OT: May Chit Chat

[Howie]

Virginia, I like rainy days too. But the forecast is calling for rain everyday for a week or more. We'll see how much I like the rain then.

[Sunshine]

Losing jewelry is so hard. Heartsick is a good word for it. Jewelry is like part if family, especially heirlooms

[Sunshine]

IVIG was all day today. Done.

[agate]

I was scheduled to go to a routine doctor's appointment today but am glad in a way that it didn't happen.

I'd already had the lab work that was to be discussed at the appointment.

I was going to ask the doctor about the new shingles vaccine and about whether there should be an occasional check of my vitamin D level since I'm taking 5,000IU daily. Most of all, I was counting on this doctor visit for a diabetic foot exam--required so I can get diabetic shoes, which are needed just now as I've had some foot problems probably related to improper shoes.

The podiatrist appointment is in early June. I needed to have this primary care doctor's chart notes on record before then.

Yesterday it occurred to me that I really ought to call that clinic and make sure that they realize I need a diabetic foot exam. The MyChart information tells me it's overdue but nobody has said anything about it otherwise. So I called.

The person on the phone said, "That appointment for Wednesday no longer exists."

I had already made several calls just to arrange for rides to/from the appointment and had rearranged a number of things to make room for it. Ride cancellations aren't appreciated, of course.

My regular primary care doctor has been on leave for several months, returning in July (supposedly). I had been given the name of her replacement doctor and was scheduled to see her today.

But yesterday I learned that she wasn't there, wasn't going to be there, and they had no idea why I hadn't been notified. If I hadn't decided to call yesterday, I'd have gone there today and been told I had no appointment, and had to go back home and return again some other time.

This person was going to try to find some way I could be seen today. Yesterday passed with no call from her. Late in the afternoon I called her, only to learn that they were "still looking."

I suggested rescheduling instead. So now I'm going in for another appointment and having to reschedule rides, and they gave me another doctor's name.

I keep having this happen. I had an excellent doctor in Tacoma for over 20 years but she was often out for a year or more because she had a bad leg--and there was a leave so she could look after her sister who had cancer.

Then here I had an excellent doctor but she was often out for many months with breast cancer. She returned and seemed better but decided to move away.

I've been with this new doctor for a couple of years now but she's now on maternity leave.

Doctors do have ill family members and their own illnesses and do have babies. I seem to have had quite a few doctors who aren't around much.

Still, it encourages me to stay away from doctors since I never know if I even have one.

[Pegakafarmgirl]

Agate,,i think you r so right,,, happens to me too,,Cherie I hope u find w hat is lost,,

so I went to my doc , he removed the cast, and put a Velcro wrap, /on it,,healing good,, 3 weeks stiches come out

weather finally is warm and sunny ,farmers have yet to plant in our area southern iowa has though

later then,,

[agate]

Wow, getting rid of the cast! Congratulations! I'm sure you're very glad not to be in it. We should all have autographed your cast but you were out of it before we had a chance.

[stillstANNding]

Agate, you must have been furious to find out that that appointment, "no longer exists." Or at least very frustrated. Sorry that happened. Again.

ANN

[SuzE-Q]

Glad you found out before making your way there, agate!

Peg - yay! You must be a fast healer.

Howie, how's your BP been since the med change?

Cat - hope your enjoying the quietude and me-time!

ANN, I love making grilled salmon or chicken caesar salads, but I figured you probably wanted something more substantial than that.

Jeanie, hope you are ant-free now!

Virginia, how is Comey's book?

[Howie]

SuzE-Q, the BP med is doing fine. I see my doctor again next month.

[Sunshine]

That stinks agate. “That appt no longer exists”. Whatever happened to, “I am so sorry we forgot to call you to reschedule. Let’s do that now”

Good news on healing Peg

[agate]

Agate, you must have been furious to find out that that appointment, "no longer exists." Or at least very frustrated. Sorry that happened. Again.

ANN

I'm afraid it's par for the course. It's irritating that nobody ever sent me an e-mail or called.

Cat, did you progress on the dollhouses while TomCat was away?

Cherie, I too am pessimistic about the return of the missing jewelry. Any payment from the insurance company won't begin to make up for actually having the items you treasured.

[Lazarus]

Agate,
I ahave given doctors offices my cell number and now get phone reminders of appointments. Just computer calls but it is very useful.

[Howie]

That's one thing my doctor's office does that's nice, is they call me a day, sometimes two days, before I have an appointment to remind me, and make sure I'm going to come. And a real person makes the call, not a machine.

[Virginia]

Agate, all my Doctors make calls a day or two before my appointment. Now that you have told this story I am sure glad they do. I would have been really ticked off if that had happened to me. If you had taken a ride there and then back only to be told you didn't have an appointment with that Doctor would be really bad.

Peg, wow I am so impressed! You must be a fast healer, or are you just itching to get back on that horse as soon as you can.

Suze-Q, the book has been completed for a long time and I am now on my third since then. I hope I don't forget what I wanted to say before I get around to saying it. I just haven't been feeling very well for awhile and I tend to put things off that I shouldn't.

Howie, the rain has not been hard today, but it has been cloudy all day. I am still not tired of it.

[Catdancer]

For the first time in my 71 years, I like all of my doctors --primary care, neurologist, urologist, wound care/surgeon, dentist.....their offices all call a day or two in advance to verify their appointment; all take same day emergency appointments, all have knowledgeable nurse practioners, all treat me with respect, answer my questions, address my concerns.

In the past it was more that I'd be happy with one but not another. Or I'd run into doctors who ignored me. Or talked down to me.

These new guys are great.