Author: wwducat

They gave me a minimal dementia test. They asked me to draw a clock after asking me to remember three words.

Yawn!

The young lady administering the test had a problem, (she was quiet, but obviously concerned,) when I started drawing the clock. Then she added that the clock show show 11:10.

I guess she thought I was having a problem when I started drawing the numbers.

I started with twelve, then 6, then 3, then 9, at the four cardinal points inside the circle. Then I added 1,2 then 4,5 then 7,8 then 10, 11.

When I started, she looked a little confused. I paused for a second or two. Visualizing the clock as I wanted it to appear. Then I started drawing. At that point she realized I wasn’t nuts, I simply had a plan. I drew the hands hour shorter and minute longer, indicating the requested time.

Then she asked me the three words. I gave them back in alphabetical order, then asked her if I was supposed to give them back in the order she said them.

She just smiled. 

My memories are apparently functional. As is planning, and visualizing.

All of this was with me running on empty. I’d walked the dog his 2.5 miles, showered, shaved, and had not eaten or had coffee with any sugar in it. It was 11:00 am and I had been really growly when I showed up for the appointment. It took over an hour to get there, traffic was stupid heavy.

Plus after spending 2 hours fighting their stupid web site on Sunday, I was annoyed they didn’t have the data available.

This was not a good combination. Me hungry, bordering on hangry and yet more stupid legal paperwork. They of course wanted an emergency contact. Which experience has shown me is a soft pedal way for them to target someone else if the bill isn’t paid.

I guess I’m overly suspicious.

I really don’t trust the medical profession anymore.

I liked the Dr. but as is in all visits these days, he had to play with his computer a lot. I was about to fire him. But then he actually examined me. He executed a good save.

I told him about a previous doctor I’d fired precisely because all he did was play on the computer the whole appointment. He seemed taken aback by that. I pay for a doctor’s expertise in medical matters not computer science. This is a “benefit” of the Obamacare BS and also the medicare system.

Doctors, even good ones, spend more time in filling out shitty online forms than they do hands-on with their patients.

He was suggesting blood work, and reminded me that it was time for a colonoscopy. Great! That’s going to be a problem. I’m going to need to have someone take the time to transport me on “The Day” Grrr.

I’m considering that when I have this done, I’m not going to be put out. There have been too many reports of medical people hitting IVs with vaccines they think a person should have.

I pushed back on the colonoscopy and he said I could do the home kit but if analysis was inconclusive I’d have to do the full thing.

The problem I have with doctors, particularly in the case of colonoscopies, is that if they find something, usually they’ll find it, then they’ll make another appointment to take care of it, then they’ll make another appointment to recheck that they fixed the problem, on and on. Until you say “Enough!“

If the doctors are already there, and they see the problem, they should fix the problem. But they don’t make as much money that way.

The Doc also suggested an ultrasound of my aorta. Yeah, I smoked so apparently in men It increases the risk of an aortic rupture. It’s probably worthwhile.

I don’t want to get sucked into the endless cycle of doctors, and medical appointments defining what’s left of my life. That’s not quality, it’s the final indignity of a life enslaved by working for the illusion of a retirement full of sunsets and travel.

——— Update 8/28 ———  

Okay,

I’m done with this Doctors office.

1) They’ve been spamming me to fill out a satisfaction survey since I left their office yesterday. I suppose I could fill out their survey saying that I was dissatisfied. I doubt seriously that it will change a damn thing.

2) I asked the Nurse or whatever she was, in-office if the Doctor could add one more test to the battery of tests he’d ordered. She said she’d ask and there’d be a modified lab order in their portal. Haven’t seen that yet.

3) The doctor issued another RX for a combo med I’ve been taking for years, but we’d discussed reducing the amount of one of the components, with the goal of getting off or minimizing the medication. The RX he issued is the exact same dosage. I noticed the error before I headed to the pharmacy and instead of going through the nightmare of the pharmacy, I sent a message via their patient portal noting that this wan’t what we’d discussed and that in any event I’m not going to do 30 day RXs if it’s decided that there will be no change to the med. I want 90 day supplies.

