Ain't it the TRUTH!

So, this glorious morning, all too early-because Abbie had to be somewhere at the crack of dawn and I had to get her there.....I shuffled downstairs in my jammies and slippers, and fired up the PC to find the above little graphic from Tam, displayed prominently in the comment section of my MySpace. The girl sure knows how to pick 'em. Really, what would I have to write about if it wasn't for my girls? I don't know, but I think I'd like to find out one of these days.

This past week they both provided me with enough writing material, raised eyebrows, snickers, chuckles and resultant headaches to last an entire month. I think my brain actually shut down for protection, as I can only remember some of what happened in order to pull together this entry.

Here goes.....

I try to beg off from accompanying Tam to doctor's appointments anymore, as I am encouraging her to live her own life, experience the consequences of multiple missed appointments and pretty much, I don't enjoy watching the histrionics as she poorly demonstrates classical drug seeking behavior. But she insisted I accompany her to two appointments on Wednesday.

The first one was thought to be with the Gynecologist at 10:20 a.m. It took her at least 45 minutes to get through the registration process, as it's a County Hospital. She returned saying, "Let's go!" explaining that she'd mistakenly mixed up her appointments and her 10:20 appointment was across town at another location. ANOTHER MISSED APPOINTMENT! We rushed over there, one hour late and she wasn't able to be seen, despite her pleas and explanation of new psych drugs that are confusing her. This begins to put her in a panic as she is getting low on her pain medication and she vows to try for a "same-day" appointment tomorrow.

We decided to have lunch and I suggested that she use me and my ever present day planner as a back up system for her appointments. She agrees that would be helpful.

Her afternoon appointment, which we managed to make without problem, was with the Rheumatologist; a crucial appointment that was tough to get, especially after she'd missed a couple of them previously for whatever reasons. After the cardiologist determined that her recurrent "pericarditis" is not a cardiac problem, she needed to see the rheumatologist to try to get to the bottom of the issue. Is it Lupus, RA, or some other auto-immune disease that's causing her painful episodes of inflammation around the heart?

As the County Hospital is also a teaching hospital, a nice young doctor in training comes in and does Tam's medical history and a cursory exam, before briefing his supervising Rheumatologist. Tam manages to make it very clear that she's in "horrific" pain and must have some pain medication to go, and perhaps a pain shot as well. She only manages to look mildly distressed. But, she makes a heroic effort, including standing up dramatically at one point as she's so "uncomfortable." I advise the good young doctor that Tam is addicted to her pain meds. Tam corrects me to say she's merely "dependent." Tomatoes, to-mah-toes, potatoes, po-tahhhh-toes.

The supervising physician and his young charge return to the room and the older doctor makes sure that she doesn't mind her mother being present, due to HIPPA law. He asks a few more questions and begins to advise Tam of his course of action, starting with a litany of blood tests, which may take several weeks to process and get the results. He's clearly interested in getting to the bottom of this medical mystery and she's clearly interested in obtaining pain meds and mentions it to him no fewer than twice in a matter of minutes.

She also informs him she has cervical cancer. Yes. Cancer. That is HUGE news to me as I have been to every GYN appointment with her and it was always, "pre-cancerous" spots on her cervix, that have to be removed surgically. However, she's been missing appointments and having medical issues that prevented her from getting the much needed surgery for months now, so it may well have progressed. I inform the doctor of this and Tam sternly corrects me that she does indeed have cancer!

I think the doctor has already had his "light-bulb" moment and he may be glad that this patient had her busy-body mother in the room after all.

With one more explicit request for pain medication, the attending doctor clearly and sternly states, "That's not my problem!" and refers her back to her primary care provide who routinely gives her vicodin....but, she missed that appointment that very morning! (Tam informs me later that she only has 5 vicodin left and she must get more before she has withdrawls.)

Instead, Tam is sent out with instructions to report to the lab to get a laundry list of blood work done. On the way out to the car, she informs me she is not going to get the blood work done that day as she was just too tired! WTH? I became somewhat irritated as after all, I am the one driving the 90 mile round trip and she doesn't "feel" like being a compliant patient and doing what the doctor has ordered.

I attempted to reason with her that it was important for her to get this lab work done as she may be labled "non-compliant" and specifically seeking drugs. But, it's to no avail and we drive back up the mountain.

When will she get the blood work done? I don't know. But, her behavior causes me to believe that she does NOT want to find out what the issue is, because it may cause them to treat her without the pain medication that she's become "dependent" on.

The whole episode makes me want to provide her with some ultimatums, such as get that bloodwork done or else...I am not exactly sure what that "or else" would be but I am thinking about that!

And...here it is several days later, and guess what! She hasn't gone into withdrawls! What about only having 5 pills? Hmmmm. It seems my resourceful daughter may have managed to get a friendly, charitable local dentist to provide her with a prescription the other day and I believe there've been a few "friends" helping her out as well because I sure haven't seen or heard of any withdrawls happening!

Yes, she certainly keeps my life interesting!

What else would I have to write about?