Posts from July 2010

Today, i not only think i hate doctors, but i think they are actively evil.

After much investigation, consternation and frustration, i have discovered this general turn of events.

First time i got my blood work done, unknown to me, my primary was on holidays. According to them, but my time line contradicts this, her replacement saw my blood work and WITHOUT meeting with me sent a script to Wegmans. I say i got the bloodwork done after they sent me the wrong script, they say before, that is why it was sent. I won't dispute the time line itself.

My alert to this was an automated call from Wegmans letting me know my script was ready. For something i had never taken nor would take since i do not eat shellfish.

Since i hadn't been to see my doctor, i was able to weasel from the head pharmacy dude the name of the doctor. One i had never seen before, nor heard of, except to say she was also at Lifetime Health on Main by Allen. Her name is Margaret Ebrel.

After several phone calls, it was discovered that script was sent in error. Lifetime says they do not know why someone did not send Wegmans a fax (or however they communicate) to say "hey don't fill this, it was an oops".

I made the grave error for asking for an apology. From ANYONE, but in particular the doc that made the mistake.

People make mistakes. The nurse i saw today made a big mistake, and immediately apologized. Because she said "oops, i'm sorry, i should have...." it was easy to shoe it away and move on.

It took a lot of time and effort for me to find out why i was sent the wrong script. I want to make sure it won't happen again. As in maybe my information is incorrect, or something super innocent. I got nothing but resistance from Lifetime Health in trying to resolve this.

Is it really so bad for me to want to make sure it doesn't happen again? Is it really so bad for a doctor to admit they made a mistake? Or are they really so superior and perfect that they do not make mistakes? Do they really think they are god-like?

On top of all this, i went in today for a follow up for my second set of blood work because LabCorp fucked up the last set. Despite a "note on my chart" to let me know when i checked in for the appointment that the labs are not in yet and to reschedule the appointment, i paid my co-pay and was seated in the waiting room. The other mistake i made was paying with a credit card. Lifetime Health does not know how to refund my money. Or can't. Who the fuck knows.

I left in tears of frustration. Busting my ass to make it on time for an appointment that should have been canceled. Trying in vain to have some sort of resolution for a mistake a doctor made. Paying for an appointment i didn't have. Not knowing if the appointment i made is still standing... or if i want to go.

The medical system in this country makes me feel like a piece of meat. Shit, makes me feel like a hunk of useless fat.

It matters nothing to Lifetime Health if i get moderately decent care, or care at all. I wish i could say i feel like a number, because at least a number has value.

Finally getting round to uploading some stuff from my camera. Not too long ago, i went to Chef's with someone who has a baby, who happens to love lemons, and i got this snap.

I think it's really cute and her facial expression defines the feeling of eating straight lemon without any sweeteners.

Here is Olivia. Also known to me as OO since her last name starts with O too.

Right now, until the next time i get blood work and urinalysis done, i am not allowed to eat the following:

salt, salt substitutes, sugar, sugar substitutes, dairy, wheat, anything high in potassium, anything high in cholesterol.

I am allowed to have one egg a week and one banana a week.

I am already a vegetarian, and i wasn't planning on eating meat any time soon. Unless, of course, my dietary restrictions must continue. Then, i may consider adding chicken to my diet, in as minimal amounts as i can.

Meal planning is interesting. Today, i made this stew:


In it there are onions, peppers, celery, a box of Pomi chopped tomatoes (everything else has salt or potassium added!!) a can of low salt black beans and some tempeh. With that, we had corn on the cob -- with lime juice and chili powder instead of butter and salt.

I miss you, potato chips.....

I realize, today, how much i hate doctors.

I am sorry, @jenks.

I think doctors are all assholes who really do not actually care about the welfare of patients. It's all about "interesting cases" or how many appointments can i rush through in a day or who gives a shit if a patient waits 2 hours, my time is more valuable. Money is more important than people.

And fuck you if you are upset by a diagnosis. It must be a manifestation of the illness. No time for your tears. No time for compassion. Here's some meds. Take them. And no, i don't have time to explain why. Ask the pharmacy what they are for.

Oh, yeah, here, too, are some more lab orders. Nope, none of your business what they are for. No time to explain. Bye.

I hate doctors.

A while back, @ladycroft used a term to describe fake vegetarian bacon -- facon, bacon with an f. Since then, i have co-oped that term for all sorts of things. Fake chicken, ficken; fake burger, furger. You get the idea.

Well, we all know about my obsession. My life is so boring, that's pretty much all i post about.

So, today, @uncutsaniflush and i were out shopping. At Marshals someone has fake chucks. Yep, from now on, i will call them fucks.

Thanks, @ladycroft.

I painted a room.

The previous owners let their 13 year old daughter paint a mural on the walls and ceiling.

Here are the before shots in all their glory. Glossy black ceiling, glow in the dark moon, trees, owls, suns and a sunflower... all on a blue backdrop.













I did not take pictures of each step... because even @paul would not want to remember every step of this torture.

I cleaned and scraped the sticky tack used to hang posters with brushes and used adhesive removers. I used non-phosphate tsp to clean the walls, i snaded, i cleaned again, i did a coat of primer on the black bits, then 2 coats on all of it (which meant the black had 3 coats). Then, i painted the ceiling white and the walls orange.

Here are a couple of during pics, one mainly to show you how disgusting the carpeting was...





Lastly, the almost finished room. It needs details like better flooring, window coverings, some artwork and some bibs and bobs.... but, i finished it. With one day to spare.

basic brown today

With socks, even!


My schedule this week:

Thursday (beginning of the State work week) 7am - 11pm
Friday 3pm - 11pm
Saturday 3pm - 11pm
Sunday 11p - 7am (yes, that is a shift in which i come in Saturday night at 11pm and stay until 7am Sunday morning)

Two doubles, a single and a double; 40 hours in 3 days. Yeah.