......and I don't feel bad about it at all.
I have been dealing with these constant heart palpitations since January. They landed me in the ER last month. I saw a cardiologist. I had a holter monitor on for 48 hours. I waited for the results. I waited. I waited. Then when I got them there were a bunch of numbers and capital letters that meant nothing to me.
So, I should google them? The internet will tell me, right?
Doctors don't want you to do that. So why do they release results of tests without explanation? Without a summary at the top that says, "dont worry" or "you might die sooner." ANYTHING!!
So I called the nurse at the cardiologist's office and kindly asked if the cardiologist could call me back and explain the results. She said I would have to make a clinic appointment or a zoom appointment for that and they were scheduling out a few weeks.
WHAT?!
So I played the Cancer Card. It isn't something I do much. I don't have cancer anymore, but I did once, and the waiting for test results at every stage was worse than the diagnosis. The Not Knowing was worse than the surgery recovery.
I said to the nurse, "So I had cancer last year and I am not going to wait for results. Please ask the doctor to call me or I can send him a message and tell him he can call me." Her response was to ask me if I was receiving radiation RIGHT NOW, and if so, I could get my results sooner.
WHAT?!
"No," I said, "I no longer have cancer, but waiting for results and an explanation of tests is very hard, its almost panic-inducing. Have you ever had to wait for test results that may change your life??"
Silence.
"Let me see if I can ask the doctor and I will call you back," she finally said.
About 30 minutes later, the nice nurse called me back and explained the results of the test, saying that while the heart palpitations were not ideal, they were not in a range that I should worry about. I already had an echocardiogram scheduled for the end of the month and I should schedule a follow up appointment after that test. I thanked her for interpreting the results for me and for asking the doctor.
I am not proud of pulling the Cancer Card, but I feel the medical community has a long way to go in making the patient feel like we are a priority when it comes to initial contact. I understand there are more pressing needs than my holter monitor results. I know I am at the bottom of the pecking order because I am not IN the office right now. I know I am not having a heart attack.
But I also know I am not the only one who has trouble interpreting results with numbers and capital letters. I didn't go to school to be a doctor, and I am not a specialist. Releasing test results before discussing anything with a patient seems irresponsible.
So I pulled the Cancer Card.
Comments