
The unstoppable force vs. the immovable object. Or as I like to call it, my doctor’s obviousness vs. my logic.
Most people would be surprised to know this about me, but I am neither invincible or indestructible. Because of this, from time to time, I get sick. Sometimes I even have pain. I am very bitter about this, but it is something even I have to deal with. When my drug of choice, Aleve, isn’t doing it for me anymore, I find myself having to visit a doctor.
Recently, I went to visit my doctor to see if I could get my common sense removed, because that is the only way that he could tell me something I didn’t know. When I told Dr. Obvious that my back was in pain, he gave me a quick diagnosis. Without examining my back or giving me an X-ray, he says, “Looks like if you lost about 40-50 lbs, your back would feel better.” First of all, rude. Second, I’m pretty sure that I could have consulted the mirror to get that diagnosis. So basically, I got a job, so I could pay $140 a month for my medical insurance per month, and then a $20 co-pay to get advice like this? I am no Einstein, or Edison, or even Gates, or Jobs, but I’m pretty sure I could tell you that the stuff on my front affects my back. Doc Obvious, your job is this: Give me some drugs to make it feel better or surgery away my pain. I don’t care if it is the weight or the back.
My shoulder is not indestructible either. Being a glutton for punishment, I decided to ask him about that. “Doctor, my shoulder is really hurting.” So he asks me some really deep questions. “Which shoulder is it?” I say, “It’s my left shoulder.” While pretending to check my shoulder by quickly feeling it, he asks, “What side do you sleep on?” Now we are getting somewhere. Some medical expertise? Is he onto something? What is it? Is he making connections here? Surely he will have to ask a few more questions to come up with a cause, right? No, he is a trained professional. “I would go ahead and sleep on the other side.” Thanks Doctor Obvious. Is it too much to just remove my shoulder and just a put a bionic arm on there? No he wants to go the obvious, safe, take forever route. Does he think I am going to live until I am 60? Read a medical journal every once in while. People rarely last that long.
Hey Doc, did you go to the same medical school as Dr. Evil and Doc Oc? How about you write out yourself a prescription for some courage and get me some surgery. I’m not interested in not eating pizza or running on a treadmill that will injure my knees. Then I will just have to keeping back for more obviousness. And obviously, you make me bitter.
Arrrgghhhhh
Bitter Im”Patient” Ben
Related articles
- Bitter Quote of the Week – Shakespear (bensbitterblog.wordpress.com)
- Bitter Podcast (bensbitterblog.wordpress.com)
- Bitter song of the Week (bensbitterblog.wordpress.com)
- Candy bitterness (bensbitterblog.wordpress.com)
NOW I know why You are Special, Ben! It is because all Your ‘common’ sense has been removed, and You are left with only Special ones! And that is Good. We like it! Love and Regards.
LikeLike
You are correct about no common sense. It is also my sense of entitlement where I expect everyone else to be perfect, but don’t expect that of myself.
LikeLike
I must bitterly point out that Yours is a great point of view! Regards.
LikeLike
It is definitely a point of view. Mostly a skewed one though.
LikeLike
Because I work in healthcare, I found this post extremely amusing. I’ll bet anything that your doctor didn’t have breakfast. They get a little testy when they are hungry. Next time you need medical advice, just come on over to my way. I can also state the obvious and I’ll even do it for free.
Of course, it wouldn’t be nearly as disappointing so that is a major pitfall. Enjoy your weightloss and change of sleeping position. LMAO
And remember…. No surgery for you!!! At least according to the surgery nazi…
LikeLike
As my new medical provider, you should let me get surgery so I can solve all my medical problems. Stop being my surgery nazi!
LikeLike
Doc Obvious. Rude. I love it.
LikeLike
There nothing more bittering than a person who tells you obvious things.
LikeLike
I am here to pop your common sense back in because that’s how my Bitter Doctorate works. I’m not happy until YOU’RE not happy.
LikeLike
So you are happy when I’m not happy? Why do you keep trying to make me happy? If I was happy then you wouldn’t be happy right?
LikeLike
anddddddddd my head just exploded.
luckily i have an insurance policy that allows me to buy a second head. much like MOAR DEATH STARS.
also i shall find a new way to make happy bitter happy or something.
LikeLike
Only a bitter man like myself can understand such a complex statement. Don’t worry your happy head about it.
LikeLike
“First of all, rude.” — HAHA!
Hope you have less pain and more bitterness soon.
LikeLike
I will have more pain and bitterness soon.
