Doctor Downer
I just had my monthly appointment with the IMSS (government) doctor. I was ready for the regular routine — weight, blood pressure, belly feel and a list of questions that can only be answered "no" (ringing in your ears? dizziness? etc.) But today I got a doctor who was not the usual one, and he was like the male Mexican version of Debbie Downer. Waaaah-waaah.
He started by scolding me about my weight, which I am getting used to by now. So fine. But then he proceeds to scold me about my blood pressure (before taking it — he was just looking at my previous blood pressure readings) which was like 120/70 each time. He told me it was too high. So of course when he came to take my blood pressure then, I was sort of freaking out and taking deep breaths to keep it from getting even higher. It was the same as usual, so then he continued by being like "Do you know what preeclampsia is? If you have preeclampsia, you will have to get a c-section!"
Then when he went to examine me, he was like, "Have you noticed that when you press on your legs, there is a white mark?" And I said no, and so then he said that was a sign of swelling, and he continued with his preeclampsia scarefest. Finally he ordered some lab studies, which is fine, but I don't really want to come and do that again.
Despite the Dr. Chicken Little act, I am not all that freaked out. I felt a tiny bit concerned, but I thought it was weird that my private doctor always told me my BP was fine, and even the other government doctor never said the p(reeclampsia)-word. Once he told me to eat less salt, and that was it. But, I called my private doctor after my appointment and she said not to worry, my BP was normal and that she would keep checking it, and maybe I would like to eat less salt and drink more water. I think she must be used to calls like mine — it's bound to happen when most of your patients are obligated to see a second doctor monthly.
So, crisis averted.
In other news from the IMSS front, looks like my maternity leave will start the week of Thanksgiving. That is just more than seven weeks away — can't believe it!!
He started by scolding me about my weight, which I am getting used to by now. So fine. But then he proceeds to scold me about my blood pressure (before taking it — he was just looking at my previous blood pressure readings) which was like 120/70 each time. He told me it was too high. So of course when he came to take my blood pressure then, I was sort of freaking out and taking deep breaths to keep it from getting even higher. It was the same as usual, so then he continued by being like "Do you know what preeclampsia is? If you have preeclampsia, you will have to get a c-section!"
Then when he went to examine me, he was like, "Have you noticed that when you press on your legs, there is a white mark?" And I said no, and so then he said that was a sign of swelling, and he continued with his preeclampsia scarefest. Finally he ordered some lab studies, which is fine, but I don't really want to come and do that again.
Despite the Dr. Chicken Little act, I am not all that freaked out. I felt a tiny bit concerned, but I thought it was weird that my private doctor always told me my BP was fine, and even the other government doctor never said the p(reeclampsia)-word. Once he told me to eat less salt, and that was it. But, I called my private doctor after my appointment and she said not to worry, my BP was normal and that she would keep checking it, and maybe I would like to eat less salt and drink more water. I think she must be used to calls like mine — it's bound to happen when most of your patients are obligated to see a second doctor monthly.
So, crisis averted.
In other news from the IMSS front, looks like my maternity leave will start the week of Thanksgiving. That is just more than seven weeks away — can't believe it!!
Comments