The Joys of Modern Medicine
Posted: July 17th, 2008, 5:56 am
During the past month I have been to more doctors then I have seen in years. After all this here are the highlights:
1. Pulmonary doctor - Diagnosis is I have asthma (I was diagnosed with asthma 60 years ago) and I have chronic sinus infections (I have been getting treatment for this for at least 20 years). Nothing new here.
2. Cardiologist - Diagnosis is I have A-fib (I was diagnosed with this 2 years ago and he put me on medication for this at that time). He repeated a bunch of tests which showed no change from 2 years ago but he wants to run some more tests just to confirm these test results which confirmed the test results from 2 years ago (double talk for let's bill the insurance company for all they willl pay). Nothing new here.
3. G.I. docotor - All tests and exams are normal. Nothing new.
4. Primary Care - Routine annual tests and exam - everything is the same, stay on the same meds, etc. Nope, nothing new here.
5. Eye doctor - I just needed a slight change in my glasses but the Good News is that my eyelids are fat enough now to impair my vision and Medicare will pay for an eyelid lift, Oh Joy!
All of this to find out that I have fat eyelids.
During all this I have encountered staff who thought that just because I am over 60 I must be hard of hearing, not as intelligent as I was when I was younger and that I like being addressed as "dearie", "sweetie", etc. They are shocked when I let them know that my hearing is very good, that I have as much, if not more, education then they do and that I am the person who facilitates the classes that updates their education and skills that allows them to renew their licenses. I also remind them I prefer being addressed by my name and that there is a fine line between being caring and compassionate and being condescending.
1. Pulmonary doctor - Diagnosis is I have asthma (I was diagnosed with asthma 60 years ago) and I have chronic sinus infections (I have been getting treatment for this for at least 20 years). Nothing new here.
2. Cardiologist - Diagnosis is I have A-fib (I was diagnosed with this 2 years ago and he put me on medication for this at that time). He repeated a bunch of tests which showed no change from 2 years ago but he wants to run some more tests just to confirm these test results which confirmed the test results from 2 years ago (double talk for let's bill the insurance company for all they willl pay). Nothing new here.
3. G.I. docotor - All tests and exams are normal. Nothing new.
4. Primary Care - Routine annual tests and exam - everything is the same, stay on the same meds, etc. Nope, nothing new here.
5. Eye doctor - I just needed a slight change in my glasses but the Good News is that my eyelids are fat enough now to impair my vision and Medicare will pay for an eyelid lift, Oh Joy!
All of this to find out that I have fat eyelids.
During all this I have encountered staff who thought that just because I am over 60 I must be hard of hearing, not as intelligent as I was when I was younger and that I like being addressed as "dearie", "sweetie", etc. They are shocked when I let them know that my hearing is very good, that I have as much, if not more, education then they do and that I am the person who facilitates the classes that updates their education and skills that allows them to renew their licenses. I also remind them I prefer being addressed by my name and that there is a fine line between being caring and compassionate and being condescending.
