Of Doctors and Woman

Last time I saw my regular doctor was … sometimes in February. I have had a love-hate relationship with all my doctors this year. So much so that I even thought of not only quitting them all, but quitting taking meds, too! Just let it be and see what happens. Deal with fate, when going into the ER. So what?!

But … I live in the 21^st century and I have the “excuse” of having the knowledge and availability of drugs and diets, and what not. So, I budged. At least for the pills! Not so much for dealing with the doctors!

I have not had the best of luck with any kinds of them in my new home state. I feel like when doctors passed medical school with a C, they sent them all to Utah!

Back in February, I was trying to get to the bottom of a new health issue altogether, that lead one of my doctors to recommend a hysterectomy. After fighting with the insurance for a while (thank God, really, because so far the delay has proven to be the good choice) and after several calls from the doctor’s office that were reporting results on tests I had not taken, I decided that I will wait it out a bit. I feel better, and I parted with that doctor, not on so friendly terms!  

When I saw my internist (the one who keeps an eye on my numbers and all, my regular doc), she was really proud of me for having the highest HDL levels ever: 47. The total and the LDL had gone up (331 and 260 respectively), but the HDL and the ratio (5.5) had gone down – she had that’s a very promising improvement. I was dubious, because I have always looked cholesterol as a whole. My triglycerides have gone down to 124, as well, which really made me happy. I must be, finally, eating right, I told myself!

But then, she recommended that I should see a vascular surgeon on a regular basis. I was puzzled! A vascular surgeon?!?! I agreed with her that I have not seen my cardiologist in 2 years and it’s probably time to see him again, but I have not had any new heart symptoms, so I have been putting it off! She was adamant that I need to see a surgeon. I was dubious, again, and did not make the appointment.

I complained to her, however, of a nagging pain on my right hand side, right under my rib cage. Since Christmas or so, I have had this sharp pain, sometimes so sharp that I have trouble breathing. I googled the symptoms (of course…), and it could be my gallbladder. I feel like half of my family had gallbladder problems at one time or another. Then, I read also that over time, the liver calcifications (which I have had shown on an MRI when I was in my early 20s) turn into stones and float into the gallbladder, eventually. So, maybe that’s what the pain is. I asked the doctor if that could be it. Her reply was: “Well, it could be that, or it just could be the flu!” – she was serious, too!

She did send me to have another MRI of the gallbladder, but I am yet to make the appointment.

Work has been so busy lately, I have not had time to even go in for my 3 month tests. I feel all right, though, other than my right hand side pain – whatever that is. I guarantee you it’s not the flu! I also have this new internal varicose vein in my right foot. This is, again, self-diagnosed, because they did an ultrasound of my legs and found nothing. I can see it, though, and it hurts so bad I could scream some days. My commute is about an hour and 15 minutes every day (two ways), and ever since I started that, my leg has been killing me. I feel like a rope is about to snap inside of my leg. And I know that’s gotta be it! But the ultrasound showed nothing.

Between work, and vacation and a root canal and a crown … and life, in general, priorities got kind of shifted, I suppose.

I am really thrilled I had a bit of time to update with this blog entry. My mid year resolution is to get my appointments straight and see where to next. A physical is probably next. And my cardiologist. I am still not making that appointment with the heart surgeon! Geez!