My day in the regular Medical Community (not dialysis)

Mods can move this to the correct section. I just didn't know where to post it.

Read this and ask yourself if we have the BEST health care in the world.

Friday night I got a pain in my right side. I thought I must have eaten something..... Saturday there was still a pain and my stomach felt bubbly. Sunday I just didn't feel very good and pain was still there. Monday I called my GP, the only person I could find in the Yellow Pages who would take a leaper like a "Medicare" patient. She is young and has not filled her quota for "the disgusting Medicare People".

She pushed on my right side and I about went through the roof. She ordered a CT Scan and blood tests and stool test. The stool test was done before I knew it. She told me to roll over on my right side and bring my knees up to my chest and Woohhoo!!

She said it may be appendix or diverticulitis.

I've had diverticulitis before and it is usually on the left side, but OK.... you are the doctor.

I go over to the hospital and there are 3 volunteers at the desk over 70 years old jumping to help me. "Pick ME.... Pick ME"! They take me to the administration office to make sure I can pay. They take all major credit cards and can now mortgage your home and you can also leave them in your will by just one signature!! So, okay I sign my insurance over to them.

We go to the lab room and I tell her that I'm going to have an IV anyway so maybe we could save me a stick by putting in the IV and drawing blood through that. Well.... NO.

Then I go to the CT waiting room and they give me 30 ounces of stuff to drink. Three big glasses 20 minutes apart. Well, being on fluid restriction.... and it tasted like Peach Ice Tea.... I chugged it down in one smooth gulp. I knew I was drinking some sort of contrast dye, but it tasted so good. She just looked at me and she had some sort of "gag" reflex. Twenty minutes later I chug the second glass. Still no problem and it tasted really good. I never get to do anything but sip. This was like a long awaited FREE dip in the pool!! Twenty minutes later a third drink was sitting there and I was FULL. I tried to drink it but decided that I was a small person and this was probably for a big Man or something. She came back in the room and said I had to drink it. Ok... I downed it but I was full and I haven't peed in 4 years so really no relief in sight.

The IV lady comes in and I have fistulas in both arms so she only has my hands and the blood lab lady took the only good vein. Two stick later she got me.

We start the CT scan and she starts to put the IV contrast dye in and I hear the infamous word "OOPS". I hate that! I guess the IV lady didn't tighten the "hub" and there was now contrast all over my arm. I guess that is better than blood which I was thinking it was. Just a warm liquid running down my arm and I was not allowed to move. She thought she got enough in me. I go through the donut two or three times and get to go back to the waiting room to watch FOX news.

The Radiologist who looked all of 19 came in to tell me my results. He said he couldn't find my Appendix so therefore I must not have Appendicitis. Well, sir, where did my appendix go? I have not had it out that I know of? He said he saw 2 surgical clips so I must have had it out. That would be "no".... I once had a kidney transplant and now it is gone. He jumped to the diverticulitis and he didn't think I had that and so wanted to proceede to a colonoscopy or Barium ENNAMA!! I went home.

Tuesday morning I go to dialysis to get the 30 ounces of contrast dye sucked out of me. I still had a pain in my right side and now I have a low grade fever of 100.8. I do not feel well. I call my doctor from the dialysis chair and guess what? She is gone for the day. Great! Abandoned again! I ask for another doctor to call me back. They say OK. After I get off dialysis I talk to the dialysis nurse and she calls the doctor's office and tells them that I have a fever and I really need to be seen today. They can have me see another doctor at 2:50pm that day. Great. I go home and sleep for 2 hours and then go wait in the doctor's office.

This older man comes in and asks me what's going on. I tell him, and he has to order the CT Scan report from the hospital. So, I wait. Then he tells me my appendix was not visible. Whatever! Then he asks me when I had dialysis last and I tell him this morning... and he asks how my transplant is doing.

(ARE YOU KIDDING ME) Do I really have to tell this esteemed Physician that if you have a transplant you don't need dialysis? I tell him my transplanted kidney is gone. He looks puzzled. Is he one of those people who think dialysis helps your kidneys function? Really? And we have the best health care in the world?

At this point I just want an antibiotic and to get the hell out of there! He starts to write an order for Cipro but wants to look it up. He pulls out his PDA and looks it up. Nope I can't have Cipro because I have a kidney transplant.... NO I don't! I tell him AGAIN I don't have a transplant. I tell him to call my Nephrologist.... well, no surprise, my Nephrologist is out of the office. Some other nephrologist calls back and says I can have 1 Cipro (500mg) a day. Thank GOD I got my prescription and am out of there.

I go to the Pharmacy and turn in my Rx. I do some shopping and come back. The person helping me had a tag on that said STUDENT!

She gives me my Rx and says this is Cipro 500mg and take 4 a day.

I told her the Doctor said to take 1 a day. She gives me the deer in the headlights look and goes in the back. I wait. Then I ask "is 4 the usual dosage?" Well, no it is 1 or 2. Where did we get 4 a day? I should have just taken them and then I would have some extra on hand.

I have a message on my phone from the doctors office. Doctor Weaver is returning my phone call. Oh, yeah that was from this morning. Then I'm out in my car when the doctor from yesterday (the one that was out of the office today) calls me. She has gone over my CT scan and wants to treat me for diverticulitis. She wants to put me on Flagyl.... I told her that todays doctor put me on Cipro. She says that is okay, but she wants to add Flagyl. Okay, I go back to the "Pharmacy Classroom" and get the Flagyl.

I get home and I get another phone call from the doctor's office and doctor Weaver is leaving for the day and never got to talk to me but wants to give me some pain medication until I can see my real doctor tomorrow. Pain Medication? Pain Medication? I give up!!!

I feel lots better today. Something is working.... either the Cipro or the Flagly or time!