Brain Diagram

When I went to my primary care person for my annual well-check six weeks or so ago, he asked, as he always does, if there was anything bothering me.  We discussed a couple of minor things and then I described some memory problems I’ve been having and we talked about that.

Before you rush in to assure me, as most people do, that “everybody” has those sorts of problems, let me remind you that my mother suffered from dementia for the last twelve or fifteen years of her life; so did her father.  I know a few things about dementia and I also know a few things about how I think.  Fortunately, so does my PA.  Plus he was also my mother’s primary care person.  So, he took me seriously and he listened.

OHSU Physician’s Pavilion

He said that he could refer me to a neurologist – either in Longview or at OHSU (Oregon Health Sciences University.)  He explained that while there is not yet any way of reversing dementia, there are new meds which can help stave off onslaught if taken at early stages of the illness.  He also said that my family history would undoubtedly play a big part in any evaluation.  Not promising, but there you have it.

We left it that I’d talk to Nyel about whether to go to Longview or Portland and get back to him.  I did just that several days later.  A week went by.  I called and talked to the assistant.  She had no record of a potential referral, but she’d check it out.  Another week and I called again.  Referral had been made.  Three more weeks passed and finally OHSU called and a sweet young thing said they had received a referral and someone would call me to make an appointment soon.  She gave me a number to call if I hadn’t heard in a week.

Words To Remember

Yesterday the week was up so I called.  The even-sweeter-and-younger voice at the other end asked me a few pertinent questions and then transferred me to the Neurology Department and I learned that there had been a mix-up.  The referral had ended up in the Neurosurgery department and so now that they had straightened that out, it would take two more weeks to schedule me for an appointment.

I don’t like to say that I lost it, but… I completely lost it.  I think I said something like “WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH YOU PEOPLE, ANYWAY?  ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE ME CRAZY?”  Truly, I fail to understand why, in this advanced age of cyber communication and technology, it should take eight weeks to make an appointment at a hospital less-than-three-hours-and-in-the-same-language-group away.  I hope I get in for an evaluation while I still remember why I’m going.  And before it’s too late for the meds.