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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on February 18, 2004, at 14:55:36
OK, before I begin, let me make two prefacing statements about my purpose in writing this post.
1. No one else has posted in a couple of days. This post is an attempt to remedy that deplorable fact.
2. I'm ready to be funny about it all now, in a very dark sort of a way.
Here's the post for y'all:
So, first thing yesterday, I went to my last session with my now ex-therapist, which was to include meeting my new therapist. I figured, we're not going to get into anything deep on the last session, and I wanted to put my best face forward with the new one, so into my eyes go my contacts. (Usually wear specs, so I can cry freely.) Ended up diving straight into tear-land.
After a few minutes, the new T gets there. We spent about ten minutes with her. She has a very, very tight schedule, and the first thing she said was that, although the ex-T had seen me twice in a week on occassion, she would not be able to do that. She would also not be available for emergency sessions. She would return my telephone calls, if I didn't abuse the priviledge. Right there, big red flag to me, right? She did, however, suggest that I join a coping skills group she runs, which I agreed to try.
I'm not overjoyed by the day by the time I get home. I won't even mention the home related turmoil.
Then, off to the Pdoc, around lunchtime. I finally told him about a pain in my upper abdomen, which is really quite bad by now. I didn't mention it before to him, being way too afraid he'd label me "hypochondriac" and never listen to me again. He said, "See a doctor." I mentioned the little difficulty there -- like, no one will see the uninsured -- and she kinda shrugged and said, "you still need to see a doctor. There must be some way..." He also said that he thought it sounded like a gallbladder issue. Great, now I'm certain I'm going to die because of the deplorable state of health care access, right?
I put that aside for the moment, and drive home where I'm to pick up my husband, who swears he'll be ready when I get there. Ten minutes sitting in the car waiting for him, he arrives to tell me he has to go back inside. We drive to the bank. That's fine, except that he drives me nuts and the bank is run by morons. We drive to the petrol station. That's fine, although there is a couple screaming at one another a few feet away, looking like the kind of people who are probably well armed. Then, it's off to the County Mental Health Pharmacy.
Simple enough system, right? The doctor sends in the prescription electronically, and I pick it up a few hours later. Not only that, the only drug I actually needed right away had been ordered two weeks ago, so it's pretty sure to be ready, right?
Reality: I get to the Pharmacy. The guy at the pick up window tells me that, not only is only that one drug ready, but that he can't even check to see if the new prescription has been received yet. Then, he starts yelling back and forth with one of the pharmacists about me. Name, doctor's name, drugs, etc. So long, Privacy and Self-Respect. I did yell to the pharmacist, "Do you realize that you are yelling my private information in a public place and that it offends me deeply?" Then, after he found my prescriptions, he sees that the prescription I'm picking up has been changed. Instead of one pill per day, I'm to increase to one and one half pills per day. As a result of this change, they can't give me that prescription, either. I said, "I've just stated to you that the new prescription is for one and one half pills per day. That seems like adequate proof that I can understand and comply with the treatment plan as directed by my doctor." Of course not, but did the pharmacist have to say, "But this label says one pill per day, and now your doctor wants you to take one and one half pills per day." I'm not lucid enough to figure that out?
They finally decided to give me two pills, so I could have something for today. Only after I started to do my Mike Ditka impression. I told them I couldn't come in today, so they finally agreed to give me five, to get me through until Friday.
Here's the point of this rant. Walking out of there with my husband, I turned and said, "You know what scares me? I'm afraid I'm going to turn into one of those people who writes letters of complaint after every one of those experiences, the way my mother used to stomp in the front door every night and call the bus service's complaint line."
So, tell me the truth. I can take it. Will I turn into a rabid reactionary activist, on a lonely crusade to get these bloody morons to practice at least a minimal standard of humane respect for those of us who are not civil servants? (And civil servants, by definition, should not be quite so entirely a-civil. Don't you think?)
OK, that's today's Rant, either answer it or post your own. (By the way, thank you all for being here, for the good and for the bad.)
Posted by shar on February 19, 2004, at 13:34:36
In reply to How was my day, you ask? (Racer's Rant), posted by Racer on February 18, 2004, at 14:55:36
Another most excellent rant, and what a hassle of a day! Everywhere you turned it was one thing after another (or, as Richard Lewis said "if it's not one thing, it's your mother.").
