moment, the notion of walking on a treadmill sounds decidedly unappealing.

Also, this is one of those situations where I'm not allowed to schedule the appointment myself. The clinic's secretary called after I went home and got the first available appointment. I'm not much pleased by the timing-- 9 am on Friday is simply too early in the morning. In order to be sure of getting there on time, I need to leave the house at 8 am, and that means that I need somebody here before that to watch Delia (who probably won't be awake yet). Scott's mother would have to leave home before 6:30 to be sure of getting here by 8. Fortunately, a friend has stepped in who's willing to babysit and able to get here that early. She's even someone Delia knows, so... Well, I'm crossing my fingers that Delia won't be too upset to wake up and find me gone.

I'd be willing to take the chance of leaving later if I'd ever been to this part of the hospital before, but I haven't. I need to allow time not just for missing the first bus but also for getting lost. I'll be glad when this is over.

Comments

[evalerie.livejournal.com]

With those appointments where they assign a time for you, I've had pretty good success with calling up the place where the appointment is and telling them that the time they've chosen for me is not OK and that I need to reschedule it to another. Even if they won't talk to people to let them initially make an appointment, once one is scheduled they seem pretty amenable to changing the time.

I hope you feel better soon!

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

I've had similar experiences. Please call and try to reschedule the appointment. Or have someone do it for you, if you're afraid of the phone conversation.

>They also changed the medication for my reflux. I protested that I'd tried
>the suggested medication a decade ago and had major problems with it then
>(in as much as it made the reflux worse), but the doctor didn't want to
>hear it. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to make the change. It's
>possible that the situation's sufficiently different now that my body will
>respond differently, but... I think the doctor was annoyed that I'm still
>nursing, too.

This looks like cause for concern. Is this a new doctor for you? I had doctors who disregarded concerns like that, and it was always to my advantage to change doctors if I couldn't make them take me seriously. Sometimes it helped to bring a support person to appointments. I know it's especially hard with Delia this age, but is there anyone who might go with you?

[the_rck]

Well, since I've got somebody who's able to come and look after Delia, I want to get this thing taken care of. Yeah, the appointment's earlier in the day than I like, but it will be *done*. Then I won't have to worry about it anymore.

I'm still going to UHS. I've seen this particular doctor before, and so has Scott. We've both had problems with him making up his mind and then not hearing anything more. He just happens to have been the doctor available when the nurse practitioner I saw on walk-in wanted a doctor to look at me. I might or might not ever see him again. It's all luck of the draw when it comes to walk in. My normal doctor doesn't work Wednesdays, so seeing her wasn't an option, and the nurse practitioner couldn't call on her.

[the_rck]

I know. I've done that, too. I just really, really want to get it over with. If there is something cardiac related wrong, I'd like to know sooner rather than later, and I don't want to have to wait over the weekend. Since I've got somebody able to come watch Delia, rescheduling doesn't see worth the effort.

[scribblemoose]

That must all be so stressful for you. I hope it pays off in terms of an improvement in your health, at least.

[the_rck]

Thanks. I'm looking forward to it being over, even if I never get an answer about what's wrong (assuming it stops being wrong). And truth to tell, I'd rather not have it be anything cardiac.