I had an appointment this morning with a new doctor... not because anything is wrong, but I need prescriptions refilled for insomnia. I followed my usual pre-appointment routine - feeling the heft of each piece of clothing before I put it on so I will weigh the least possible amount (stupid, I know).

I purposefully chose a woman doctor, who was recommended by a neighbor, at the very close by UT Physicians clinic. My doctor in Heber was a woman and I just felt more comfortable discussing all my issues with her. So imagine my disappointment when a third year male medical student came in to do the basic exam and get all my information. He seemed more nervous than I was disappointed, so I did my best to put him at ease and it went well.

When the doctor came in, she clearly explained that she was not happy with the medications I'm taking because they're not beneficial for "the elderly." I explained that I'd been taking them for at least five years with no side effects and I only take them at night and they help me sleep. I went on to discuss the past 10 years of my life and the situation with Mom. I wanted to say that she had dementia which caused her to forget that she couldn't walk and so she would frequently try to get out of bed during the night. But that with the help of a baby monitor, I always heard her and never had problems waking up. Sadly, as I embarked on this narrative, I couldn't remember the word for dementia. So I started giggling and asked, "What's the word for people who can't remember?" I was still laughing as she calmly replied, "Alzheimer's." But at that point I regained my composure and brain power and said, "No, it's dementia."

Both the med student and the doctor asked me who I lived with (that's a first), to which I replied both times, "My two dogs." She then went on to prescribe two different antidepressants for anxiety and to help me sleep. I told her that I'm not depressed, but she insisted they will help me sleep. So I'll try them for a month and see how it goes. Regardless of whether or not I like the two meds, I'm pretty sure I'm going to find a new doctor... with a sense of humor.