At the doctors office
Originally Posted - 01/10/2004 : 08:58:17 AM to our bulletin board
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My great doctor moved, so I went to see a new doctor here in Denver. He just moved over from Emergency medicine at the local university. I tell him that I am there to talk about my blood pressure.
He takes it - EEEK - it’s 173/105. I guess I am a bit nervous.
He starts to ramble. I only pick up a little bit. “genetic” I hear. “Our goal is 120/80″, he says.
“120/80?”, I think. “My blood pressure hasn’t been 120/80 since I was a young girl. College? High School? Certainly not since I have been here in Colorado.” I notice he is still talking.
The anti-inflamatory I have taken every night since I herniated the discs in my neck 15 years ago, has to go. I think, “what is he saying?”
He pulls out his palm pilot. It’s a Tungsten. He looks up the antiinflamatory. I wonder if he knows I am can’t hear him. Sure enough it says, “may increase blood pressure”. Shoot.
I say, “well, I am the president of a holistic health non-profit. It’s pretty silly for me not to treat my blood pressure.”
He says, “ya”.
I like him. Nice guy. Nice palm pilot. I check in enough to make a plan. I am going to check my blood pressure every day. He makes me promise to do this. I am going to fill a prescription for Hydrochlorothiazide. We both have seen the recent reseach. We talk about the New England Journal of Medicine article which proved that this med did as well as most other blood pressure medications without the side effects. I agree to take it. He makes me promise.
He takes some blood and I am to go back in a couple of weeks to have my electrolights checked as this medication can mess it up.
In the meantime….. I look up the medication in our friend James Rybecki’s book. I start reading books. What can I do?
Claudia at the Open Grove
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Posted - 01/16/2004 : 3:43:11 PM
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Back to the doctor….
Went back to the doctor for a blood pressure check. My blood pressure is now around 150/100. We checked my blood pressure cuff and it’s accurate. I guess I didn’t have “white coat syndrome”. Shoot.
He doesn’t have any idea why I have become such a ding bat. We arranged for me to have all the blood tests taken including the ones recommended in the Healthy Heart Miracle. I have to take them fasting, so I will come back next week.
It was a bonding visit, really. We are becoming buddies.
Then you will never believe it, he pulls out his prescription pad. ESH! He says, “if we are going to treat this Claudia, then we have to be serious about treating it.”
Hrm…. I really, really, really don’t want to take any more medication! Oops, he’s talking again…what is he saying?
“Are you going to make me pinky swear again that I’ll take it?”, I say.
“Pinky swear. Claudia”, he says.
“I pinky swear that I will give this a try”, I say. He’s so demanding.
“Call me anytime if you have any problems at all,” he says.
I schedule another appointment for 4 weeks.
Claudia at the Open Grove
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Posted - 01/19/2004 : 10:10:09 AM
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Well according to the official rules of pinky swear, you have to shake in order for it to be valid, and we didn’t shake so….
I woke up Saturday morning early and realized that I just couldn’t take another medication. I have been struggling through this diet and working on exercising. I want to see if the diet and exercise actually work. I also did a little research -
High blood pressure medication only treats the symptom of high blood pressure.
85% of people can decrease their blood pressure with diet and exercise according to James Scala, Ph.D. in 25 natural ways to lower your blood pressure.
I realized that my high bp is a symptom of the stress filled life that I lead. If I take the medication, then there will be absolutely no incentive to change my lifestyle. And what’s clear is that my lifestyle needs some adjusting.
I decided to give the diet I am on a chance. It is supposed to lower my bp in 2 weeks or Friday 1/19.
I have the medication, so that if my bp is still really high in a couple of weeks, I can start it then. Wish me luck!
Claudia at the Open Grove
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Posted - 01/21/2004 : 10:42:06 AM
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So, and I am sure you guess this, it turns out that I need a new doctor. I went this morning to have the blood work done and one of the tests we had agreed to, he had changed his mind. He came in saying that he didn’t remember that we had talked about this test or doing this test. WHAT??
It’s not a new story. Doctor doesn’t listen. Doctor says one thing does another. Doctor “doesn’t remember” conversation that’s important to patient. Doctor prescribes medication rather than life style changes. Doctor has his agenda (”to get out of the room”) and patient wants to talk about this issue. I know, I know, everyone talks about this. Everyone I know has told me a story like this.
It’s just new to me.
See, I haven’t ever had medical problems. I am almost never ill. I don’t take medication. I have been basically really healthy all of my life. Until now.
So what will I do? First, I will continue with this doctor until I get my blood work back. Second, I made an appointment with a holistic doctor (graduate of the Integrative Medicine School in Arizona) for next month.
How did I find her? I asked around after my last appointment with the drug doctor. I also read articles about her. I also searched the Internet under “holistic doctor Denver”.
The problem? She’s not covered by my insurance. And it’s expensive. I called the insurance company and they don’t cover out of network providers.
So, the question that lingers… is it better to stay with a doctor who doesn’t remember or write down our conversations? or go to someone who might be helpful and hopefully supportive in this journey? For me it comes down to cost - what is the personal cost of seeing the wrong doctor?
Claudia at the Open Grove
Filed under: Doctors Office
