Foster care screwed me — I am a medical mystery

Next week I goto the endocrinologist because I have something wrong with my thyroid.

This afternoon I checked my mailbox.  Usually I only get bills or nothing; so sometimes I dont even bother looking.  But today I got this big envelope that was stuffed inside my box.  I was scared at first, because it looked official and I had some brief panic about my safety.  I read the return address it said  ____ Medical Associates.

I took the envelope into the kitchen.  Inside there was a brief letter and four pages of paper, stapled together on the top left corner.

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“Dear LT (but my real name),

You are scheduled for an appointment on September 28, 2011 at 10:30 AM with Dr. W____.    In order to help us understand your medical history, treatment history, and family history of disease, please fill out the included forms as thoroughly as possible.  The more detail that you can provide, the better understanding of your health and your medical concerns we will have.  Please bring the completed forms to your appointment.

If you have any questions,  contact us at (xxx) xxx-xxxx.

_____ Medical Associates

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After rereading the note, I looked at the forms that were included:

The first page seemed fine. It required (a) general information about me, (b) information about my current symptoms, and (c) information about my current physical and psychiatric conditions, treatment, and medications.

The second page got harder.  It required (a) past illnesses or injuries and (b) treatment received for those listed in part (a)

(I never know how to answer these types of questions…Do I talk about childhood events or just events as an adult (after 18)?  Why does it matter?)

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