April's CR Diary

« A Few Thoughts On How To Think About Nutrition | Main | March Is Megamuffin Month »

February 26, 2007

Really Icky Time At the Doctor's Office

As all are aware, I get my blood tests done at least once a year to monitor my biomarkers, disease risk, nutrition stuff, etc. I turn in the results to the CR Society medical study, and I use them to update my nutrition or supplements, and to just plain know what's going on with my body. My doctor has been great about ordering the tests, and last time we had a very nice appointment, complete with a bit of comedy. So when I called up in January to schedule a new round of tests, I wasn't surprised that everything went fine. They even agreed that the CNN folks could video tape my blood drawing process for Sanjay Gupta's documentary.

So this morning the charming cameraman we've been working with arrives at our door promptly, we hop into his car (well, I hopped... it took MR awhile to get his shoes on... men always take so long to get prettied up for a trip out, don't they?) and we drove to the doctor's office just a few minutes away. The cameraman (who we really, really like, even though he doesn't wear glasses) got a shot of us walking in, attempting not to slip on the ice in the parking lot.

Almost as soon as we went in, trouble started. No one seemed to know what we were there for, nevermind that I had reconfirmed all the arrangements with the office manager on Friday, and that the CNN producer had spoken with them to clarify as well. The nurse was annoyed that no one had informed her of the plan, the other office staff was confused, and as it turned out, my doctor was on medical leave till March! Meanwhile, the office manager who had set the thing up wasn't in yet. So we figured out which bloodtests I needed (MR had to jump on a computer to download the file with the letter about what tests we want for the study) and finally the nurse set to drawing my blood, after deciding that since I'm an accomplished, experienced fainter, I'd better take the test lying down.

The nurse did a great job drawing the blood -- got the vein the first time, barely felt it at all. The cameraman filmed, and I tried not to look like I was about to die. I got through the drawing of EIGHT VIALS OF BLOOD by concentrating very hard on the image of Keith Olbermann sitting on a bar stool. A faint grin passed across my face as I envisioned him taking off his jacket to reveal a fabulous striped shirt. Hmmm... that fantasy has served me well. From the M&M's resistance to the survival of eight vials of blood being removed from my arm, Keith is there for me. Anyhow...

I sat up gradually and MR brought me my juice to get my glucose up. I had been fasting since lunch on Sunday, so I was pretty woozy to begin with, but I was starting to think I would make it through the event without incident.

Then the office manager arrived, and a kerfuffle ensued.

Apparently, she had been under the impression that another doctor, from the CRS medical study, had actually written the order for the test. I was under the impression that my doctor had ordered the tests, just like she did last year. The nurse was under the impression that she was supposed to draw the blood, so she did.

Well, the office manager and the nurse engaged in heated conversation (I had already figured out that they were not fond of each other) and it soon turned into the office manager yelling at me.

"You can't just walk in here and pick whatever blood tests you want off the internet and have them done without a doctor's order!"

I tried to explain that I was under the impression, since I had called TWO MONTHS ago to set up the appointment and the person I spoke to said she'd talk to my doctor, and then called me back to confirm, that my doctor had ordered the tests, like last year.

That did not satisfy the office manager.

"What are you doing these tests for? Who is running this study?"

I tried to calmly explain, but that wasn't helping. She continued to bark questions at me, and even threatened to throw out the blood if she couldn't get a diagnosis to put on the form.

Meanwhile, I am a fainter. I hadn't eaten in over 18 hours and I was feeling quite woozy, sipping my juice and being yelled at while the charming cameraman calmly waited in the front room. MR tried to help me explain, but we were just talking over each other and the office manager was getting more and more agitated. Finally, I said (I am very good at handling hysterical people, it's a large part of my job):

"It's clear that there's been a miscommunication. How would you suggest we proceed at this point? It certainly seems like it would be a waste of the nurse's time and my blood if we were to throw out the eight vials. So can we speak to my doctor, or another physician in the practice if she's unavailable, and get an order for these tests?"

The office manager said something to the effect of, "Yeah, you can bet I'm gonna talk to your doctor," in exactly the same tone that someone might say, upon catching a teenager vandalizing the neighbor's property, "You can bet I'm gonna talk to your mom!"

Needless to say, I was not impressed with the quality of customer service.

I remained polite and calm (as the blood drained out my brain) and promised to give her the documentation on the CRS Study and CR (which was supposed to be in my chart from my last visit, but had apparently been thrown out.) After the office staff members yelled at each other more, I handed over my $5 co pay and walked out, cameraman and boyfriend behind me.

I demanded that we drive immediately to Starbucks. Whose brilliant idea was it to do a media appearance on no food and no coffee???

The CNN cameraman was the picture of professionalism through the entire thing. What a guy. I wish we could keep him. I have learned that I love cameramen and photographers. It's their job to make you look good. It's the actual journalists who are sometimes the problem, but anyhow... hopefully this piece will turn out well.

I got home, still feeling quite lightheaded, and MR made me a big eggwhite omlette, plus a cup of nonfat cottage cheese with Carolina Treet! I felt a tiny bit better, and he drove me to work, since there was no way I was up to driving after all that.

I continued to feel quite lightheaded and dizzy throughout the morning, only feeling even vaguely like myself after my usual lunch of big salad, yogurt, almonds.

It was a pretty bad day, and tonight I have a late meeting, so I've stopped by home to lie down for an hour before I have to hit the road (in traffic) to do a big meeting that will last till close to 10 pm. I wanted to go to the gym today, but MR pointed out and I agreed that I am in no condition to work out.

My doctor did call later to clarify, and apologized for the miscommunication. I think I will write her a letter detailing the incident. She's a good doctor, and she should know that her office staff is behaving in an unprofessional manner that could really drive patients away.

At least I'll get my blood tests, and CNN will get some good footage of me losing a large amount of blood while fantasizing about Keith Olbermann.

I guess we all eventually have our fifteen minutes of fame.

Posted by april at February 26, 2007 2:18 PM

Comments

Posted by: Deborah at February 26, 2007 3:18 PM

Posted by: Marti Smith at February 26, 2007 4:37 PM

Posted by: Jacqueline at February 26, 2007 5:28 PM

Posted by: Robin at February 26, 2007 5:47 PM

Posted by: Judith at February 26, 2007 6:23 PM

Posted by: Arturo at February 26, 2007 9:30 PM

Posted by: artifex at February 26, 2007 9:59 PM

Posted by: sheila at February 26, 2007 10:33 PM

Posted by: Matt - uk at February 27, 2007 12:50 AM

Posted by: Amy Wright at February 27, 2007 6:13 AM

Posted by: carolyn at February 27, 2007 6:58 AM

Posted by: Nenette at February 28, 2007 7:48 AM

Posted by: Vanisher at February 28, 2007 5:26 PM

Posted by: Tod at March 3, 2007 2:23 PM

Post a comment

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments:

Preview

Post