OK, I had one of the most frustrating doctor's appointments of this entire pregnancy today! I was supposed to see my usual doctor on Monday, however she called out sick on Monday and the only time they could reschedule me was today at 9:40 in the morning - with a different doctor.
She left me waiting in the room for a good 20 minutes first off - and let me just say that is not the usual at my hospital. Once you are in a room to be seen you are usually seen in about 5-10 minutes. Then she wants to go through my whole history all over again! Um. . . you are not my doctor, you are a fill-in since my doctor was sick this week, you do NOT NEED TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT ME!
Normally my doctor looks to see what my blood pressure was when they took it out front (I'm considered "high risk" due to high blood pressure at my first appointment - even though it's been pretty much perfect since then) tells me my blood pressure is looking good and we move along with the appointment. This doctor? No, she wants to know if I had blood pressure issues before I got pregnant. Well, yes I did but it was determined to be white coat syndrome. She wants to know if anyone ever termed me "chronic hypertensive". No, I've never been put on medication for the blood pressure and it has never been termed a "chronic" problem. She decides it is a chronic problem and puts it on my chart so now it shows up all over the place!
Then she tells me that due to my being "chronic" I have to start having non-stress tests 2 times a week starting at 32 weeks gestation. Wait. . . . WHAT?!?! You just decided I'm chronic - even though I'm not - you are not my doctor and now I have to have two extra appointments per week because of a decision you, who are not my doctor, made? Um, can I object?? I keep my mouth shut, more because I'm not sure of what will come out of it than any other reason, and decide well we're almost done I can discuss with my doctor at my next appointment if this is all actually necessary.
THEN - she measures my belly and says "This baby is measuring big!". I laugh and tell her his parents are both big people and that we are not worried (because my doctor has been measuring me all along and has not seen a problem with my measurements). Well apparently this doctor - who I again remind you is NOT MY DOCTOR - decides it is something to be worried about. She schedules an ultrasound (another appointment = more time off work BEFORE baby is born) to see just how big he is. Apparently, it doesn't matter to her that this late in the game ultrasounds can be off by a pound or more in either direction and are not conclusive at all - oh well!
She listens to his heartbeat and it sounds great - thank goodness - and then squeezes and pushes low on my abdomen to see if he is head down. It HURT!!!! But the good news is he is indeed head down - at least for the time being.
There's more, but I've totally bored myself now so I can only imagine how awful this is for anyone who decides to read it. What it boils down to is I am very much looking forward to my next doctor's appointment with MY doctor to suss out what exactly is truth and what is over-reaction.
I've seriously gained a new appreciation for my doctor now though that's for sure. She's a little older and I think she's seen so much that she doesn't tend to overreact about things - which for me and my touchy blood pressure is a very good thing. I'll keep everyone posted with what happens.
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I totally understand! We actually switched doctors (and offices) almost midway through my pregnancy because we were so dissatisfied with the first one ... she made me feel like I was going to be a horrible mother. I LOVE my current doctor and wouldn't trade her for the world. It's all about who you get along with, you know? I hope your doctor is feeling better soon and can help you get things straightened out.
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