4) As I mentioned above, the Doctor asked about colonoscopy. I told him I was not particularly interested. He said that we could do the “poo in a box” version then make a determination about doing the necessity of the full monty version. This morning, I get a call from an Indian (Dot not Feather) demanding that I call him back to schedule my upcoming colonoscopy.

5) Nowhere in their portal is there mention of making arrangements for the aortic ultrasound.

In other words, this is exactly what I will not do. I will not slave myself to the medical industrial complex so they can destroy my quality of life with endless tests, appointments, and medications, while they milk insurance fees.

I’m not angry about getting old, I refuse to live in terror of the next phase of aging or the next mega disease. I will not relinquish my life to yet another bunch of assholes telling me how to conduct my life.

I spent my adult working life enslaved to corporations and people who saw me as a easily replaceable cog or stepping stone to their goals. I sure as hell am not willing to allow myself to be enslaved to the medical profession and I will never allow these healthcare professionals to “COVID” me again.

Obviously these people or this practice is too damn busy to pay attention. If they can’t pay attention on minor issues, can I trust them to pay attention in the event of a major issue?

As a courtesy, I went to their website to cancel the October follow-up appointment to review the medication changes and lab results.

Since the medication changes weren’t made, and nothing else discussed in the appointment was as we discussed I’m not going to need to be at an appointment now am I?

Their system wouldn’t let me cancel the appointment without providing an explanation.

That was probably a mistake on their part. Because it was pretty much the only way for me to tell them what I thought.

I filled their demanding little box.

Wrong RX. (not what was discussed in appointment.)

Got a call from some unintelligible person demanding to schedule my upcoming colonoscopy (not what was discussed in appointment.)

I lost my other half of 34 years in 2023 due in part, to similar lack of precision / failure to listen on the part of a hospital, and the medical group where he was a patient. My feeling today is exactly the same as when I was dealing with his care. He was not just another body, and neither am I.

I do not want the remainder of my life, however long or short that may be, circumscribed by endless tests, labs, appointments, medications, and insurance billing opportunities.

Your staff and the Doctor are all very nice. You’re all doing your jobs as dictated by policy, procedure, and prevailing medical guidelines. I understand this, but I’m a person who is quite good at taking care of myself. I’m also a minimalist.

Biology in general, and Human biology, specifically appear to operate far better with a light touch. My experiences with medical intervention have generally resulted in poorer, rather than improved outcomes. 

I have zero desire to live a repeat of what the medical profession put the light of my life through in his last years. 

I’m going to take a step back, or a breath, then determine what I want to do, and how I want to do it. Even if that means filling out yet another ream of paperwork to see a physician.

Should I decide to go forward with the lab work, I’ll make an appointment to review the results.

FYI, My choice to cancel an appointment should not require a MANDATORY explanation.

The whole time I was writing that, I kept hearing Jerry telling me to “be nice”.

Then I remembered why I’d always maintained a doctor in Orange County. I’ve kept the Doctor in San Diego for the same reason.

It’s because the doctors, all of the doctors I’ve ever tried to work with in the San Bernardino area were sloppy just like this bunch appears to be. The doctors I dealt with for Jerry were, with one exception, the worst.

In 20+ years working with my doctor in OC he never made a mistake with prescriptions, or procedures, and with the exception of a dermatologist, (who are all basically shithead frat boys of the medical profession,) he referred me to the best specialists, meaning they knew their shit and were on the ball, when I needed them.

In part I think it was because the folks he referred me to, were the same people he went to for his care. (He was always searching for a decent dermatologist too.)

I actually fought with Jerry about changing doctors when he first started having problems. I wanted him to go to an Orange County doctor, specifically mine. Jerry had mentioned things in the years prior to him starting to have problems, which concerned me about the local practices. I felt that if he saw my Doctor, he’d be referred to the “right” specialists and would get better care.

I know that sounds elitist and effete.

Jerry didn’t want to have to travel that far. In the end, it might not have made a difference, but I doubt I’ll ever change my opinion that poor lackadaisical medical care led directly to his death.

Now, I’m going to try to rescind all the legal documents one must sign to see a fucking doctor, and at the same time make sure this practice cancels any authorization requests for additional tests. It may be insurance money, but damn if I’m going to let that money be spent wastefully.

Then I’ll work on finding another Doctor, or I’ll keep the guy in San Diego at least until I get the rest of my life sorted out.