LikeLike
I don’t mean to be disrepectful to the Medical Professionals out there, but doctors are getting lazy. Telling someone to loose weight is lazy. How can one assume the weight is the problem without a full work-up? Maybe they are doing the least amount of work because they are jealous of lawyers. Most Lawyers make more money than doctors, and this knowledge makes them CRAZY with jealousy. Jealous doctors do not make good diagnosticians, ergo, I blame the Lawyers. Can you tell I despise lawyers? :-b (Me sticking out my tongue.)
Hang in there Sir Bitter Ben, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
LikeLike
Lawyers and doctors make me bitter because they both make more money than me. And both are really good at not fulfulling their promises.
LikeLike
I hate doctors like that. I had a similar doc. Doc Oblivious. He might have been looking at me but was more concerned with something else. @$$Holes. Great post.
LikeLike
I call it how I see them. What up with these guys?
LikeLike
Having a total army of da
LikeLike
Oops army of darkness moment
LikeLike
I actually am a big fan of the Army of Da.
LikeLike
It’s my iPhone. That’s my story🐸
LikeLike
Iphones are also big fans of the Army of Da.
LikeLike
What about the Evil De
LikeLike
And from Austin Powers Dr. Ev
LikeLike
Uh oh it’s Freddy kru
LikeLike
It’s Nightmare on El
LikeLike
Don’t forget the incredible Hu and the Green La
LikeLike
Or Superma and Batma
LikeLike
Which are of course the super heroes mums.
LikeLike
I am having a da moment right now.
LikeLike
Next time, go to WebMD while you eat your pizza.
LikeLike
Sounds like so much of a better idea. And I bet they don’t even charge a $20 co pay to get on there.
LikeLike
Even with the pizza, it’s still cheaper.
LikeLike
After tip, it may go over $20, but pizza doesn’t judge me.
LikeLike
Exactly. And either pizza is way over prices where you are or you are an extremely generous tipper.
LikeLike
Both.
LikeLike
Well, at least it isn’t your front that hurts. Several member of the Phonyon staff have horror stories related to having that region treated.
LikeLike
When I mentioned front I meant my big belly and yes it hurts too. Mostly its feelings are hurt by the doctor telling it that it was fat.
LikeLike
bitter you than me ..you do bitter like no other, bravo
LikeLike
Bravo Bitterness. Sounds like a topic for another day.
LikeLike
I think if you had the “chip on your shoulder” removed you would feel much better!
LikeLike
If I removed the chip I wouldn’t be bitter.
LikeLike
Pingback: My blogging rule #2: Don’t punch the monkey | Matthew Alan Bennett
“First of all: Rude.” hahaha. Hope you’re feeling better!
LikeLike
I am not and will probably just have to live with this pain forever because doctors don’t like to remove my pain.
LikeLike
i didn’t know you were a glutton for punishment. you’re also a gluten for punishment , with that pizza.
LikeLike
I am bitter. Of course I am a glutton for punishment.
LikeLike
i didn’t realize that came with the territory. thank-you for pointing that out, bitterben.
LikeLike
Always bitter to help you figure out things.
LikeLike
i see you just proved what you say, bitter is better.
LikeLike
Bitter is better and better is bitter. One eternal round.
LikeLike
lol..oh it’s a song too.
LikeLike
A bitter one I suppose.
LikeLike
of course a bitter round..i need a round of coconut water for the house.
LikeLike
Exactly one of the reasons I stopped working as a nurse! We want a diagnosis we can’t come up with ourselves right!
LikeLike
Nurses are the ones that do the real work. The doctors just swoop in when it is all done and say,”Looks good” or “Go get an Xray, then call me nurse for the diagnosis.”
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
You can be glad that he did’nt told you – “Oh, it’s only in your mind”. Probably he thinks having decent pain is bitter better than being a psycho.
LikeLike
I would rather my doctor tell me that I am psychotic than to tell me to get more excersize.
LikeLike
Awww! 😀 I think you’d be a hilarious yoga companion — I already have a bitter yoga companion & she always cracks me up. That said, how many exercises do you know that end with the equivalent of a mini-nap? (in yoga: savasana) Wishing you less pain, sir…however you go about it.
LikeLike
I tried yoga on the Wii Fit once and it made me to sore for every wanting to try it again. I did the one where you use your elbows to prop you up so you can stand on your neck and have the rest of your body shooting straight up in the air. It was wrong on so many yoga levels. I think I would be pretty embarrased if I died by cracking my neck in that position. Even if I was dead.
