Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Wednesday Whine: Now With More Grouch!

173.8. Not bad, considering.

Considering that my fucking gallbladder seems to be on the fritz.

*sigh*

For the last week, since I had my twice-monthly marvelous cheeseburger at my local marvelous cheeseburger store, I have been dealing with the symptoms associated with gallbladder problems. It's certainly better than it was last week, but I'm still feeling something heavy in my upper right quadrant and not terribly interested in eating anything good for me. Mostly, I want dry toast and raw spinach and the occasional limeade.

After an extremely frustrating trip to the doctor (note to self: find new primary care physician, STAT), I came away with orders to get my blood drawn today for a complete metabolic panel and lipids and all that stuff, and the suggestion that I get an abdominal ultrasound. Frustration and a high grouch level made me leave the office before I got an order for that last, so I have to go *back* there today and get that.

I'm glad he's being conservative, really. The last time I went to a doctor (not this guy) and the doc recommended surgery right away--this was years ago, for carpal tunnel--I flipped out and didn't go back, luckily, because my problem turned out not to be CTS. Still, I wish he'd have listened to me. I told him twice that I didn't have any problems with reflux or heartburn, and still walked away with a prescription for Zantac.

It's also frustrating to be told that which you already know, and have to restate that which you've told the doc a million times. For instance, I am dangerously hypertensive whenever I go to a medical office--so much so that I generally take a couple weeks' worth of at-work BP readings to the Planned Parenthood when I get my annual exam, just so they don't lose it when I read out at 160/100. That's in my chart, yet I got *another* lecture on baseline blood pressure readings (and yes, he has at-work BPs in my chart too) and cardiomyopathy and CHF.

And, (and I'm sure this will come as a newsflash), I'm FAT. He made sure to point that out, as if I don't own a mirror, hadn't recently lost 15 pounds, and haven't been watching what I eat. I invited him, as calmly as I could, to come do an hour with me and Attila this afternoon, and see if "fat" couldn't also include "fit".

Once I get over this hump, I'm sure I'll feel better and more like my old self. Right now, though, what with being generally achy and low-energy and unwilling to track points, I'm rather bummed out.

Can I get a DIY cholecystectomy kit on the Internet?

3 comments:

  1. I kinda tried to baby mine through it. Ended up with bile duct stones, ERCP (twice), lap chole with the surgeon assuring me mine was the disgusting diseased gallbladder he'd seen all yet. Kinda wish I hadn't tried to tough it out in the beginning, but I'm not psychic, you know?

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  2. dude, you know you're sick with something and it's not related (ok like 2% chance it could be, but seriously no) to your weight. That doc isn't going to ever listen given his reaction to your BP and your weight. Don't bother going back there, just call and tell them to send the order to whoever for the US. My pcp is an NP who is perfectly capable of referring me to other people should I need it, and listens to my ideas about my health. Ask coworkers who they go to for some ideas that are under your insurance. Hope you feel better.

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  3. Good luck with the gb and finding a more clueful primary care physician.

    I am trying to hold steady through T-giving.

    R

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