Anyone
remember Mr. Bill from those Saturday Night Live skits? The colorful
gingerbread-cookie-looking character made of play dough who always had horrific
things happen and always featured him screaming, “Oh Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!”?
Well,
that’s how I’m feeling right now after visiting my primary care doc this week.
Because
she’s leaving her job.
Oh,
nooooooooooooooooooooooooo! (I’m pretty sure people in China are wondering what
that moaning they heard was.)
She
was generous enough to give me a heads up that she had turned in her notice
that day. But while her partnership agreement requires six months’ notice, she’s
hoping to persuade the clinic to accept three months instead.
It’s
a good move for her – she’s going to work for Kaiser and will earn way more money as well as receiving things like pension
benefits. She’ll be a bit closer to home, too.
But
what about me?!
We
don’t have an option for Kaiser through my husband’s insurance. His company
used to offer it, but not anymore. And even if they did, I’m not entirely sure
I’d want to sign up for it anyway since it’s a much more managed care plan than
I prefer and I've heard mixed things about them.
I’m
kind of panicking because although I only asked for a single prescription of
pain meds over the past year, I’ve known that she trusts me not to be selling
them on the street or overmedicating. A new doc isn’t going to trust me like
that. I liked knowing that my primary care doc knew me before I got sick, and
therefore didn’t accuse me of malingering or exaggerating my symptoms.
I don’t
even like going to urgent care when I have a sinus infection because it’s too
complicated to explain my health history to a new doctor.
Sigh.
I did
ask if she would help me transition to someone new, either at her clinic or
elsewhere, and she agreed.
On
the upside, I guess I could look for a doctor with offices with free parking … I
hate paying to park. :)
But oh, this was an added bit of stress I really don't need right now. :-(
But oh, this was an added bit of stress I really don't need right now. :-(