Health and Wellness Chit-Chat: Your Primary Care Topic

[PRgal]

My son's recent bloodwork was a little bit off when we had it checked due to various tummy issues he's complained about.  Turns out it's really no big deal, but we were told to "reverse diary" his dinners if he complains of issues overnight (very frequent).  He's not very good at describing his "tummy aches" but has showed me by pinching my arm.  I'm supposed to talk to his doctor in two weeks.  

[shapeshifter]

2 hours ago, PRgal said:

My son's recent bloodwork was a little bit off when we had it checked due to various tummy issues he's complained about.  Turns out it's really no big deal, but we were told to "reverse diary" his dinners if he complains of issues overnight (very frequent).  He's not very good at describing his "tummy aches" but has showed me by pinching my arm.  I'm supposed to talk to his doctor in two weeks.  

When my youngest daughter was about 5 or 6, after breakfast, before school, she frequently lay on the floor clutching her stomach and said it "hurt." The doctors insisted this mean nausea. I never did get to the bottom of it, but now, 30 years later, we both drink soy milk. Yogurt and cheeses are fine.

[PRgal]

1 minute ago, shapeshifter said:

When my youngest daughter was about 5 or 6, after breakfast, before school, she frequently lay on the floor clutching her stomach and said it "hurt." The doctors insisted this mean nausea. I never did get to the bottom of it, but now, 30 years later, we both drink soy milk. Yogurt and cheeses are fine.

Or it could be chronic heartburn.  Or GERD.  We ordered rice bowls for dinner on Saturday and he wanted pickles (don't ask) in it.  Tummy ache that night and into the next morning.  GERD symptoms can also include a chronic cough (which he has...or at least it worsens in colder months).  

[shapeshifter]

So my crown that fell off of my 3-years-young root canal is apparently spreading infection. My left ear was a little muffled this morning, and since it's the ear with the hearing aid that I rarely need to wear, I popped in the hearing aid, thinking maybe the loss had progressed. But then I noticed a swelling in my jaw. So I'm on amoxicillin now. I have an appointment with dentist #3 tomorrow. 

[shapeshifter]

7 minutes ago, PRgal said:

Or it could be chronic heartburn.  Or GERD.  We ordered rice bowls for dinner on Saturday and he wanted pickles (don't ask) in it.  Tummy ache that night and into the next morning.  GERD symptoms can also include a chronic cough (which he has...or at least it worsens in colder months).  

Yes. I wondered about that at the time. Heartburn hurts, and she didn't seem nauseated. But we were living in a very rural area in the early-to-mid 1990s, so most everything was more like the 1970s at best.

When I was walking her sister home from the bus stop at the same age, I thought I'd cheer her up by telling her I'd made brownies, but she said she wanted "pickle juice," which meant the brine from the jar of dill pickles. 
My "brownies" were made with carob, so maybe she was being sarcastic in kindergarten language. ☺️

[Browncoat]

And of course there are the kids like I was -- my tummy "hurt" simply because I didn't want to go to school that day.  😉

[StatisticalOutlier]

19 hours ago, Absolom said:

I was trying to be gentle and not a know-it-all. 

Nah, there's so much misinformation and completely understandable and justifiable ignorance about how Medicare works that gentility really has no place.

[Dimity]

29 minutes ago, Browncoat said:

And of course there are the kids like I was -- my tummy "hurt" simply because I didn't want to go to school that day.  😉

Reminds me of my 8 yr old brother insisting he had minstral cramps...

[SoMuchTV]

22 minutes ago, Dimity said:

minstral cramps...

 🎵 

[PRgal]

2 hours ago, Browncoat said:

And of course there are the kids like I was -- my tummy "hurt" simply because I didn't want to go to school that day.  😉

This was my kid and camp last summer.  Because he had bathroom anxiety.  

[BooksRule]

On 1/10/2025 at 7:49 AM, ginger90 said:

There are many drugs that can raise blood pressure. One is Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and decongestants like Sudafed are basic ones.

So many.  One thing I miss by being on a BP medicine is not being able to take a good strong cold medicine when I'm sick and miserable. People laugh when I say I miss gulping down a dose of Nyquil when I had a cold, but that nasty stuff would really help me to get a few hours of good sleep.  That stuff I can take now that won't mess with BP isn't very effective.  The cough medicine that's available isn't great, either. I want that stuff that will get me good and drowsy, darn it!

