I'm In LOVE!!!

I'm in love with the newest addition to my health team - a hip orthopedic. For me to say I LOVE a doctor means a lot. I am generally skeptical of new doctors and it takes a while to warm up to them. Today was so different. Barbara, that's how she introduced herself, didn't keep me waiting long which is always a plus. I instantly felt comfortable with her. Maybe I liked her introducing herself by her first name or maybe it was the way she looked right in my eyes as if she cared. She shared that she had looked over my sonogram results and had talked to my rheumatologist right before walking through the door. Here's where it got really good. Barbara said, "Dr. Jo*** would like for you to have cortisone shots in the hips. What do YOU want?"  What??? Did she ask what I wanted??? Yes, she did!!!! Unbelievable. I have never had a doctor, minus my naturopath, ask what I wanted.  I think she sensed that I was floored and sat down like she had all the time in the world to listen to my symptoms. Then she said, "I am not going to have you go through a bunch of tests here in the office because we know what is going on and I don't want to put you in more pain." What???  Someone is worried about my pain level?  Yes!!!  I just keep falling more in love with Barbara (hopefully she didn't notice the big red hearts shining in my eyes). Another thing I loved about her is she didn't sit at the computer typing information in. She had a piece of scrap paper with her. She asked if I was married, looked at my finger and said, "Looks like it."  She asked if I had kids and if I worked. I told her I am a teacher. She said, "I somehow knew you were going to say that." She then went through what to expect from the procedure and asked, "Is this what you want to do?" Oh Barbara, in a few short minutes you made me feel like a person with thoughts and feelings about my own health instead of a number passing through your office. Thank you so much for that! It means more than you will ever know.

So, next week I get my shots. I am more than ready for the pain to be gone. I have had cortisone shots in a lot of places on my body, but this will be the most complicated so far. I have to bring a driver. The procedure is completed in the out-patient surgery department (even though it isn't surgery!) so that they have x-rays available to lead them to the right area of the hips. A local anesthetic is also given. It sounds a little scary, but I'm up for it. Wish me luck!