I'm not one to run off to the doctor... really. So over the years I think I've had to fill out a few new forms because the prior ones have been shredded by an office trying to keep their shelves free of unnecessary clutter.
Why? Maybe it's because I'm just inherently healthier than you. (coughing into fist) ... or maybe it's because I'm not so sure that most doctors really have the "answers" I need.
Case in Point: I sucked it up and made an appointment last Friday. Symptoms: Recurring earaches and some dizziness... kind of like I'd been on the tilt-a-whirl recently... for a day or two... I'm thinking this is a Slam-Dunk ear infection. Hand me that prescription and I'm OUTTA here!
but wait... apparently my dizziness is called "vertigo" (I actually knew this word before, but being an old film fan... Vertigo just means tall towers and falling to a certain death...) and btw - how is it that Hitchcock has gotten TWO mentions on my blog recently??? After quite a lot more time in the doctor's office than I would have preferred I walked out of there with prescriptions for allergy medicine (gotta get those refilled before spring!) and a motion sickness medicine... and a referral to another doctor.
The BEST part - the doctor told me (and you might want to sit down for this one...) - he told me to go home and search the internet for suggestions about how to deal with vertigo... in his defense he also said to rest for a few days and drink a lot of water and hope it went away. He even suggested I go to WebMD.com to read about vertigo and... what was that other word... ummm... labyrinthitis... (this name ALSO reminds me of a movie... but not a very well-made one You want to know what it said????
(you can go look if you'd like... I'll wait...)
Like EVERYTHING else on WebMD.com vertigo is a possible symptom of a brain tumor. Yep, I could be dying right now... but wait, don't plan the funeral yet... it could also be a whole PILE of other things - some of which I can pronounce. For now all I know is that I don't trust any doctor who wants me to get my medical advice online. If this "specialist" tells me to check out a website I think I'll walk out of there without paying my co-pay... THAT will show him!
(and just in case you are all worried about my health - I am 99% sure that it's not a brain tumor... but I haven't ruled out ear infection still!)
Thank goodness I can blog without having to walk around... or uncover my ears... :)
Luke 2:10-11 -- On Good Tidings
11 hours ago
12 comments:
Web MD is horrible for this kind of thing! It gives a list of 100 possible things. I had a stomachache and was convinced I had cancer.
Time to switch family doctors. What a ridiculous way for a Dr. to help you deal with something serious. I hope you are feeling better soon and we will not have to spend hours at your bedside with a throw-up bowl.
Wow-a doctor that referred you to the internet?! That's probly the saddest thing I've ever heard. The reason they go to school for 8 years is so they can help us...not direct us to a website.
That is funny---usually it's the other way for me and I'm telling the doctor my own diagnosis from the internet.
Maybe you can find a website that will instruct you on how to remove your own cancerous growth? That would be great for the pocketbook!
He's CUCKOO!!! I did all my research FIRST on the internet and then went to the doctor (cause I'm not that smart and I needed some big words to use with him). We decided TOGETHER what my course of action would be.
That vertigo can be nasty. Mine was from an inner ear infection and because my eustachian tube can't close to equalize the pressure on the ear drum. You should probably go to an ENT...I know a great one and I know one you should NOT go to. (Through experience). Call me!
Nothing like WebMD to give you incentive to get your will in order, huh?
I hope it's not the brain tumor.
Really.
I was diagnosed with "vertigo" a few years ago, and my doctor said to purposely make myself dizzy so that I could learn to get out of it faster. He also said that it has a tendancy to come back. Oh and to not avoid salt. I'm thinking vertigo is another term for, I have no idea why you keep getting dizzy, but because you seem healthy otherwise....
That's no fun! I am always afraid to bring up what I've learned on the internet because you don't want to steal a doctor's thunder by showing him you know as much as he does! (well, in certain situations) It seems like many doctors wish they could be the sole source of info, right? The big pride thing?
I think I'd be going to a new doctor. Hellllo. What was he thinking. I would actually try a chiropracter. I tend to go more the holistic, natural route. It seems to work better with out side effects. ANyways, good luck.
I don't know if this is going to make you feel better or not, but I was diagnosed with vertigo when I was in college. Three months off from school, drinking about four gallons of water a day, and I was right as rain. I think it was really just a case of extreme dehydration, and after flushing out my system for a whole summer (and getting absolutely sick of drinking water), I was able to maintain better health. You really can't drink too much water, though. Good luck and keep us all posted! (And I sincerely doubt you have a brain tumor!)
hey - good news... no brain tumor :)
I to the specialists' office... some hearing/balance guy and I'm kind of thinking that there's some weird thing going on with referral bonuses :)
Dr 1 tells me to go home, drink fluids and make some of them salty broths...
Dr 2 tells me to avoid the sodium... what the what???
I think that I will just sleep sitting up for a few more days and if it returns I'll be calling April for that ENT's number...
Did you know that you can go to "balance therapy?" I had a hard time not laughing when they told me to call that guy (who happens to be the husband of a good friend) because I'm pretty sure that my balance isn't an issue...
blah - I give up - next time I'll just keep the copays and rely on WebMD for everything :)
hmmmm... I'm pretty sure I left out a "went" back there... I'm blaming it on the non-tumor, it's really making me crazy these days :)
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