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...