Adventures in the Health Center

Yeah urgent care sucks. I went and checked in at the information booth and was sent to urgent care because that was the best they could do for me by 1pm. So I took it because the pain in my ear was getting worse.

It took me about 30 minutes before my name was called to get papers to fill out about family history and personal history (i.e have I ever had cancer, liver disease, alcoholism? -no to all). After that it was another 20-30 minutes before a nurse called me back to take my vitals. I didn't think it would be too long after that before I got called back to see the doctor.

But it was. I sat through an entire episode of 'General Hospital' they had playing and went into the talk show on after before I was called to see a doctor. Over an hour to see a doctor. Then when they called me, it was 15 minutes before he came in the room.

So when he finally came in, he asked what the receptionist asked me when I went to fill out the paperwork, "How are you doing today?", to which I respond "Not so good", obviously...why else would I be there? For fun? So he asked me some questions, which he could of found out himself if he read my chart. But no, he wanted to ask me himself, and he spoke softly, or at least it was soft to me, and then he said "Oh I'm sorry. You can't hear me very well can you?" and I was like "No, I can't". And he looked at my throat and listened to me breathe and was like "Well you don't have strep throat. I'll look at your ears now". No doctor I don't have strep doctor, I have an ear infection and I know it and I want my prescription so I can go get my drugs and start to feel better. Then he told me the drug he was giving me and it was what I was expecting.

That long of a wait sucked. I was in the waiting room in tears because I was in so much pain, but I have a low threshold for pain so, it doesn't take much. And when the doctor asked me to tell him what was wrong I said it sad and pitifully, in hopes he felt bad about taking so long to come in. I don't think it made much of a difference though.

Oh and one more thing, why was everyone so cheerful? The receptionist said "How are you today?" Me: 'Not good' Receptionist: "I'm sorry honey". Then there was that whole issue with doctor asking that. Then in the pharmacy, the woman I gave my slip to was like "How are you today? *looks at prescription* Oh not so good I see" and then she went on to ask if I had ever been there before and I said no, so she wrote 'New' on my slip. And looked at my info and said "Oh! Your birthday is coming up! How exciting!" Yes. It is thrilling. Just give me my drugs now. I know, they are just trying to be nice and kind, and they were, but when you feel rotten, their cheerful attitudes are kind of annoying.

So the lesson of the day here kids is this- If you decide to get sick, do it at a convienent time, and call ahead with appointments. None of this sudden illness stuff. Otherwise you will spend 2 1/2 hours of your life surrounded by people with all sorts of other germs which you might catch just sitting there. Yuck.