Allyson,

FWIW (and perhaps you have done this), they like to do a gall bladder functioning test before they recommend surgery. You have to consume some nasty beverage and then get in some machine to see how your gall bladder is doing.

It was not until I failed that test that they recommended removal. Since, as you said, most people have stones.

My doctors tell me to take peppermint oil and quit smoking.

In fact, when I went to the psychiatrist complaining of suicidal ideation, she asked me if I would consider quitting smoking. Because I was obviously worried about health risks at that time.

I think my healthcare could be better. Most of my doctors are just about one degree higher than a rock-bonding class.

I think my healthcare could be better.

More than slightly.

Because that's the point at which you should consider quitting smoking. I hear it's very soothing to break that habit.

Assholes.

"Just so you know, I'm sharing the quality of 'care' I am getting from you on the internet. So there's plenty of documentation in the case of a malpractice case."

Which I know is bullshit, but good lord.

Allyson: argh.

ION: Parenthood - is that it for the show? It seemed like it might be.

This is what I get for driving to the market this morning, isn't it? Because clearly I needed to walk somewhere today, so 3 miles it was?

Allyson,

good gravy. I'm sorry about that. Sounds like your healthcare experiences could rival ita's.

My doctors tell me to take peppermint oil and quit smoking.

Wow. For people with "MD" after their name, they're skating perilously close to the "witch doctor" line.

(I have no problem with natural remedies, and I don't actually think that people who recommend them are witch doctors. But if you practice Western medicine, which relies on diagnostic tests and actual goddamn pharmacotherapy, among other things, when your patient is clearly getting no relief from a persistent problem, then you fucking well PRACTICE MEDICINE, not recommend peppermint oil. Jesus H. Christ. [Was I going to start saying "Barack H. Obama!" after the inauguration? I feel like I was.])

Oh, man! My day has been going relatively well, considering I'm working and my developer is sulking (she's still not answering emails). You can have some of my energy if you promise to take care of it and feed it lemon squares before you send it back, Allyson and sarameg.

I'm trying to wear my reading glasses from 5 years ago, and there's no medicine in there. What the hell did I buy those for?

Kat, did I mention that my cousin Megan was totally enamoured of you? And Allyson, she pretty much didn't believe you existed. Well, she disbelieved in all of you, but when it came down to individuals, you were definitely impossible.

Hard shoulder "anecdote": One of the times I was in the ER where they didn't give me a room, but had me on a gurney in the hallway, I was in front of the trauma rooms. They wheeled in a woman whose face I couldn't see, but one foot, with some blood, was poking out from underneath the sheets.

Between hearing the case presented, eavesdropping on the working on her and gossiping afterwards, it turns out her car had stopped for some reason on the freeway, and she'd managed to get over to the shoulder, but for some reason was standing too close to the edge, and got clipped by a car. The words that stuck in my head were "Well, she might have a DP (I'm assuming distal pulse here), but she's going to lose the foot, no question." Which then segued into EMTs and nurses talking about getting out of cars on the passenger side, etc, etc.

MORAL: Be careful, guys! Please!.

There have actually been controlled randomized trials suggesting that peppermint oil can be an effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. (I Googled, for that is the kind of dork I am.)