Doctor vs. Dentist

So I went to the dr. yesterday as a follow-up to all the issues that have been plaguing my body for the last few years. First thing that happened was I got to the office...aaaaand they had moved to a brand new building. Without notifying me. Nice. Turns out it was ten minutes farther away. I got to the new place and they said they didn't have me on the schedule. Nice. I said, "I have an appointment at 11am. I got a phone confirmation." They said they'd look again...and sure enough, I was on the schedule. I told the woman that I wasn't notifed that they had moved...she was somewhat surprised that I hadn't received a letter. Harumph.

So I waited (it was a short wait) and they took me to a very new, sterile room and I waited there (for a fairly short while). The dr. came in and asked me how things were going. I told him. He didn't seem to care about or understand anything I had to say. I asked if he had received a copy of my recent MRI since I haven't heard anything about it and indeed, he had. Evidently there is a "bulge" in my spine...but that's all he told me. That and they recommended that I get a CT scan. Yay. More imaging to deplete my funds.

Anyhow, he told me that there was probably nothing that could be done about my spine. I couldn't believe it. He then basically said that his work was done and that he would leave my treatment up to my other doctor (good riddance). But before I left, he told me that if the therapy for the hands wasn't working, he wouldn't be obligated to sign the orders anymore. I told him it was working (though it is working very slowly, if at all...at least it is SOMETHING!) and asked if he could figure out why I've been sinusy since Memorial Day weekend. He looked in my nose and said that it didn't look like allergies, so it must be in the sinuses. Um...yeah. So he gave me a prescription for an antibiotic and pointed the way toward the lobby where I grouchily paid my $20 copay and vowed that I'd find a new doctor as soon as possible.

So today I went to the dentist. My hygenist is awesome. She listened to my tale of woe about my back and hands and sympathized. She cleaned my teeth with incredible competence and complimented me on my home care. My dentist is also awesome. He poked around my teeth and smiled behind his mask and gave me the no cavities thumbs up. Then he playfully threw my x-rays at the hygenist (evidently she sometimes forgets to file them) and left. Hooray for good dental experiences!

Boo! Hiss! for crappy medical experiences.