Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not really one to baby myself when I get sick. First of all, I get bored just sitting around, and second of all, I hate feeling useless and unproductive for an entire day, and third of all, I don't like to stay indoors.
Therefore, when this flu, or infection, or whatever it was knocked me out so badly that I had to take a day off of work, I figured there was at least some cause for concern. My concern ratcheted up when, after starting to feel a little better, I developed a yucky, phlegm-y cough that rattled around in my chest, in conjunction with terrible sinus headaches.
Still, like any good patient, I waited a full week before calling the doctor. Lo and behold, he could see me the very evening I called! (Note: if your doctor is ever that freely available, find a new doctor.)
In my usual diligent manner, I showed up for my appointment 10 minutes early, in order to make any payments and fill out any paperwork they might have waiting for me. Then I sat down in the waiting room, pulled out my book, and attempted--unsuccessfully--to ignore the blaring television in the corner.
Fifty-five minutes and an episode-and-a-half of "Chopped" later, my name was called. I closed my book, picked up my coat and backpack, and entered the doctor's office.
"I've been having awful headaches," I told him, "And this cough developed after I had a fever for two days. It seems like it might be getting better, but I wanted to make sure it's not anything serious, since a few people I know have had bronchitis and pneumonia."
Then he sat me on the examination table, took my blood pressure, listened to my chest in two spots (through my sweater), shined a light in my mouth, and began asking me about a family history of asthma.
Asthma? Seriously? I DON’T HAVE ASTHMA, I have some sort of
chest cold you MORON, and I just want to be reassured it isn't anything worse.
Then he made me do a breathing test with an inhaler, wrote me a prescription for an inhaler and antibiotics, and advised me, "I'm writing you this scrip, but if I were you, I wouldn't take them."
Um, right.
I
hate doctors.
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3 comments:
That's really messed up. I'm sure I could be a better doctor than he was.
OH MY GOSH! I went to the doctor with pneumonia when I was 17. First they were convinced I was pregnant (not possible), then they did a chest X-ray, saw the pneumonia, but ALSO diagnosed me with asthma and sent me home with an inhaler. Completely ridiculous because I don't have asthma either, and neither does anyone in my family. Is this a thing they do?
I just accidentally stumbled on your blog and love it!!!!! Books, writing, and athletic stuff, my cup of tea. :) I def want to join your writers group! -Kyla
Hahaha pregnant??? That's insane. And yeah, I don't know if doctors tend to peddle inhalers or what. Funny that they did the same to you!
Thanks for the compliment on my blog :) I need to try and write more regularly . . . I've kind of trailed off these days. More on the writers' group via email!
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