Situation Normal...

www.bechtelsculpture.com/.../ snafu.html   All f''ed up. SNAFU! But I did all right anyway, considering that...  

I drove an hour to get there, read my requirements and the invocation/chant Jazdia had written for me, walked in the door only 10 minutes early(yes, I am one of those always early people, and 10 minutes is pretty good for me-sometimes it's an hour if I'm really stressed!) and into a waiting room full of people. I think every orthopedic surgeon in the world overbooks. I gave them the paperwork that I down loaded and filled out last night, and hit...  

Problem #1: workers comp. had not faxed the paperwork. I decided to stay anyway, put it on my other insurance, pay it, and fight it out later.  

 Problem #2: I sat for  one and a half hours in an uncomfortable chair, while my back began to spasm. Could take no meds due to long drive home. Finally was shown into cubicle, waited 25 more minutes. Read the chant and my list of requirements several more times. Finally the doctor entered, and asked what he could do for me. I said, "I'm having problems with my shoulder."  

Problem #3: He said, "Well, I'm not really up on shoulders, I do more with hands." Hmmmm. I was with the wrong doctor. I briefly considered hysterics, but alas, that's just not my style. So I took a deep breath, mentally tossed most of my requirements out the window, and said, "Well, I have carpal tunnel, too." I'd come this far, I wasn't going to waste a doctors appointment.  

Problem #4: Not carpal tunnel, he said after examining me, but tendons in my wrist rubbing together(I made him write down the diagnosis, and will eventually google it). The solution-at least temporarily?  

 Problem #5:Cortisone shot.  Not something a diabetic loves to hear, plus they hurt.And give me a fever. And hurt more the second day. But I accepted it after another deep breath or three. He gave me the shot and then left the room, and I re-read the chant and cried a bit, but not too much, I did not want him to think I was crying over pain(which was not too bad, considering this time last year).   While I waited for him, I thought things over a bit. None of the fiasco was his fault, or his office's or mine, just more of the same perpetual struggle. Since I would not be returning to him, there was no need to discuss psycho-social issues, or the need to be heard and believed so I did what I could do;  asked for a script for  more physical therapy, and his opinion on my shoulder. He believes there is impingement there, too, and gave me  5 names of members of his group in Hartford who do shoulders. Then I tried to split. 

 Problem # 6: Because 2 staff members were sick, his staff was so overwhelmed that it took them 20 minutes to Xerox the info I'd brought with me, that he really wanted in case I needed to come back because of the cortisone shot. Again, no one to blame-I've worked in a crazy busy medical situation in the past and I could see how the day had unraveled for them long before I had arrived. They were doing the best they could.  

Overall, while it was disappointing, I did manage to hold my own in a reasonable, expectant manner. I got my referral for physical therapy, and took it immediately to a place that honors both body and psyche (workers comp. will probably hold it up for weeks, but it's a start). He was not the doc. I need, but I'm working on plans J,K,L,M and N already.(I passes ABCDE months ago) I did not get flustered or outwardly angry or impatient-I knew that wouldn't help me. I came home and sat on the couch with Rene and cried a bit, while both dogs tried to cheer me up by licking my face, then moved on, no more depressed than before.  

 I appreciate all the energy and good wishes, and suggestions, and the invocation/chant more than any of you will know. Your support helped a lot, and as I drove home, I realized I am once again amazed by the members of this community we call J-Land.  

 Bless You All, Margo