Thursday, November 5, 2009

Giving Thanks...Day Five...The Floss from the Gold

My parents always tried to instill in us the ability to tell the difference between the real things in life and the temporary fixes. It's a lesson I hope that I've learned well. Here on day five of our Thanksgiving Challenge, I find it is not hard at all to come up with the things I'm most thankful for. This morning we're already up and about and have been since 6 am. These days I don't exactly bound from bed, but with a little push from Mac, I'm up and about. This morning there isn't much time to be lollygagging about, because Mac has an appointment with our Doc. We have our very own personal Doctor OZ.

A few years back we changed doctors due to the fact that our other doctor nearly killed me. Yes, you read right. Okay, so maybe nearly killed me is a bit strong, but no thanks to her I did not end up a quadriplegic. It was so close a call, I get the shivers. After the surgery that put me (more or less) back on my feet, I went Doctor hunting. We both knew, Mac and I, that we would never darken her door again. So I went through the TriCare manual looking for Doctors in the system and tried to learn something about them. I came across our current Doc and his credentials looked good. I made the appointments for follow up from the surgery and one for Mac to get us both established as new patients.

From day one, I was impressed. Unlike the usual "cattle call" rush thru labs, quick visit with the Doc pay your co-pay byby visit, he sat with me and took time to ask questions about my personal health, what I was being treated for, what surgeries I had recently had, and why. Why was the big question he wanted answers to. He listened to the newly repaired heart and told me it was beating strong and steady, he examined the newly restored neck complete with titanium and cadaver bone vertebrae and pronounced it a miracle, looked at my blood sugar log and told me that I had to do better. You can't have it all.

So this was in September of 2003. We don't dread going to see him, for we know that if he finds anything new to worry about, he'll turn heaven and earth to find the answers that will relieve our minds. He's just that sort of a doctor. Very much like my father, he doesn't much care for unanswered medical questions. And no question is to embarrassing for him. I've seen him go get one of his medical books and sit with me looking for the answer if he feels I doubt him in any way. I've learned to put my trust in him, and he's earned every ounce of it. I'm a hard sell. So, today I'm so thankful for Dr. Kenneth Pickens Moyd...now if that's not a Southern name, I'll buy you lunch.

28 comments:

Pam said...

It's so hard to find a good doc that you can really trust. I, too, have been at offices where I've felt I was more like a number than a patient.

Shadow said...

doctors like that are hard to come by. and i'm glad you did! quadraplegic you say?????? that just gives me chills!

Anonymous said...

You are so right about the trust one must have for their physician. I have worked with doctors in the hospital that I personally could not stand, but they could work miracles for their patients. It is a good feeling to have a MD you know will put you first, not the almighty dollar. Thanks for your gratitude thoughts. I am accepting them as my daily birthday gift. It makes me feel good to have folks be grateful.
QMM

Unknown said...

You were so smart to go doctor hunting. I love his good ole southern name!

Jinksy said...

Long may he continue to serve you well!

Carver said...

That makes a huge difference to have a doctor you trust. I've had all kinds (good, bad, and in between) and I am thankful to have mostly good ones at this point.

Nessa said...

You are very lucky to have such a wonderful doctor.

Dona Nobis Pacem & Thursday Thirteen

Zuzana said...

Ah, sorry to hear that you have had such a terrible ordeal with a doctor... But I agree, having a doctor you can trust is so very important. I realized this later in life, as both my parents were physicians (retired now) and as a child I never worried about being sick.;)
xo

Mary said...

Sandi
I feel another book coming on here. Look foward to each day to cheer me up in the terrible weather we are having here I can't give thanks for the rain and gloom!! Mary

Donna said...

I'm SO glad you got all fixed up TO!!!
Nothing like a Doc you can Trust!!hughugs

Lee said...

He sounds like a good one, Sandi. I always have liked those relationships you build with your physician and loath the requirements of insurance companies that you change if the doc leaves your network. Glad you've got a keeper. Wonder what your Dad provided by way of insight in how to find such a good one. Cadaver bone huh? Hmmm...

Hugs,
Lee

Suldog said...

