I had my first appointment today, and felt very comforted by Dr. Ashley. He is a very kind, patient Dr. I honestly don’t know of another dr that has shaken my hand (pre or post COVID), yet he did! He took his time, allowed me to ask questions, gave me detailed answers. He is the first doctor to finally make me feel heard. I can’t count the amount of times I have felt dismissed unbeliever, called a hypochondriac by one doctor, another implied I may have a pain med addiction. Dr. Classen would feel certain areas and tell me I’m probably feeling a specific pain, and every time he was dead on correct. I’m very excited to see what the next few appointments will do.
Now I will say that while his staff is all very friendly, there were a few things that I felt sketchy about. The furniture has a very 80’s vibe (purple/pink suede like couches).. I know it’s a little silly, but that’s the first impression. Also the nurse several times would ask me questions in first person rather than second person.. example “What pain are we feeling? how long have we been feeling that”. It made me feel like I was being spoken to like a child. I also would say the pain that I was experience, and felt like different answers were being put down, because she would sort of talk out loud while typing the answers.. I would have to say, “ well yes, that hurts, but so does..”. I also didn’t like that as soon as you are called back, you sit in a chair directly behind the ladies at the front desk, so patients can hear you, and you are asked why you came today and blood pressure is taken.. I feel that we should not have to give that information in the presence of the staff that are not our nurses/doctors, but esp. where patients can hear potential embarrassing conversations.. But overall the staff and esp. Doctor Classen were very kind and patient!
