Lila ~ May 11

 

I scheduled a doctor’s appointment on Thursday, for a physical so that I could get some blood work done.  I scheduled it with an NP named Terri, who I’ve seen for many years.  She was, and still is, an associate of Dr. Ligenza, who was my mother’s doctor for many years.  Once I aged out of my pediatrician, and needed a new primary, I started seeing her. 

I saw her throughout my 20’s.  Physical health was less of an issue for me.  Mental health was my real problem.  Loaded up on SSRI’s, SNRI’s, SGA’s, some benzos.  For a while, they caused irregular menses, at times, hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia, as well as nausea and some hair loss.   

I talked to Terri about this sometimes, but there wasn’t much she could do on her end.  

From the time I was a toddler until age 18, I saw Dr. Gergely.  He’d worked for a few years in a practice in Cold Spring before stepping out on his own and opening a practice in Garrison, in a renovated house.  Each of his exam rooms was painted a bright color with fascinating pictures on the wall.  He had little round glasses and spikey hair, and just worked so well with kids.  He had a few NP’s who worked with him closely, too.  

These were the days before HIPAA and HITECH.  Where you saw the same family doctor for over 40 years.  Before doctors pooled into big medical conglomerates and when they saw you as a whole person. When NP’s were seasoned nurses with a lot of experience in a particular field, before going on to certify as an NP.  Now, NP’s are just a replacement for doctors.  It’s just another thing you do once you get your RN, then BSN, then MSN. 

I went back to Terri once again for a few years ago, after having been away for a long time.  She barely remembered me, though she did recall me after a while. 

I doesn’t matter anymore.  I’m a nurse myself and I can read my own damn bloodwork.  Just write me a script and send me to LabCorp.  

I wish we could go back to the time when doctors truly saw into the lives of their patients.