What's happened to customer service?

There's doctor's offices and customer service, and never the twain shall meet.

They refer to me as a "patient", so I guess that wouldn't entitle me to any treatment that a customer would expect.

The last several times I've visited my doctor the woman behind the front desk has asked me for my insurance card. Finally the last visit I'd had enough, "You know, every time I come in here you ask me for my card."

Now the lady behind the desk tells me I have a balance over $200 with them. Hmmm, I wonder...how do you expect to receive payment unless you're actually billing my insurance? Were you taking my insurance card to admire its aesthetics?

Thinking about it, customer service has never been a part of the doctor experience. I'm always forced to wait, often patronized and/or ignored. Ya know, feels a little like dating someone. "Doctor, if you're going to f*** me this hard maybe I should be charging you!"

All in my head?

Ok, so this past Monday I spent some time in the ER, but appears I'm fine.

I called my doctor's office Monday morning about shortness of breathe, chest pain, and numbness. They advised me to go to the emergency room, so I did. I seriously doubted that I was having a heart attack even though my symptoms resembled one.

I've had a pretty consistent history of anxiety and anxiety attacks, but I didn't feel like that's what this was.

After about 6 hours of tests and drawing blood the ER doctor prescribed a nebulizer, MethyIPREDNIsolone, and Xanex. So in other words, the ER doc was pretty sure I was suffering from an Asthma attack or anxiety.

Two days later I have a follow-up visit with my usual doctor and he's convinced that my issues are stemming from anxiety. So, apparently it's all in my head and I just need to chill.

Well today I have a cardiologist appointment to make absolute sure that my heart isn't the problem (my doc is pretty sure it isn't, but we have to leave no stone unturned right?). If he gives the thumbs up I'm free to compete in my meet this weekend and all my simptoms are just in my head. I'll give an update on that later.

Well I guess I should look on the bright side, if my mind is capable of this, imagine what else I can do. LOL.