So Sick Of This
Monday, April 25, 2011 at 11:55AM Friday sickness made me give in and head into the doctors office. Unfortunately my doctor was not in so I went to see the doctor I have through my wife’s insurance. One of those big HMO group things where you walk in and there are hundreds of people everywhere waiting to see someone.
First off I was really surprised at how quickly I was called in to see the doctor. I assume it was because it was Good Friday and everyone just wanted to cut out of there as soon as possible. Let’s just say it was so fast that I didn’t even get to snap a picture in the waiting room for the Waiting with Diabetes group on Flickr.
The nurse had me step on the scale which showed a number that I am sure was about 20 pounds lower than it should have been. Unless I lost 20 pounds and it doesn’t show anywhere on my body than this scale was wrong. I was a little perturbed because I would have liked to have known what my actual weight was. Oh well.
When I got into the exam room the nurse took my vitals and asked me if I was taking any prescriptions. I pulled out my iPhone and started the Notes app because I have a page where I list all the drugs I take. When I started rattling them off she stopped, looked at me, and said, “are those all for diabetes?”
“Well the Lisinopril is for blood pressure. The Lipitor is for cholesterol. The Terbinfine is for toenail fungus…” As I was saying all this she just stared at the screen and didn’t type in anything! So I just stopped. She wasn’t putting anything in the computer so why waste my breath. Not to mention that my throat was on fire and talking hurt.
When the doctor came in she said, “Wow we have not seen you in here since 2003. Are you seeing someone about your diabetes?”
“Yes, I have another doctor that I see (AWESOME DOCTOR BY THE WAY) about my diabetes.”
“Oh good because I know you came in here about a cold but I am more concerned your diabetes.”
She seemed nice enough and frankly when I was here before the doctor never looked at my chart so this seemed pretty good. “Yeah I am doing fine.”
“Well, you really need to stay on top of it. I mean, you are only 38 and you already have diabetes! You need to keep your A1C below 7 to avoid complications and be around for a long time.”
So here we go. The fat latino looking guy comes in with diabetes and it just has to be type 2. No offence type 2’s reading this. If I had type 2 I would still be pissed that she just assumed it based on my race and size. I wanted to scream but again my throat hurt and what good would that have done. Get drugs and get to bed. That is the mission. “Yeah I know I have had it for 20 years.”
“I’m sorry to bring it up because I know you are feeling sick but I you need to know. Do you test you blood sugars?”
Are you kidding me? “Yes from 6-8 times a day.”
“And you are on insulin injections?”
“I am on an insulin pump but I have been on insulin since day one.” My face was getting warm. I know it was not a fever but my anger boiling up inside of me.
“Alright well I am going to give you some cough syrup so you can sleep. Get rest, drink plenty of fluids and keep that blood sugar down!” I thought that was it but it went on. “I am going to type up a summary sheet so you can give it to your doctor about what we talked about.”
She handed me the prescription and the summary sheet and I went downstairs to the pharmacy to pick up my drugs. Get drugs, CHECK. Now I need to get to bed!
As I sat waiting for my name to pop up on the pharmacy “Keno” board (that I was it looks like to me) I glanced at the summary sheet the doctor gave me.
Diagnosis: Viral cough and sore throat. Prescribed cough syrup, fluids, and rest. Also discussed uncontrolled DM2.
Excuse me? When did uncontrolled come up? DM2? You mean Diabetes Mellitus type 2?
DING
I look up and see G,SIMMONS on the Keno board. I grab my drugs (check!) and head out the door.
As soon as the automatic doors slid open I spotted the trash can and quickly crumpled up the “summary sheet” and made a shot right before the buzzer. BOOMSHAKALAKA!
Here’s the thing…
NOT ALL TYPE 1’S ARE SKINNY AND NOT ALL TYPE 2’S ARE FAT!
I know people will say that most of the time that is true. Well I don’t assume that just because someone looks Mexican that they can speak Spanish. Or anyone who is tall plays basketball. Or that anyone who is bald has cancer.
Maybe it’s because I am sick. Or maybe it is because I am tired of being told that I am one thing and I know I am not. Either way it is upsetting.
Reader Comments (24)
I went from shaking my fist in anger at that idiot doctor to laughing out loud at "BOOMSHAKALAKA!"
The diabetes prejudices have to stop. Starting with the supposedly-educated doctors who are treating people with diabetes.
No, George, it's not because you're sick - though I am very sorry that you are and your throat has been on fire like that. In my opinion, I find this unacceptable from a doctor - even one you don't normally see. Even if you hadn't seen a doctor about your diabetes, the fact that you've been there before should mean there's something in your file or e-chart that SHOWS you are not "DM2," but rather DM1 or more specifically - Type 1.
I probably wouldn't have said anything either, if my throat was feeling like that - since I'd probably start yelling at the lady.
I've had a few non-D doctors get into that before, and I've politely stopped them mid-sentence to say, "Thank you for the diabetes advice, but that's something my endocrinologist and I are managing on our own time. I'm here for a cough, which is NOT connected to my Type 1 diabetes."
Usually, they glare at me when saying this.
Sorry you went through this. Hope the cough medicine and rest helps calm the fires.
OH man. It's always bad when they get it wrong but when you're "real people" sick, it's worse.