[Yeah No]

So I got the blood pressure medication (20 mg. of Lisinopril) in the mail a couple of days ago and have taken two half doses so far with no side effects except a very mild dizziness. The bottle said to start taking it at bedtime because it's known for that symptom. By the time I woke up on both mornings the dizziness was gone. Unfortunately there's been no change to my BP yet but I've just started. I plan to get used to this dosage then try to increase from there. I'm kind of amazed that I am not experiencing worse symptoms. When I did a little online research I read that a lot of doctors prescribe Lisinopril because it is probably the best tolerated of the BP meds. out there. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

[PRgal]

Anti-seizure meds can mess up one’s liver.  I’ve basically stopped drinking any alcohol, save for a few sips at New Year’s Eve and a bit at Seder.  

[Mindthinkr]

2 minutes ago, PRgal said:

Anti-seizure meds can mess up one’s liver.  I’ve basically stopped drinking any alcohol, save for a few sips at New Year’s Eve and a bit at Seder.  

You’d be amazed at the laundry list of medications that can cause liver damage. 
I notice that so many of those medications advertised on tv warn of potential side effects to the liver. 

[PRgal]

13 minutes ago, Mindthinkr said:

You’d be amazed at the laundry list of medications that can cause liver damage. 
I notice that so many of those medications advertised on tv warn of potential side effects to the liver. 

And I also can’t have grapefruit.  Other citruses are fine, just not grapefruit.  I’ve also added yuzu (Japanese grapefruit) after checking with my neurologist since it’s more closely related.  It kind of sucks since it’s in a lot of sauces in Japanese cuisine.  

[EtheltoTillie]

5 hours ago, PRgal said:

And I also can’t have grapefruit.  Other citruses are fine, just not grapefruit.  I’ve also added yuzu (Japanese grapefruit) after checking with my neurologist since it’s more closely related.  It kind of sucks since it’s in a lot of sauces in Japanese cuisine.  

I'm not supposed to eat grapefruit or blood oranges because of interactions with my cancer pills.  I love both.  Once in a while, I treat myself, as it's not a life threatening things in that amount.  

[PRgal]

Ugh...I have to get a breast ultrasound again.  Darn those dense boobies!  If I didn't have major surgery last year, I'd have a mastectomy and won't have to deal.  My genetic condition means I've been going to both mammograms and MRIs since my late 30s.  And now, in my 40s, I also have to do breast ultrasounds.  

[shapeshifter]

9 minutes ago, PRgal said:

Ugh...I have to get a breast ultrasound again.  Darn those dense boobies!  If I didn't have major surgery last year, I'd have a mastectomy and won't have to deal.  My genetic condition means I've been going to both mammograms and MRIs since my late 30s.  And now, in my 40s, I also have to do breast ultrasounds.  

My mom and I both had "dense" breasts. I'm not sure about my daughters. I guess I should know. I'm not the best mom. 
I think I'm overdue for my mammogram. 
First I have to get this dental "emergency" resolved. It's been 2 weeks now.

[Mindthinkr]

2 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

First I have to get this dental "emergency" resolved. It's been 2 weeks now.

Same. It’s taken 2 weeks to see the regular dentist (one more week to go) and then it will take at least a month for me to see the endodontist. I have 3 root canals and hopefully no more by the time I get into the specialist’s chair. I sympathize. 

[Browncoat]

I have to get yet another filling replaced this month.  It's not unexpected -- my youngest filling is more than 40 years old at this point -- but I dread it.  I hate going to the dentist for regular cleanings!  And this particular filling is in the top molar that's the farthest back so it will be extra awkward just to reach.  Plus I have TMJ!  I'm planning on taking the whole day off.

[shapeshifter]

17 minutes ago, Mindthinkr said:

Same. It’s taken 2 weeks to see the regular dentist (one more week to go) and then it will take at least a month for me to see the endodontist. I have 3 root canals and hopefully no more by the time I get into the specialist’s chair. I sympathize. 

Today I went for another "opinion." 
I almost left before the appointment because it was at the edge of a funky strip mall, but I'm glad I stayed.
They were super nice and intelligent and had really modern picture-taking stuff. Better than just x-rays.
Apparently the practice was started 40 years ago by the grandpa of the current dentists — before there was a strip mall. 
I don't have an estimate yet. That will come with the consultation. 
If it's not much more than the others, I will likely go with it. 

But, like you, @Mindthinkr, I think it's going to be more than just this tooth. 
Hopefully my 11-year-old Subaru will keep on keeping on since the total cost could be equal to a new car.

