More Trouble Afoot?

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If you’ve been paying any attention to me for the last couple of years you may know that I have had issues with doctors. Last Wednesday I went to my General Practitioner and again, it’s time to look for a new doctor.  I’m not going to blog about it yet as he still hasn’t released my prescriptions and apparently won’t call them in.  I have to go there to pick them up and I’m pretty sure he wants me to come back so that he can break up with me.  Funny thing is, I already broke up with him, he just doesn’t know it yet.

The one thing he did do was give me a referral for a podiatrist (after his PA told me a year ago that the 800 mg Motrin should work and if it didn’t I should come in for a cortisone shot).  I put it off because I heard very mixed reviews about that, but finally the pain was too much.  The bad doctor’s office called the podiatrist and before I knew it I had an appointment.

Yesterday was the big day.  My appointment was for 3:10 and I got there at 2:50 so that I had ample time to fill out any paperwork they needed.  They couldn’t find any record of us with our new insurance company, and we don’t have cards yet, just the numbers – so that was the immediate brain damage. Then they didn’t know if I had a co-pay or if I had to meet my $5,000.00 per person deductible before I could use my co-pay (which is $70).  I have a feeling our new insurance is going to be a huge disappointment.  But I digress.  They handed me a clipboard with a form that asked for a huge amount of information and 4 pages of disclaimers and agreements which you then have to go digitally sign, although they don’t show you the screen, so you’re really not sure if that’s what you’re signing or not.  But if you don’t sign it they won’t treat you, so really what choice do you have?

When we’d gotten that handled, I sat back down and started to look around the office.  It was then that I really started to get nervous.  There were signs all over the place warning you about what you’re not allowed to do. I understood the office having these policies as I know people can be a real pain in the ass, but all the signs together were a little overwhelming.  There was a warning that you’d be charged $35 for a no show, that failure to fill out your own forms would be charged $20 admin fees for each form they had to fill out for you, a $10 charge for putting up with you if you’re grouchy or irritable, and a sign saying “What’s Your Hurry?  You’re Here!”.  I didn’t know whether to take them tongue in cheek or to be concerned.  Given my past experiences with local doctors I feel like I can’t be too sure.

At 4:18 they finally called me in and put me in an exam room.  The nurse was very nice and took even more information.  They brought in an ultra sound machine and then left.  I sat there waiting for another 20 minutes or so and by the time he finally came in I was a wreck, convinced that I was going to have another problem.

I was completely and utterly wrong.  This doctor is a dream.  Kind, funny, personable, he really listened to what I was saying and addressed each of my questions.  He laid out a plan for my recovery – some ultrasound physical therapy, stretches (that I was already doing, but doing incorrectly), a stern warning that I am not to walk around without shoes on (that one’s the hardest for me), and an appointment in three weeks for a follow up. It’s been two days and my foot is already showing improvement.  I’m so relieved, not only because I’m not in agonizing pain right now, but also because I was really concerned that there wasn’t a doctor on the planet that I could deal with.  According to his nurse, the wait is usually pretty bad, but I’m telling you he’s worth the wait.

If you need a good podiatrist in Central Florida, check him out.

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