Sick of being sick!!

Here is a trivia question for you . . .

How many PA's does it take to diagnose a sinus infection? The answer is none! It takes a NP to do it!!

So I went to the doctor and saw the new PA in the practice. When I say new, I mean like fresh out of school, just passed the boards, wet behind the ears new. Now I have a history of sinus infections. Back when Ashley was only a few months old I ended up with sinus surgery to rota-router my sinuses and correct my deviated septum. My ENT told me back then that this wasn't a permanent fix, but could give me a few years of relief. Honey, I would say 12 years as I got my moneys worth!! Back then I was on round after round of antibiotics and steroids. It got to the point I felt like a junkie because I would be up for days without sleep.

Well, they are back. My PA gave me a weak antibiotic and a few days of steroids and I tried to explain that this wasn't going to work. So what happens after I am done with my medicine . . . its back.... Happy Happy Joy Joy.

Its a holiday and the doctor is not in. So against my better judgement (I don't want to be like millions of Americans that use the ER as their primary care doctor) I go to the ER. My face swollen up like a grapefruit and the pain to go with it. The PA at the ER tries to tell me that I don't have a sinus infection but I must have a tooth problem. No, I don't this is typical of my sinus infections. Well, you need to go to a dentist. No I need antibiotics and steroids and something for pain. She gets irritated with me and lucky me she sends in the NP. This woman listens to my history, examines my face and agrees with me. Amazing.

So after a stop to get my drugs and a Mocha Frappe I am home irrigating my sinuses. Moral of the story, even though PA's require many more hours of clinical time, they all seem to follow a pattern A+B=C. Well that isn't the way the world works. Medicine isn't textbook, it is different for each patient. It takes a person to use this textbook knowledge and apply it to each situation. Medicine isn't like baking cookies.

Thank God for the NP who listend to me tonight