I was at my AA meeting last night when it finally came into focus. The difference between Dr. R and ALL of the other Doctors I've had, both VA and private... Dr. R truly CARED about about me. I wasn't just a patient or a statistic. I was a "person" who needed help. I wasn't just that Car that you checked the oil, tire pressure and ran through the car wash once a month. I was that car that you hand washed and waxed, steam cleaned the engine and cleaned and polished the rims and chrome.
Here's how it relates: I needed to see my Dr. because I'm retaining fluid again (something my Bad Liver does) Dr. R would have called and scheduled an Ultrasound for me within a week, two at the most, then a follow-up with her, squeezed in to her schedule within a week. She would have taken 15 min out of her lunch time to see me and refer me to the next step, or told me I was O.K. and adjusted my meds. - Dr. A sent an Ultrasound request through standard channels, never even contacted me about when. I followed up and it's scheduled for 5 weeks from now, and no follow up is scheduled as of yet.
O.K. - Yes, I'm spoiled. Yes - I'm used to having the Best General Practitioner Doctor in the VA system. I've always told other VA patients to "Bear with it, things will happen. I've always had good results" Well, the shoe is on the other foot. I want things to be the way they were. I want the Dr. who saved my life and CARED about me, not just as another patient, but as a person. I want the Dr. who threatened me saying that If I ever drank again She'd Kill Me (Then revive me). I want, I Want, I WANT ! ! ! I want to LIVE, and she was my only guarantee and now she's gone.
I have Lots of people who care. Family, Friends and the like, and don't get me wrong. That's VERY important to me. Without my Parents, my Zoe and Monica, the people who would actually miss me if I were gone, I'd be lost, but without Dr. R, I'd be Dead right now. And now She's gone.
