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| Bill patiently waiting for his eye doctor today |
Today was a total wasted day. We had an appointment at the eye institute to have the scar tissue removed around Bill's cataracts. This was supposed to be a "ten minute" procedure by laser.
The appointment time was 1:20 pm which was right in the middle of my nap time.
Bill and I arrived early for our appointment. We were seen within ten minutes of our arrival time. The assistant gave Bill an eye test. I was wondering why reading the eye charts again. I thought we were going in for laser surgery.
Then Bill got the eye drops that diluted his pupils and we were sent off to the waiting room. And there we waited . . . . and waited for over an hour. The waiting room was full (about eight people). They all emptied out and a new crop of folks filed in.
I'm a patient person . . . to a limit. I understand that sometimes doctor's get behind schedule but at least have someone pop their head in and tell us that they are running behind. But that didn't happen.
What I do, when the appointment is running late, is that I wait an hour at the most. Then I get up and question. Today, Bill wasn't having it. I had to calm him down while the clocked ticked. He was starting to make a scene right there in the waiting room, alarming others. His anger reminded me of my brother, who was my Mother's caregiver at the end of her life, trying to calm her down when her doctor's appointment were running late. There were times he had to put her out in the car to wait.
After an hour I got up and inquired "When will be be waited on? We've been here almost two hours now (we arrived early) and seen the whole room emptied out and still nothing." The woman rather hurriedly told me "You're next! We go by the numbers, you're next!" and indeed we were.
We're ushered into another room. The doctor comes in and inquires to Bill "How are you doing?" Bill wasn't having it (yes, I know I'm repeating myself). He told the doctor he wasn't happy having to wait so long. The doctor turned around to look at me, I said to Bill "Bill, Bill. The doctor is going to examine you now." Bill jutted his lower jaw out and submitted to yet another eye chart examination.
Then I realized this doctor was examining AGAIN what we already had last week by another eye doctor, an eye examination. WTF? I told the doctor "We've already done this." He looked rather annoyed at me and said "I have to examine his eyes before I recommend laser surgery." Oh, okay. I missed something in translation. I thought we were going in for the laser treatment to remove the scar tissue. Somebody messed up here. Oh well, let's make the best of the situation.
The doctor's assistant told me I could schedule the laser surgery now. But first she needed the power of attorney. Really? Bill had his cataracts removed and I didn't have to give them a power of attorney. She explained to me that the assistant, who no longer worked there, made a mistake by not requiring the power of attorney paperwork.
Well, I didn't have the power of attorney paperwork with me. She said I could bring it in tomorrow and I didn't have to bring Bill with me. Hmmnm, they're giving Bill time to cool down.
I have an appointment tomorrow with the surgery coordinator at 10 am. I hope tomorrow is not another wasted day.
By the way, while I was at the eye center, I got a call from my boss at work asking if I could come in and fill in for my co-worker. Yes, that co-worker who frequently is unable to work for various health issues and family matters. I told him I couldn't come in right away since I was at the doctor's office but I could later. And that folks is where I am now, typing this blog post about my "wasted day" and not posting about my California holiday.
Hey, this is life. Ain't it great?