I signed up for a second dental plan that should net me $650 after the premiums.
This is in addition to the $1K I get from my Medicare Advantage plan for some of the dental work, but likely the $1K won't all get used because they don't apply it to most modern dental procedures. 🙄
If this had happened a month earlier, I could have applied my $500 flex money to it, but the Medicare Advantage cut that benefit for 2025.

 

[shapeshifter]

28 minutes ago, Browncoat said:

I have to get yet another filling replaced this month.  It's not unexpected -- my youngest filling is more than 40 years old at this point -- but I dread it.  I hate going to the dentist for regular cleanings!  And this particular filling is in the top molar that's the farthest back so it will be extra awkward just to reach.  Plus I have TMJ!  I'm planning on taking the whole day off.

@Browncoat, be sure to ask them for a "bite block" before your procedure. 
It is somewhat soft, but holds your jaw open so you and your TMJ muscles do not have to do the holding open.
They might look at you a little weirdly, because a lot of people don't like them, but they are IMO, a miracle for situations where they expect you to hold your mouth open for extended periods of time.
Tell them you'd like to try having it in your mouth before they start to see if you can handle it.

Note to self: Be sure to ask for a bite block too when they do my extraction.

Edited January 14 by shapeshifter

[Absolom]

4 hours ago, PRgal said:

Ugh...I have to get a breast ultrasound again.  Darn those dense boobies!  If I didn't have major surgery last year, I'd have a mastectomy and won't have to deal.  My genetic condition means I've been going to both mammograms and MRIs since my late 30s.  And now, in my 40s, I also have to do breast ultrasounds. 

Welcome to the club.  At least you don't have to have regular biopsies.

[Yeah No]

9 hours ago, PRgal said:

Ugh...I have to get a breast ultrasound again.  Darn those dense boobies!  If I didn't have major surgery last year, I'd have a mastectomy and won't have to deal.  My genetic condition means I've been going to both mammograms and MRIs since my late 30s.  And now, in my 40s, I also have to do breast ultrasounds.  

I have dense breasts too. I've been getting the ultrasounds every year since I was in my 40s. Where I go now they schedule me for both during the same visit. I love not having to come back a second time and they tell you the result right there.

9 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

First I have to get this dental "emergency" resolved. It's been 2 weeks now.

I hope I don't have to go to the dentist. For about a week now I have sensitivity on the gum way in the back on the bottom left side, under the last tooth. I'm not doing anything yet because I think it might have been caused by a new toothbrush head I got for my Sonicare. And I've been brushing longer too. I have increased sensitivity in a couple of other areas but not as bad as that one. And I use Sensodyne. I just hope it's that and not something worse. I went back to the softer brush head.

Good to hear that you got a second opinion.

Re: the bite block, they always give me that because I have a hard time holding my mouth that far open for extended periods. But even though it's more comfortable all of that usually gives me a headache so my strategy is to take Tylenol right before I walk into the Dental office. I also do that for cleanings now. As I get older I seem to be getting more sensitive to everything. I always was, but it is getting worse with age. I probably qualify as a Highly Sensitive Person now. I've read that many HSPs are sensitive to medications like I am. But I'm also sensitive to a lot of other things as well.

[Absolom]

33 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

I have dense breasts too. I've been getting the ultrasounds every year since I was in my 40s. Where I go now they schedule me for both during the same visit. I love not having to come back a second time and they tell you the result right there.

Same here.  It's a bit depressing when the scheduled time rolls around.

[Yeah No]

30 minutes ago, Absolom said:

Same here.  It's a bit depressing when the scheduled time rolls around.

I dread it more every year. 

[SoMuchTV]

7 hours ago, Absolom said:

Same here.  It's a bit depressing when the scheduled time rolls around.

Pun intended?

[Absolom]

Sorry, not funny.

[SoMuchTV]

1 hour ago, Absolom said:

Sorry, not funny.

Apologies, I didn't mean to be offensive.  (That cartoon or a similar one has been posted in mammo facilities I've been to, that's why it came to mind.)

[Dimity]

36 minutes ago, SoMuchTV said:

Apologies, I didn't mean to be offensive.  (That cartoon or a similar one has been posted in mammo facilities I've been to, that's why it came to mind.)

At my most recent mammogram there was a cartoon of a man about to have the equivalent of a mammogram on (to steal a quote from Everybody Loves Raymond) his "man berries".  I thought it was pretty  funny, perhaps men wouldn't but since they are mighty few and far between at the breast health centre I'm not too worried about them.

