A few weeks ago we went to Children's for our first visit to the Denver Campus. Well, our first visit to either campus. We saw the head of cardiology and we loved the whole experience. Minus the fact that she was sick enough to need to be there of course! We had a nurse that was assigned to us and she made everything so much easier. She met us at the check in desk, walked to the different tests with us, met us anywhere in the hospital anytime anything was going on with Hannah. What a positive experience the whole thing was. And then we went back to see the Pulmonology department.
Wow, what a different experience. From the intake desk, we felt much more like cattle being pushed through the chute than our red carpet treatment from the week before. The intake nurse was nice, efficient and cooed at Hannah. The doctor that came in first was kind and patient. She explained that she was working with the pulmonologist that would be in charge of Hannah. I liked her well enough. She seemed well past the point of exhaustion and looked like she had been on call for the past week. But she was able to smile at us. I know when I'm that tired, there is no smiling. So the fact that she smiled meant alot. Respiratory therapy came and took her pulse ox with and without oxygen. I remember the therapist saying that even though she wasn't clinically desaturating (she went from 98 to 91), the fact that her heartrate when up when we turned the oxygen off wasn't a great sign that she was handling the room air well. She told us to turn the oxygen back on and she would let her doctors know of her concern. Then the pulmonologist came in. He was very clinical. He listened to Hannah's lungs for less than a minute. He didn't make eye contact. Looked at me and said that without any clinical data he couldn't tell us what was wrong. I asked why she needed more oxygen each week. He got very short with me. Almost snippy. I hate how he made me feel. He made me feel like I was wasting his time and that I had no reason to bring my baby to him. He made me feel like I had made all of this up. He made me feel so small and insignificant. This is where things got better. Did I mention that I was able to bring my brother in law with me? The fancy, super fantastic ER doctor brother in law who isn't afraid of pushy doctors. He came to be our advocate and to translate things from doctor to plain English. I am so thankful that we had him there! He asked a similar question in doctor language. I saw the pulmonologist's ears turn red. Apparently we weren't and aren't ever going to be his favorite patients. He he he. Ah, the simple joys. Then my brother in law questioned the pulmonolgist's diagnosis. More than just his ears turned red. We have been referred to the sleep study lab so that he can get "real clinical data". Okay, fine. After talking with my brother in law, it is the most logical next step. (Even if the pulmonologist was an arse.) Downside-wait time is 4-6 weeks. Okay, so now this is a test in patience. Well, the pulmonologist wasn't exactly accurate on the wait time. Yes, 4-6 weeks, but 4-6 weeks until we got a call to be scheduled another 6 weeks out. But at least the people at the sleep lab seem nice. I guess only time will tell. For now, there are no clear winners in this battle. But instead of crying every time I think of that appointment, I chuckle now-thinking of the pulmonologist's ears. He he he. Maybe we did win after all.
There must be another pulmonologist out there!
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