CoCo's Journey - The Notorious Dr. Z

When I get my dressing charges
I must wear a mask.  The nurse, too. 
So we don't get germs on it!!

So, I thought I would share a little bit more about how I got here.  But I'm going to be discussing how I was medically gaslighted, (gaslit -- who knows) and was not treated properly.  And due to that, I am now where I am.

When I had my collapse on November 19, 2022, after my knee replacement, I was taken to the emergency room.  The doctor there is the one that told me I was malnourished.  He told me I needed to follow up with my primary care physician (PCP).  When I went to make an appointment with said PCP, I found out my PCP had left the organization, and I no longer had one.  After explaining my situation, they decided to set me up with an appointment with Dr. Z.  I was fine with it, because I needed to get to a doctor. 

My first visit, he seemed OK.  But I found him a bit odd.  I'm completely fine with odd, as long as they know what they are doing.  He comes in and does this very weak fist bump and introduces himself as Dr. Z.  I tell him what is going on, that I was diagnosed with malnutrition.  "Well, you need to make yourself eat.  Eat peanut butter".  I'm going to have them draw your blood.  You need a colonoscopy.  You're in luck, I do colonoscopies.  Pretty much the extent of my first visit.  No real plan, besides peanut butter, and I need a colonoscopy.

I got a message from him, "your blood test look fine.  Dr. Z."

I went back a couple months later for my annual.  I've lost even more weight.  I'm struggling with food, but I'm trying really hard to eat.  He tells me he's going to have my blood drawn, they'll call me to set up my colonoscopy.  Oh, and you're still losing weight, eat peanut butter.  

This is when I'm really starting to get a bit irritated, because I don't love peanut butter enough to eat it that much!!!!

I get a message from him, "your blood tests look fine.  Dr. Z."

I needed my meds refilled.  I've been on thyroid meds for almost three decades. He makes me come in.  I get charged every time.  My insurance has just turned over.  I have to pay out of my pocket to go in for him to send in the same prescription. 

We go on like this for the about a year and a half.  Anytime he takes my blood, "your blood tests look fine, Dr. Z."   He decided to send me for a Dexascan.  It's a bone density scan.  He makes me come in to find out that I have osteopenia. It's the level before developing osteoporosis.  I'm put on a medication for that should stop the progression.  It was during this visit that I thought, I am so done with this dude. When he came in, he had a can of something.  He came in and did his usual weak fist bump and introduces himself again (like we've never seen each other before).  After a few questions, he told me to get on the exam table.  He walks around me and suddenly sprays my face with whatever is in the can he has.  No warning.  No, hey, you have a bit of a strange spot, do you mind if I freeze it?  Nope, reached up, sprayed my face and then told me why.  I got a bill, I was charged $99 for surgery!!!  I was livid.  Oh, and you're still too thin, eat peanut butter.  I left saying I needed to get a new freaking doctor. 

The very last time I saw him, he says, well your proteins are kind of low, you should see a liver doctor.  You're in luck, we have one here.  And he referred me to Dr. Fed.

The first time I saw Dr. Fed, he was so angry going over my test results.  He says, you have been low for two straight years.  He's reading his notes, "your blood tests look fine.  Dr. Z"   and he went off.  I had never seen a doctor get angry at another doctor.  He asked me if he had adjusted my thyroid meds, because they were very, very close to being low.  I had lost a lot of weight, so my needs were different.  Nope, whenever tested it would say, "your blood tests look fine.  Dr. Z."

It was during one of my visits with Dr. Fed that he said, I would never let one of my family members see him.  I asked him if he had a recommendation for me.  So, he gave me a card for my new and current doctor.  Who I really like.  Though, I had only seen him once when I got my cirrhosis diagnosis.  And he got stuck in the middle of my home health care mess, because Dr. Fed was not in.  But, he's been great to work with.  

That is why I blame Dr. Z. for where I am now.  If he had sent me to Dr. Fed earlier, I may have been able to be completely healed.  No liver damage.  No liver scarring.  Instead, I've been through a little bit of hell and should never have been.

T

I told you I did a lot of canning!!!

his week has been pretty amazing.  The TPN nutrition seems to be doing its job.  I've been busy, busy, busy!!!  I have had so much energy, I am rarely sitting.  I have been cleaning, all over the place, gardening and canning.  Like crazy canning!!! Tomorrow,  KayeLynn and I are heading out to go visit my bonus daughter in Colorado.  Looking forward to getting away a little bit.  IVY and Chef Piccard will be with me.  Luckily, I only have to be hooked up twelve hours now, so they shouldn't interfere with a good visit!!

I go back to work on Monday.  I think I'm ready.  Luckily, I just start out with two days.