[shapeshifter]

This book was in the Free Library in the waiting room of the cancer center where I had my chemo in 2016: amazon.com/dp/0060789735 (“Cancer Made Me a Shallower Person: A Memoir in Comics,” by Miriam Engleberg, 2006).

It's a wonderful book. 

Even though the book was written 20 years ago, I trust it would still speak encouragement in a darkly humorous way to anyone having a mammogram, or a biopsy or more.

She wrote it about her experience with breast cancer treatments.
My cancer wasn't breast cancer, but I still related to it, and after my treatments I wound up having one of the extremely uncomfortable breast biopsy procedures she describes so well in this graphic novel/memoir.
Sadly, her cancer returned and metastasized and she did not survive. 

But it was inspirational for me, and a wonderful legacy for her son (and maybe a granddaughter?), and probably is a reason why I didn't give up on finishing illustrating a book a few years later while working with a very difficult author.

I returned the book to the free library after I read it, and got the library where I worked to order a copy. I never bought one for myself, though. As is not unusual with librarians — especially those who don't own a home — I didn't feel the need to own books. Maybe I should get a copy while it's still in print. Or not.

Here's her Wikipedia entry: wikipedia.org/wiki/Miriam_Engelberg

Edited January 15 by shapeshifter

[Soapy Goddess]

15 hours ago, SoMuchTV said:

Apologies, I didn't mean to be offensive.  (That cartoon or a similar one has been posted in mammo facilities I've been to, that's why it came to mind.)

You don't have to apologize for posting a cartoon. I have also seen similar ones posted on the walls of my radiologist.

[SoMuchTV]

4 hours ago, Soapy Goddess said:

You don't have to apologize for posting a cartoon. I have also seen similar ones posted on the walls of my radiologist.

I was apologizing for misinterpreting the poster I was replying to in a way that she found "not funny".  I think we're good now.

[RealHousewife]

Does anyone here take any sleep medications? 

Melatonin at best helps slightly, and there are times I sleep terribly after taking it.

I already take two medications, and I hate to get on a third one, especially because I worry about the safety of longterm use. But I am just tired of being tired. I am able to sleep if I can go to bed late, it's just sleeping during the hours I need to in order to go to work that I struggle with. 

[Yeah No]

56 minutes ago, RealHousewife said:

Does anyone here take any sleep medications? 

Melatonin at best helps slightly, and there are times I sleep terribly after taking it.

I already take two medications, and I hate to get on a third one, especially because I worry about the safety of longterm use. But I am just tired of being tired. I am able to sleep if I can go to bed late, it's just sleeping during the hours I need to in order to go to work that I struggle with. 

Are they prescription or non-prescription? I'd consult my doctor on that either way. I have had to consult the internet to make sure other factors aren't interfering with sleep, like sleep position, light entering the room, sounds waking me up, etc. I was taking Buspirone, which is actually an anti-anxiety drug, but it was prescribed to help my gut issues after my gallbladder removal, which it did help. But it also made me drowsy after taking it which helped me fall asleep. I had to stop taking it because of side effects and I've been struggling a bit with sleep ever since myself.

I have bigger issues right now like my blood pressure, which has gotten high in the past year or so and is not responding to Lisinopril. I am in contact with my doctor on that. She has had me increase the dose from 20 to 40 mg. but so far it's been like taking a placebo. So tomorrow I am going to reach out to her again about that and she says she will discuss other meds. with me.

[annzeepark914]

4 hours ago, RealHousewife said:

Does anyone here take any sleep medications? 

Melatonin at best helps slightly, and there are times I sleep terribly after taking it.

I already take two medications, and I hate to get on a third one, especially because I worry about the safety of longterm use. But I am just tired of being tired. I am able to sleep if I can go to bed late, it's just sleeping during the hours I need to in order to go to work that I struggle with. 

I take one Trazadone 100mg, prescribed by my PCP to help me sleep better. It helps.

[Mountainair]

I just turned 40 and have high blood pressure now. It’s my bottom number that is high though. I’m now on two BP meds as well as lexapro. The past four years of my life has been pretty traumatic so I get it but I hate taking meds. I took myself off the BP meds last month to see if I could lower it on my own but no such luck so I just renewed all my prescriptions. 
I have a mammogram scheduled soon. It will be my first and I already know I have dense breasts. My mom was adopted and my Aunt on my dad’s side had breast cancer and opted for a full hysterectomy, breast removal. Not looking forward to this. 

