Grrrr.

I went to the doctor today because among other things (like, four other weird and probably unrelated symptoms), the lymph nodes on the left side of my neck are badly and painfully swollen.

Here's how it went down, in three parts...


1

Me: Ouch. Yeah, that hurts.

Jerk Doctor: Pain is good!

Me: Hmmm?

JD: Yes, because most tumors aren't painful.

Me: Ah.


2

JD: I'm going to prescribe an antibiotic and I want to see you back in a week.

Me: Okay. I am still nursing my son so I just want to make sure the antibiotic is safe to use while breastfeeding.

JD: (Huffing, sighing, flipping chart back and forth.) How old did you say your baby was again?

Me: 20 months.

JD: (Sighing, leaving the room to get his PDA, which he uses to look up safety/ contraindications of drugs.) Well, maybe it's time to stop breastfeeding!

Me: Well, I'm not going to do that just for... (trailing off indignantly)

JD: (Snort.) Yeah, just for a possible tumor. (Heavy sarcasm.)


3

JD: So, how long do you plan to breastfeed anyway?

Me: I don't know. We've been slowing down lately, but...

JD: 2 years?

Me: ... (shrug)

JD: Mmmmm (arching eyebrows), kids really like that (and don't want to stop).

Me: Well, we'll see.

JD: I guess you two are really bonded, hmmm? (Suggesting what I don't know, but... let's just say I didn't take it as a compliment.)


***

So, I (probably) have a lymph node infection and I'm on some pretty potent antibiotics (which my doctor said were safe and which I then checked out for myself on multiple websites and with the pharmacist), and we'll see what happens over the next week. I have a follow-up appointment next Friday. And then, assuming I don't actually have a tumor (or, you know, whatever), I guess I'll start looking for a new doctor.