LikeLike
I can’t remember the name of the comic…uh.. yeah – Louis C.K., who talked about a check up with his Dr., and the pain he was feeling in his knees or hip… and was expecting a fix all cure or something – anything to put him back on the mend. The Dr. just told him something similar to your story, to just take it easy, medicate for pain only, and move on ( I am royally ad lib – ing the set he did).. and asked if the Dr. could go in and fix it- to which the Doc laughed and said “you’re too old for that”. Louis goes on to say and joke about the fact that as we get older, we drift farther and farther away from the chance of getting real medical help… that we are no athletes or famous people… our existence here on earth doesn’t cause the Dr. to rush in and save us because of our low impact on society. My wife has dealt with pain for quite some time, and once a Dr. told her to medicate the pain as needed… which of course she was doing for weeks prior to this moronic revelation from her Dr., and which in kind, she returned the favor of not paying the bill for the unhelpful Doctors visit, because he did nothing.
Of course, I will go on the side of healthcare, as I am within that field, and be a devils advocate for a moment- which of course, the obvious will always be the right answer to when the body hurts or isn’t functioning.. which is weight gain and poor eating habits…and the occasional hereditary doomsday looming diseases. I of course am no example of perfect health… and do feel the aches and pains of a unhealthy body, to which I KNOW the obvious. Human development is a bitch when it comes to later in age, and the days of faster metabolisms (for most of us) are a distant past. Slowly our body shuts down… and then it is up to us to do the extra work to keep it going and running to functioning status- like a car. We love a brand new car, and it is a great feeling knowing you have a while till repairs and changes are needed for it…. and when that day comes when your brakes slip or engine overheats… lights burn out… you know the obvious… and then you pay for not taking care of it sooner. I know you like to mock and poke fun at life’s situations – but do take care of yourself sir.. .before the obvious becomes the seriously a problem. (ok.. hoping off the soapbox!!)
LikeLike
Louis C.K. is the best and he cracks me up. Nice thoughts on the medical industry, bro! Guy really knows how to slay.
LikeLike
Holy Crap, Ben! I know you may not like to hear this – but I really, really like your blog.
LikeLike
I’m really feel bad for you. Your expectations are so very low…
LikeLike
Have you considered that I may be a sadist? Or even a masochist…
LikeLike
That is the only thing that makes sense.
LikeLike
Great. Now I’m bitter.
LikeLike
You’re welcome.
LikeLike
On a lighter note, I’m thinking that medical school isn’t as hard as I thought it was. Am I too old to change careers?
LikeLike
It isn’t near as hard as it looks. I should know. I’ve never done it.
LikeLike
It’s worse than you thought – your co-pay is really $25l oops, maybe I mean $250.
LikeLike
Yeah, $250! Now they are definitely worth it!
LikeLike
This is why I generally avoid the doctor. When they aren’t giving you obvious advice, they’re just plain wrong.
LikeLike
If I could just slide through medical school, I would be a great doctor. Requirements: being late, making others do their work, writing prescriptions, reffering you to other doctors. Sounds like a perfectly lazy occupation!
LikeLike
Sounds about right. I get bitter when my doctor tells me to exercise so that my arthritis does not bother me when I can’t even get out of bed, never mind exercise!
LikeLike
I don’t pay doctors for their advice. I want them to fix it!
LikeLike
I don’t like pepperoni, but that pizza is pretty awesome.
LikeLike
I love pepperoni and that pizza is awesome…ly bitter.
LikeLike
Know what the guy who graduates from the bottom of his medical school is called? A doctor,
LikeLike
I’m thinking a pediatrician is lower than that. All they do is have nurses administer the shots and if anything is wrong with the baby they just send it to the hospital. Worthless…
LikeLike
You have a dud pediatrician then! Our pediatrician does everything himself – doesn’t even have a nurse.
I would be pretty bitter if I had to take my kids to your pediatrician, though
LikeLike
Trust me I am pretty bitter. Don’t send them to mine.
LikeLike
Know what makes me bitter – to the point of chronic grumpiness? The weather. I need to move to Southern California. I live in the Northeast and I become cranky from late Sept until Mid May. I hate the cold and snow.
But at least we have a good pediatrician.
LikeLike
In the immortal paraphrased words of Apple, There’s a blog post for that. The Bitter Cold, by Bitter Ben. https://bensbitterblog.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/the-bitter-cold/
LikeLike
Dude. That’s cold.
LikeLike
Bitterly cold.
LikeLike