Inky,

I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling so poorly. I think many of us have been down this road and can sympathize/empathize with how you feel. Please do the best you can to take care of yourself, and get into an ER if you must, don't take any chances.

Our healthcare in the US is degenerating in many areas. In the area you describe, with doctors not taking the time they should to properly dx us. My wife refuses to leave the office if she feels she or one of the kids have been treated this way. She's been known to raise her voice (insert screaming here) more than once over a half a**ed doctor visit.

My pet peave with doctor is overbooking. Doctors who purposely book patients up to as many as 6 per hour, when realistically they can only see 3 if they push it. I went to see my Pain Management Doc yesterday. My appt was at 3:30. I sat in the waiting room until 4pm when I was called back to the exam room. I sat in the exam room until 5:10pm until she finally came in to see me. I was pretty angry, and let her know that in a civil way. And then she had the nerve to get upset with me because I wouldn't let her leave until I finished asking her some questions I had. I wait nearly two months between visits, these questions are important to me. Some doctors, rather than lose a patient to another doctor, just overbook and inconvenience their patients. And because we have a shortage of healthcare providers in the US, they know we have no choice but to wait.

Inky, my heart is with you, and I hope you get better real soon. But please, go to the ER if you have to, OK? If it's viral, there's really nothing they can do. But it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Much love to you,
Greg