The Good Doctor

"People pay the doctor for his trouble; for his kindness they still remain in his debt."

― Seneca (4 B.C. - 65 A.D.)

I haven't seen a doctor since we moved to Ireland.  Going to a clinic makes me anxious, which ratchets up my blood pressure.  My BP at home is usually pretty good but as soon as I step foot into a medical facility, it shoots up despite my efforts to be calm.  It's called "white-coat syndrome" and it's gotten worse as I've gotten older.

I have a couple of chronic conditions that require medication and to this point, I'd been able to access an online doctor to get refills of my prescriptions.  However, once it had been more than a year since I'd seen a doctor, the online service refused to do any more refills.

A new clinic opened up recently a couple of miles from our house, so I sent them an email, asking if their physicians were sensitive to white-coat syndrome.  I received an answer very quickly from one of the doctors themselves, Dr. Feeney.

He said he and his fellow physician were aware of and sensitive to patients who experienced anxiety while at a visit; he said many of their patients were afflicted with this issue.

A few days later, I called to make an appointment.  Even that seemingly minor and safe task was something I needed to psych myself up for - making an appointment meant I'd actually have to go.

The gentleman who answered my call was warm, kind, and funny (and married to the other physician at this practice, Dr. McConnell).  It really helped put my mind at ease.

On Saturday, Eli and I went out to do a dry run from the house to the clinic.  We took the tram to Carrickmines with the intent to take the L26 bus to a stop near the clinic.  The bus was supposed to have arrived within 10 minutes of our tram exit.  The electronic board said the bus was due in 22 minutes.  And then 21 minutes.  And then 20 minutes.  And then 22 minutes.  And then 32 minutes.

I said to Eli, "I'm done."

We got back on the tram and exited at the Ballyogan Wood stop, planning to walk to the clinic.  It was a decent enough day, and my rage about what's going on in Minnesota right now powered me through the walk.

For my appointment yesterday, I called up a taxi.  The weather wasn't great, and I wanted to make sure I got to the clinic in good shape and in good time.

Dr. Feeney was the epitome of kindness and concern.  I had sent some of my medical records from Minnesota, and he got more of my history while we talked.  He said he wasn't going to take my blood pressure since that was stressful for me; I had brought him a list of my recent BP readings, and he was pleased with the numbers.

He said he wanted to do some blood work.  I may've hissed at him and made the sign of the cross.  He was wearing a medical mask, but I'm pretty sure he smiled.

He directed me back to the waiting room and said he'd put in the orders and let Moira (the nurse) know I needed her services.   As I settled into a chair, he was pulled into another conversation with the other doctor.

I sat for about 10 minutes or so.  Dr. Feeney came out to consult with the receptionist on something, so he was in the vicinity when Moira came out of her room and asked "Are you waiting for me?"

When I said I was, she replied, "Why didn't you say something?  How long have you been waiting?"

Dr. Feeney heard our exchange, and he said "I am so sorry."  Even the receptionist piped up and said, "That's awful that you had to wait."

They were truly appalled, and while I really appreciated their concern, it amused the heck out of me.

As I told both Moira and the receptionist, in the US it was common to sit in the waiting room 20-30 minutes past your appointment time and then sit for another 10-15 minutes in the exam room once you were taken back.  Sitting for 10 minutes was nothing at all.

Happily, the blood draw went well. The veins in my arm tend to collapse pretty easily, but she was able to get what she needed.  And I didn't pass out, so that was a win all the way around.

One of my "goals" for the new year was to see a doctor and get some of my health-related issues addressed.  I was proud of myself for overcoming my fear and getting it done.