Earlier this month I wrote about the seemingly ludicrous signs at the office of one of Amy's doctors. Today we went back to that doctor and I decided to get some better shots.
It's not that I felt obligated to prove how silly it all was....it's more like we were there anyway and I had my camera so why not?
So, here's the sign directing us from the waiting room to the subwaiting room.
And here's a still not perfect shot of the sign telling us to be there 15 minutes before our appointment and then immediately below warning us not to be there more than 15 minutes before our appointment. It's still a little blurry, but there was a nurse standing right behind it and I felt a little awkward taking the picture.
Later I noticed those signs are all over the place...in the waiting room, the subwaiting room, etc. I can't believe I'm the only person who finds their contradictory nature so laughable, but no one else seemed to take note of them.
The good news is this particular doctor, a blood specialist, looked at all of the tests he had ordered and said Amy's blood work was normal enough that he could live without seeing her. He does wants faxes of future blood work sent to him so he can keep tabs on her, but he doesn't think more visits to his office (timed at exactly 15 minutes prior to the time they are scheduled) are necessary.
It's nice when doctors look for ways to make our lives easier. It hasn't happened a lot lately.
The pain specialist Amy visited earlier this week actually said something similar. Unlike the previous pain doc, Amy says this guy was very kind, but he was also fairly blunt, telling her that her pain is of such a nature that there really isn't any way to treat it, beyond what's already being done. He doesn't believe we need to add him to the mix.
Amy was a little disappointed at first, we were hoping I suppose for some miracle treatment.
However I'm thankful for his candor and also for his understanding that having a pain specialist added to Amy's medical entourage who would prescribe the same treatment she is already receiving only means more doctor visits and more co-payments.
After all these months it's refreshing to finally have doctors realize that the more the merrier bit is becoming more of a hindrance than a help.
Scheduling appointments, filling out forms, explaining medical histories, driving all over town at all times of the day to meet with doctors...all of these things have only added to Amy's general burden. I think now it's obvious that everyone who truly needs to be involved in Amy's care already is involved.
Next week, we'll visit with the surgeon who has been quarterbacking this game plan and hopefully be able to convince him of that.
If so, we can put our focus back on patience and prayer.
I think that will be a sign of real progress.
