What a waste of time!

[Sailorsong]

I had my PCP appointment today at the VA. Maybe someone hear can give me some advice on some of the stuff my PC didn't bother with answering.

I probably should have know it was going to be bad when I lost my right hearing aid this morning. I had gone out to check the mail and some kind of bug flew next to my right ear. With my recent wasp sting I was instantly in a panic mode and swatted at my ear and my glasses and hearing aid went flying. I never was able to find the hearing aid even after searching for over 2 hours but my glasses flew over 8 feet from me.

At this point I was tempted to not make the 2 hour trip to the VA for my appointment, but I did want to find out about some things that were bothering me from the wasp sting and I also need my PC to renew the RX for one of my BP medications.

As usual she didn't see me until 45 minutes after when my appointment was scheduled for which gets me kind of irritated right from the start. But then as we started going over the lab work from my hospital stay she kept insisting that tests that were done were not done. Finally she scrolled down the screen on her computer and saw the tests she had been saying were not done were actually done. So we were then able to talk about my concerns.

My biggest concern was the interaction between my one BP medication and epinephrine that the one doctor talked about while I was in the hospital. Turns out that my BP medication is the one beta blocker BP that doesn't have this problem. So that doctor in the hospital was telling all of those students the wrong information.

After that my PC said the appointment was taking too long so we would have to go quickly though the rest of my list of concerns and then said next time I should list the important issues first on my list since the first 3 items were non-issues. She then thought about what she had just said and said I guess you did list the most important issue first. I suspect my BP was going up fast by this time, I guess that a doctor tells me the using an EpiPen could kill me is not important. :)

I told her the next few of items on the list were there just to keep her abreast of what is happening with me. But she didn't even want to know about them.  These were that it took a good 72 hours for the wasp sting symptoms to resolve, that I have been having trouble with fine motor control for things like getting dressed, and that I have fallen 6 times in the last few months.

Next on the list was that I have been having trouble with insomnia lately. Her response was take something. I told her I don't have anything to take she said well with your MS I don't want to give you anything so just take some benydrill. I was so ticked off I didn't even bother telling her that benydrill makes me hyper instead of sleepy. I just gave up on that one. So do any of you take any OTC meds for insomnia that work?

The last time on the list was that lately when I get even slightly sweaty I get chaffing in my right armpit. Her response was "Well don't get sweaty".  I sure was tempted to use my cane on her at that point. I can't use antiperspirants as they make me break out and I can't stand the smell of baby powder. Any ideas for this one?

Dennis

[sllowe]

HI Dennis,

I sure don't have the credentials to give you advice on that possible med interaction, however, the sweaty armpit I say get the scentless powder, and a stick for chaffing! Sounds odd I know, but it too is scentless, and they have it in Walmarts. NOt sure of other places, but it's good. Family of hunters ;) and, when walking loooong distance in longjohns, well, you can imagine the feel.

-shell

[Princepaso]

Are there any nurse practitioners ? To call and discuss these critical points of concern?
As for sleep ii consulted a sleep specialist had a sleep study. Apparently ms resources rem
After couple meds side effect. Finally landed on 1mg lunesta
Nothing else worked
I to have been told too much time.  For dr apt.  When the dr said her did not see MRI , I found in the stack he left and  had to prompt him to get as he left the room
Clearly alot to go through but I knew I gave it to him.  And hope he will. Look and make his own assessment
Hard to get what is needed in an apt.
Luckily I email and talk to nurses
Gonna pick up the book the empowered patient
Best
K