Chaneling Mr. Bill

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. :-(