It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life."
Thank you Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!
A friend (a peer) jokes that we’ve reached the age where our conversations invariably become an ‘organ recital.’ I guess Day 23 of the SOLSC challenge leads me to this tiresome topic, lol.
My dermatologist had me follow up with the dermatologic surgeon, for a routine cyst removal – due to its irritating location at the center of my back. I feel so grateful that only a minor procedure was required and I do not have skin cancer or any other complications.
I was able to set up an appointment before leaving the dermatologist’s office, pleased at how straightforward this whole process was.
Not.
Two weeks later, I received a message that this appointment had to be canceled, because the surgeon was not available on the scheduled date. Unfortunately, this schedule change could not be handled by the practice’s portal – please call the office at my earliest convenience. This brief message was followed by a maddening, long game of phone tag with the receptionist, lasting several weeks. I’m not kidding. When we finally connected (I was in the middle of a visit from a friend, and I rudely interrupted our conversation to grab the phone), I was given an appointment for May – a date that was almost six months after that first visit with the dermatologist. The receptionist explained that they sometimes have cancellations, and she would call me, if so. Thank goodness I am retired and have ‘flexibility’ to bend with this unpredictability.
Yesterday afternoon, I received such a call – and this morning I went for the ‘minor procedure.’
The cyst ended up being bigger than anticipated, and the process more grueling than I had imagined. I had to be given extra anesthesia. I was curious, and the doctor let me see the cyst when it was removed. UGH. Consider yourselves lucky that this slice is photograph-free!
I received a whole litany of restrictions afterwards, which I have to observe until the stitches are removed in two weeks. I won’t be lifting our two year old granddaughter, for one. I guess I should have asked more questions about the procedure beforehand – not simply the schedule.
To health!
Maureen,
OMG! Think about how that cyst would have grown had you been required to wait two more months. The wait times are crazy, and the inefficiency of scheduling horrifying. I imagine you’re awaiting biopsy results, too, that complicate the stress and anxiety. Yours is the second post I’ve read today about the horrors of our medical industrial complex.
Thanks for your supportive words, Glenda!
To health! Oh, the flexible scheduling needed for visits. I think I’ve met my deductible out of pocket part already this year in a head scan and EKG alone for what may end up being Long Covid brain fog. I feel your pain (well, some of it) on this, Maureen, and I sure wish you a speedy recovery. I’m sorry you can’t lift the baby. Hopefully you can lift a book and do some reading and enjoy some writing time in the coming days. Feel better and heal stronger!
Thank you, Kim!
Yes, to health! Maureen, “organ recitals” made me laugh–what a great introduction. The phone tag sounds irksome, to be sure. And then the cyst. Yikes! I laughed again when you said, “Consider yourselves lucky that this slice is photograph-free!” I do!
I hope you have a great issue-free two-week recovery time. I hope little Bird will understand when you can’t pick her up for those weeks.