I've been sick lately and I'm in the process of getting tests done to see what is wrong. I feel like everything is moving so slowly, though. From making an appointment with my primary doctor, to talking to my primary doctor about my issues, to getting referred to another doctor for testing, to making the referral appointment, to getting tested. I mean I'm not worried that it's something severe like cancer or something. But, all the waiting is just... what is the word? Give me a word, please. I just want to know what is wrong, get treated, and go back to my normal routines. I feel like I'm in a dream and I can't wake up. I want to wake up now. Please & Thank You! I wonder if people who have greater illnesses, such as cancer have to wait this long. Of course, we all know how that could be a very, VERY bad thing.
I'm hoping and praying for ya ramblin. You seem like a very cool, down to earth person. It's a shame that things like this happen to people so early on in life. Of course it could end up being something simple and easy (I hope!)... you just gotta kick those fat cats in the ass and demand treatment!! Let em know you're in a severe amount of pain and tell em this could be your life on the line! Grease a few palms if you have the resources to do so, but it shouldn't have to come to that. There should be some sort of heirarchy, especially with primary physicians. Y'know, bump you up a few from people coming in with colds and coming in for basic checkups. For some reason, people without insurance, but have cash in hand tend to get knocked around too. Either with delayed scheduling or illegitamate care while being seen. It's like you just have to be your own doctor for the most part these days. Between all this technology and what seems like a lack of expertise by the people that are supposed to be professionals, I've had to look up possible causes more times than I can count and bring it up to the doctor and he'll go 'Oh, well I've never even heard of such a thing. I'll have to check to see if that could be what's causing this...' and never get a follow up on it. It's bullshit, (excuse the reference) but you've gotta get your panties in a bunch in order to get their panties in a bunch in order to get anything done. Don't even let them open the door to leave the room without getting some proper information on where to go next. Let them know you're as serious as your condition. And if they don't give you the treatment you feel you deserve, you tell them they can take it up with the board of health's senior director. And tell em Terrapin sent ya! I know it sucks waiting... the way 'the system' works is all screwed up right now. But I'm just gonna keep on sending my thoughts out there till they figure something out.
Ha. This post was funny. You seem like such a sweet guy, I can't imagine you being all demanding and assertive. I know I'm not demanding and assertive. At least, not with this. Maybe with other things, I guess. I don't know. I'm just going to patiently wait. It's just staring to get to me. All the waiting and no resolution.
assuming you're in the US at least, i think that's pretty typical. seems ridiculous, but from what i've heard that's how it always is. i know two people going through it right now; one has needed an organ transplant for the last couple years, he found a donor and it took them a year to do what seems like some simple tests to find out the donor won't work, so now it will probably be multiple more years before anything gets done; and the other person basically hasn't been able to keep food down for a couple weeks because of a problem that was discovered a year ago, and the doctor said that they wouldn't be able to see him until september. so he went to the ER and they kind of did some stuff for him, although even that was apparently a really long wait while nobody else was in there. hopefully whatever you're dealing with isn't as serious as either of these, but either way it's frustrating waiting for medical treatment. whether it's a simple quality of life issue, or life and death, it seems like it should be relatively urgent either way. and it rarely is treated that way by the medical community.
Thanks, Undies. I feel so bad for the people you talked about. This all started last year in August, but it wasn't until a few months ago that I went to the doctor to check up on it. The reason I didn't go sooner was because I thought it was symptoms of the common cold or flu, and thought it would go away on it's own when the season changed. Anyways, since that checkup I've only been waiting for a few months. I can't imagine waiting years to find out what I have and to get treatment. I actually was born with two medical conditions (Not relating to the sickness I have now), but it wasn't until I was about three that I got diagnosed with one of them. So, I think my mom knows better about the waiting, and lack of proper services. She has some horror stories of near death experiences with me, just because no one was listening to her. I, on the other hand haven't experienced the waiting game or lack of proper services. The most I have encountered is uncaring doctors and nurses that have their way with you and leave, a mix up with medication that got me sick, and another mix up of medication that I went without for a few days when I needed it. Oh, and being verbally insulted to the point that I started crying. Overall, I think I have encountered fairly positive experiences in the medical field.
The experience of time is a product of the amount of attention one is paying. When one is waiting for something, even if impatiently waiting, the very act of waiting is attention, and so time is experienced as moving slower.