A good doctor - a truly good and caring doctor - is such a blessing! I've been lucky (blessed, I mean) to have the best twp dental practitioners I could have hoped for in the current cycle of implants, etc. I shudder to think of where my mouth would be at if I had listened to the one who, about nine years ago now, wanted to yank all of my teeth and give me regular dentures. Instead, I listened to MY WIFE, got a second opinion, and have marvelous implants and none of the hassles of dentures. And the two excellent doctors, as opposed to the one bogus one, are the reason. Blessed, indeed!

Akelamalu said...

It's fantastic when you have a good doctor. Thank goodness you've found one you can trust. :)

jabblog said...

It is so important and comforting to know that the professionals whose advice you seek can be trusted to do their best for you.

Gill - That British Woman said...

wow, you are so lucky. We are still looking for a new doctor up where we live, as ours in our old town is a "pill pusher," but we can't leave him until we find another doctor, and they are like hen's teeth to find!!

Gill in Canada

imbeingheldhostage said...

Good for you that you found someone you can trust! Bad, bad idea putting his name out here. I once shouted the praise of a good doctor and pretty soon he was so busy, I couldn't get in to see him :-(
The fact that you found a good doctor through Tricare really made me happy and optimistic for our future :-)

Dr.John said...

Good tribute to your Doctor who sounds just like the one Betty and I go to.

Peace be with yo.

Lori E said...

Having a good doctor is so important. Remember someone had to be in the bottom 50% of the medical school classes. Yikes.
My doctor is also awesome but is the same age as me and will retire when I probably need her the most.
But I am thankful for having her as long as I have.

Lori E said...

I wanted to add that you have one of my favorite sayings on your sidebar.
Feet hitting the floor and all that....yup one of my favs.

Karen M said...

What a great story about a great doctor! So glad you found him. It is so very hard to know which doctors really know what they are doing and which only act like it.

Hilary said...

Too many people blindly accept what their doctors say regardless of their instincts. I'm so glad for you that you're not among them. We have to be our own health advocates and feel comfy and secure with our docs.

Now, I'm going to linger here a bit longer because I just heard who is NOT Charles Aznavour start singing She on your playlist. Hmmm Costello, eh? I only knew it by Charles. I haven't heard it in ages.. beautiful song.

Maria said...

It's great to have a good doctor.

♥Mimi♥ said...

To have a doctor that you trust is critical to your well being and one of those true blessings in life that you don't recognize unless you don't have it.

Merisi said...

Let us now give thinks to all those doctors out there,
who take care of us so well - I couldn't agree more!
I'd like to add our pediatrician of so many years, Dr. Arthur Kreischer, and his wife, of Washington DC, to this list. I wouldn't know that anyone could have guided my children's young years better than the two of them. A heartfelt thanks, I am full of gratitude.
The atmosphere in his office was such that even the little ones loved going to the doctor's!

Merisi said...

Let us now give thinks to all those doctors out there,
who take care of us so well - I couldn't agree more!
I'd like to add our pediatrician of so many years, Dr. Arthur Kreischer, and his wife, of Washington DC, to this list. I wouldn't know that anyone could have guided my children's young years better than the two of them. A heartfelt thanks, I am full of gratitude.
The atmosphere in his office was such that even the little ones loved going to the doctor's!

Merisi said...

Let us now give thinks to all those doctors out there,
who take care of us so well - I couldn't agree more!
I'd like to add our pediatrician of so many years, Dr. Arthur Kreischer, and his wife, of Washington DC, to this list. I wouldn't know that anyone could have guided my children's young years better than the two of them. A heartfelt thanks, I am full of gratitude.
The atmosphere in his office was such that even the little ones loved going to the doctor's!

Merisi said...

Let us now give thinks to all those doctors out there,
who take care of us so well - I couldn't agree more!
I'd like to add our pediatrician of so many years, Dr. Arthur Kreischer, and his wife, of Washington DC, to this list. I wouldn't know that anyone could have guided my children's young years better than the two of them. A heartfelt thanks, I am full of gratitude.
The atmosphere in his office was such that even the little ones loved going to the doctor's!

cheshire wife said...

I have not come across the term 'lollygagging' before, but I think that it describes exactly what you were trying to say.

There is a little something and an award for you at my blog.