Had my doc's appointment late yesterday afternoon. The sweet staff there were a bit mortified by my presence. They've seen me (up until 2 months ago when I began feeling puny) weekly for the past 2 years. I always took mom for her follow-up appointments as well as her weekly blood check (she's on coumadin for blood clots in the lungs that developed after her colon resection). "I so want to give you a big hug", said our long term nurse. "Let me get a wheelchair", said another. I'm stubborn and declined, used the 4 pronged cane and made my way down the hallway.
Elevated blood pressure... well, for me anyhow. I typically run in the mid 90's/50's. Got a reading of 92/48 prior to leaving the house. Wasn't too bad after the long, jerky hike from the main lobby to the exam room - 114/78. Seemed as though I'd traveled a quarter mile.
I can see the shocked and concerned look on the doc's face. He asks questions, I answer them slowly. The day is getting late and it seems my thought process, speech and mobility decline as the day goes on. He's scratching his head, brow furrowed. The hubs and I try to reassure all that I was presenting worse last week. I don't think they believed either of us, but it was the truth.
The game plan? Well, he's not a clue and says he's way over his head. We've got to start somewhere to figure out where the best place is to send me. Lab work is our cheapest beginning (still no word on insurance coverage), so he rattles off a list. CBC, CMP, TSH, CRP, Sed Rate, HgAIC, T3optake, and some others that I cannot read. I call the lab to get pricing, doc says will be around $1,000. They can't tell me over the phone, says Michelle on the other end of the line. "You have to bring it in and us look at it in order for us to give you pricing."
Really?? Just another thing that's screwed up with our healthcare system. I reckon I'll cry on the way home after the plastic card gets smacked with that one!
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