waiting is an action too.

“wait: the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something);”

Taking more “action” this week. Besides working, working out and shipping off some free paperbackswap books, I got some more health related actions out of the way on Monday and Tuesday:

Monday – FavoriteSon’s appointment with the allergist. Two levels of skin testing. Basically poking him with allergens and waiting to see how he reacts. The appointment started almost on time at 12:45 p.m. and we left at 2:50 p.m. Results suggest he’s allergic to oak and mold. He’s continuing his anti-biotic for the infection, but with Allegra AND Singulair, he is symptom free!! His symptoms usually plague him from October to February, so we’ll see what he can cut down on in March. But FINALLY. Answers! And an effective treatment!

My endometrial biopsy was scheduled for 3:15 p.m. and I barely made it to my doctor’s office. Of course they didn’t call for me until 4:10 p.m. With all the medical tests and doctor appointments I’ve been having lately, I anticipated the waiting. I had a book. The procedure wasn’t even as bad as I thought it would be. I had managed to completely block it out of my mind until the night before, but that was still enough time for me to dread it. I did my research so I knew what to expect and I took 4, yes 4 ibuprofen tablets before the appointment. I know, it was probably overkill. Big whoop. Biopsy results not in yet.

Tuesday – Mammogram (okay ladies. due for one? GET one. no excuses. Just GET one. It’s not that bad.)

The worst thing for me was the wait. And it wasn’t even the actual wait. Remember, I anticipated the waiting. I still had my book. The worst part was the television shows in the waiting rooms. The main waiting room was showing “Bizarre Foods” and I will spare you the details. I’ll just tell you that in this particular episode the host congratulated a small Asian woman for “cooking the only food that ever beat me” as he put it. eww. and again. ewwwww.

The second waiting room was playing a soap opera. Like fingernails on a chalkboard. I was trying to read, really I was, but everyone was so emotional and there was crying and indigent verbal lashing and audible thought bubbles . . . aaaaah!!! I actually LEFT the woman’s waiting room, WEARING the smock (with my jeans and shoes too) to sit in the HALLWAY to escape the groaning and gnashing of teeth (my own). The technician had to hunt me down. They need pagers like restaurants.

All this took place from 1:45 p.m. (my actual appointment time) and 3:10 p.m. (the time of the actual mammogram.) I’m not going to get all upset about the waiting, though. I figure if someone takes their time with the patients ahead of me, they will take that same amount of care and time with me. Right? That’s my theory anyway.

The only thing I hate about the wait is the lack of communication. PinkGirl’s carpool is over at 3:00 p.m. but if I pick her up before 3:30 p.m. I don’t get charged for after care. This Tuesday, she was in pod casting club until 4:00 p.m. so it was no big deal. But when I know I’m going to be late on a regularly scheduled day, I can make arrangements for her brother or another parent to get her for me and save me the $8.00.

I try to make people aware of the communication issue without complaining. Yesterday, when the technician brought me back to the smock/soap opera room, it was 2:40 p.m. and when I saw two people ahead of me, I asked her if I should go ahead an make arrangements for someone to pick up my kids from school. I knew I didn’t need it that particular day, but I wanted her to be aware that information is helpful. She brushed me off initially, but when she came to get me, she apologized and I told her not to worry about it, I already took care of it. She apologized again and I told her that I didn’t really mind the wait, it was the not knowing that was the problem. (And the soap opera). Who knows, maybe she’ll communicate delays to patients in the future.

I’m still carrying a book in my purse. And I’m going to keep taking action, doing what I need to do.