Fibro Feelings – Procedure Appointment
I recently had to see a surgeon for an small procedure I needed that was unrelated to my fibromyalgia. I used the time I sat in the waiting room to continue researching my treatment options on my cell phone. I’ve found it’s a lot harder for me to do the amount of research on medical details that I’m used to doing now that I’ve got The Boisterous Boy. Of course, I had my medical notebook with me. In my original post about it I failed to mention that I keep a paper clip bundling a few of the pages. That paper clip is a good spot to keep copay receipts (to be filed away later) and provider business cards. It also helps to quickly turn past older appointment notes.
Earlier, when I’d checked in at the desk I had my mostly filled out paperwork, but knew that I still needed to complete the insurance section. I turned it in after doing so, but while waiting to go back to the doctor I realized that I’d forgotten to put the last two digits of the year of a past procedure I’d had. I looked back in my medical notebook to find the dates, went back up and filled it out. The receptionist then commented that I was very thorough. I found that interesting, considering that I felt much less thorough than in my pre-baby times.
Later, when meeting with the doctor’s nurse she gave me her business card. I immediately opened my medical notebook and stuck it under the paperclip with my receipt. She commented that I was, “…so organized.” With a laugh I told her, “When you have multiple chronic illnesses you have to be.” Of course that opened the door for me to mention that I’d had fibromyalgia since I was 18. The nurse replied by saying she was “so sorry.” I was trying to spread awareness, by showing you can have fibro when you’re young, so I was caught off guard by her response. If I wasn’t already half way down the hall I might have continued the conversation. I’m never looking for sympathy when talking with strangers about fibromyalgia, just hoping to make the world a more understanding and knowledgeable place.
Have you ever gotten condolences for having fibromyalgia that surprised you?
*Image Credit: from www.flickr.com by nerdcoregirl
Posted: November 7th, 2013 under Fibro Feelings.
Tags: Doctor, Medical Notebook
Comments: 2