...it's best to keep your cool. Most idiots can't help that they're idiots. Let me recount to you this morning's idiocy. It was in the form of a phone call. Debbie* (the NP who is currently treating me) called to tell me that my prog.esterone level was 1, which I already knew, but I didn't hear my phone so she just left a message. The message said she wants to up me to 150 mg Clo.mid and to call if I had any questions. I did! So I called a left a message at the nurse's station stating that I would like to come in for a second blood draw because I think I ovulated AFTER the first one and that I don't want to up the Clo.mid unless I know for sure that I didn't ovulate. I finally got a call back from a nurse and this is how our conversation went (this may be paraphrased a little but is fairly accurate):
Combative Nurse (CN): Yeah hi, your blood work shows you didn't ovulate so what's the problem?
me: Well, I think I ovulated after the test so it wouldn't have shown up yet.
CN: Your b/w shows you didn't ovulate. What makes you think you ovulated?
me: Um, I got a positive opk and my temp chart supports that.
CN: Oh, ok. So why do you want to come in?
me: Because I don't want Debbie to up my Clo.mid unless I know for sure I didn't ovulate.
CN: Well where are you now?
me: CD 27.
CN: Well then it's too late to test, that has to be by CD21.
me: (trying desperately not to ask if she knows anything about the menstrual cycle) Well, if you assume most women ovulate on CD14 and you ask them to come in 5-7 days later to test the progesterone level, if I come in tomorrow which is 5-7 days past my suspected ovulation how is that different?
CN: Oh, well I'm going to have to consult with Debbie about that.
me: Wonderful.
CN: But you could be pregnant and then you won't need Clo.mid next month.
me: Um, ovulation does not always lead to a pregnancy.
CN: Ok, I guess I'll talk to Debbie then and get back to you.
Second call, about 30 minutes later:
CN: Yeah, Debbie thinks you should go ahead and come in to get the test run again.
me: (yes, because Debbie is not a freaking moron) Great, should I come in tomorrow?
CN: She didn't say when, she just said to come in.
me: Ok, I'll be there tomorrow. Thanks (for nothing).
I seem to remember getting in verbal spats with this voice on the phone before. There is probably a "Note" in my file. True story, my mom once sued her employer for discrimination and the lawyers tried to dig up dirt on her and they said "Your medical records show that you once yelled at a nurse." She was stunned and thought 'that was seriously the best you could come up with to discredit me?'. Guess she's squeaky clean, other than nurse abuse.
*name changed to protect the reasonable and innocent
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The only thing worse than a moron, is a combative moron. A big congratulations for keeping your cool. I can't say that I would have had that much tact after that conversation.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for being your own advocate. I'm so glad that things ended up going your way. The right way. =)
Geez...doesn't make you wonder where she got her schooling and how she ever came to work in a specialists office??
ReplyDeleteKudos on handling that so well...I also have a "NOTE" inmy file I'm sure but I don't care. We've been through tooooo much to have to put up with chosed stupidity in the midst of it all. :)
Hope your appointment goes well today. Let us know if you have to go a round with that "special" nurse. Oh, and I'll send you some bail money if you need it! :P
You handled that better than I would have.
ReplyDeleteReally? WTF?
Combative nurse needs to chilltheheckout.
oohhhh...and being mean to a nurse can go on your permanent record?
Really really fun stuff.
I'm so proud of you! You kept your cool and got what you wanted because any human being with a brain knows not all woman ovulate on CD14! I can't wait to read your post about your test results! Too funny about your mom, not that she had to sue her employer...funny, that the only dirt they got on her was that she yelled at a nurse.
ReplyDeleteWow - it sounds like we were going to the same Dr. I had more than my fair share of "arguments" with the nurses...I am sure there is red ink ALL OVER my medical files!!!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that someone who is supposed to be educated in "women's health" automatically assumes that every woman "O's" on CD14. That is just ridiculous!
Sometimes you wonder how they have not learned anything after working in a DR. office. More people need to learn that not everyone has a perfect cycle. Glad you got your test done though.
ReplyDeleteI had almost the same thing happen to me this week!! The nurse simply COULD NOT comprehend what I was talking about, ovulating later than day 14 and wondering if I should come in later than CD21 for a progesterone check.
ReplyDeleteHow do these people make it through school??
Wow, I would have been very frutrated with that woman. You handled it well!
ReplyDelete