Spent 4 hours at clinic a few weeks ago for endometriosis appt. They couldn't do anything but write me an Rx for ibuprofen. And try to refer me out.
Got a call yesterday morning that I had an appointment with a specialist today at 9 am. That was fun to arrange at work.
Saw doctor today. No exam. No prescriptions. His basic points were:
- Based on notes, this is the most severe case he's dealt with. Never seen it that bad.
- Best short term rec is to get more surgery and then go into chemically induced early menopause for a while. He conceded there were some slight problems with this plan. And that it wasn't a long term solution.
- My long term options are to wait for menopause or get a total hysterectomy.
- If I want to have kids I should do it quickly, since I'm getting so old. (For those unaware, a common belief in the medical community is that the only reason A Woman wouldn't want all her reproductive organs removed is because she wants to have kids. No other reason to have that stuff). He even offered to refer me to a fertility clinic.
- Treating my chronic pain with pain medication carries a risk of dependency. (Hormone replacement increases certain cancer risks, puts me at high high risk for osteoporisis, and a total hyst has a shit ton of side effects.) But I really need to be aware that pain meds could be bad for me. Also, did he mention that pain meds were bad? P.S. some people have problems with pain medications. Edit: we'd rather remove more organs than have you take some pills for several days out of the month. Okay, that last one is just my bitterness seeping through.
- He concluded with, "I'm not doing anything for you today. I'm just trying to educate you about your choices and your fertility. I'm going to try and refer you to pain specialist.
I really hate going to the doctor's office, but I fucking despise going when it's a conversation we could have had on the fucking phone. I missed work for this shit, got all stressed out, blah blah driving around town and bullshitcakes.
All this crap is exhausting. I start all of these conversations with "Here's what's worked for me, but I am open to suggestions." I wish the suggestions had evolved over the decades beyond "Let us rip out your ovaries."
That sucks. I'm sorry to hear it. I'm sure you mentioned your reservations about removing organs to this doctor, considering your last surgery. But he has to make sure you heard it from him that pain medication can be addictive!
ReplyDeleteThey just had a prescription-pill awareness event or something here and invited local doctors to it, so law enforcement could educate doctors about prescription drug abuse.
The message is basically that in case the patient is too dumb—I guess that's a given—and the doctor is also too dumb, law enforcement should make sure to interject themselves into that relationship. Just in case! For the kids! Or something.
I really wish all these fools would realize what this crap does to people with actual health problems. I remember reading also that there is now an unused prescription dropbox in city hall or some shit so you can dispose of your unused prescription drugs in a sheriff-approved way. Hahaha, I bet that thing gets emptied once a decade. Everyone I know, from old folks to professionals, hoards all their prescriptions these days because it's increasingly harder to get prescribed jackshit in this state. BUT THANKS FOR THINKING OF US, SHERIFF SHITFACE.
PEE ESS: I bought some shit that could be used to make meth, and here is my signature on a sheet of paper along with the date and the product I bought and the quantity, so you can check me out because obviously I need you to drive by my house and make sure I'm not making meth or something. Save me from Sudafed. Save me from myself.
This made me feel better. Thank you.
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