another day, another doctor visit

so today . . . i went to see the pulmonary doctor again. she just wanted to check back and see how my pneumonia was progressing . . .

my appointment was at 11:30. i thought. until i got a call from kaiser yesterday to remind me of my appointment which said, "and check in by 11:30." hmmmm--ok, apparently my appointment is NOT at 11:30, because they always like us to check in early. i guess they don't mind if i have to wait for my appointment--they just don't want to have to wait on me! but since i didn't know the exact time of my appointment, and since traffic is always unpredictable, i just decided to plan for 11:30.

that meant leaving school at 11:00, which meant i had half an hour to get my kindergarteners started on their work, start the pre-k kids on their art project (which involved black paint,) do two reading groups, and hope the pre-k kids painted fast so i could clean up the art project before i left. oh yeah, and pray i escaped without any black paint on my white sweater or taupe skirt . . .

i left at 11:00, paint-free, and hit the 91 freeway. the traffic was moving really well today, which was good. until i realized that i was not 100% exactly sure just which exit to take. i had only been to the new office twice, and both times i was really sick and rollie was driving. i thought i knew how to get there, because in my mind i could see where to go once i got off the freeway. but where to get off the freeway . . . i was pretty sure i would know it when i saw it.

and i did. and it was one of those loopy round exits which are awesomely fun to take in my zippy little car :)

i didn't have to wait long to see the doctor. i love my pulmonary doctor! she is young, asian, and new to kaiser. and today she had on brown pants with a pink pinstripe, a pink sweater, brown socks with pink flowers on them and black mary jane style doc martens. i describe her clothing here to illustrate just how young and cute she is! and she wears glasses. i just love her!! i wish she could be my primary care physician . . .

we had quite a conversation about the whole nasal rinsing thing. because as it turns out, she got sinusitis shortly after i saw her last--i'm sure she didn't catch it from me, because by the time i saw her i had pneumonia. anyway, that is my story . . .

it was very funny, because her husband is an ear, nose, and throat doctor, and she was telling me how terrible she had felt and how every day they were trying to decide what to do to make her feel better. and i thought, "yeah, now you know what i was talking about!" a book can teach you only so much about patient suffering . . .

and then she sent the nurse in with two syringes to vaccinate me against the flu AND the swine flu. i protested, but she said as sick as i had been, i needed to have them. then she left, and the nurse said, "i am going to give you one shot in each arm. that way, if you have a reaction, we will know which shot caused it."

IF I HAVE A REACTION?!?!?! ok, let's just wait one minute here . . . OW!

and then it was too late . . . i was vaccinated.

i came home with a bag full of steroid sprays and inhalers. and instructions to call if i have chills or breathing issues or pain. now i am really starting to wonder about those shots!

the good news is, the pnuemonia seems to be pretty much gone. the bad news is, i may have asthma. i can't seem to catch a break here.

but thankfully, it was a beautiful day and i could drive home with the top down. i know it is a small thing, but some days it is what puts the smile on my face . . . that, and staying ahead of that red porsche . . . :)