[Yeah No]

3 hours ago, Mountainair said:

I just turned 40 and have high blood pressure now. It’s my bottom number that is high though. I’m now on two BP meds as well as lexapro. The past four years of my life has been pretty traumatic so I get it but I hate taking meds. I took myself off the BP meds last month to see if I could lower it on my own but no such luck so I just renewed all my prescriptions. 
I have a mammogram scheduled soon. It will be my first and I already know I have dense breasts. My mom was adopted and my Aunt on my dad’s side had breast cancer and opted for a full hysterectomy, breast removal. Not looking forward to this. 

I hear you. I have dense breasts and always need an ultrasound in addition to a mammogram. At one point several years ago it was a real nail biter as the doctors disagreed as to whether there was any cause for concern. I had a couple of sleepless nights, but all turned out to be fine. Since then though, the technology has improved significantly and it's much quicker and less stressful. Plus my facility schedules the screening mammogram and the ultrasound to happen one after the other on the same visit. Even so I still dread it!

My doctor did mention that she may prescribe a combination blood pressure drug with Lisinopril and something else in it. I think the something else is supposed to make the Lisinopril work better. Whatever. I just need something to work soon. I am worried about this situation. I have been monitoring my sodium intake very closely as well.

I figured out that the reason my BP has risen so much in the past year is because I was actually taking a drug that was lowering it for a long time and didn't know it. I was taking Spironolactone (Aldactone) for over a decade as a water pill because other water pills gave me side effects. What I didn't realize is that it was also lowering my blood pressure. I didn't have a blood pressure issue for most of my life so I had no idea. Unfortunately I had to stop taking it in mid 2023 when my gastroenterologist figured out that it was making me dizzy. When I weaned off of it my dizziness went away. My BP has gone up a lot since then and now I'm worried because I'm 66 and know it raises my chances of heart disease and stroke significantly. I just hope I can find something that works and doesn't give me bad side effects.

[StatisticalOutlier]

8 hours ago, Yeah No said:

so far it's been like taking a placebo

Placebos are my drug of choice.  They work great on me and I love the minimal side effects.

[Yeah No]

So my BP has only come down 10 points, which is not enough. After writing my doctor about it on "MyChart" she suggested a combination drug with this one in it and another one or an add-on to make it work better. However she said it's "something we can discuss on your next visit here". So I wrote back asking why I needed to come in to discuss it, especially if she was leaning toward that solution, and mentioned how I have 4 appointments coming up for various reasons for tests and with specialists in the next 2 weeks as it is. Plus these doctors seem to be completely unaware of how far out they're booking and I can't wait weeks to see her every time I need to try a new medication. My BP is too high to wait. Unfortunately she hasn't responded yet. I am not loving this doctor since the pandemic and I used to like her a lot. Some of that I am sure has to do with how things have changed for the worse since then in general, like how long it takes to get an appointment, but some of it is specific to her too.

As I have explained in the past, I tend to be very sensitive to medication and often have to stop taking what's prescribed and try something else or just stop trying altogether if I get nowhere. But in this case I'm not having any reaction at all, and both my BP monitors (wrist and arm) are not budging. So I am motivated to try something else. I am not aware that there is any reason I need to come in every time to discuss being prescribed something else. I don't remember that being the case in the past. I often wonder if doctors now are insisting on appointments just to charge for a visit. I know that even if you write to them now they often charge for a "telephone visit" to respond to you anyway! I just don't see the reason to have to physically come into her office to discuss this.

[Mindthinkr]

 @Yeah No I truly appreciate your post and how time consuming and expensive it has become for you medically. Medical practice has changed so much since we were children and healthier. Although I have heard of a few MDs that bring their patients in for every little thing unnecessarily, there also can be some good reasons to wanting to see you in person. It took me many drugs and trials before I found the combination of meds to keep my BP at a healthier level. Sometimes they want to evaluate us to determine what may be the underlying cause of the issue. Increased BP can be secondary to kidney problems, diabetes or other health concerns. Your provider may want to see you again to dive deeper to see if there is a reason for the increase. I’m glad you have reduced the sodium in your diet as that can be an underlying cause. Hopefully he/she will ferret out any causes for the increase in your BP and find the drug or combination of meds that keep your BP at a stable healthier level. Hang in there. 

