Doctors?!? What are they really there for?

Six years ago, our favorite doctor moved away. She was the best pediatric doctor, mostly because she listened and took all information that we shared for what we thought was wrong with our children. She was very helpful and professional. When she moved away, we switched pediatric offices.

WHAT WAS I THINKING?!? This new office contained doctors who left more than they stayed. Just as we got comfortable with a doctor, they left and we had to start over again. This happened for six years. Because of this, my oldest daughter is on medication for her thyroid for the rest of her life. Because of this, my youngest daughter has an irregular heartbeat that wasn't diagnosed sooner. Because of this, my children aren't healthy like other kids. After constantly going to that office and seeing different doctor's to try to figure out what is wrong with my children, we decided to switch back to the previous pediatric office.

I have no bad things to say about this office at all. The doctors are wonderful, helpful, professional, and all around good people. They listen to your symptoms and give wonderful suggestions. They ask questions that make sense. They don't run tests if they are not needed. They don't make appointments with specialists if they aren't needed. They have been with the practice for many years and don't intend to leave anytime soon. This makes me happy. We have found our confidence in this office and intend to stay there.

My husband has been going to the same practice for a long time now. I love the practice enough that I plan on becoming a patient there as well. However, the particular doctor that sees him just doesn't understand how serious things are for him. My husband suffers from depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, and acid reflux. He is on medication for all of these things. However, because of his anxiety and our insurance, he is unable to go to a counselor. He requested that his medication for depression be taken to a higher dose this week because what he's on isn't working as well as it should be. His doctor told him that she doesn't think that there is much more that she can do for him. If I would've known that she told him that, I would've gone to that office and began my own rant on her. As the spouse, I feel that she isn't doing her job correctly. The only reason he has her as a doctor was because his previous physician, who we really liked, moved away. The first visit with her, she changed all the medication that he was on and sent him and I both on an emotional roller coaster. His blood pressure spiked to extreme levels and made him feel as if he were having a heart attack. His depression plummeted leaving him bed bound. He was a mess. I was a mess too because I had to pick up all slack that left the hole for him in the household. He wouldn't go out of the house anymore, not even to church. Because of this, for awhile, I lost all aspects of my husband. On the outside, he looked okay to most people. On the inside, he was hiding and afraid. When she put him back on the medications he was suppose to be on, it was very difficult to get him back to where he once was with the family. She placed him on the lowest dosage for his depression medication which in my opinion was not a good idea. If she were to put him back on what the previous doctor had him on, he would've been better in my opinion. This is one of the reasons why he requested to have his prescription raised. I don't see my husband much right now because he is in bed during the day and awake at night. One of us has to run the household during the day. So, that leaves me.

This is a big job to carry. I teach, cook, clean, pay the bills, buy the food, make sure that people are where they need to be for doctors appointments and activities. And at the end of the day, I am beat. This is my life. So if you see me on the streets and think I have the easy life or that you are better than me because I may not look my best that day, think again. I wouldn't trade my life for anything in the world. My kids are happy, mostly. My family is fed. My bills are paid. My home is mine. My cars are mine. I am thankful that we've been taken care of and we have the goods to prove it.

 We also have a God that loves us and sees our imperfections. A God that raises us up when we need it the most. We are all imperfect people. I am thankful for the good days that God has graced me with. I totally do not deserve them. I am blessed with beautiful, intelligent, strong willed, smart, polite children. I would not trade that for the world. I am thankful for all that God has provided for my family. I am thankful for the life He has given me. I am thankful for the happy moments in my life. I am thankful that I can wake up each morning and be greeted, not only by my cats, but by my husband.

Now I'm just rambling. I totally feel better about this situation, now that it is off my chest. Have a fabulous day! I know I will.