9/11 - not this year

For most of yesterday, I didn't think I was going to be able to have my appointment with the oncologist here after all the hair pulling and phone conversations. I got a call at 8 am from the scheduling secretary telling me that they didn't have any of my records from either Illinois or Connecticut. Arrrrgh!

I got out my list of times and days I had contacted both them and the other places, whom I had spoken with, what people told me. The woman was brand new in her job. When I read through the litany of what had already transpired, she was aghast. She couldn't believe there were no records there after all that.

So she took the information *again* about sending a fax to Yale and told me she would call them right away. If they couldn't get the records from them that day though, they would have to reschedule me. Sigh. There is nothing I can do about this, so I just left it in the Lord's hands and went to work. First a couple of hours at the church setting up this week's music. Then to the Library Grand Opening ribbon cutting followed by a celebration luncheon of wonderful treats.

When I was finally able to think about other things, I tried to call the clinic and see if they had made any progress. I couldn't get through. All lines were busy. About this time, my prayer sounded like, "OK, Lord, this is silly. It would be a whole lot simpler if you would just touch me and make me well and I could stop all this tail chasing and get down to the really important thing." Smile. So I began plowing through the morning email to take care of what I could before starting my evening shift on the reference desk (I have the 5pm to 9pm Monday shift).

Just as I was going on desk, my cell phone rang. It was the secretary at the clinic. They had managed just at that moment to get my Connecticut paperwork, so I could keep my appointment.

Thank goodness! I found the place OK despite not having gotten their pack of information. It was easy to park and quick to get there. I was surprised at how few people were in line to check in. Most of the places I have been have had lines to check in, and lots of people sitting around waiting to be called back.

I had barely finished the paperwork when the called me back to get vitals. Normally you get moved to a second waiting area after that piece, but this place put me right in the room. "The doctor will be in directly," the receptionist told me. Yeah, right. They say that, and then its an hour wait.

But lo and behold, the doctor came in less than ten minutes. Wow! She was extremely personable and paid attention to what I told her. She took down the information, and I believed her when she said she would make sure I didn't get any IVP dye to which I am highly allergic (the Dr at Yale had to be told that every single time I saw him).


She sized up the situation, did a preliminary check and manual exam, ordered bloodwork, a PET scan, an MRI, and a colonoscopy within minutes of our conversation. She stepped out of the room for a minute to check doctor schedules to see who might be the best person to do the gastro parts and the gnye parts, and it really was just a few minutes instead of the half hour I had gotten used to at Yale.

She immediately gained my confidence. And gave me the low down on the various phone numbers I have been calling. I now am "connected" - which means if there should be any sort of incident or event needing attention or at least a question needing to be answered, I can call the right place and get the help I need.

Her take on what she was seeing on the tests? She wasn't sure if there was a reason for concern, but told me that sometimes in a new place with different equipment, you can get a better reading. Since I have been clear for over 2 years, she was more inclined to think that the problems I am having are not part of a new occurrence of cancer, but entirely the results of the treatments and surgeries I have already had, which the other doctor had only mentioned in passing as an "O, BTW, this is also something we have to address before we can deal with more cancer".

I did find out as I was talking with the check out receptionist (who helped to schedule the tests, and who told me that the dates are tentative waiting for the insurance AOK) that my doctor usually see patients only on Fridays, and that there were 2 doctors on vacation, otherwise there would have been more patients in the corridors.

Well, I felt better about things. I have some tests and things to take care of, but we are underway at long last. And I think I have good people caring for me. But I still have to contact Illinois and work on getting those records here! Do I hear a hearty amen for a national database of health care information?