[Yeah No]

2 hours ago, Mindthinkr said:

 @Yeah No I truly appreciate your post and how time consuming and expensive it has become for you medically. Medical practice has changed so much since we were children and healthier. Although I have heard of a few MDs that bring their patients in for every little thing unnecessarily, there also can be some good reasons to wanting to see you in person. It took me many drugs and trials before I found the combination of meds to keep my BP at a healthier level. Sometimes they want to evaluate us to determine what may be the underlying cause of the issue. Increased BP can be secondary to kidney problems, diabetes or other health concerns. Your provider may want to see you again to dive deeper to see if there is a reason for the increase. I’m glad you have reduced the sodium in your diet as that can be an underlying cause. Hopefully he/she will ferret out any causes for the increase in your BP and find the drug or combination of meds that keep your BP at a stable healthier level. Hang in there. 

Thanks, but I've already discussed that with her and told her that I've read that Hashimoto's (which I have) can raise BP and cholesterol AND that I was taking Spironolactone for a long time which lowered BP and stopped in mid 2023, which is why the BP went up suddenly. And she knows I have a follow up next week with my thyroid Dr. to discuss the Hashimoto's AND an echocardiogram which she ordered to look into my heart. And she just did a lot of bloodwork on me so I don't know what else she needs to talk to me about in person right now. This medication was the result of that discussion. If there was anything else of concern she could have told me why she needs to see me in person but I have had no such explanation.

Anyway I heard from one of her assistants this morning that the dr. still wants to see me in person to discuss the medication issue - still no explanation as to why that's necessary and no reaction to my question asking why. She offered an appt. tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. That's just about the time I WAKE UP most mornings so I'm not loving that. I agreed to come in but I'm not happy about it. I notice that whenever you need to come in on short notice they always try to stick you with the 8:00 a.m. appointment because no one else wants it. Anyway I'm still not a happy camper. I might as well rent an RV and stay in the garage there this week.

[Absolom]

7 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I am not aware that there is any reason I need to come in every time to discuss being prescribed something else. I don't remember that being the case in the past. I often wonder if doctors now are insisting on appointments just to charge for a visit. I know that even if you write to them now they often charge for a "telephone visit" to respond to you anyway! I just don't see the reason to have to physically come into her office to discuss this.

I'm very used to having to go in to the office for a change in medication.  They'll want to verify your blood pressure readings if nothing else.  I'm not saying you, but the average patient is known for not getting good blood pressure readings. They have to be able to verify their decisions and patient reports x, y, and z aren't always good reasons.  Plus you have it right with the billing.  Especially if she works for medical group, they will control just how much can be done by email.  They will likely want to bill for a change in medication.  As for so many medical appointments? That's part of us falling apart as we age.  Some are more fortunate than others.  Meanwhile I must put down the laptop and take three meds.  😁

[Yeah No]

28 minutes ago, Absolom said:

I'm very used to having to go in to the office for a change in medication.  They'll want to verify your blood pressure readings if nothing else.  I'm not saying you, but the average patient is known for not getting good blood pressure readings. They have to be able to verify their decisions and patient reports x, y, and z aren't always good reasons.  Plus you have it right with the billing.  Especially if she works for medical group, they will control just how much can be done by email.  They will likely want to bill for a change in medication.  As for so many medical appointments? That's part of us falling apart as we age.  Some are more fortunate than others.  Meanwhile I must put down the laptop and take three meds.  😁

I get that but I have asked at least 4 times for a reason I need to come in person without an answer. I am reasonable and if they told me that they wanted to take my BP themselves I'd understand even though I have been taking my BP daily with two different types of monitors with basically the same results and little to no change since before the medication in any dosage. If you could see the verbal exchange on the chat interface you'd be shaking your head. I read it to my husband and a good friend already and both of them are pissed off for me. 

By the way, I wouldn't be as upset about this if my BP wasn't still between 170 and 180 while on the medication (it was 182 over 90 at the dr.'s office a couple of weeks back before the medication). I am reading that these are alarming numbers and that's why I am very motivated to get it under control. And with my history of not taking well to most medications I would have to be going to the doctor more than once a week at this rate and I really don't want to feel forced into doing that.

ETA: By the way I saw her last almost exactly a month ago on Jan. 4th and she has been telling me to up the dosage since then in increments (it took me a week to even get the med. because I had to order it from a mail order pharmacy to get a reasonable price). Now it's 40 mg. with still no results and alarming readings. A month down the drain over this and I am still nowhere with it and getting jerked around about appointments. It's maddening.

Edited February 4 by Yeah No

[Absolom]

I understand that you're upset.  What they are asking isn't medically unreasonable though.  It is irritating and your blood pressure is definitely high.  It isn't as high as the boss I had who had a stroke, but getting upset over this isn't going to help it come down.  You didn't say if your doctor works for a medical corporation, but if she does, it's likely a policy she has to follow.  

