When I am not feeling well and know what the symptoms are about, I call the specialist that deals with that particular illness. (Just a reminder, I have multiple chronic illnesses and doctors.) Today was one of those times. I’ve been getting cramps in my calves and feeling very fatigued. This usually means that my Potassium levels are low.
So I called the Nephrologist’s office to ask if I could get a prescription for a blood test. My phone call turned into an interrogation about why I thought I needed to have a blood test, why I couldn’t wait until my next dr’s appointment, which by the way is in November, and why I was questioning my Potassium levels since my last blood test was fine. I was not only angry, I was frustrated.
I was fortunate enough to have a doctor’s appointment with my Rheumatologist. When I told him about my symptoms and he took my blood pressure, which was high, he immediately sent me for a blood test. He copied my Nephrologist on the results.
With this happening to me on a pretty constant basis and often feeling like I have to be smarter than my own doctors, I feel the need to buy term life insurance. I don’t know any other way to keep sane!
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When I gained 37 lbs of water and couldn’t breathe or lay flat while sleeping, I requested that my doc (at the time) stop putting me through weird blood work and take a urine sample, she chewed me out and called me incooperative.
Two weeks later, I was in the hospital with kidney failure.
You keep up the good work, Connie. They are human, but you will always be the one who know s more about you.
Take care and hope the blood work is okay.
marias last blog post..My 2008 ‘Deadly Sins’
Thanks Maria. I do know my body better than my doctors even with their good intentions. I have to be my own advocate.