Monday, November 19, 2012

Why Are You Here?


I have a headache for three days. Not a migraine, not sinus. Just that dull nagging pain that never really leaves, but ebbs and flows. I tried all the ready remedies. Aspirin is my drug of choice for anything. Can't really hurt, might help. I use it  for arthritic pain and it seems to work the best for that, but won't touch a sinus headache. But, I always try aspirin first, my thinking that if I have a heart attack, I am all set.

Along with the headache, I have had just general malaise ( or crappiness). Insomnia, irritation and slight nausea. I figured that I may have picked up a bug from a poorly wiped grocery cart handle. I made the best of it by getting a good bit of writing done and some sewing. The weather was just beautiful yesterday and I longed to be outdoors, but just had no energy.

He who tows was busy all day long with stranded motorists and I was alone much of the afternoon. The headache was making it hard to concentrate and after many attempts to re-thread the sewing machine, I gave up and decided to eat my lonely supper and take my meds, then zone out in front of the TV. But, I decided to check my blood pressure. No reason, just did. It was 170/100. Gee, no wonder I feel so crappy. I decided to take an extra dose of my blood pressure meds. Went to bed, but could not sleep. Every sound and movement was magnified and I was so irritable, add to that the indigestion and the lingering headache.

This morning I still felt the same and my blood pressure was 150/98. It should have been a lot lower. I called the clinic to make an appointment. When I relayed my blood pressure I was told to come in right away.

I showered quickly and took my meds, along with aspirin. Hey, I watch TV, I know what those symptoms were pointing to. He who tows came home and took me (he loves me). I felt nauseous on the way. But, that could have been the over-heated car.

Upon arrival my blood pressure as 170/68. The nurse practitioner I usually see is no longer there and the doctor came in to see me. He asked why I was there and I gave him my list of woes. He listened to my heart for at least 2 seconds and then asked me if my headache had caused my blood pressure to go up. I almost asked him which came first, the chicken or the egg.

He seemed unconcerned and told me to increase my dosage and wrote a new prescription and sent me on my way. Oh, he did say I should call if I continued to feel bad.

I left feeling no better or worse than I went in. Ironically, while waiting to be called to the exam room, there was a warning about ignoring the signs of a heart attack on the health channel that was playing in the waiting room.

You hear it all the time ....... women ignore the symptoms because they don't want to be a bother. I felt like I was bother today. He even asked me why I was taking my blood pressure. Because I can. No, I monitor my blood pressure because I take medication and it is a good idea.

This is why women do not seek help with vague symptoms. I was less than impressed with this physician. He made me feel unimportant and silly. This clinic is my only option for health care right now and I am not feeling warm and cozy. 

11 comments:

Brian Miller said...

ugh...i hope you get to feeling better...and better safe than sorry you know....

mamahasspoken said...

Shaking my head at your story. Seems like that doctor wasn't a very good doctor at all.....

Joanne Noragon said...

You shouldn't be feeling easy about your treatment, but I can't offer you any better advice than to keep nagging he who wears the stethascope. Get to the bottom of it, or get a new clinic.

ellen abbott said...

Sorry to hear you are having troubles. I don't care for doctors either and that is why. They charge a bloody fortune and give you no service much less interest or compassion for your money. I have a very good doctor but he's talking about retiring and man will I be unhappy when he does. It will take me forever to find a new one.

Linda O'Connell said...

You did the right thing. A doctor once told a friend of mine that her pelvic pain was in her head! She had a tumor wrapped around her fallopian tube. Some male doctors think women are hypochondriacs. Hope you feel better Kathy. Being treated by that quack would be enough to elevate your blood pressure.

luksky said...

That's ashame the doc was that flippant. I hope whatever has you ailing is only minor, but I did want to give you a tip I heard the other day: If you have a headache drink gatorade and it makes the headache go away. I never have headaches so I haven't been able to test it out...you may want to try it atleast..

Mevely317 said...

Oooh, this makes my blood boil! Been there, done that ... and leave feeling like they're thinking I'm a nut job hypo.
Oh well, I've been called worse. Stick to your guns and listen to your body!
...n' feel better soon! :)

Teri said...

Even if you have to drive further, find a different doctor. Someone who will try to find out why your BP is so high, not just prescribe more meds. Do you drink a lot of stuff with caffeine, decaf may help.

Val said...

I wish you'd asked him that "chicken or the egg" question. Just because.

I took my mom for some surgery several years ago, and I wanted to smack a couple of medical professionals. They treated her like a senile old lady, very condescendingly, and she was so polite that she took it. They talked really loud, even though nothing is wrong with her hearing, and in terms like telling a child that babies are found under cabbage leaves. I butted in and asked them pertinent questions, and they settled down. But they talked to ME, not to her.

Shame on them.

Anonymous said...

Bad, bad, bad doctor. I went to my dr awhile back, feeling lousy, and told her that one reason I was there also was to say thanks to her for being such a good dr. I had been taking friends to dr appts and they were really lousy drs. My dr did a thorough exam and then sent me for all kinds of blood work. The results came back all normal. Don't know why I felt lousy, but my dr took it seriously. I sure hope you get a better dr. and I hope you get to feeling better. That blood pressure issue is really scary.

kate said...

Thanks for posting. You have helped me. As for your situation, yes, if possible I would find someone new....I would certainly let my regular doctor know what happened. He just might NOTE your chart. If it happens a second time, I hope you will let your state medical licensing group know. Unless we make some noise, nothing improves. Kate