Standing Up For Myself
Today I did something I never thought I would have the balls to do: I walked out of a doctor's office because they took too long.
I had a specialist appointment at 1:30, and a regular doctor at 3:00. Giving myself a half hour for driving, that left an hour for what should have been a five minute appointment (getting a damn prescription). They put me in my room at 1:45...then left me there, by myself, no reading material. At 2:25, I grabbed my chart, gave it to the receptionist, and told her I would call to reschedule since I had another appt. The looks on their faces made me think that not many people actually do that.
So, as pissed as I am (this being the same doc that tried to tell me I was wrong about my allergic reaction), I'm kind of proud of myself. I talk big, but I generally bow to authority.
On the plus side, my second appointment was fine. I even found out that all of my years of smoking haven't damaged my lung capacity. Doc said I'm one of the lucky ones.
I am realizing, though, that as much as I try not to be racist, I am. All of my doctors in this area seem to serve the black population; I'm usually the only white person in the waiting room, or even in the whole office. I feel very self-conscious, which is how I imagine blacks feel when the situation is reversed. I know it's not the same, but I feel bad for feeling that way.
I had a specialist appointment at 1:30, and a regular doctor at 3:00. Giving myself a half hour for driving, that left an hour for what should have been a five minute appointment (getting a damn prescription). They put me in my room at 1:45...then left me there, by myself, no reading material. At 2:25, I grabbed my chart, gave it to the receptionist, and told her I would call to reschedule since I had another appt. The looks on their faces made me think that not many people actually do that.
So, as pissed as I am (this being the same doc that tried to tell me I was wrong about my allergic reaction), I'm kind of proud of myself. I talk big, but I generally bow to authority.
On the plus side, my second appointment was fine. I even found out that all of my years of smoking haven't damaged my lung capacity. Doc said I'm one of the lucky ones.
I am realizing, though, that as much as I try not to be racist, I am. All of my doctors in this area seem to serve the black population; I'm usually the only white person in the waiting room, or even in the whole office. I feel very self-conscious, which is how I imagine blacks feel when the situation is reversed. I know it's not the same, but I feel bad for feeling that way.