Do What?

As my little fluff ball gets bigger and bigger(now <25lbs), my chronic knee pain gets worse and worse. So........I have finally done soemthing about it. Week before last I picked an otheopedic surgeon from my insurance company's list of providers and made an appoitnment. When I got there he was running 1 hour and 40 minutes behind. An HOUR and 40MINUTES! Are you crazy? You want me to sit there for that long to wait for a doc? Now I know that emergencies happen but can't someone cover for them? So I reschchedule for the following week. (I'm reminded of a Sienfeld episode where George asks for payment when his doctor doesnt show up! ) So now it is a week later and I can bearly walk. Suzanne tells me I look Fred Sanford when I walk! I personally think I look like some gimp!"Run, Forest, Run!" Needless to say this doc takes X-rays and manually examines my knee (which hurts like a bitch!) and in no time flat he has handed me a Rx for an MRI and says once that is done we should schecule the Arthroscopic surgery to fix the problem. WHOA! Hang on!

Bring on the second opinon. I survey the women in my neighborhood who all tell me to go to Anderson Clinic-close by, easy parking, all in one facility. So I call and make an appointment. A week and half later they can "fit" me in. Well, as if just before a hair cut, my knee gets steadily better and is almost bearble. So I show up today, early to fill out paperwork, and wait, and wait, and wait, 55 minutes, in these wierd hospital gown short things that they tell me I free to take home with me. Gee Thanks! Then my five minute appointment occurs-this doctor, diplomas all over the wall tells me the exact opposite thing. "You have athritis, you dont need surgery, no going to the gym, thanks for coming in". Basically after I questioned him about what to do, he said, not in so many words-"deal with it".

So what does one do. One Doc is ready to cut you open and had he had a knife in his hand would have done it right then and there and one doc who says it is arthristis (hello-I'm 42 and not an ex-football player) and that there is nothing that he can do to make it better. The only thing they both agreed on is that I shouldn't do any deep knee bends. Uh......Yeah.......Then YOU come over and get the crap out of my lower cupboards and pick up the dog-cause she can't go down the stairs, and change the toner and clear the jams and all that other crap I do every day that requires me to bend down to see. Perhaps, I should lay on a skate board and get around like that? Bitter..........party of One please!

Do you get third opinion? No wonder our insurance rates are climbing! I wonder if the third opinion guy will be exponentially less hospitable than the second opinion guy was? Are we wasting thier time consulting thier expertise?

So meanwhile I hope, against all hope, that Lexi in her expedited growth stage of life doesn't pull me right off my feet!

Today, I hate old men doctors!