Three Hours at the Doctor is Officially Too Long

[untonuggan]

...and I was seriously thinking about making a break for it about halfway through, but I'm glad I didn't because I did get very useful information. It was just intensely grueling.

I went to the cardiologist for my dysautonomia/POTS and, okay, I was eight minutes late because a road I needed to use was closed for 10 minutes and it would have taken longer to go around by the time it became obvious how long it was going to take. A little warning would have been nice. This is a running theme. Then I had about twenty minutes of filling out two pages of paperwork (tiny tiny writing) about updating my symptoms. Then I went back, half an hour after my appointment was supposed to start. Oops. Mea culpa. I've got that.

And okay, a cardiologist's office, I can see EKG's being routine even if they're annoying and I hate the little sticky things. And I can even see the echocardiogram being called for, though I really did not enjoy the little paper gown up top with no bra on while the person shoved lube all over my chest. (He was very nice though, and didn't expose me, but it was still OH HAI PTSD.)

Saving grace at this point: while I was waiting for him to come move me to another room, I was spinning yarn. When I came back we had a mini-talk about spinning, because his grandmother used to spin.

Then I waited for another half hour. This is when I thought about doing a runner, but it seemed kind of pointless at that point and it takes three weeks to get an appointment with this guy.

At long last, they came and told me I would get to do...a stress test! In clogs and jeans! Word to the wise: if you have a music player with you, ask if you can listen to music during a stress test. Lady Gaga is the only thing that kept me going. Felt like I was going to pass out afterwards (thank you, dysautonomia).

Then I waited some more. At last I pulled out my knitting, which I had been saving for the car because I only had about two rows left before the cast off. I did about five stitches and the doctor came in. Obviously it's magic.

Good things:

• new meds to help with the painful swelling in my hands and feet (which woke me up at 4 am, agh)
• new meds will also help make it easier for me to exercise
• meeting once a week with an exercise physiologist in their office to increase my oxygen capacity, which is limited due to the pooling of blood in my extremities (rather than my body moving all my blood/oxygen around efficiently)
• when I am sitting, I have to stand up and move around every half hour at least
• I get to eat even more salt (and salty water in particular)
   

...And then I waited for another ten minutes for my prescription in the waiting room...*facepalm*

Comments

[jelazakazone]

Hey, this sounds useful and I'm glad you were treated respectfully! I always hate worrying about how I'm going to be treated by a doc/staff.

I hope the new things help!!

[untonuggan]

Yeah, their staff is really great though I wish I'd gotten more info about the tests before having them. Still at least it avoids the anticipation of having to get a stress test, for example.

Thanks!

[sid]

The new meds sound like they could make the gruelling visit all worth while!

[untonuggan]

Well, have been on before and they're a paaaaiiiiiiiin because you have to take them 4x/day and no laying down within 4 hours of taking them. And I can't nap sitting up. However apparently I was taking ones made by the wrong manufacturer, which is why they were a pain and not working. So, yeah, hopefully they'll actually help this time.

[cadenzamuse]

*crosses fingers that changes make irritating visit worthwhile*

[untonuggan]

Thank you!

[jjhunter]

That second to last one, i.e.

• when I am sitting, I have to stand up and move around every half hour at least

is something recommended for everyone, by and by. If you happen to rope in folks in your vicinity to join you in the getting-up-and-moving-a-bit every half hour, you will be doing them a good turn.

...the rest of this sounds like you have been through a day of testing on more than one level, and pulled through. I hope tomorrow proves more of an R&R day, but today - you did it. It was long and had sucky parts, and you did it anyway. That too is worth some Monday Pride.

<3

[untonuggan]

<3 Monday Pride indeed.

Do you have the name of a study I can point people to? People in my house are of a scientific inclination...

Thank you, m'dear. <3

[jjhunter]

This one isn't the one I was thinking of, but it's enough to get you all started: NPR: Sitting All Day: Worse For You Than You Might Think

[untonuggan]

Awesome, thank you! <3 Happy Day, by the way!

[lilysea]

Go you! \o/

[untonuggan]

\o/

[brigid]

Drinking salt water, eh?

So basically you're secretly a mermaid and your humours are out of balance because you're out of your natural element (salt water)?

[untonuggan]

Drat, these landlubbers have found out my secret identity!

[raze]

Oof, sounds like a taxing visit, but congrats on keeping it together and toughing it through. I'm liking that they're coming up with some possible solutions to improve how you've been feeling.

[untonuggan]

I AM TOO. I am feeling a bit better already, although *still* having the !funtimes early morning hand wake-up call (my hands fill with pooling blood/fluid, it presses on nerves, I wake up).

[chalcopyrite]

Three hours is way, way too long. I am glad some good/potentially helpful things came of it, at least!

[untonuggan]

Thanks you!