I have a medication that I have to go see the doctor every time there is a change.  I was in there every week or two for maybe six weeks, but now I go every three months.  It won't be forever, but it may be necessary to have some extra visits until you get your blood pressure controlled. 

You may be in a pick your hill situation. Is it more important to control your blood pressure or to get an answer to a question that she's declining to answer.  She may not want to put in writing it's because she has no choice. 

Sensitive bodies can be a great inconvenience to us at times.  Some days we just have to go with it.

Good luck!  

Edited February 4 by Absolom

[shapeshifter]

9 hours ago, Yeah No said:

So my BP has only come down 10 points, which is not enough. After writing my doctor about it on "MyChart" she suggested a combination drug with this one in it and another one or an add-on to make it work better. However she said it's "something we can discuss on your next visit here". So I wrote back asking why I needed to come in to discuss it, especially if she was leaning toward that solution, and mentioned how I have 4 appointments coming up for various reasons for tests and with specialists in the next 2 weeks as it is.

Probably not, but could any of these other appointments be done over Zoom?

[Yeah No]

1 hour ago, Absolom said:

I understand that you're upset.  What they are asking isn't medically unreasonable though.  It is irritating and your blood pressure is definitely high.  It isn't as high as the boss I had who had a stroke, but getting upset over this isn't going to help it come down.  You didn't say if your doctor works for a medical corporation, but if she does, it's likely a policy she has to follow.  

I have a medication that I have to go see the doctor every time there is a change.  I was in there every week or two for maybe six weeks, but now I go every three months.  It won't be forever, but it may be necessary to have some extra visits until you get your blood pressure controlled. 

You may be in a pick your hill situation. Is it more important to control your blood pressure or to get an answer to a question that she's declining to answer.  She may not want to put in writing it's because she has no choice. 

Sensitive bodies can be a great inconvenience to us at times.  Some days we just have to go with it.

Good luck!  

Thanks but they need to respect the patient's requests. Not telling me something is only going to make me worry more about why. It's human nature. Wouldn't you worry if you were me? I am just on overload with crappy customer service these days and this is how dealing with doctors is going now too. It would be nice if she or her assistant could explain all the above to me and not you. I am just the patient here. It's not my responsibility to know these things independently. 

I am also upset at the way doctors treat you if you tend to be sensitive to medication. They treat you like you're a nuisance and they'd rather you just go away than address the issue. I basically had to BEG her to put me on BP medication! With readings like that she should be begging ME to try them! Also, she dropped the ball about putting me on cholesterol medication after many tries of taking statins and even red yeast rice with the same bad reaction. Her face told the tale - she gave herself away as being annoyed and didn't even offer another solution. When I came back to her that I was reading that there were many other alternatives (some of which I heard about here) she didn't even respond. WHAT THE F DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET HELP??? I am seriously thinking of going over to my old medical group to the doctor my husband sees, who was the replacement for our old doctor. I started with this woman because she is at the hospital where all my specialists are so it just made sense at the time. I'm beginning to regret that.

ETA: It wasn't just that she acted like I was a nuisance, she acted skeptical about my claims of bad side effects like I'm some kind of snowflake. I told her I could assure her that I felt like total crap like I had to get into bed on statins and even red yeast rice. But still no response from her. 

BTW, she works for a state hospital, one with a pretty good reputation in general. 

7 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

Probably not, but could any of these other appointments be done over Zoom?

Exactly, that was my question to her - not that I objected to the appointment but why it had to be done in person!

Edited February 4 by Yeah No

[Absolom]

11 hours ago, Yeah No said:

Wouldn't you worry if you were me?

No, probably not and definitely not over making an appointment I'd rather not have to attend. I've never gone fretful over that especially not with a problem like high blood pressure and changing medications. Yes, 8 AM is inconvenient, but it isn't ridiculously so.  5 AM for surgery twice in three months was about to irritate me.  Two rounds of following a showering protocol in preparation for each surgery with Hibiclens put me out a bit.  Especially showering with all the standing in the shower letting the Hibiclens sit on the skin before the 5 AM surgery call and them also saying no wet hair.  Did I really want to wake up the whole household with a hair dryer? So no, one more doctor's appointment more or less in life is not going to get more than a mild eye roll if that.  It's inconvenient.  It's frustrating not getting the answer you want as to why you have to come in.  Is it slightly possible they think they answered the question and they are a bit baffled for hearing it repeated? To me it's all a matter of perspective.  I had to show up in pain, in a wheelchair, and actually gagging for an appointment a week after getting out of the hospital.  Did I want to go?  Not at all.  Did I need to? Absolutely.  

