I did a lot of advocating with doctors for the guys in the group home in Arizona that I worked at, when I would take them to doctors' appointments. A lot of the doctors would assume that I had a lot more medical training than I do. But most of them respected the fact that I had worked with these guys on a long term basis. One asked, "Are you a family member?" to which I answered that no, I just worked at the group home; "How long have you worked there?" Three years at that point; "That makes you family, in my book." Specialists, no problem; PCPs, wonderful; ER docs - totally ignored my opinions. For as much as they were quite willing to take my observations and ideas seriously, one thing I did learn during that time is that doctors do not know every medication, every side effect, and they don't have the time to read the PDR every time they prescribe something. I did. So now and then I would point out a side effect that someone was experiencing from a new med, and get "That med doesn't do that." To which I would say, "Check your PDR. It's under 'Rare and Unusual'. No other med changes at that time; and he went to both his PCP and a ___ specialist about the this symptom, nothing they have done has alleviated it. He started that med on that date; since that date we have had x number of incident reports recording the adverse effects. This is effecting the quality of his life, and his overall health." At which point they would discontinue whatever it was. Thank heavens.

Where I work now, the company has a couple of LPNs who will come and take a look at the folks when there is a problem, and they coordinate the medical appointments. In one way this is good, because a person with more education/knowledge than I have is more immediately available. In another way, it's not so good, because it puts a couple of layers between my observations and opinions and the doctors' ears; not only does it have to pass through to the doctors at second hand, but they also pass through the filter of the nurses' interpretations of my observations, and then also whatever interpretations the doctors make of what the nurses communicate to them.

I've lost a lot of respect for doctors because so many of them are just plain dumb about disability things. Seriously, asking a thirtysomething woman whether CP "usually affects children" is incredibly stupid, unless I'm claiming I woke up with it, as if it were a stiff neck. child +time=me, Dr. Sparky, mkay? Except I used to think that white coat made you smart.

I'm amazing how many medical people think Hubby is a retired radiologist or something, but then he sometimes reads the scans and X-rays better than they do. Once he was in an X-Ray suite waiting for a process, and a couple of people were discussing another x-ray. Hubby, being nosy, moved his head and said "That spine looks like mine." Instead of properly telling him to mind his own business, the tech said, "The surgeon said it didn't look good, but I'm not seeing it." Hubby pointed out the bad sections, and they all chatted about radiology for a while.

I get kinda freaked out when the doctors ask me for how much drugs to give me. It's in my files! And for the life of me I can't remember if it's 10 of compazine and 30 of toradol, or the other way around. On the other hand, I'm upping myself to 50 of benadryl, so maybe they shouldn't ask. And, seriously, if someone walks in off the street and says she wants two doses of 4mg of dilaudid, should you listen? I've been told not.

Then again, nurses, I do like it when you ask what order to give the meds in, and I do wish I got more input into how you administer them. It's just weird where they imply I am affecting things and where it's a purely professional call.

{{{Laura}}} Continued-health~ma for your mom.

My favorite doctor thing, "So you're paralyzed below the knee, can you wiggle your toes?"

My favorite doctor thing, "So you're paralyzed below the knee, can you wiggle your toes?"

Dude, I can't bear when they ask "How are you??" at the ER. I would boggle unduly at that.

Congratulations Kristin! That's so awesome!

Congratulations, Kristin! That's definitely good news!

Congrats, Kristin! I hope it's a really cool chair, like this one.

Congratulations, Kristin! May your paperwork always be easy!