Against Doctor's Orders

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I've gotten to the point in my life, where my doctor visits have turned into "outings," which is not dissimilar to my mother, and grandmother. Several years ago, my ninety year old grandma took two buses to her doctor's office, and was handed a gown in the examining room. Since it was summer, she took off her coat, sweater, blouse, skirt, orthopedic shoes, girdle, and pantyhose, while she shook as the air conditioning blasted.

When the doctor finally showed up, he asked her how she was feeling, went over her list of medications, and said to get dressed without ever having examined her. Then she proceeded to put all of her layers of clothing back on, before embarking on her long bus ride home. Later when my mother asked her mother why she didn't say anything when the doctor didn't even bother to examine her, my grandma replied, "Oh, the doctor was very busy, and I didn't want to be a bother." My grandma would never question anything her doctors did, and second to her hairdresser, they were to be treated with the utmost respect.

Although my mom also holds her hairdresser in the highest regard, she does not hesitate to argue with her doctor, "No, I will not stay in that rehab facility. I don't like it, and that's it. Can you give me a pill? I'll take a pill, but that's it. Do not call my daughter to talk about my test results. You can call me, and that's it!"

Though I have a wonderful doctor, we have had some polite disagreements. About six years ago, before I was scheduled to have a follow up endoscopy, I asked to have a colonoscopy at the same time. I had also been having stomach problems, and thought it made sense to check everything while I was under anesthetic anyway. Because I was only forty seven, and the recommended age was fifty, both he and the gastroenterologist were reluctant to perform the procedure. Not only did I have my first colonoscopy, but I ended up having three in a six month period. The polyp was so large, that I underwent abdominal surgery to remove it. That argument probably saved my life.

My physician reminds me of the TV doctor from the sixties, and early seventies, Marcus Welby M.D. James Brolin played his handsome young sidekick, Dr. Kiley.  Dr. Welby always went out of his way for his patients, and even made house calls. Though my doctor doesn't make house calls, he'll always visit you in the hospital even when you're under another doctor's care. He'll also always tell you the truth. Whenever he introduces me to another doctor or nurse, the eighty two year old never fails to mention, "She's not fat. It's her liver."