I spent an hour peeling my daughter's MIL off the ceiling around dinner time tonight.  She can't stand it that she can't get her questions answered by the Social Security Administration about her reinstatement of benefits under the recent law.  She wants to know when it will happen - nobody knows yet on her particular case, how much her new check will be - again nobody has calculated her new payment they are prioritizing new claims at the moment, and  when will she get the year of back pay - no one knows anything about when back pay for her will start since well she hasn't even started getting the new amount and they aren't going to start processing back pay until new claims and this year's new amounts are done.  They're currently projecting it could even be in 2026 before that is done. 

Perhaps I'm too accepting of the oddities of life, but asking you to show up at an appointment even at 8 AM to try to solve a problem that is bothering you and should definitely be handled wouldn't rise to a lack of service to me.  Getting you an appointment in short order is usually a sign they are hearing you and trying to take care of your needs.  I venture to say most patients or at least most people I know would prefer the appointment face to face rather than have the doctor send off a new prescription without discussing it in detail with them.  Since you're sensitive to medications, that's all the more reason to take due care.  When you see the doctor if it's still unclear why you needed to actually be there ask her face to face so you can see her expression and it's harder not to give you an answer.

Although I have so many medical appointments my doctors have taken to apologizing for wanting to/needing to see me.  A lot of the appointments are for things less exciting than starting  a new med.  

 

Edited February 5 by Absolom

[Yeah No]

Well you are quite different from my husband and friends about these things, because all of them are pretty pissed after hearing my story. They have been hearing the long version going back years, though.

I'm surprised you didn't react to the other stuff I told you about this situation and the cholesterol meds. I have tried many statins but this doctor seems to be unwilling to consider other options. Meanwhile my cholesterol has been high for years now. I keep mentioning being open to trying other options to her but she doesn't respond. And you tell me you wouldn't be upset after all that?? Look, I have been remarkably tolerant of a lot of situations with doctors in the past few years and I'm just getting nowhere with most of them.  I could recount a long list of frustrations and dead ends going back to the beginning of the pandemic with them. By this time I'm disgusted. My mother died at 76 from a stroke while taking medications and I am looking at maybe another 10 years of life at this rate if I'm lucky if I don't get my issues under control. I don't have time to waste. I go from doctor to doctor and if I can't take the meds. they just drop me like a hot potato and act like they can't help me. The only reason this doctor is helping me is because I am not taking no for an answer. It's been like pulling teeth to get her to do it and she is making it about as difficult as possible for me. I can't believe that I had to bring my BP to her attention during my wellness check. She wasn't even going to mention it!! And you tell me I shouldn't be upset about that? 

And maybe 8:00 a.m. isn't too early for you or some other people, but it is for me. I don't take that well to early appointments. I have tried them. I don't care if 99% of the world is different from me and what they think should be "reasonable", I need to have someone understand and respect me when I say something does not work for me, whether it be a medication or an appointment time. Perfectly healthy, young people carp about Daylight Saving time and yet you want me to get up 3 hours before I usually get up to be at an appointment? Because to be in any shape to leave the house in time to get there that's what I'd have to do. Another day ruined for me. I have other things going on in my life that are requiring my attention right now, I don't have the time or the energy to waste another day but it's going to happen whether I like it or not. Maybe that wouldn't happen to you but it does for me.

P.S. No one ever got back to me to answer my question.

P.P.S. Look at any medical website - what they have to say about BP as high as mine is alarming and shocking. I didn't even realize it was considered that bad but they are making it sound like it's high enough to get yourself to a doctor ASAP. I didn't know that until after I saw the doctor. And she wasn't even going to mention it!!

[Ancaster]

On 2/4/2025 at 7:22 AM, Yeah No said:

 

 I notice that whenever you need to come in on short notice they always try to stick you with the 8:00 a.m. appointment because no one else wants it. Anyway I'm still not a happy camper. I might as well rent an RV and stay in the garage there this week.

"Stick you with the 8:00am appointment"?  How about the doctor is coming in early to accommodate you?

 

On 2/4/2025 at 7:22 AM, Yeah No said:

 

Anyway I heard from one of her assistants this morning that the dr. still wants to see me in person to discuss the medication issue -  

How many times do we hear from people complaining that their doctors don't/won't give them the time of day and just pass them off to their assistants?  I love a doctor who "still" just wants to see me.

Edited February 6 by Ancaster