WAIT TIMES

In the last couple of months, we have found our calendar notations changing. A Lot! Instead of being used for social purposes, now the calendar looks more like a medical journal.

Back in May, Peter and I had time for lots of fun activities: a Jays game, some meet-ups with friends, fitness classes followed by coffee, Peter’s poker party, lunch with our “bridge group,” even a short trip to Montreal! Then all that changed. Lately we have been spending our time in doctors’ waiting rooms.

With a bang, I fell and fractured a bone in my shoulder, which required almost 7 hours in a hospital, wheeling from waiting room, to exam area, to sling-fitting room, and back to waiting room. All that was before I even escaped from the hospital the first time! Then I was required to return 3 times for follow-up consultations. Besides that, I had physiotherapy appointments twice a week for several weeks. But at least the wait time for those is usually short.

Peter’s eye doctor was up next. Her office is the worst. I usually go with him just to pass the time together. First we wait in line to see the receptionist. Then we wait for the tests: distance, eye pressure, pictures of behind the eyeball and so on. Then we wait to see the actual doctor. And on this last visit, we waited to see yet another person to arrange cataract surgery for Peter. That surgery requires 4 more appointments; one for measuring the eye, two for the eye operations, and a final one for follow-up.

Then last week I began to feel some shortness of breath. I figured it was the heat or the poor air quality so I ignored it for a while. Then I gave in and got an appointment with my family doctor and of course she ordered tests. So last Thursday I had to cancel golf and spend the morning in waiting rooms for blood work and chest Xray. Then the cardiologist’s office called to give me an appointment for next week, and I had a choice: cancel Peter’s cataract surgery OR cancel golf – again! How unfair is that?

On top of that, the dentist has started leaving phone messages about our semi-annual cleaning. She wants her share of our time too.

I know that we are very lucky to have these services so close and so available. And the wait times are easy to manage when one of us runs next door to Tim’s for coffee and muffins. Then we open our devices and read about people in many other countries who wait a week or a month for a bag of flour. Sometimes they even die while waiting. How unfair is that??

Life is pretty darned good in Canada. So if/when you find yourself in a doctor’s waiting room, use the time to learn more about our country’s wonderful people, including our 2 budding athletic stars: Summer McIntosh and Vicky Mboko, and our top-ranking Blue Jays team. One day in the future they too will be in doctors’ waiting rooms.

Sue

PS Sorry this is late – but, and this is the Truth – I was in a waiting room from 7:30 am till almost 11!!