Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Dr. Strangelove?

Some of you may or may not know that I've been sick with some mysterious illness for the past six months. Yup, six whole months. So as you can imagine I've been through the ringer with doctors. Most doctors you can imagine, I have seen. (Although noticeably absent is a psychiatrist... I know I squashed most of your jokes right there.) I've seen some really good ones (Shout out to Yale Diabetes!) and some really, really terrible ones, who shall remain nameless. One of the strangest encounters I've ever had with a doctor happened yesterday.

I went to a GI specialist yesterday by myself. Older guy, head of the GI program, so never in a million years did I think I'd have a problem. But yesterday was one of the worst days ever, so that should have been my first tip. Anyways, the first thing he says to me when I go in is "Oh, I thought you'd have somebody with you." This sets off the first bell. Perhaps, I should have? So he goes on and takes my history, adds some off color comments here and there, inserts rude commentary, whatever. So we get to the actual exam part. So I have my scrubs on because I was going to work right after, and he repeatedly tells me how tight my shirt is, as he's trying to lift it so he can use his stethoscope. "Ok," I think, "This is a little weird." So next he notices I have religious medals on my necklace. Here's the convo that ensues:

Dr: "What's on you neck? Are those medallions? Are you religious?"
Me: "Yes they are and yes I am"
Dr: "Do you go to church?"
Me: "Yeah, and my mom's the organist"
Dr: (Immediately) "Do you date boys?"
Me: "Um, yeah..."
Dr: "Do you date girls?"
Me: Uh-no.
Dr: So are you allowed to go out?
Me: YEAH
Dr: Are you dating anyone right now?
Me: No
Dr: So you don't have a boyfriend?
Me: No

I wish I could say this was the end of the awkwardness, but alas it wasn't. I'll spare you the details of the more awkwardness, but it was REALLY off-color (and you know it has to be something really personal for me not to talk about it). So here are my questions: should I be dating girls because I'm religious? Or if I wasn't religious should I be dating girls, cause I'm pretty sure I'd still be dating guys even if I wasn't religious? Does it matter if I'm religious? Do my stomach problems depend on whether I date girls or guys? Do I look like a lesbian?

I mean really, all these questions crossed my mind. I was just flabbergasted that someone would even say that to me. That definitely tops the other doctor who every time I called tried to tell me to get my drugs from my pediatrician. He seemed like he's a good enough doctor, but quite frankly I'm not going back unless I have someone with me. Honestly I should have taken up his request for a nurse to be with me. I can't believe a doctor would say some of those things.

Let's just say: lesson learned. Definitely taking people with me to the doctors from now on. Also, needless to say that this just turned my day from bad to worse.

So my question is to the readers out there: Any awkward experiences? Any terrible doctors? Any redeeming doctors out there? Share it (sans-names) and I'll reply back.

Peace, Love & Godbless

P.S. The nineteenth year of my existance begins in less than two hours.

6 comments:

  1. Happy pre birthday...this doctor....wasn't connected to the practice WE have in common, is he??? (God, I hope not!!!!)Poor you...no one should be subject to that...reminds me of the top notch cardiologist from St. Raphes that basically in no uncertain terms told Nick he was FAKING. (How one can fake a low heart rate is beyond me....)

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  2. Thanks! Not too much longer now! This doctor is in no one way connected to you, at least I think so. Nope my GI doctor. Yeah, I don't know if these doctors got their degree from a cracker jack box, but symptoms like that are NOT fakeable. It's really rude and uncalled for. It's not like either of us enjoy changing our entire life plan for this.

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  3. hey Kristen, 1st of all, nice blog site here! I meant to tell you that when I read your first blog. number 2: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! :)and 3: I, too , have been having some issues relating to my UC issues as well as the diabetic thing. - So, reading your blog DOES give me some balance and perspective sprinkled with lots of empathy. Finally did I tell you I Love you and Happy birthday again... We really must go to lunch again- when you come home and want to get everyone together... I'll come. Missing you but following you on FB.

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  4. Haha. Yes you did Jan! Thank you too! I'm glad a fellow diabetic is reading it. I mean it's for everyone but I hope that other diabetics will read it and maybe comment and get a discussion going. Yes we should DEFINITELY do lunch sometime very soon! And thank goodness for facebook- that's how I keep track of everything. Hope you're feeling ok

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  5. sketchy sketchsters are sketchy. =[

    other awkward story--i had an ekg done in my new pediatrician's office [because the old one was horrible so i switched] at the first visit, and the nurse broke the machine, and it kept printing out paper, and this poor woman is holding like 25ft of ekg, and obviously the first 3ft were fine, but they made me keep laying there [topless and for some reason this required me to take my pants off] and the doctor had to come figure out the machine, and i was like, "k so now that you have the whole 50ft that are working fine, can i put a shirt on and we'll just let the last 10ft be screwedup?" but no. it was awkwarddddd. although much less creepy than your story.

    oh ps. i love you!


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    a.j.

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  6. That is awkward. Sometimes I think doctors and nurses forget were people because they deal with so many patients a day. Partly the patient needs to speak up, like you did, but it's also the caretaker's responsibility too! That's so ridiculous and I think rude that they'd make you stay like that.

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