Doctors

One of our challenges has been navigating the Clinic where we went to follow up after Jeff was in the hospital. It was difficult to see the same doctor twice, since a lot of them were only there once a week (and they were generally residents, too). 

Today, we saw a competent doctor. We saw her two weeks ago, when one of the residents consulted her, and today we went to her home office. She was reassuring, patient, assertive when it came to referrals and follow up, and also suggested to switch the sleeping drug, since the ambien hasn't been great. 

She explained to us that pretty much everything major has been ruled out, and that Jeff's symptoms are MUCH more like panic attacks rather than arrhythmia, which would actually be deadly if they lasted as long as his episodes have been lasting. She is the first doctor since the hospital to actually feel strongly that Jeff is experiencing panic attacks.

She explained how our body reacts to periods of little sleep, and also to traumatic situations, and was very empathetic when we explained some of Jeff's anxiety to her. 

She decided that the ambien was not working for Jeff, and that we try trazodone instead, which works differently and will make him drowsy. 

She sent a "flag" to her psychiatrist friend and to the psychologist on site to call us and set up an appointment with us asap. All this during our appointment! 

She asked us to leave her a message to let her know how Jeff is doing, and also to tell her how his next appointment with cardiology goes. And she explained to me how to do that. 

Also, we went to the grocery store next door to get some blackberries, and God spoke to us, and told us: "I got a feeling, that tonight's gonna be a good, good night!" (Never thought I'd think of that song in this context! I bet Black Eyed Peas didn't think that, either!)