Doc as patient

I fully admit I'm a lousy patient.

Worse than lousy.

At least I get CME credit for my issues.

But last month, something that has been bothering me for a year was finally getting to the point where I can't take it (and my self-treatment is helping less and less), so I called my doctor. She got me in, did some tests, and said "Which surgeon do you want to go to? And you're going to mess up your stomach with all of that Motrin."

Wry grin on my face. "I was afraid you would say that. Dr. X. And that's why I buy the economy sized bottle of antacid!" Got a laugh out of my PCP.

So the appointment for Dr. X is made...I deliberately chose him because A. he's good and B. he's conservative...I might be able to postpone the OR for myself. Which he's agreeable to right now, but he just smiled and said "We'll try it." It reminded me of my mother, for some reason.

At this point, I'll do anything to make walking and standing nonpainful. I want to wake up and not need my Motrin hit. I want to be able to not limp out of the OR. But I don't have the ability to be down and out for a long period of time. I just can't.

Classic doctor's (and mom's) thoughts...can't get sick...think of others...just keep working. We don't think of ourselves until we absolutely have to do so.