I could barely contain my laughter, but by then we needed a good laugh.

We had just left the hand surgeon.  The one who was hopefully going to have an answer, and get Meghan some relief from the persistent pain in her hand and wrist.

I came as usual, armed with a thick heavy binder, a recent MRI CD and reports, a list of all current doctors.

I think I knew we were in trouble when he didn’t seem to see the small mass at the base of her middle finger.  You know, the one she says helps alleviate the pain when she presses on it?

He said it was “barely there.”  Yes, and 2 weeks ago it wasn’t there at all.

He took an Xray.  Obviously low radiation, (I hope) because no one left the room.

The bone structure is fine.

Shocker!

And he repeated to me that the MRI was fine.  (YEP, I know.)

Then he asked if she had a rheumatologist.

Yep, she told me to go see a hand surgeon.

And he asked me to explain Cowden’s Syndrome.

But, at least he, 40 years older than the other doctor, had the decency to take out his iphone5 and google it.

I gave the beautifully written letter from our PT.  It explained everything so clearly.

Pause… Pause… Obvious think time for the doctor.

“I don’t know what to tell you.”

EXCUSE ME?

” I am sorry I wasted your time.”

That was it.  No request that we come back.  No suggestion on what to do next.  Pay the Copay (AGAIN!) and leave.

So when we got to the car Meghan and I were both agitated.  Rightfully so.  She is so frustrated.  8 weeks plus, and she doesn’t have the range of motion in her wrist.  She was so angry.  How is it that these medical professionals keep turning her away with no answers and still in pain?

I told her she was entitled to a fit.  She is above that.  She got angry for a bit, then frustrated.  But I have definitely had many worse fits this summer alone.

Then,  she said, “You know what Mom?  They are all Donkey Butts!  All these doctors that can’t fix anything, and keep wasting our time and your money- that’s what they are- DONKEY BUTTS!”

I spend a good deal of time working with her on appropriate language for a lady.  But I almost had to pull over in hysterics from laughing so hard.  I think she nailed it – politely and accurately.

Round three Monday 10 AM in Manhattan.