People Annoy Me
We made another trip down to UCLA this week, which always makes for a very long day. It made me wonder how many people have to drive two hundred miles just to see their doctor, so I put a new poll up on the sidebar.
It was an okay visit, but I was amazed at this woman who sat in the waiting room coughing the whole time. I’m pretty sure she was asked to put on a mask at least once, but she never did. She sat underneath the Please do not use cell phones sign and talked loudly on her cell phone. I think she felt like, “Hey, I’m sick so I don’t give a damn about anything.” I don’t care how sick you are, people should still have some respect for people around them.
I think my wife’s rheumatologist is great, but I’m happy we don’t have to make that trip again for a few months.
I agree with your statements about traveling long distances. My husband always goes with me to UF (University of Florida) to see my doctor and I always feel badly for him. Not only is it not fun for me, it is certainly not fun for him. I once flew to Los Angeles just to get diagnosed with SLE but it was well worth it.
About the rude germ carrier in the waiting room, I’ve met them a time or two. When I was first diagnosed, I used to be the one to wear a mask everywhere. Over time I have become less concerned about catching something. What I hate even more is waiting room patient-doctors who will try to give you a diagnosis. I once had a woman tell me that her friend had Lupus, “isn’t that like cancer?” she said. She then proceeded to tell me her friend is cured. Hallelujah, I seriously doubt it.
All I can say, is stay strong, supporting your wife in her fight is one of the most admirable things you can do.
I know about the energy-draining hassle it is to travel long distances to see your doctor. Mine is 500 miles away but she is a lupus specialist who knows her stuff and it took that trip to finally get diagnosed and get on some aggressive treatment. Without her, I would still be bedridden and incredibly sick, while local rheumatologists waited on the fence and did almost nothing.
I credit my husband for doing an internet search for a doctor who could help me while I was too sick to get out of bed. He has driven me to the doctor on all those trips and knows his “lupus stuff”. I don’t know what I would have done without him.
I can certainly relate to you in the annoying people category. The last thing you want to deal with when going to the doctor (especially when traveling that far) is other patients who think they’re the only ones that matter.
I don’t have to travel to see my lupus specialist, but at this point I am willing to do so. The town we live in now only has one Rheumatologist that accepts my insurance and I don’t feel like my care at this particular physician’s office has been satisfactory, so I’ve been thinking about looking into doctor’s in the next major city (150 miles away). I have been trying to weigh the pros and cons and so far making the trip doesn’t seem too bad considering the state of my condition since being under this Dr’s care. My last physician had my lupus pretty stable, and whenever a problem arose, she was quick to remedy it. Now I feel like the 15 minute office visits and the several days of waiting after leaving a phone message with a health concern that I’m experiencing calls for some type of change. I am one of the most non-confrontational people, but with this situation literally affecting my life, I think I am justified in being assertive.
I drive 2 hours and 40 minutes round trip to my doctors’ office. It is impossible for me to make the trip without help. Unfortunately, all my friends and family work, so that means my husband must take off work and drive me. My Rheumatologist’s office works like a well oiled machine. I am in and out within an hour, but my caridiologist, endochronologist, internist, and gastrointerologist take hours. I attempt to schedule one doctor in the morning and one in the afternoon so I make less trips, but what annoys me is the impatient scheduling clerks who pick one appointment time and act like it is a huge bother to listen to my scheduling needs. I always put on a big smile and talk to them with courtesy and respect, but when I am often met with comtempt from the clerk or they say they don’t have any appointments. I usually take what they give me and the next day I use the telephone to try to coordinate the visits. It is humiliating to try to explain how exhausting it is for me to attend an appointment…I just know the “you don’t look sick” thought is running through the clerks minds. Well, I am sick, sick of doctor appointments and sick of Lupus ruling my life.
I also drive 2 hours to and from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville,Tennessee. My husband has been to EVERY single appointment I have been to,and I am very greatful for him!!
Amy-What doctor do you see at Vanderbilt? My mother has just been diagnosed with Lupus, and we live in Nashville. Do you have a good doctor or group you could recommend? Thanks! Dona Plew
Oops! I meant to address Jenny, not Amy, previously.