Podiatrist Appointment

[cjsmith]

Time spent in traffic, southbound: 25 minutes
Time spent in waiting room: 30 minutes
Time spent waiting in treatment room: 15 minutes
Time spent with the doctor: 4 minutes
Time spent in traffic, northbound: 17 minutes

I'm going to get an MRI. With "contrast", which is what they call an IV these days.

[Edited to add: This is a very hopeful sign. She's considering surgery.]

Comments

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

I'm getting less and less patient with items 2 & 3 on your list, particularly when item 4 is as short as it was for you today. Last time I was at a doctor's office and I waited in the exam room for over 20 minutes, I stuck my head out and got a nurse's attention and was about to threaten to leave.

I have to see my urologist tomorrow and I'm hoping for a reversal in the waiting trend, but with specialists it seems to be getting worse.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I won't accept an afternoon appointment with this doctor again. That office is chronically chaotic and she's never been on time to see me, but today -- my first late afternoon appointment -- is far and away the worst I've seen.

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

Many hugs - and I hope that the surgery works for you.

[hnybny.livejournal.com]

MRI with contrast, it's a snap. Especially when it's only your lower half invoved. The IV is annoying but a good experience depends on the talent of your tech.

Good luck!

YAYYY for getting an MRI!

[rampling.livejournal.com]

MRIs can be so damned useful, in my case as well as so many others. I'm so fond of them now! I had "contrast" last time for my first post-surgery followup -- the needle was WAY SMALLER than the usual IV needle which was very nice, so noticeably less annoying for me.

Getting you an MRI is a great sign of being taken seriously and potentially moving on to "serious" solutions such as surgery. I'm so glad you're finally getting this kind of attention! *Hugs* and *best-hopes* that this turns out beneficial for you!

P.S. FYI, I've been procrastinating making a post about my procrastinating about exercise. I've missed many days of exercise now, and I've been neglecting my nice new good-intentioned exercise_pals community. *sigh* Why the hell is regular serious exercise not just difficult, but *SO* difficult?!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hope the MRI shows what she expects, sufficient nerve damage (due to the old tumors) that surgery is a good idea. It would mean there's a diagnosis at last.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That's good to know. I'm a serious needlephobe, so I'll be all discombobulated and may go so far as to pass out. But as long as it doesn't disturb the results I don't give a HOOT if I pass out. I want this medical question solved!! :-)

Re: YAYYY for getting an MRI!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh cool. I'm not sure size of needle will matter to me, but frankly I don't even care how bad the experience is if it'll lead to a firm diagnosis. I am so, so, so tired of this foot stuff! I hope I turn out to be a good surgery candidate. She didn't say, but it'd likely be nerve resection in four places, and in hindsight maybe that's what I should have had ten months ago.

Heh, exercise. I think the key is to find something you enjoy doing. Well, at least it has been for me. That doesn't exactly make it easy and 100% pleasant, but suddenly it's well into the POSSIBLE range!!

[hnybny.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is a smaller needle than a normal IV. If you're sqeamish about it the best advice is don't look while they insert it and talk about other things with the tech. If he/she is good, it shouln't take too long. MRI is the definitive test so this may be what helps decide your fate.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Look, heh, my challenge is remaining conscious. 8-) (My blood pressure drops precipitously, I get cold/clammy, my lips turn white... I'm one of those.) But I've had IV insertions done before and even if it's icky I know I'll be okay. I'm very VERY glad I'm getting this test.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

One of my early rheumatologists, who had four month waits for appointments, once approached his receptionist while I stood at the counter and said, "Could you clear out tomorrow afternoon for me? I got onto the links at [golf course] and I don't want to turn it down." I was stunned. It was a stereotype come to life.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

I've done the contrast MRIs twice this year. Let me know if, when they insert the dye (if they tell you when they do) if there's a change in audio perception. It was nifty, but I'm not sure whether it was a causal thing or my imagination.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

When's the MRI?

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I'll listen for it tomorrow morning!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Just got the phone call this morning: tomorrow morning for one foot, Friday morning for the other.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh yowza. I note you're no longer with this doctor. :-)

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

His associate was the doctor who told me, "Well, your hands and knees and feet and shoulders hurt because of your RA, but your hip just hurts because you're fat." (I saw an orthopedist later who found out I had some lower back disc problems that were impinging the nerve running through my hips at the same point where RA pain occurs. A little yoga cleared that right up.)

[joedecker.livejournal.com]

Fast... yaay for that. :)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm pleased!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

GRR! See, this is why I want to get all the medical training I can get *myself*. Other people can't be trusted. I hate it when someone who has the information you (generic you) need won't try to get to the bottom of something.