Meeting your new primary care doctor is a shocking wake up call
“Let’s take a look at your meds, Sinemet, Losartan, Levothyroxine, Vitamin D, baby aspirin, Omepresol, Amlodipine, Allopurinol, Atorvastatin and fiber supplements. Is that all of them?”
After introducing herself, those were the first words I heard from my new primary care physician. And what did she mean by “is that all of them?” It sounds like a lot to me.
But, then she followed up with this: “I want to confirm your medical history. Parkinson’s Disease, Melanoma, seven Kidney Stones, Gout, torn Rotator Cuff, double Hernia, and Covid. Also, six surgeries since 2015. Is that about right?”
OMFG!! When you put it like that, how is it possible I'm still alive?
So, you may be asking, why are you getting a new doctor? Good question! I recently moved from the city to the north burbs. Getting to my old doc became a long train ride followed by two CTA buses. Plus, he was only available for office visits on Friday afternoons. Hence, the change to someone more available and convenient.
But, we weren't quite done with the inquisition: “Here’s a list of your current specialists, a neurologist, dermatologist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, urologist and an orthopedist.”
Okay, okay…enough already. I can't believe she didn't have my therapist on her list. It's apparent after going through the meds, diseases and doctors that I'm going to need one for a long, long time.
She sounds like she doesn’t have a good bedside manner. Many of us would be dismayed to have our maladies read to us like that! Take care!
Thank goodness for the life of the good man behind all that support...able to share so well to the benefit of so many. But yep, it’s a wake up call, I guess. But you seem woke already.