Despite my previous blog entry, my health still falls into the shadier category of existance. Today I woke up feeling dizzy for the umpteenth time in a row. I ate some breakfast, hailed a cab, and went to the drop-in medical clinic. After waiting 3 hours for an appointment, the doctor informed me I'm probably suffering from depression (which, just for the record, I most definitely am not) because I conveniently fit into the age, gender and general profile of someone with anxiety problems. That, and because he narrowed down the causes of my vertigo. Street drugs are NOT the problem. (Thanks for clearing that up for me doc!) Oh, and apparently I'm a liar, too:
"Are you on medication?" No. "Do you have allergies?" I have seasonal allergies. "Do you take anything for them?" I was taking Claritin last week just to relieve my cold symptoms. "So why did you lie when I asked if you were on medication?"
To placate my disagreeing nature he did some bloodwork. But not before he left the nurse's office, with a wink encouraging me to "talk to someone" about my "dysphoria."
I hate the walk-in clinic.
I have decided that I am going to get better. I am going to ignore this persistant dizziness. Cross my fingers and hope that it goes away. And here's how I'm going to do it: start living life like normal again. The first step? Blogging.
That's weird -- I got nailed with a big dizzy spell last week. But blogging cured me! So clearly it's the right course of action.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile that doctor sounds like a knob. You gotta find yourself a GP.
I think it must be your sex, because I never get treated poorly at the clinic. Maybe it's because they see a big hairy guy and assume that he doesn't come to the walk-in unless he really means it. Anyway, don't make yourself pass out but I encourage living like you're not sick. It's kind of like when I decide to walk home drunk.
ReplyDelete"Walk like you're sober Alex. Walk like you're sober."
Walk-in clinics suck. I've found they only want to get you in and out as quickly as possibly and won't ever spend the proper time to really diagnose the problem or suggest a solution.
ReplyDeleteI realize this is easier said than done, but I think you should go see a real doctor.
Gah! I hate walk-in clinics too. Mostly it's because they make you wait for ten hours and then they spend five minutes with you asking obvious questions that don't end up helping you diagnose your sickness at all.
ReplyDeleteThis is also where my uber-Americanness comes in and I start preaching about the greatness of private healthcare, no lines at the doctor's office and definitely no lines in the emergency...then I remember how much private-fucking-health-care costs and I am more than happy that I'm on my way to becoming Canadian.
At any rate, I hope you feel better. Glad you're back blogging.
This sounds like a throw-back to the days of hysteria-diagnoses. Let's get this girl some valium.
ReplyDeleteDid the doctor check your blood pressure? Low blood pressure is one of the most common causes of dizzy spells. I have a history of depression and believe me, it's never made me dizzy.
ReplyDelete