First 3 month appointment with hospital Doctor

[mountaintom]

The thing is they can be as exceptional as anything... But what can they truly do for you?

I always get the feeling that they're just blocking the fact that they don't really know anything. Like, I asked how long it would take for me to be basically non functional if I couldn't get insulin. As far as I know the answer is a few days if you don't eat. It seemed like useful information for emergency planning. But they didn't want to answer because I guess it's morbid. I don't appreciate their point of view but they didn't just refuse, they sort of hedged around it. They're sort of shifty like that.

Oh yeah and the you're looking well thing. I really wish people wouldn't say that. I'm not well and I will never be well again.

You could eat eggs and meat and greens veg and you’d be fine. I often think of being diabetic during Armageddon. It’s probably worth a whole new post. There’s the story of people in WWII who made insulin from buffalo or something mad like that.

 

[mountaintom]

Dying of diabetes soon after Armageddon would probably be the nicer way to go anyway. Rather than being hunted down and strung up by marauders.

 

[Diakat]

Marauders must be pretty low carb and we could probably extract insulin from them.

 

[Brunneria]

So I went dressed for business, complete with battle handbag Came away with everything I asked for.

This.

I always go to my endocrinology appointments dressed as though I have just left the office, and will be going back there later.
Hair clean and neat. Face on.
Love the phrase 'battle handbag'. Perfect description.

The first few seconds of any appt really count - job interviews, presentations, banking appts, doc and clinic appts...
The consultant is much more likely to treat you with respect if your body language and appearance demonstrate that you expect it.

Of course it has backfired a couple of times. My previous doc liked to be The Authority, and got difficult when I expected to be treated as a valid person, with a brain. Ah well, can't win them all. But it works very well in most cases.

 

[LooperCat]

Dying of diabetes soon after Armageddon would probably be the nicer way to go anyway. Rather than being hunted down and strung up by marauders.

My son asked me how we’d manage in the zombie apocalypse. I told him to kill me quickly and use me for food as soon as my insulin ran out.

 

[Bluey1]

TI went dressed for business, complete with battle handbag Came away with everything I asked for.

Best laugh I had tonight.
Note to self: don't even think of doing business with Mel if she is armed with her battle handbag.

 

[LooperCat]

Best laugh I had tonight.
Note to self: don't even think of doing business with Mel if she is armed with her battle handbag.

It’s got sharp corners and some real heft when you swing it

 

[Antje77]

And matching underwear at that!

I do not own matching underwear. I don't even own too many matching socks. Should I cancel my next appointment?

 

[Bluey1]

Question 1:

WHY ME

Can tell your a noob. For future reference
You will normally be given a pathology 'script' and it will always have a HbA1c test along with a random collection of other things to test for (mine always ask for a basic brain function test). You need to go and visit Dracula's daughter (occasionally son) a week or so before your Dr Visit.
You need to space this test as far away from Christmas, Easter and your Birthday and by at least 3 months.
Seriously play by the rule book for the first year, then on the rare occasion have a bit of fun. If a Dr doesn't order a HbA1c test when giving you a pathology script, find another Dr. All T1's have Big Brother, it's that dreaded HbA1c.
You have nothing to worry about, but by the time we have finished with you, your Dr will:
- Outrageous hair cut
- Face on
- Battle hadbag
- Clean sox and Jocks (Matching)
- All medications you can lay your hands on
- Lotto results (it will be about as close and much easier than your BGL history)
Just don't hold us responsible if you end up seeing another sort of Dr instead and you are detained against your will in that part of the hospital no one talks about.

 

[Diakat]

It’s got sharp corners and some real heft when you swing it

I am now picturing Reeves and Mortimer.

 

[mountaintom]

Can tell your a noob. For future reference
You will normally be given a pathology 'script' and it will always have a HbA1c test along with a random collection of other things to test for (mine always ask for a basic brain function test). You need to go and visit Dracula's daughter (occasionally son) a week or so before your Dr Visit.
You need to space this test as far away from Christmas, Easter and your Birthday and by at least 3 months.
Seriously play by the rule book for the first year, then on the rare occasion have a bit of fun. If a Dr doesn't order a HbA1c test when giving you a pathology script, find another Dr. All T1's have Big Brother, it's that dreaded HbA1c.
You have nothing to worry about, but by the time we have finished with you, your Dr will:
- Outrageous hair cut
- Face on
- Battle hadbag
- Clean sox and Jocks (Matching)
- All medications you can lay your hands on
- Lotto results (it will be about as close and much easier than your BGL history)
Just don't hold us responsible if you end up seeing another sort of Dr instead and you are detained against your will in that part of the hospital no one talks about.

Haha
“WHY ME” was a joke.

 

[Deleted Account]

They are generally used to dealing with either five year olds or people with type 2 and they can lapse into the "five year old" approach.

That sounds offensive to people with type 2.
I am sure you don't mean it to be.

 

[NoKindOfSusie]

That sounds offensive to people with type 2.
I am sure you don't mean it to be.

I think you've got to deliberately miss out some of the words for that to be true.

 

[Bluetit1802]

All I would say is that it is often a bit of a word game as they do not like admitting that they do not know things. Ask simple questions and do not go away until you have a satisfactory answer. Watch what they say for weasel words and if they are patronising, call them on it. They are generally used to dealing with either five year olds or people with type 2 and they can lapse into the "five year old" approach.

It helps if you do not look like a teenager. I look like a teenager.

Not many Type 2s ever see a hospital doctor. I have been T2 over 4 years and have only ever seen a nurse at my surgery, not even a GP. Are you saying T2s are only capable of understanding the 5 year old approach? It reads that way.

 

[Circuspony]

Not many Type 2s ever see a hospital doctor. I have been T2 over 4 years and have only ever seen a nurse at my surgery, not even a GP. Are you saying T2s are only capable of understanding the 5 year old approach? It reads that way.

I took the comment to mean that as NKS is type 1 then she got the 5 yo approach from the doctor!

 

[Draco16]

But they didn't want to answer because I guess it's morbid. I don't appreciate their point of view but they didn't just refuse, they sort of hedged around it. They're sort of shifty like that.

Oh yeah and the you're looking well thing. I really wish people wouldn't say that. I'm not well and I will never be well again.

Nothing worse then marching to the top of the hill convinced you’re right... only to have to climb down. I wonder if there could be another reason they didn’t say?

Though maybe you are looking well, and the people who say that lack the ability to visually diagnose T1, which to be fair is a rare skill.

 

[kev-w]

Oh and get your hair cut! That should lower your HbA1C by at least 4 points! Maybe that is why skinheads never get D

Hmmm that's not necessarily true my hairs the same length now as it was when diagnosed