Thursday, July 13, 2017

When the Planets Align

When the planets align, then it is the right time, things that haven't budged for weeks and months suddenly fall into place just like that and we have results!

Today, I had an appointment with my Physician Assistant.  She asked me how I was and I told her I was frustrated about my inability to receive the authorization for the medication refills and told her what happened.  She apologized for the mess with the medications.  According to her, there was nothing in the file about the pharmacy's requests, and the lady I spoke with who told me that the system didn't show me receiving one of my medications, actually worked next door!  Excuse me?  Why would someone who worked next door answer your phones?  The implication she was making was I had called the wrong number.  I was able to tell her the clinic's number which I called and she was surprised that I had it memorized!  Yes, I don't know my own cell phone number by memory, but I have memorized the clinic's number! 

She said, in the future, to leave her a message, or ask for the office manager (who wasn't in the office, today), or to show up in person.  OK, I'll do that in the future.  But, today, I made sure to ask her for new authorizations on all my medications and she said she will send them electronically to the pharmacy.  I stopped at the pharmacy on my way home in the evening and had the pharmacist check the computer system and yes, they have received them.  One medication was available for me to pick up today but the others will be ready tomorrow (except for one, which is not due for a refill yet).

After my appointment with the Physician Assistant was over, I went to the office for half an hour or so, to discuss some work matters with my supervisor. 

Then, it was time to go for my appointment with the radiation oncologist.  I complained to his nurse and him about the ultrasound that was authorized but the hospital wouldn't do without a mammogram and the mammogram that wasn't processed because the ultrasound was authorized and someone confused the two.  He thought it was a bunch of nonsense, had his nurse call the hospital, marked the area he wanted scanned and sent me across the plaza to the hospital to be scanned!
 
I had to wait for a little bit, since I was a "walk-in" patient, but I didn't mind the wait, at all.  After waiting more than two months, what was another hour or two?  I was eventually scanned!  The technician had me wait until she checked with the radiologist to see that the pictures were clear enough for him to "read" them; apparently they were.  I was told that the results will be available in about a week or so. I have a follow up appt. with the radiation oncologist in 2 weeks' time.  He should have the results by then.

I was at the hospital until after 4:30 p.m.  It was too late to return to the office.  I came home, going to the pharmacy on my way home to check on the refills and stopping to buy some dinner, as I was hungry.  

And just like that, the recent medical drama was resolved over the course of the day!  I will, eventually, get a mammogram done, but for now, the ultrasound should be enough.  Depending on what the results indicate, there might be other  procedures and tests, but for now, things have been accomplished.

After I came home, I felt too tired to do anything. I had a phone call from my aunt and a friend, I video chatted with my daughter, and exchanged emails with a friend.

Today, I was grateful for:
- My medications have been reauthorized!
- My ultrasound scan has been done!
- Helpful clinic staff 
- Validated parking
- The planets aligning!
 
How was your day, today?  Have you ever experienced a time when the planets aligned for you?  
 
 

17 comments:

  1. Oh my word, Bless, that's wonderful news! See? Next time, please don't hesitate to discuss the problems with the person who is most likely to help resolve the issues right away. If it takes you driving there and demanding to speak with the office manager or the physician, so be it. It's your health and your life you're talking about, not some mix-up with the wrong size of bed (*wink). I'm so relieved for you that all of this is finally straightened out and I hope you get good results from the ultrasound. Now, remind me, it's been so long... it was to check on that inflammation you were still experiencing, right?

    I hope you have another great day today, Bless!

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    1. Thank you, Nathalie. (I have read your last two posts, but need to comment!) Actually, I didn't even think the radiation oncologist could help with the ultrasound as it was a different doctor (oncologist) who had requested it! I was just updating the nurse (who was checking me in prior to being seen by the doctor) and telling her that I was upset by all the delays. She was upset on my behalf and took it upon herself to call the oncologist's office, get a copy of the referral authorization faxed to her and informed the radiation oncologist what had happened! So he asked me what was going on and I told him and next thing I knew, he and the nurse had fixed matters for me. I need to bake them a zucchini bread or something when I go for my next visit. That nurse was so kind and willing to go the extra step for me and the doctor, too. I could have hugged them both, but I hugged the technician, instead! :D

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    2. Oh, I forgot - it was to check on the small lump or "nodule" as they called it, that can be felt. It might be scar tissue from the surgery, but, these days, I am a little distrustful of any lumps!

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    3. I hope you'll take the time to contact whoever is the nurse's boss and explain how she went out of her way to make sure everything was resolved for you and how she helped solve a series of very frustrating problems for you, even though it wasn't even her job, technically. She deserves recognition (and a raise!), that's for sure. Knowing that you appreciated her help with the zucchini bread would be great too, but these days I think recognition from your employer is even more powerful. Well, that's my 2 cents. I'm sure the tech appreciated the hug too, LOL!

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    4. That is a very good suggestion, Nathalie. However, I will want to ascertain that doing so will not get her into trouble for bypassing the hospital's red tape and protocol, etc.! I shall ask the doctor if it would be OK to do so! It has been my experience that "no good deed goes unpunished"! Don't ask me how I know! LOL! The recognition one sometimes receives for going out of ones way isn't necessarily the kind of recognition one would want and raises are determined by factors other than the work one does.

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  2. Agree with what Nathalie said - such a huge relief on so many counts. No wonder you felt tired out once you did get home.

    I thought of you last night when I was still wide awake at 12:30 am - finally dropped off and wide awake and up as usual at 5:30 am - I do not feel very energetic so have been watching tennis at Wimbledon and reading on my IPad.

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    1. Oh, Sandy, I hope you will be able to sleep better, tonight! I am glad you were able to take it easy during the day. I was still up at 3:00 a.m. I woke up once at 5:30 a.m., but went back to sleep. Then, didn't want to wake up when the alarm went off!

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  3. So happy that this was cleared up..Praying for you.

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  4. Finally! I'm so happy for the day you had even if it were tiring. Has the weather cooled off some to make a very good day a great one?

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    1. Thank you, Live and Learn. Yes, it has cooled off to the 90s (although it was 102F this afternoon). We will be back in the 100+ over the weekend, according to the forecast, however.

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  5. An exhausting day for you but thankfully a productive one. I'm so pleased things have finally moved forward. Fingers crossed your results come quickly now. X

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    1. Thank you, Jules. I am planning to call the doctor's office, next week, to see if the results are in.

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  6. I'm so glad you were able to get that straightened out, Bless! I hope that your providers are motivated to ensure things are correct going forward, too!

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    1. Thank you, Laura. We shall live in hope! :D

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  7. I'm so glad you've finally got everything sorted out Bless. There is a time for giving people the benefit of the doubt and a time to speak up for yourself because nobody else will. Today was obviously your day :) xx

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    1. Thank you, Suzanne. From now on, my name is going to be Squeaky Wheel! :D

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