Those of you who've been following know what question I am talking about...the "You aren't on birth-control?" question. This time, she asks in a way that isn't SHOCKED, disgusted, or patronizing. She simply asks as if we've been friends forever.
I then proceed to explain my situation. How its been six years of "not preventing" splashed with a few months of TRYING. Her eyes soften, and I see a woman who is sympathetic. She isn't covering this with jokes or nervous sarcasm. She sees it as I do...a very troubling circumstance. She asks what tests have been done, and if I have a diagnosis. I tell her of my simple blood work, the thyroid meds, the clomid, and the charting. I leave out the part about "Doctor Bedside Manner".
She proceeds to tell me about the Hysterosalpingogram (or Dye Test, which was mentioned to me before) to check if your tubes are blocked or not (see here for more info: http://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/guide/hysterosalpingogram-21590). She explains that often this test alone will "blow out blocked tubes" enough to allow the woman to conceive. This sounds promising to me, but remember "Doctor Bedside Manner" telling me that "its expensive". That is all I can hear. I was certain that my insurance wouldn't cover it, so I tabled the thought for a while.
We resume with the rest of the exam, and she thanks me for coming in. Leaving that office, there were no tears. For the first time, I knew someone sympathized, someone who would support and direct us to answers. I had found more than a doctor, I had found a friend.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Giving Up...And Moving Forward
After my run-in with "Doctor Bedside Manner" I was completely deflated. I normally would take someone telling me "no" as a challenge, however in this instance I took it as final. I spent the next year focusing on pressing items, such as finding a job, selling our Seattle area home, and settling into our new community. With a couple of personal hiccups past, all seemed well in my life.
One such hiccup was my work life, and a couple of career changes later (and NEW insurance acquired)I realized that it had been two years since my last physical. I know there is a reason why they call it the "Annual Exam" however, for me its more like the every 2-4 year exam...really who WANTS to go through with that? But I digress, again. Since I had SWORN to NEVER enter that other doctor's office again, I had to find a new physician. I then went to another significant woman in my life, and asked who she saw...because your best referrals come from those that you know, right? She referred me to her nurse practitioner, who was also a good friend of hers. I promptly made the appointment (R.I.G.H.T) to see the NP (short for Nurse Practitioner: which is how I will refer to her from now on, since **** gets old ;)).
At my first visit I was handed the "Health History Questionnaire", also known as the "Think About All the Things Wrong with You, and the Ones You Love Form". Seriously, does anyone else start breaking out in a cold sweat when filling this out? Is there a history of Heart Disease? Yes. Obesity? YES. Diabetes? YES. Bad Hair? YES. Okay, so I made up the last one, but you get the picture...It makes us all look at our health and mortality. SCARY. There is also that little check-box that asks Birth Control? NO.
I am ushered into the exam room by a sweet grey-haired woman, who takes my vitals and hands me a gown. THIS is what I am used to albeit not as comfortable as talking to a stranger with your clothes on, it is "the norm". I am instructed to change into this bed-sheet with sleeves and ties (really, who thought that one up?) down the back and wait for NP to enter. Within a few minutes of donning the "sheet of shame" NP enters. I notice that she is holding my "Think About All the Things Wrong with You, and the Ones You Love Form" and prepare for the inevitable question...
One such hiccup was my work life, and a couple of career changes later (and NEW insurance acquired)I realized that it had been two years since my last physical. I know there is a reason why they call it the "Annual Exam" however, for me its more like the every 2-4 year exam...really who WANTS to go through with that? But I digress, again. Since I had SWORN to NEVER enter that other doctor's office again, I had to find a new physician. I then went to another significant woman in my life, and asked who she saw...because your best referrals come from those that you know, right? She referred me to her nurse practitioner, who was also a good friend of hers. I promptly made the appointment (R.I.G.H.T) to see the NP (short for Nurse Practitioner: which is how I will refer to her from now on, since **** gets old ;)).
At my first visit I was handed the "Health History Questionnaire", also known as the "Think About All the Things Wrong with You, and the Ones You Love Form". Seriously, does anyone else start breaking out in a cold sweat when filling this out? Is there a history of Heart Disease? Yes. Obesity? YES. Diabetes? YES. Bad Hair? YES. Okay, so I made up the last one, but you get the picture...It makes us all look at our health and mortality. SCARY. There is also that little check-box that asks Birth Control? NO.
I am ushered into the exam room by a sweet grey-haired woman, who takes my vitals and hands me a gown. THIS is what I am used to albeit not as comfortable as talking to a stranger with your clothes on, it is "the norm". I am instructed to change into this bed-sheet with sleeves and ties (really, who thought that one up?) down the back and wait for NP to enter. Within a few minutes of donning the "sheet of shame" NP enters. I notice that she is holding my "Think About All the Things Wrong with You, and the Ones You Love Form" and prepare for the inevitable question...
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