this week....

This week started busy season. Oh, how I love busy season. Today I gave my staff the morning off to get prepared for next week....lets just say i have three deadlines -- January 22, January 23, and January 30. Next week is critical. So far so good. This morning I am watching TV while washing clothes, making my shopping list so I can go to the grocery store in a bit and picking up around the house. This week is going to be a long one so I have to be prepared!!! Then back to work for a couple of hours to get things organized before Monday!

This last week has been pretty crazy - so this post is going to be a long one! First - lets start with the doctors visits this week. The GREAT news is that my I am FINALLY regulated with my blood thinners. I have been in range for 4 weeks, so now I can get blood tests monthly. You cannot even imagine how happy i am about that!!! I am still on restriction, but I am not sure how much longer. I need to email my doctor to ask -- but I thought it was until my monthly blood test (so in three weeks) came back in range. So, I am still in good with my internal medicine doctor and he has been so great and responsive. I heart him.

Now, my endo is a whole other story. Here is the quick background -- my internal medicine doctor told me to follow up with my endo since I was on some new meds. I have also been having some other symptoms that I believe were my thyroid so I called his office and wanted to discuss with him. I left him a message last Friday with a nurse (who wasn't his nurse) and she said someone would call me Monday. Monday AM I got a call bright and early ( I was in the shower) and I called her back. She said the doctor wasn't in yet but she wuold call me back later this afternoon.
No phone call.
So I called back Tuesday - I was put on hold for over 20 minutes. At regular intervals someone picked up the phone and said I am not his nurse and would put me back on hold. At some point I gave up. I tried back that afternoon and had the same situation occur again. I gave up and called back and made an appointment.
Thursday I went to the doctor - now remember, this is busy season and i need every hour to work so I can get home at a decent hour. I waited the requsite 20 minutes and went back. He recognized me in the hallway and here was the conversation:
dr: what are you doing here?
K: well, no one returned my phone call so I made an appointment.
dr: I don't need to see you.
K: well, I have some other symptoms that I want to discuss. (and i won't bore you with those- but I was about to discuss how my neck has been hurting - and with the goiter I was a little worried. )
dr: those aren't your thyroid (very hasty and annoyed)
then his phone rings - he puts up his finger (like to say hold on) and walks away, and leaves me in the hallway. yes, i said hallway. all of this happened in the hallway. I wait. I wait for 5 minutes and he never comes back.
I finally go back to the nurses station, ask for my money back and leave. I was pissed. Just plain pissed. I don't think that I am totally high maintence since I have been in the freaking hospital twice this year and i had to have weekly blood tests for two months. I just want to make sure I understand what i need to look out for and what i need to just learn to deal with. I don't think it is that hard - my internal medicine doctor helps me through that and is very honest and open. The endo - not so much.
So i was very angry. But decided to go to the lab to get my blood work for the week done. I get down there and I swear - it was like I was living in a nightmare. The people didn't pay attention - made me wait why they made phone calls (after they had called me to the desk) and dealt with other things. And they couldn't find my orders. Now, don't think I haven't had orders in the system for a two months. And every time I go to the lab, there is a 95% chance they can't find them. The doctor keeps telling me they are there, they can't find them.
So I had to wait for them to call the nurse (now, think of how many times I was put on hold and never answered)...I have to wait for 20 minutes for them to find the stinking nurse. At this point I just can't take it anymore and the tears start coming. I have to wait for 20 more minutes for the lab to get in the system and then to do the blood work.
Then I asked for the administration department for someone to file a complaint. I went upstairs and I swear, that was even more disorganized than the rest of the place. I can't believe that they can run a business like this. But I guess it is medical care and everyone needs it. Lets just say that I said some ugly things and it didn't even to phase them. So I asked for someone who could make a difference. don't think they were there (or they wouldn't let me talk to them).
So I asked for names, titles, fax numbers, and addresses. I haven't written the letter, I needed to calm down first. But I did mention to my favorite doctor how bad I felt the nurses were about not answering the phones, not getting back to you, not dealing with you (i.e. telling me to just go to the hosptial and not even letting me explain what is going on), and it is just frustrating. He echoed the same sentiments with a statement that was perfect: you deal with it for one day, i have to deal with it every day. you have no idea.
Let's just say I am now shopping for a new endo. I have a couple of good leads - the one though where the person's comment was "his office staff kinda stinks" might go to the bottom of the list.

So that is the story...Let's just say I am still not over it, but hopefully I will be over it soon - or just to exhausted to care!

Otherwise, things have been really good. I LOVE having cable. I have all of these shows DVR'ed so it is nice to get to come home and watch 20 minutes of TV before I go to bed (alright, sometimes it is way more than 20 minutes!) and I can watch what I want and no commercials! LOVE IT!!!

I also got some GREAT shoes from Nordies....and we know how much that retail therapy makes me happy!! (yes, I can admit I have a problem! But I think it was growing up where I could never find shoes that fit - and if I did it appeared that my grandmother should wear them - not a 6th grader!) They were all on sale and are so fabulous. One is a pair of brown boots which were on sale for around $39 -- and they are perfect! And I have to admit that I went online and bought them in black too! (mainly becuase most all of my shoes are open toed and it is getting cold! my toesies have been really cold!) And I got a pair of these deep red heels that are so fun. I also got this great little Michael Kors shirt that I have been eyeing - that was way out of my price range normally and then all of a sudden it was 75% off!!! Let's just say it is now hanging in my closet!

And the last thing I have to report is my Sissy is back in town. I AM SO EXCITED to have her back. You never realize how much you talk to someone until they aren't there! She had a fabulous time in Australia and has come back. She is in Seguin trying to sleep it off (she travelled for over 24 hours to get home) and is headed back to Dallas tonight. Her picts are up on facebook if you want to see them! I LOVE my Sissy and I am so glad to have her to talk to again. (I know, i know, I could have called any of you, however, I have to admit that there is nothing like my sissy!)