I remember the first time you came into the pharmacy… in a panic. I think you were sure we were all your enemies. Sometimes we seem distant just to protect ourselves, but that is the cowards way out for those of us that see patients on a daily basis. It takes a little time and work, but learning about our patients as people (not just their conditions or the drugs they are on) can establish a special interaction and understanding. Growth like that is a continuing process, but the good practitioners are on that path. You’ve helped me move farther down that path. Thank you.

See you and Otto soon,
Robin

As to being a squeaky wheel, I’ve all but written the book on that though I suspect my approach is different than Mike’s. I am a huge fan of most who work in the medical profession. But I don’t hesitate to put my medical “superiors” through their paces. Years ago I actually had a doc fire me because I asked too many questions and debated the science behind his answers.

As far as firing staff, while I’ve had more than one nurse I felt should have chosen another profession – any other profession – I’ve refused to see a doc only once or twice in my medical career. Unless they’re stupid or careless – there are few of the former, more of the latter – I try to work with them, at least for a while. Here’s the thing: despite all our modern advances, medicine is still as much art – or voodoo – as it is science. Sometimes the docs and techs and nurses are right on with their approach. Sometimes they’re not. The surgeon who performed my transplant also performed the hernia operation that led to my miseries in December. The transplant by every standard was one of the most successful ever done. The hernia opp, well, not. I don’t think the difference was in the doc; if anything I blame it on my body’s deterioration ofter 14 months on interferon. The only mistake the docs made was not ordering me to wait longer – in retrospect I was too persistent (there is a downside to being your own advocate). Would I have gained anything by going with another surgeon? I doubt it.

My eye: I was in touch all this week with my “handlers” (aka: saints). The problem is clearly cause/effect with the diuretics; I can trigger it by taking full dose, make it go away by cutting back. My next appointment’s Tuesday and I’m sure new dosages or meds will be assigned.

One last note: I found out that UCSF does have a drop-in clinic. You have to go between 9 and 6 Monday through Friday, but it’s where I should have gone with my eye. I have virtually lived on campus for the last two years; I have friends that work there who say I know the place better than they do. How could I go so long without knowing about the clinic????? Sigh.

–Ed

I suppose, Ed, that you’ve already seen your doc to get your eye fixed?

In the many, many (many!) trips I take to the ER, or for appointments for labs, scans, procedures and chemo, I have had no problem making noise until I’m seen.

I also don’t apologize for firing medical personnel (I’ve done that a fair number of times). They are there to work for me, I’m not there to wait for them to find a convenient time to get to me. I’d be dead.

“Squeaky wheel” some call it, and in today’s medical industrial complex, there’s much validity to that. Give ‘em hell and tell them I sent you! (hehe)