Love/Hate
It's always that coin where the flip side is the not-so-good part of the really good. For example, our RE office. It's clear they like Partner and me. Once the staff told us they were trying to figure out how to get us on payroll so we could be there all the time. (Fun!) Another time when I went in, of the girls (and they are girls, little twenty-something cute nice girls) pulled back the glass partition as I was signing in. "Oh, you know, you don't have to sign in!" I was little embarrassed, but slightly proud in front of the one other woman waiting there. And I like the office staff too. They are all very kind and upbeat and laugh at my stupid jokes. It's true: on the day of the pregnancy test, I made a cake and some cookies for them too. When our nurse called to tell us the bad news, she said that everyone in the office cried when they heard. She was crying when she told us. And then, of course, there was that really kind offer from Dr. BusyBusyBusy... This makes the RE office pleasant.
But there's that flip side. Dr. BusyBusyBusy is really busy. Sometimes during our last cycle I felt like we were being cycled around. Dr BBB on vacation, our nurse on vacation, can't see the follicle-come back tomorrow so the doctor can look, oh no the transfer will happen tomorrow sorry you drove an hour, etc, etc. But ultimately, we decided we were in good hands. And I still think that.
But when I was there Tuesday, I was told a prescription would be called in for the yeast infection. When I got the pharmacy Wednesday night, no one had done it.
When I showed them my hives, the advice was, "Take Benadryl and put calamine on them." When it was clear this was not working and my hives had only gotten worse, I decided I should call. The hives are awful. They are growing and hot and itchier than the wooliest wool undergarment on a hot summer day. And did I mention they are HOT? And sore, like big rugby bruises from my former rugby days. I called the RE office. The doctor's advice? Put 1% hyrdocortisone cream on them. Keep taking Benadryl. (But I'm already doing that?) Then the final advice was to "go to my dermatologist or GP."
"I don't have a GP," I said.
"Oh well, that's Dr. BusyBusyBusy's advice, but if it doesn't clear up he's worried it will develop into [something I didn't hear because I was getting angry at this point.]"
"Do you have recommendation for a dermatologist or GP?"
"Isn't your dad a doctor?"
"Yes, but he's a [specialist surgeon]!"
"Well, put the cream on for a couple of days, and if it doesn't help go see a GP or dermatologist. That was what Dr. BusyBusyBusy said."
I was seeing red. I think they should have some provisions for patients who are having allergic reactions to drugs they gave! Am I being unreasonable? I had to call four dermatologists offices before I found one that had an opening. (Lucky, because the next opening after today was 21 February.) And I know we should have a GP, but my dad is a doctor! (The shoemakers children have no shoes.) As I itch my outer hip, aka upper ass, I am cursing the RE office the whole while. For now I itch, but in one hour, hopefully this dermatologist will do something to cure me.
I wonder if I'll have a love-hate thing with her too?
But there's that flip side. Dr. BusyBusyBusy is really busy. Sometimes during our last cycle I felt like we were being cycled around. Dr BBB on vacation, our nurse on vacation, can't see the follicle-come back tomorrow so the doctor can look, oh no the transfer will happen tomorrow sorry you drove an hour, etc, etc. But ultimately, we decided we were in good hands. And I still think that.
But when I was there Tuesday, I was told a prescription would be called in for the yeast infection. When I got the pharmacy Wednesday night, no one had done it.
When I showed them my hives, the advice was, "Take Benadryl and put calamine on them." When it was clear this was not working and my hives had only gotten worse, I decided I should call. The hives are awful. They are growing and hot and itchier than the wooliest wool undergarment on a hot summer day. And did I mention they are HOT? And sore, like big rugby bruises from my former rugby days. I called the RE office. The doctor's advice? Put 1% hyrdocortisone cream on them. Keep taking Benadryl. (But I'm already doing that?) Then the final advice was to "go to my dermatologist or GP."
"I don't have a GP," I said.
"Oh well, that's Dr. BusyBusyBusy's advice, but if it doesn't clear up he's worried it will develop into [something I didn't hear because I was getting angry at this point.]"
"Do you have recommendation for a dermatologist or GP?"
"Isn't your dad a doctor?"
