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GP Visit Number Five
Written by Chloe on Sunday, April 19, 2009
GP visits in a wheelchair have turned out to be very pleasant experiences. Today was no exception.
This was a general check up and physical exam, so she asked all sorts of questions. It is nice being able to be completely honest with her, without hesitation.
Firstly, there’s how I’m doing on the crazy pills. I told her I’m doing really well. I’m not tempted to increase or decrease dosages of Prozac or Clonazepam; not tempted to try something different.
She asked me if I’d noticed any changes in sensory loss in the last few months. I said no, but it seemed that the muscle spasms had increased significantly. She asked if it was a problem. I said only when they wake me up at night sometimes. She then asked about what time of day I take Clonazepam. I didn’t understand the significance of the question, but I said it was usually just once a day about half an hour before going to bed. She said that explains why I can get to sleep without any problem, since Clonazepam is effective at reducing muscle spasms. I hadn’t known this. She said if I began to have further problems with spasms I could incease the Clonazepam in frequency or dose. She clearly wasn’t surprised that the spasms had increased.
She asked about the peeing issue. I said that what we had discussed previously about holding it for longer was working really well for me. I spend a lot less time on the toilet, though I pee myself by accident more often. She asked if I use incontinence pads. I said yes, but I didn’t have any problem with that. She asked how often I pee myself now. I said it was about once every ten days. After a little more discussion we agreed there wasn’t any point in a further intervention, since I am comfortable with the status quo.
It’s funny how I feel compelled to do an "authentic" transfer to the examination bed, even though she knows very well I can walk. She did the usual poking, prodding, feeling, looking and listening. She asked me about the spectacular bruise on my bum. I told her it was from skiing, and she left it at that. I was glad that I didn’t have to explain that it was from deliberately skiing off a cliff.
Now for the good stuff: I told my GP that I have my second orthotist visit tomorrow, and on the first visit they had asked about a prescription. I told her I was having my leg braces reconfigured, and that I gave them her name and phone number in case they did need a prescription. She said that was fine, and the easiest way of handling it would be for them to call her if necessary. Then she would write whatever they required for a prescription. Yippee!
Finally: I handed over the Disability Certification form for a parking permit. My GP filled it in without hesitation. I didn’t give any suggestions about what to say. After she had given it back, and left me to get dressed, I looked at it in detail. I’m looking at it right now as I type. There’s the line for "Name of disabled person". There she has written my name. I soak in the validation. She checked the box for "Permanent conditions". Cool! She checked the box that says "Is severely limited in their ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic conditions"…
WOW!
Having BIID is not all bad you know. Sometimes there are days when it can bring one great joy.
Tags: BIID, Clonazepam, Disabled, Incontinence Pads, Leg Braces, Muscle Spasms, Orthotist, Parking Permit, Prozac, Sensory Loss, Transfer, Wheelchair
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