In 2003, Ma had a stroke. Dad was her full time caregiver until he he had a car accident that totaled the car. So in 2006, I became their chauffeur among other jobs.
At the time, to deal with the stress of running two households and working, I kept a blog entitled CJ's Whine and Cheeze. Egged on by some friends who enjoyed the first read through, you'll see your part when it comes by.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Waiting
Yesterday, took Ma and Dad to the doctor's office. I was hoping the doc would be on time as I needed to be out for the afternoon run to driver training and school pick up. Ma was ready, waiting, and half way out the door when I arrived.
We were 15 minutes early for their appointment, and Ma was hoping the doctor would take them early. The waiting room is set up like a bus station with two rows of seats facing each other. Nearly every seat was taken. Blew Ma's idea about the doctor seeing them early. Ma and I found two seats at one end of the room, and Dad took a seat by himself at the other.
The med tech saw me and said, "Are you here again?" (Since the Weebles have a doctor for every toe, we were there two weeks ago to see the heart toe. Yesterday's appointment was to see the primary care toe.) Two weeks ago, the med tech and I had an OPD Support Meeting. "So, how's it going?" she asked. "The same. You?" "Same." We both laughed. She was busy so I couldn't chit chat with her.
After ten minutes, she looked out from the lab area, "Wow, they're really quiet today." Ma had nodded off in her chair, and Dad was reading a magazine. "Oh," she said, "You have them separated." I winked.
Their first appoitment came and went. Their second appoinment came and went. They weren't called until a half hour after the first appointment. Why can't doctors keep their appointments? It's so rude. Makes me want to send the doctor a bill for the wait time, and then a denial to pay from the insurance company.
We were there almost an hour and a half just for them to have their blood pressure taken. Still, I got them there and back and made it home in plenty of time for the afternoon run.
I realize that medical care should take a bit of time, but it seems doctors think nothing of letting your sit for a long time in the waiting room. Never mind they need you there 15 minutes early. But if you are even a little bit late, they send you packing. It doesn't seem quite right to me.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I want to send them a bill for my time
DeleteYou look back now and wonder how you managed to keep all the balls in the air at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have been able to if I didn't have Himself helping.
DeleteUgh......Dr's......or should I say Dr's OFFICES....don't get me started! 😠
ReplyDeleteNo, get started! 🤣
DeleteI had a doctor where I always was to call an hour before the app and mostly was told to come in an hour later and I still had to wait an hour. And usually I´m done in minutes.... I read ya...
ReplyDeleteThat's so annoying.
DeleteNothing has changed, with wait times in Doctors' offices.
ReplyDeleteNope.
Deletewow, I admire what all you had to do with your parents. My mom passed early when I was 35 and dad remarried a few times and when his time came his third wife took care of him. My part in all of this was loading my kids into the van and driving to Tombstone Arizona to see him at times. Then they moved to Idaho in the last year and I only saw him once while he was in hospice. My husband's parents also needed no help from us as they both were taken care of. Hats off to you. I got a little experience when helping with my sis after her stroke and then helping with her husband w/Alzheimers. These times were difficult but I'm glad I experienced them.
ReplyDeleteThere were times when I wished I could have walked away, but my parents were so good to me, us, I just couldn't
Deletei get the feeling - ...but good parents deserve the care their kids give them when needed.
Delete