"Yes, but he's a [specialist surgeon]!"
"Well, put the cream on for a couple of days, and if it doesn't help go see a GP or dermatologist. That was what Dr. BusyBusyBusy said."
I was seeing red. I think they should have some provisions for patients who are having allergic reactions to drugs they gave! Am I being unreasonable? I had to call four dermatologists offices before I found one that had an opening. (Lucky, because the next opening after today was 21 February.) And I know we should have a GP, but my dad is a doctor! (The shoemakers children have no shoes.) As I itch my outer hip, aka upper ass, I am cursing the RE office the whole while. For now I itch, but in one hour, hopefully this dermatologist will do something to cure me.
I wonder if I'll have a love-hate thing with her too?
posted by Katie at 7:54 AM
9 Comments:
I had an emergency dermatologist visit in my first injectables cycle. My RE's office swore up and down that nothing they gave me did it, but nothing else could have caused it.
I hope your butt stops itching soon.
Wow. I'm totally ambivalent here. At the beginning I was like, wow, how awesome to have that kind of relationship with them, but the more I read the more I can see that the frustrations and the danger could definitely outweigh the warm fuzzies.
But it made me cry that they cried about your BFN.
Hope the frustrations and the welts die down soon!
INSIST that Dr. Busybusybusy do something. I had something similar happen one time when a hand surgeon put me on steroids for carpal tunnel and they made me gain FORTY POUNDS in water weight over the course of about six hours (how???)...when I called him for help he said to see my GP, but then the GP didn't want to get his hands dirty with someone else's fuckup and wouldn't help me, either. So bottom line? He broke it, he needs to fix it (unless you can find a GP or dermatologist to take you on as a new patient on no notice AND fix someone else's fuckup--HAHAHAHAHAHAHA). Raise hell. That's my two cents.
When I got pregnant I already had a team of doctors because of some previous health issues... I had a internist, infectious disease, hematologist... you get the idea. About midpregnancy I had some problems and went to the Inernest b/c it wasn't an obgyn problem - and ended up being poked, prodded, sent back to obgyn to start over again. Later I had migraine issues and went to a neurologist by OB's request and then back to OB b/c they didn't like the meds the neuro gave me.
Its a pregnancy hazzard, the runaround..... take it with a smile, it makes the ride go quicker!
For the hives, what about Claritin OTC? That's the only thing that works for my husband when he gets hives. I hope something else works soon, because I know hives suck.
Hang in there and have a great weekend!
Mmm...Cold Mountain. I'm sure you already know it's a retelling of The Odyssey...I read it in grad school with Alan Cheuse, who made us read the Homer version first, and I still don't know if CM was THAT great or if it just seemed that way after the moldy old Greek, but either way, good reads. Hope you've stopped itching.
My GP is patient, kind, and truly caring. I just adore her. And I like that I have an ongoing relationship with her, not one that's just related to a specific issue. For the couple times that I've needed to see her in the past few years, she has expressed genuine concern for my situation and a desire to help in any way that she could. So to me, that's bonus care. You know, when your OB/RE feels that they've done their part and aren't so concerned with your auxillary ailments, it's great to have a backup doc to give you the attention you need.
Anyway, I hope you do find someone to help get you some relief. I'm an itchy/sensitive skin person, and I'm cringing to think what it must be like for you.
Hmm... I'm surprised that Dr. BBB wasn't better about that. A similar thing happened to me about a year and a half ago. (My God, a year and a half ago?) I broke out in similar hives and Dr. Mom wasn't sure why, but she took one look at me and presceibed Zyrtec. As it turns out, I am pretty sure it was from switching to a generic laundry detergent - I went right back to Tide - and not even from a drug.
I mean, come on, seeing as how you are in Dr.BBB's office every ten minutes, you don't even have time to go to a GP even if you DID have one. Sheesh. In the meantime, I very much feel for you b/c I know how sucky you must feel.
Hi -- this is not exactly in response to your entry. I just wanted to let you know that I've started my own blog -- "Two Georgia Mommies". And I've listed you under my links-to-other-blogs section. The URL is twogeorgiamommies.blogspot.com. See ya around!
Julianna
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