Bumps, bruises, and annoying doctors

Here is a play-by-play of our last two weeks:

At a playdate (pool party) I discover a strange, bruised lump near Ian's belly button that wasn't there before. I watch it for a few days and put in a call to his surgeon in Montana to see if it may be related to the umbilical hernia surgery he had in September.

Don't hear back from the doctor, so decide I had better call and make an appointment with his doctor here. I call on a Thursday, explain that there is a weird lump and that he has had surgery in the vicinity and I would like to have him seen SOON. Closest appointment is the following Monday morning. Fine, I take it, continue to watch belly button.

Over the weekend, lump changes colors. Is now bright red with a purplish black center.

Appointment on Monday. Nurse brings us back, asks us typical questions. I mention again that he has had surgery. Doesn't seem concerned. Doc comes in, looks, says it looks like an infected bug bite and she is wondering about MRSA (resistent staph infection), prescribes special antibiotic, says to come back on Thursday. "Meeting" lasts a whopping 2-3 minutes.

Tuesday or Wednesday I realize that I might not have mentioned surgery to doctor. I know I told the appointment clerk and nurse, but did I tell the doctor? Hmmm...

Thursday, we go back. Not much change in lump, Ian still on antibiotics. Doc decides he should see a surgeon to make sure lump doesn't need to be removed. Tells me I will hear from Tricare in about seven days and to make a follow up with her for after antibiotics are done (since he won't see a surgeon before then). As she is walking out the door, I mention his surgery. She says "You didn't tell us that". I say, "I told your nurse, but couldn't remember if I told you". She claims (probably correctly) that I didn't. She is now worried that it could be related to the surgery, a complication or ruptured suture. Seems upset at me for not mentioning surgery before (we'll pretend I didn't mention it twice...)

Now we wait to hear from Tricare. Things get complicated when your hubby gets out of the military and medical records end up all over the planet. I requested his surgery records a couple of weeks ago, but they had to send me the written request, I had to fill it out and send it back, now they have to send the records to me...you know. Red tape. Although, honestly, I don't know that his records would have made much difference considering how fast she blows in and out of an exam room.