Visiting my mother’s physician was often a challenge. When
she was ninety years old and had to see him I accompanied her (in the last few years
of her life). He had a good reputation
as a physician, and I trusted his diagnosis, but he often took a long time to
coax the problem out of my mother who was not able to speak very coherently
then. The physician ignored me, as I sat next to her, until I stepped in, and
without invitation, interjected information and concerns which were legitimate.
If he had asked me what was going on at the start I could have told him and he
could have corroborated that with my mother. Instead, he took forever to get information
from my mom. He was always rushed toward the end of the visit and was not able
to address any other issues she wanted to discuss. That meant another trip back
to his office.
He also seemed to put down my suggestions and regard them as
insignificant, but toward the end of the visit he would make the same suggestion
I had made earlier. I chalked it up to his inflated ego.
Looking back over the past few years before my mother passed
away I have a better perspective. I did not want to cross the line between my
mother and her physician, but I also found her to be frustrated by the visits. If
I had it to do over, would I do it differently? Yes, but still maintaining
respect. Maybe the experience will help me in the future.
My mother often found comfort with her Maine Warmers' Neck Warmer. It helped a pinched nerve in
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| Sheep Neck Warmer |
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