Feel better, Gman!! xoxo
Oh boy George... Sorry you had to go through that, especially when you are not feeling well and on a Holiday weekend. You handled it like a champ though! I am sure I would have snapped! Unfortunately it seems that a D+ is a passing grade even for doctors :/ and those marginal doctors seems to be employed... EVERYWHERE... Take solace in knowing you have an awesome doctor who you see regularly.
Is your cold any better at least??
That makes my blood boil too, so I'm right there with you buddy. If people are going to be in medicine in this century, they need to read and get engaged a little more. Plus, LISTEN to the patient! I think that may be what irks me the most, is that she didn't listen to you. Hope you feel better bud!
Oh my gosh. I am so pissed at that "doctor". I swear, we need to have huge red stickers made for our charts that say "TYPE 1 DM" whatever type you have... just for those doctors. UGH. I probably wouldn't have cared - sick or not, I would have marched my sick a** up there and told that doctor a thing or two. Heheee, maybe you should have taken it to Dr. Awesome and had him write a summary page back to her?? But I commend you on throwing away the paper and letting it go. Sometimes situations like that aren't worth our breath or pain in sore throats.
I don't know, you should have sent the sheet to the cool new endo and let him rip her a new one... but he probalby doesn't have time.
The assumption was insulting, but could also have read to mistakes in diagnosis or treatment. Granted, this is probably not the case with a cold, but it concerns me that they're not more careful.
WOW!! This post made me so upset!! I HATE NOTHING MORE THAN THAT!! That is so beyond rude and it is really depressing that doctors don't even really ask the right questions. I am so sorry you had to go through with that. Hopefully you feel better soon!!
Bah!!
Still on the bright side, I'd rather have D and NOT always be a complete and utter unempathetic idiot.
I envy your patience and ability to keep your mouth shut. I wouldn't have stood for all that and likely got myself in deeper doo-doo. Kudos to you. More importantly, you and the entire DOC knows what you're talking about even if one stupid doctor doesn't.
I am literally shaking in anger for you george. Jeez, I hate misconceptions and more so I hate it when people assume!
I read this earlier and was appalled like everyone else. Bob P said it best. What if his error resulted in a medical mistake?
George, you need to be more assertive. Pretend you are one of your children. If a doctor read their records incorrectly, you'd be the first one to correct them/him/her. Please start doing the same thing for yourself.
Why is it that we can be so great at taking care of others, better than ourselves?
I especially hate that he made so many assumptions, just looking at you. It is not right. It's not medically responsible.
gosh! Did she give you the magic cure while she was discussing your uncontrolled diabetes?
I hope your throught gets better.
You know, I totally understand your frustrations with it. I deal with it all of the time because I am overweight. When they first diagnosed me, they thought it was Type 2 as well. I still deal with that when I go to the hospital sometimes!
I'm sorry you had to go through that, but at least you've got your prescriptions and are ready to go. I kinda do the same thing - I have a primary locally I see for emergencies (or if I am admitted), and then I have my regular one who is a little further away.
Feel better soon!
Did Krista just call you Boy George?
Seriously - that's full on ridic. I hope you let them know what's up. Not cool!
I want to call the doctor racist! This is totally unacceptable. Get a copy of your records from that clinic to see what else is incorrect - then - if you have time, send it back in with the corrections that need to be made. The nurses at my endo are in and out like a revolving door, so they always ask what medicines I am on, they can't even pronounce them after I have stated them. I now print out a copy and hand it to the nurse when I am called in. Been T1 since '85 and still feel I am educating the world one ignorant being at a time.
Hope you are feeling better ;-)
Argh! Sanctimonious and dangerous nimwits!
sigh. what else is there to say?
i am so sorry you had to see idiot doctor. i HATE having to see other docs when mine's not in. they just don't get it!
i really hope you feel better soon!!!
Major suckage yo.
I hope you're feeling a bit better by now. Sucks to be sick. Sucks even more to have to deal with that crap on top of everything else.
On a side note, I TOTALLY want one of those hats.... Flipping brilliant!
That makes me sick to my stomach.
All I can do is shake my head right now. :(
Ugh. I am so sorry you had to deal with this ON TOP of being sick. I think general doctors are the worst, they think anyone with the D is Type 2, and George, now imagine that you are a parent of an 8 year old girl who is being told this crap. Yep, they think SHE is Type 2 too. Girl weighs 55 lbs and has a pump attached to her! It's un-friggin-believable. I am sorry you had to go through it. I do hope you are feeling better and got some rest.
I want to punch that doc & hug you!!!
LYLB!!!!
If I was 18 and slim, I might have a chance, but I'm in my 50s and overweight. I'm beyond annoyed at the assumptions doctors make! To save myself more cringing, I go in to a new doctor with: Hello, I have "Type 1 diabetes, the autoimmune kind - you know, the kind you get when you're a kid". And technically, even that's not correct - T1 can appear anytime, and young people can get T2 - but it's the one phrase doctors seem to understand, so we don't have to spend half the consult on an irrelevant discussion. 99% of the time I'm not there for anything diabetes.
I've recently moved. First time I went to a new family doctor I made sure they saw me throw the 'diabetes instructions' sheet, clearly for early T2s, in the bin on my way out.
How can we educate the public when the front line - doctors and nurses - get it wrong?