tue 14-aug-07
sky walk - human geril run
My infinite wisdom, compounded by my distrust of modern medicine, reinforced with excessive hubris - all this allowed me to stop taking my blood pressure meds. I did this in early July. Well, guess what - my blood pressure went up. Way up. And, my prescription had run out. Which was why I stopped taking the drug in the first place.
Ok now what. I call my doctor - oh the doctor can see you in 5 weeks. Heck in five weeks - I'll be dead - Doctor's office suggests "Well, you can go to the ER". Next, I try the "Urgent Care Clinic" - nope they don't do blood pressure. Blood pressure isn't "urgent" it is either "chronic" or "emergency" and they don't do chronic or emergency.
All this isn't helping my blood pressure. Which is getting to the 170/110 range. This morning when I show up to volunteer at the hospital - I find that the woman I work for has signed me up at the clinic - the clinic where the medical students get to use you as an assignment. For this you pay $37. So, this afternoon - I rather happily became blood pressure 101 for a group from Georgetown University. All things considered the resident who was in charge spent more time with me than any doctor that I have seen in the last 10 years.
I am considering making the clinic my primary care option. My only concern would be taking low cost medical care away from some poor person.
