Not my most shining hour
Doctor's appointment this morning. I'm never good at doctor's appointments where I have to fast for blood tests (I hate needles), but it was overdue. Usually I do my blood tests at my GP's, but they cost about $400 and given that I'm now unemployed, I figured I'd ask him if he could offer me a discount. "Sure," he said, "go do them at the hospital. They're free there."
Well, I'd been fasting anyway, so at 10:30 or so I got my mom to drive me over to the Jewish General. The place was packed. Absolutely packed. It took me a half-hour to just get through registration, including running downstairs to get a hospital card when I realized I'd left mine at home. When I got past the registration area and looked into the actual waiting room, there was an estimated 90 minute wait for blood tests.
Understand that by this point, it was about 15 hours since I'd eaten anything, I'm surrounded by people, there's nowhere to sit, and the thought of waiting for another 90 minutes for someone to stick a needle in my arm (which I hate at the best of times) and not eating was just too much. I literally broke down crying at the entrance of the waiting room.
I decided to go back to my GP's and see if he could maybe, possible, if-I-ask-really-nicely take five minutes and do the blood test for me. The door was locked, but the receptionist -- bless her -- opened it anyway. I don't know whether it was the sight of me crying or what, but she got the GP, and he took the blood out of my arm, and it was done five minutes later. I was pretty much crying the whole time through, just due to sheer emotional exhaustion and not eating in far too long. I seriously don't understand how people can go without breakfast on a regular basis.
I felt a little better after I ate a granola bar and a lot better after I had some lunch. I've had better mornings, but at least now it's done.
Well, I'd been fasting anyway, so at 10:30 or so I got my mom to drive me over to the Jewish General. The place was packed. Absolutely packed. It took me a half-hour to just get through registration, including running downstairs to get a hospital card when I realized I'd left mine at home. When I got past the registration area and looked into the actual waiting room, there was an estimated 90 minute wait for blood tests.
Understand that by this point, it was about 15 hours since I'd eaten anything, I'm surrounded by people, there's nowhere to sit, and the thought of waiting for another 90 minutes for someone to stick a needle in my arm (which I hate at the best of times) and not eating was just too much. I literally broke down crying at the entrance of the waiting room.
I decided to go back to my GP's and see if he could maybe, possible, if-I-ask-really-nicely take five minutes and do the blood test for me. The door was locked, but the receptionist -- bless her -- opened it anyway. I don't know whether it was the sight of me crying or what, but she got the GP, and he took the blood out of my arm, and it was done five minutes later. I was pretty much crying the whole time through, just due to sheer emotional exhaustion and not eating in far too long. I seriously don't understand how people can go without breakfast on a regular basis.
I felt a little better after I ate a granola bar and a lot better after I had some lunch. I've had better mornings, but at least now it's done.