I'm glad today is another day and hope it is much better. I seriously doubt you'll turn into your mother, but a letter here and there couldn't hurt. Especially about privacy issues in the pharmacy--that is definitely not ok and I'm not sure, but might be against the law.
My only rant is about my ankle which still hurts like the dickens, and still inhibits my mobility even though it's had 2+ weeks to get better!! It's made me aware of how much I take for granted, so I guess it's a good thing sort of.
Plus, my life in general, which is more of a novel than a rant. Or at least a booklet. I've been thinking that I'd like to get a brain transplant with my dog (the black lab), though I'd feel awful about giving her my brain. She always stays the same, happy, loving, comfortable in her own fur.
Here's to better days for all!
Shar
Posted by Racer on February 19, 2004, at 14:18:34
In reply to A Very Rantworthy Day » Racer, posted by shar on February 19, 2004, at 13:34:36
Yeah, dogs and cats are life savers, aren't they? At least someone thinks you're well worth the effort.
Today I'm just wrung out, totally and completely used up. I'm going for a nap. And tomorrow I'm going back on the stimulant I just stopped taking, because today is a total crash landing. No matter how bad I was on it, this is worse. At least as a stopgap, I need something to get through this.
Posted by noa on February 20, 2004, at 18:29:59
In reply to And it's worse now... » shar, posted by Racer on February 19, 2004, at 14:18:34
Hope you get some relief over the weekend. And it was a most excellent Rant, btw (psst...notice the capital R...).
Posted by noa on February 20, 2004, at 18:32:08
In reply to A Very Rantworthy Day » Racer, posted by shar on February 19, 2004, at 13:34:36
Wouldn't it be great to at least be able to borrow the dog's brain for some respite from our own? We could let ours rest up a bit, and give us a break from the havoc our own brains wreak on us, and benefit from a couple of days of happy doggy thoughts until we had to go back to our own brains.
Hope the ankle heals soon.
Posted by shar on February 20, 2004, at 18:48:32
In reply to Re: A Very Rantworthy Day » shar, posted by noa on February 20, 2004, at 18:32:08
Noa,
You obviously understand about dogs! Yes, would I LOVE to give my stressed, weary, despairing brain a rest...just trade for a few days.You hit the nail on the head.
Shar
Posted by noa on February 20, 2004, at 20:59:13
In reply to Re: A Very Rantworthy Day » noa, posted by shar on February 20, 2004, at 18:48:32
The only caviat would have to be--absolutely no waiting for someone to let me pee!!!!! That is one aspect of a dog's life I could do without.
Posted by shar on February 20, 2004, at 23:21:21
In reply to Re: A Very Rantworthy Day » shar, posted by noa on February 20, 2004, at 20:59:13
Too True!!! I can't imagine that (except once I was going over the Mississippi River and really had to go and it was AWFUL!).
If we were to perfect the brain transplant you should come and live with me. My dogs (the 3 of them plus the new found cat) have a doggie door they can go in and out of at will. Plus, a totally fenced yard, to keep predators OUT as much as I'm able.
:)
Shar
Posted by noa on February 22, 2004, at 10:24:21
In reply to Re: A Very Rantworthy Day » noa, posted by shar on February 20, 2004, at 23:21:21
Thanks, Shar, but I must tell you up front that I will surely not fit through the doggie door!
So question is---will the doggie brain in my skull know how to get my hands to turn the door knob? And besides, would I really have to pee outside, standing up, stark naked?
This transplant idea needs a bit of tweaking....
Posted by shar on February 22, 2004, at 23:17:50
In reply to Re: A Very Rantworthy Day » shar, posted by noa on February 22, 2004, at 10:24:21
hmmmm, you've brought up some very good points, Noa! I will have to cogitate on those before the transplant takes place.
However, I am SURE that we can get a doggie door to fit you, AND you won't have to be stark naked (you can dress or not) PLUS when peeing outdoors, I learned in my 30's, your rear needs to be lower than your knees, so you would not be standing straight up (and I bless the friend that taught me that!).
However, tweaking does need to occur!:)
Shar
This is the end of the thread.
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