Ignorance is Bliss

..That is unless you're the one who is being subjected to the ignorance. Then, it's frustrating!

I voted the other night! I did my research on the candidates, all of em! I looked at the arguments for and against all the measures on the ballot and I think I did really good job of thinking about how a "yes" or "no" vote would effect my life. My daughter even got into it. They've had a few "elections" at her school and has told us many times who she would vote for. Not just for president, either. I don't know if it was "legal" or the "right" thing to do, but her and I voted together. The votes were all mine, but we read through each measure and discussed. She had a lot of questions, which I thought was AWESOME! I love that she was so interested in whom I was voting for and why. Some of her questions, I had a tough time answering, but thank Goddess for Google!

There were a few measures about school, garbage bills and such, but none on health care. I was disappointed by this because I have some experience in the health care field. Not only did I work in the field, I've also been on the receiving end of bad health care.

When I was first diagnosed with PID *Pelvic Inflammatory Disease* about 10 years ago, it was TERRIBLE! I had never had a bladder infection before that, nor did I ever have a kidney infection. I am very aware of my body. I know when things aren't "right". I know when I'm getting a bladder infection and I know how to get rid of it before it gets too bad. I can usually heal myself with over the counter remedies or natural remedies. SO that night that Husband took me to the hospital because I was in so much pain and they found blood in my urine and the stupid nurse held up the vial and said "oh that's not good", I was scared! I started crying hysterically and Husband got rid of that nurse and he wasn't allowed back into my room. I went to get an ultrasound and they left me int he room, in the dark, in a wheelchair by myself as my pain meds wore off. I remember doubling over in pain laying on the cold floor crawling to the door needing help. Why Husband wasn't there, I don't remember. Now he is there with me ALL the time!

Once we got the diagnosis and my meds, we still didn't really have an answers. For the next 2 years or so, we dealt with bladder infections, kidney infections, ALL kinds of anti-biotics to get me better. NOTHING was working! Finally they got to the root of the problem. I had an infection in the LINING of my uterus. That infection was screwing everything else up in that area. None of the medication they gave me for the bladder and kidney infections touched the OTHER infection. FINALLY we got rid of it and all was well. I was left with a "touchy" reproductive system and a fragile immune system.

During the time when I was TRYING to fix all these female problems, I'd go to doctors, specialist and seen about every doctor in my area that was a "specialist" in this area of my body. During the visits I would get a certain question EVERY. SINGLE. TIME! And every time I got this question, I'd get pissed off! That question was "Have you been tested for an STD?" Apparently PID can be caused by a few STD's that are left untreated. At every appointment, I told them I was married and in a monogamous relationship, but still they ask me this question. I understand why they're asking me the question, but is it too much to ask for them to look in my damn file?! I know it's there! I k now it's there because when I was in the ER the FIRST time, she nurse asked me the same question. I told her, "oh if you do those tests and they come back positive, you're gonna want to talk to that guy right THERE" and pointed at Husband. He didn't think it was funny, but I think I made my point. She did the tests and they came back NEGATIVE! Yeah, so no STD's for me. After being asked this question a BUNCH of times, I told my Dr that I don't have an STD, just PID. He kind of chuckled at me and said, "you don't ALWAYS have an STD when you get PID, sometimes having a vagina is enough". I should have gotten that in writing, because it would have been helpful 10 years later...

So in July when I went to the ER and the nurse told me I had PID, again, I was frustrated because I knew what was coming. I knew it was going to be Dr's appointments full of that question. And sure enough...when I called for a check up after I had finished all my meds, I got it.

I called the office and told her "I was diagnosed with PID and just finished my meds and needed an exam to make sure the infection was gone". Her first question was "did your partner get tested as well?" I was prepared for this question, so my answer was BRILLIANT! I said "He doesn't have a uterus, so, no he didn't get tested" She transferred me to a nurse. I immediately told the nurse that I was diagnosed with PID, but did NOT have an STD. She was one of the few that new the two didn't always go hand in hand...thank Goddess!!!

I understand the reason for the question, but I don't understand why they're so many inattentive people in health care. I don't understand why nurses and doctors can't read a file, skim it even. I don't expect every doctor I see to know my EXACT history, but maybe the important parts, like if I've had an STD test and not to ask me every single time I'm in their office.

I doubt a measure on my ballot will change this particular health care issue of mine, but maybe for more int he future. I do think it is important for doctors and nurses to read files. I k now I read them when I worked in the field and all I was, was a receptionist! I did get to wear scrubs though, so I LOOKED like I was important, when really all I did was answer phones...hehehe