I am a little embarrassed to say that I was a diva today at my Doctor’s office. I was called in so he could do a lab eval. I have NEVER been charged a Doctor’s visit for a 10 minute discussion and his new staff tried to charge me a co-pay. The advantage here, I used to work in the insurance industry; and, lab evaluations ARE NOT typically charged a co-pay. I freaked out more than a lot and refused to pay the co-pay. I also told them they could just have the Doctor call me to discuss my labs (I knew it would be a cholesterol issue as I have FH and my new doc has never seen the labs before, so I knew he would be more than freaked out by the results). Anyway, the Doctor wanted to talk with me in person because he was TOTALLY freaked out about my results. My results: Total cholesterol = 390; HDL = 78; LDL = 310; Triglycerides = 89. Balanced with a weight, whereby, my doc called me “skinny” (118 lbs.) and a B/P of 92/60 — he was SHOCKED. These are results that I don’t even bat an eye over because they’ve been this way for 15 years. At this point there is no medication that brings them down even when I am 100% compliant. I am currently concurring with a cardiologist I have seen…my hormones at this point are staving off the “big one.”
Because I was such a bitch, (a-hem, beast) my Doctor agreed to waive the fee. At this point, I apologized and explained that 1) someone from his office stated there would not be a fee for a lab eval; and 2) as part of results from my annual physical my old PCP never charged me a fee to consult with me…
After he pulled up my labs and about fell off his Doctor’s stool reviewing them he kindly looked at the med class (X) and felt it was reasonable that I not go on them (I explained that I’ve been off the meds for 9 years because a) they didn’t lower my cholesterol; and b) I am still holding out hope of having a baby (even after 10 years of trying and many, many, many miscarriages)) — so we decided to keep an eye on the levels (particularly my HDL — making sure it doesn’t go down) and I agreed to go back on Lipitor and Zetia (and the pill) when I hit 42).
Well, I am still feeling diva-ish…I don’t normally like confrontation and being a brat because I am usually a pretty mellow, laid-back person. However, I am glad I threw a tantrum to get a ridiculous fee waived; and, I feel really good about NOT being on cholesterol meds…I guess it is because every femoral and carotid artery study I under-go shows me plaque-less, so, my attitude (in addition to being a bit on the bitchy side today) is so what? Heart attack? “Death is only the beginning.…“(love that I could actually USE that line from The Mummy)! I am an admitted geik!!!!
