dr appt was had

[boxofdelights]

I got a flu shot and an appointment for a vaginal ultrasound to look for fibroids yay. Last time I took my blood pressure at the grocery store it was 112/82. When the nurse took it it was a bit high, which it always is -- but what do you expect when you measure my blood pressure right after you have me step on the scale? Then, when the doctor took it it was 150-something over 90-something, which is actually not bad for immediately after talking to this doctor. My last two visits with her, it was 170-something over 100-something when she took it.

I have talked to her about the specific things she does that ring my alarm bells but it doesn't seem to make any difference. She questioned me, as usual, about my employment status and my employment prospects and my employment history. I gave the same answers I always give. She repeated my answers back to me with a questioning inflection. I would be able to believe that her intentions were friendly if she didn't repeat what I said back to me with a questioning inflection! And if she didn't ask me the same questions every time even though my answers haven't changed in years.

At least this time she did not ask, "Don't you ever get tired of not working?"

Comments

[sasha_feather]

What a jerk!

[wordweaverlynn]

Doesn't the doctor ever get tired of being a judgmental asshole?

[boxofdelights]

You'd think.

[laurajv]

some people put themselves in positions of authority because they just LOVE being judgmental assholes, unfortunately.

[bibliofile]

Alas, that seems too accurate.

[kathmandu]

...how is it any of their business whether you're employed? Doctors are supposed to ask about your general life just enough to ascertain how it's affecting your health. If the answer is "Same as last year, no major changes," they should stop. It's not like you were there to claim unemployment benefits.

And she should have changed the things that ring your alarm bells.

[the_siobhan]

Yeah, I could maybe see asking if it was causing you any stress. But that's it.

[sonia]

Sorry to hear that. I assume there are reasons to keep seeing her. Sounds to me like she's jealous. Which she should keep to herself rather than making it your problem.

[boxofdelights]

I think she's just judgy, in that doctorly way: "I am the doctor, therefore I know best, and it is my responsibility to tell you what you should do."

Reasons to keep seeing her are not great but they exist: I don't know of a doctor around here who doesn't treat fat middle-aged unemployed women with contempt, I find change stressful enough that I'm reluctant to do it without any confidence that the new thing will be better, and I actually find naked contempt easier to cope with than thinly-veiled contempt.

[kalmn]

I should come visit. Then I will bite her.

[jinian]

Wow.

[malnpudl]

Oh, yikes. That's appalling and insufferable.

suggestion

[(Anonymous)]

Would it be possible to do the following at the next visit: ask the nurse if she'd mind measuring your bp first? If it were good, you could ask to have it measured again after she measured your weight. And again after talking to doc. If the measurements went as predicted it would be useful data that the dim mechanic might understand.