Stand Up

Yep.  It's been a while.  I have not written here in some time, but today anyway, I'm changing that.  I hope to return here much more often.

I posted something on FB earlier today and thought I would somewhat explain myself.  My post on FB was that I was sitting in the waiting room at my Docs office and I was not happy.  I stated that I was in a foul mood, and even that I would rather be at work.  I closed by saying "And that ain't good".

A few months ago I started to have some problem with the medication that I was taking to control my blood pressure.  It is not unusual that if a person takes a maintenence medication daily that sometimes it will cause other problems with what they call liver function.  So Doctors often do monitor your liver function so as to make necessary changes if such a problem arises.  Well, my liver was all outta whack, so my Doc changed my medication.  I had been on the same medication for over 3 years, so it was not a suprise to me that it was time to change. 

As is typical, she gave me a few samples to try first, and a prescription to fill if I had no immediate problems with side effects, etc.  The prescription was of course only for a 30-day supply with no re-fills as she wanted me to come back in after a few weeks, take a quick blood test, and then make the decision whether or not to stay with this new medication or start over with something else.

Fortunately, I did not have any immediate problems with this new medication; no side effects.  So when I went back almost 4 weeks later.  I was happy, she was happy, everyone seemed to be happy with the results.  So she gave me another prescription, this time for a 30-day supply and one re-fill.  As is the normal practice (with my Doc anyway), she wanted me to come back one more time after two months just to make certain that everything was good.

So two months later I'm back again.  Everything looks good.  BP is well controlled.  No side effects.  So she was happy.  I was happy.  Everyone was happy.  She gave me a new prescription, again for a 30-day supply and I noticed only one re-fill.  I questioned her about that.  I said to her "only a two month supply?"  And she responded that she would give me a longer supply after she had done a complete physical.  She said that it had been too long since I had a complete physical, and once I did that she would prescribe a 6-month supply.  To that I said of my favorite things ...... "hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it....." to which she laughed and told me to have a good day.

I scheduled the physical.

A few weeks ago at work I was told that I had to go to a new program being sponsored by our insurance company.  It was a "health screening" where they would take my blood pressure, get my weight, height, and take a blood sample for cholesterold / sugar check.  My immediate response was that I did not care to participate, that my healthcare was something between me and my physician.  I was then told that if I refused to participate that my insurance premiums would be increased by $50 per month.  Being the very opinionated person that I am I commented that blackmail works when almost everything else fails. 

Under what could only be described as vocally against it, I did go to the heatlh screening.  After having walked uphill from one building to another, then up a flight of very steep stairs into the room where the screening was taking place, I was immediately told to remove my jacket so that they could take my blood pressure.  I asked if didn't they think i should be allowed to at least catch my breath before any blood pressure readings were taken.  The "nurse" taking the BP scoffed back at me that it would make no difference, just let her do her job so that I could get back to doing mine. 

I removed my jacket, she took my BP, and immediately informed me that I was "pre-hypertensive" because my BP was 126 / 83.  Being the good old fashioned jerk that I am, I told her that I was not interested in her opinion of my BP, that she should do her job so that I could get back to doing mine.

They got my height and weight, and absolutely tore my arm up getting blood, and I left. 

I considered what had just happened, and just was not happy about it.  I was mad that I had been manipulated into participating in something that not only did I have no desire to particapate in, but had a strong stated objection to particpating in.  And I decided that I would not do it again.  I did tell our General Manager that promoting good and healthy lifestyles did not nor should not include forcing an employee to "voluntarily" particapte in something the he or she objected to. 

A few days later I started to consider my last appointment with my personal physician, and the exchange I had with her regarding the two month supply that she was giving me on my BP medication.  I actually somewhat brewed on that for a couple of days, and thought about it some almost every day after that................

Well, today was the scheduled day for my physical.

So there I was, sitting in the waiting room, just waiting on them to call my name to do something that I had no desire to do simply because I felt like I was being manipulate to do it.  I had already decided on yesterday that before anything was started, that I was going to make known my feelings regarding this physical, and let her know that I did not appreciate the manner in which she manipulated me into scheduling this physical.  So yeah, I was in a foul mood.

I was there.  I had fasted since yesterday about 6 pm.  But I was not happy about being there.

A young lady came to the door and called my name.  I walked to the door and being very kind and gracious as they always are she asked me "how are you today?"  I responded that I was there.  Then she told me to step up onto the scales just on my right.  I did.  Then she instructed me in which direction to walk, to turn left at the corner, and then the second door on the right.  She followed me into the exam room, told me to have a seat.  I went ahead and removed my jacket, and sat down.  She commented to me, "so you are here for a physical today?"  I responded back, "we'll see."  She asked me if I had any current illments, to which I responded nothing physical.  Then she said, " you seem to be somewhat tense, is everything okay?"  I told her that I was fine, but had some concerns that I wished to discuss with the Doc.  Then she said okay, that I should remove my shirt and lay on the exam table so that she could first do an EKG.  This time I told her that I did not want anything done until I had first spoken with the Doc.  Again she asked if there was a problem.  This time I responded to her "I want to discuss it with the Doc."  So she said that if I was refusing to take the EKG, that she needed to put a reason why in my record so that the Doc would know before she comes in.  So I told her, "Okay, fair enough.  Why don't you put in there that I do not want to have any procedure until I have spoken with the Doc."  I very clearly said that I was not refusing anything, but I wanted first to speak with the Doc.  She made no entry, and just left.

A few moments later the Doc came in and asked if there was a problem.  I was honest with her.  I told her yes, to some degree there is a problem.

I pointed out to her that in all the years that I had been coming there it had never been necessary to manipulate me in order to do anything.  I told her that a good read of my medical record just from there would indicate such.  But I told her that I absolutely felt like that she had manipulated me in order to accomplish what she saw as a desired result, and that I didn't appreciate it. 

She asked me if I had scheduled the physical and was there only because she told me that she would write prescriptions for longer refills if I got a physcial.  My answer to her was that yes, that was exactly why that I was there, that she did not give me an "if" scenario, but that she would give me more refills after I had gotten a complete physical.  Then she asked me if I I did not want to get a physical.  I answered honestly.  "No.  Not at this time."   But I also pointed out to her that I fully understand the need for close monitoring of certain things that can only be monitored with blood work, and that if she felt I needed blood work that in fact I was fasting, and that today would be a good day for it, and that I had no objections to her doing any blood work.

She then apologized.

She told me that she never intended to manipulate anything, but she did concede that she understood my feelings, that she herself would probably feel the same way if the roles were reversed.  I accepted her apology.  She didn't tell me that If I had objected a couple months ago that she would have written a longer prescription, but she did write a six month supply today.

I did not have the physical.  I did have blood drawn.

And for those interested, my BP was 121 / 78. 

I know it may sound silly.  But YOU are your greatest advocate.  When you are not comfortable with what is being said to you, if you don't understand, it really is okay to just say "hold on, wait a minute, I don't understand."  I believe it's even okay to ask someone if they are attempting to manipulate you to do something that perhaps you don't wish to do.  But it is up to you to stand up.  Especially when it comes to your healthcare.  Obama may want to control what you do and don't do........but I say screw Obama.  NO one knows you like you know you.  And no one knows me like I know me.

I may be wrong, I may be right.  But it is my choice, my decision. 

I know I need a physical.  And pretty soon, I'll probably get one.  But not now. 

..........Till next time, and I hope much sooner...........

G