And yet, the results are the same: burned.
Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I think the nurse who sets the time on the light box hates me. She’s incredibly unfriendly, for one, but more importantly, I think she’s burning me on purpose. The doctor had said that the goal is to be pink after a session, not burned. Wednesday night, when I peeled off my clothes, I saw that I was alarmingly red. This morning, I reported the burn and showed her what remained and she said, "You look great to me" and increased the time another 30 seconds. Of course I am burned again, and worse. This can’t be right.
It’s amazing to me how, after everything I’ve been through, I can still manage to be intimidated by a little bitchiness from a nurse. It’s my body, my treatment. I’ve said a million times that we have to take responsibility for taking an active role in our own healthcare. So why the fuck didn’t I protest? I’ve got to speak to the doctor on Monday before Nurse Hellfire sets the machine again.
Four sessions down, seventeen to go. Oh man.
Monday update:
Galloping Cat: I burned again last time.
Nurse Hellfire: Did you fade?
GC: Yes, but first I burned. I was in pain. I had to use Solarcaine.
NH: Okay, I’ll just increase half a minute (NB: This is same as usual)
GC: I’m not comfortable with that. The doctor said I should be pink, not ohmygod what happened to you?
NH: The time is supposed to be doubling every time and you’re going to be stuck at 2-3 minutes and it won’t work and you’ll be here forever. (NB: this is bs, dr said time would max out at 5 minutes, so how can it double every time for 21 treatments? I don’t even want to do the math on what that would add up to.)
GC: I’m not comfortable with the time increasing and I’d like to speak with the dr. If he’s not available now, he can call me later.
NH: Why don’t you tell me your question and I’ll ask him for you?
Yeah, right!
GC: I would prefer to speak to him directly.
NH: Okay, fine. And we’ll keep the time the same, if you insist. I’ll just write down here, per patient demand.
Is that supposed to scare me? Fucking bitch. The doctor was available on my way out and he agreed that burned two times in a row was not right, said I was right to talk to him, and he’s going to talk to NH. If she was unfriendly before, I can only imagine what she’ll be like now. I’d rather not encounter such horrible-ness at 7:30am three mornings/week, but I am not going to be intimidated by a bitchy and obviously stupid nurse. It’s my body.
Sounds alarming, and I agree that it’s not right.
On the other hand, are your symptoms lessening (at all? Even a weency bit?)NOT that getting scarlett’ed is good, but I’m hoping you’re getting some relief….
How long were you in for? You should have started with barely 5 minutes and be working up to 15 at about a minute extra a day depending on your reaction. Anything more than five minutes and she should be fired.
How long were you in for? You should have started with barely 5 minutes and be working up to 15 at about a minute extra a day depending on your reaction. Anything more than five minutes and she should be fired.
How long were you in for? You should have started with barely 5 minutes and be working up to 15 at about a minute extra a day depending on your reaction. Anything more than five minutes and she should be fired.
Nurse Hellfire?! HAAA! Very appropriate name, I should say. You crack me up.
Totally insist on less time. You are right. It’s your body afterall. It seems wrong for a treatment like this to be painful or uncomfortable.
Oh there is nothing worse than a bitch for a nurse. If it’s any solace, every time I’ve called one out to their higher ups, they were sweet as candy the next visit. And yeah, red? I’d be freaking.
Yay, Cat!
Has she not heard of melanoma? All the warnings not to burn, and you are getting burned at the dr.’s office. huh
Good for you! Jesus, I hate health care professionals sometimes. So many of them seem like they’re just in it for the power trip. I’m glad the doctor was responsive at least.
Good for you! Jesus, I hate health care professionals sometimes. So many of them seem like they’re just in it for the power trip. I’m glad the doctor was responsive at least.
Good for you! Jesus, I hate health care professionals sometimes. So many of them seem like they’re just in it for the power trip. I’m glad the doctor was responsive at least.
Good for you!
Still cracking up about her title. Nurse Hellfire. Hehehehe.
You were totally and absolutely correct. I would have said the same thing to Nurse Hellfire (heh!) except MUCH less nicely. You have to stick up for yourself. No one else is going to.