Waiting.. Waiting.. You Get the Picture

I know I have been talking about the doctors’ visits and such a lot lately. Hopefully, that is where our daily lives have taken us the most in the last couple of months. It seems like every single time one sees a doctor, they have another test or specialist that they need to see. I had spent so much time at the heart clinic that they knew me by name. I mean, in my doctor’s office, I just walk in and even with that mask on, they always say they have me checked in. Sitting in these places has really begun to affect me, though.

I always hate sitting and waiting at any office or hospital. I have no idea why, but it drives me up a wall. However, sitting in a doctor’s or hospital waiting room is the worst. If there is a television, it is always on either a medical channel or a new channel. Sometimes you might get the weather. I realize they have to be family-friendly and try to make everyone happy, but some of the reports are so depressing. The one time there was something interesting on that I was watching, an older man rolled up in front of the television in his wheelchair and changed the channel. I wanted to scream, but, of course, I just said nothing. I mean, dang dude! I was that!

At the heart clinic, I sometimes sit and watch the people in the cardiac rehabilitation room. It is glassed in, and I must say, the expressions some of them have as they exercise are comical. I’m not making fun of anyone, I promise. I can only imagine how I will look when I am in there. But there is this one guy who is always so serious. Liek’s expression never changes, and he looks as though he is competing for some sort of award. He moves fast and does a great job. I don’t know how long he has been going, but his monitor never goes off.

While there is a lady who is there sometimes who I swear looks like she is headed for a heart attack or stroke. She hasn’t been in five minutes and she is pouring sweat and the nurse is walking behind her like she is going to fall over. I commend her for all of her effort, but she worries me. I can’t seem to look away when she is in there. I don’t know if it is because I am worried she is going to fall over or what. Like I said, I probably don’t look any better. I have to stop multiple times and try to catch my breath.

I spend so much time in these places that I now pack my purse or tote depending on where we are going. If we are going to the clinic, the hospital, the cancer center, or my cariologist, then I bring my bigger tote filled with books, a tablet, and maybe a snack or two. Those places take the longest as far as wait times go. We could be waiting for a good hour before we ever get to the back. If it is our primary doctor or the dermatoloist, then I can bring a smaller bag. In those places, we barely sit down in the waiting room and they are calling us back.

You would think with all of this waiting, I would have so much patience. I don’t! I check us in on the apps, which lets me sign any paperwork as well. That way, at the clinic or hospital, when we go in, all they have to do is put on little bracelets. I can pay within the app as well, which helps. I will say that if the waiting drives me crazy, then waiting for referrals and test results is brutal. If the doctor says I will give you a referral, I would rather they just tell me to make an appointment with whomever. Waiting for the referral to be processed through their system drives me up the wall. It leaves me far too much time to Google why I may need to see said specialist and what could be wrong. 

Just an FYI, there is never anything good when I Google. Cancer or a tumor are the two things that come up the most. I mean, good grief, maybe they could pick something else. Waiting on test results is just as bad. Why does it always seem to take so long? It’s like they need you to go through all of the worst possible thoughts and emotions only to call and tell you that you are fine.