Politics and doctors

 Like many others, I am encouraged to see our country moving away from the direction of the far right extremism. Like many others, the Project 2025 is concerning. Some don't believe that it can be implemented, but even as they stand there saying it can't happen, they've rolled out the 180 day transition playbook.

Some people think that this is not possible, that our checks and balances will prevent such a thing from taking place. I don't understand that thinking. I saw the checks and balances crumble and fall completely during the tRUMP administration's time as people in high places changed their stripes to align with the person in power. Right or wrong was immaterial. It was all about maintaining their own hold on power, country be damned. 

So. No. I don't have a lot of faith in 'checks and balances'. 

Even more fundamental is my belief that people who even harbor such ideology should be kept as far away from positions of power as we can keep them. 

And we can. We have our vote. 

All that being said, I am not a convention watcher. The over the top hyperbole is almost too much like fanaticism. I live in a red county, and I've been seeing fanaticism for the last 10 years and it is scary stuff. Not the kind of minds a sane person would elect, that's for sure. So no. If a candidate is talking about plans for this country that are as unconstitutional as anything that I have heard in my life, he's not getting my vote, even if I feel that there is no chance of those plans coming to fruition. 

So no, I am not a convention watcher because I know who I am not voting for. And what I am not voting for. 

I did stay up to watch President Biden speak though. I felt like that was important. And once again, I felt like he was a good man, one who tried his best. I will always be ashamed of the day that he proclaimed himself a Zionist, but I think that he has done the best job that he knew how to do for this country. 

I went to the doctor yesterday for my foot. The nurse was a little surprised that I waited so long. I explained that it was the first appointment I could get with the doctor. I also told her that I felt that it was wrong that they would not tell me over the phone when my last tetanus shot was. I was told that I would get that information during the appointment. 

Now that seems wrong to me. It makes it seem as if they are putting the appointment and the money made from that appointment ahead of the patient's needs. I've been having some doubts about this practice lately. They are affiliated with my local hospital, and while I really don't mean to paint the hospital with one broad brush, I can tell you that I need a mammogram. I haven't done it because there seems to be so much confusion surrounding them. I go, and they are always surprised to discover that I had cancer. I should have divulged that when making the appointment. I didn't make the appointment. My doctor did. This misunderstanding leads to 'we can't do this today', and another appointment, an annoying kerfuffle. If it is that critical, why does the receptionist at the facility simply ask the question at the time that the appointment is being scheduled: 'Does this patient have a history of breast cancer?' Seems like a simple solution. But they don't and it has happened twice. 

That colonoscopy still bugs me. A preop appointment where they asked you questions that, if you didn't have the answer to, they simply looked it up in your records. That cheerful trainee: 'Can you tell me why you want a colonoscopy?' (Me, interestedly: 'Can you tell me if you've ever once met someone who wanted a colonoscopy?) What was the purpose of bringing me in for an appointment to get information that they already had access to? 

The appointment was made two months out, I was told I'd need tests done. A little doubtfully, I said, "Well, I probably should wait for these until closer to the time of the procedure." I was told that the doctor wanted them done ASAP, because she likes to have the results. 

A lot can change in two months though. 

In the end, I waited until two weeks before the procedure to get the things done. And then couldn't get anything done because the tests were not loaded into the system. When I contacted their office, I explained why I had waited, and he said, "Well, if you would have had them done immediately, you would have been required to repeat them, because a lot can change in two months." Moreover, one of the tests had been done incorrectly and it required another appointment with my doctor who did another test and found their test to be in error. 

That's a lot of appointments. I was supposed to go back for a follow up appointment. Crazy. I said, "I'm sure if you find something concerning, you'll let me know. If you don't, there's no reason for me to come back." The thing is, they were backlogged for two months and if they cut out some of this unnecessary stuff, they would cut that backlog too. 

My sister was quick to tell me that it was the way things are done because the insurance companies make them do it that way. Except...it's not. 

Contrast this with Tim's experience. His colonoscopy was scheduled. He received an instruction package in the mail and his appointment which was three weeks away. He followed the instructions, showed up at the facility, had the procedure done. The doctor met with us afterwards and said that everything looked great and that if the path report turned anything up, they would get in touch with us. The end. 

So needless to say, although I love my doctor, I'm not happy at the framework that she operates within. 

So I'm sitting in the office waiting for her to come in, and she breezes in, just as cheerfully as always. "How'd you step on a nail?"

I explained, and said, "Don't you think it is a little suss that my husband sends me in to get a spade? And then the spade is in a dark corner? And that when I go to reach for it, there's a tiny scrap of wood with a large nail in it?" 

She laughed and agreed. 

She asked when it happened, and I told her. I said, "I know it's kind of late for a tetanus shot now. My sister is a nurse and she's been on me about the tetanus shot. Riding my behind about it. I mean, my husband is actively trying to kill me, and she's yelling about tetanus shots. I told her she needed to focus on the big picture." 

She laughed again. I told her to remember this conversation if I died. That it might not be accidental. "The only thing saving me is my Lowe's veteran's discount." She put her head down and laughed again. "Does he know you talk about him like this?" 

"He sure does. I need him to know I've got my eye on him." I said. "He's sitting right out in the waiting room if you care to have a word."

She's a laugher, so she found that funny too. "How long was that nail?" she wanted to know. I showed her. I said that it was close to the tendon in the sole of my foot, but seemed to have missed it. There was no pain on flexion, just when I walked on it, although I had one pair of shoes that didn't seem to aggravate it. She examined it closely. In the end, she decided the painful bump was a hematoma deep inside. She said that the wound has closed, that there is no sign of drainage or redness or swelling. "What have you been doing for it?" I explained about the epsom salts and drawing salve. "It looks really good," she said. In the end, she decided that I should have a tetanus shot although the chances of tetanus were unlikely. 

She buzzed out of the room, and the nurse came in to give me the shot. I said, "Oh...I forgot...could you ask her..." The nurse brusquely said, "You'll need to make another appointment." It was a yes or no question, and something that she could have instructed her staff to give me a call on. I mean, all doctor's offices have nurses on staff that you can call and ask questions. We do it with Tim all the time. Sometimes his doctor even calls us back in person if she has questions for us. 

You know, I really like my doctor a lot. A whole lot. She's been my doctor for many years, but the need to make an appointment to ask a simple yes or no question? The nurse said, "It's the insurance companies. We have to do it like this." 

But they don't. 

I walked out of there and called Tim's doctor. Yes. They are accepting patients. I'm going over today to fill out a Release of Information form. I feel badly about it, because, as I said, I really like my doctor.