February 12, 2009

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  For someone who is supposed to be resting, I’ve sure been busy today!

  I got to my appointment today at 11am to fill out paperwork for my 11:30am appointment.  The filling out took about 15 – 20 minutes, then I saw someone we used to attend church with who has just started volunteering at the clinic as a nurse.  We chatted and caught up with our news.  That made the time go by quicker – for me . . . but it crawled for the girls.  They said the “playroom” in the reception area was geared for younger children – so they sat with me the WHOLE TIME.

  I say “whole time” because I was not called in until 12:25pm!  They (my friend, the nurse) took my vital signs, asked more questions, and then we were made to wait until an exam room was available.  As the time inched closer to 1pm, we finally got an exam room.  The P.A. came in immediately and spent an unbelievable amount of time with me.  I had a bunch of useful information, like my recent doctor visit & lab work results, prescription info, etc.   They will try to help me get my asthma inhaler for free ($200/month if paying cash!).  The P.A. said if I wasn’t better Monday, she would call in a different antibiotic.  All I have to do is call the clinic.  I asked for some lidocaine to numb my throat because I’ve lost 3 or 4 pound since Monday.  No wonder!  I can’t eat!  I’m becoming dehydrated but I should be able to drink and eat with no problem after my throat is numbed.

  Oh!  And, that raw flesh I felt and thought I saw . . . it was.  I had five white spots in my throat on Monday and those are gone.  They said I had craters or holes in my throat where those spots had probably once been.  My guess that I had coughed so hard when choking on my saliva was accurate.  She thought I had blown off the protective covering leaving these holes (or maybe she called them “craters”) on my tonsil area.  She said, “No wonder your throat is so sore!”

  I left there at 2:00pm – a long time for an appointment that should have started at 11:30 and didn’t until 12:30!  But I was satisfied that they really cared about me and my needs.  PLUS, a man brought the girls a bowl of fruit – some orange and apple wedges as we were almost ready to leave.  Just an ALL AROUND nice place!

  We came home and I picked up Burger King burgers & milk shakes for Rissy and Annamarie and Burger King chicken nuggets for Luci.  They split fries.  I had my usual – Ramen noodles with an egg cracked in it  (rolling my eyes)  which was VERY hard to swallow.

  After lunch, I had to find a pharmacy that carried the xylocaine viscous mixture.  We just got back from the pharmacy at 4pm.  I’m exhausted and WILL go lie down and read.  Don’t know about dinner.  I’m hoping I’ll be able to eat.  A real meal sounds WONDERFUL!

  So, another medical person has classified me as a strep carrier.  I will always test negative, but definite carry and spread the strep bacterium from one person to another.  Weird, I know.  I guess it’s one of those things I can claim as part of my uniqueness!

  Oh!  The breast exam went well.  The big rope-like mass I’ve had since Labor Day is probably all fibrous, just as I suspected; but, it qualifies me for a free mammogram.  Aren’t I just the luckiest?!!!

  Gotta go hit the bed.

  Be Blessed  ~

  • 5:15 pm
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