September will be an Interesting Month

I mentioned a business opportunity several posts back . . . next month, I'm going to be the new owner of a newspaper! I'm looking forward to it . . . but a little nervous as well. There will be a very steep learning curve.

On my private duty case there is one other main nurse. She typically works 4-5 days a week. She just found out that she has to have surgery, and will not be working at all in Sept., and perhaps need time off beyond that! There is another nurse on the case, but she only works 1-2 days a month.

I'm happy for the opportunity to work extra hours, and earn extra money, but I"m not sure I can handle working 4-5 days a week, physically or mentally! There are a few days I won't be able to work because of previous commitments. I think I'll plan to work most other days. I can always leave early if I've gotten everything I need to, done. That will help with the mental aspect of being around the dysfunction.

New Doctor?

Don't get me wrong, I really, really like my doctor. He delivered both of our children, and has been our family doctor for more than 17 years.

But.

The office staff is rude.

I've had a run in or two with his nurses. I don't like their attitudes.

It's a minimum of 30 minutes waiting in the waiting room every time we go, scheduled way ahead or scheduled that day.

There is a minimum 20 minute wait in the exam room, to see the doctor.

If I call in with a question, I NEVER, EVER get to talk to a nurse . . . so it's another wait of at least an hour (many times all day) to hear back.

The doctor is a GP, and I'm not confident he can answer my questions and discuss the issues I'm facing as I get more "mature."

But I hate, hate hate the thought of looking for another doctor! What if I have a longer wait? What if I don't like him (or her) any better? What if the office staff is more rude? I know I"m getting good care from my doctor, I just do not like having to plan a minimum of 2 hrs. for even what should be a short, routine visit. I"m comfortable with him . . . he knows my physical history, and my own personal neurosis. It's a small town, so I don't have a lot of options unless I go out of town. I just don't know.

Allergies

It seems to be a really bad year here for allergies--hayfever and environmental allergies. I always have some level of hayfever, but usually nothing that isn't helped by a Zyrtec and maybe some Tylenol for a sinus headache.

This year, however, has been terrible! The Zyrtec doesn't seem to help, and I"m getting lots of sinus headaches despite OTC meds. I hate to be continually taking something or other! And I try very hard not to overmedicate myself, but when I need an antihistamine, decongestant, and something for headache pain, a combination med seems to be the only answer.

Last week I had a headache for several days. It was fairly low intensity, but not going away completely no matter how much stuff I took. In the early hours of Wed. I woke up and it had escalated into a migrane. I ate a little bit (was very nauseated) and took some Tylenol with Codeine, hoping it would kick in and I could work. I woke up and was still very nauseated, but ate and thought I'd be OK to work . . . unfortunately after a little while at work the room was spinning and it was clear I wouldn't be able to stay! SL's mom was nice about it, thankfully . . .

I threw up as soon as I got home and slept on and off through what was almost the worst headache in my life. I was way too nauseated to eat anything, so I could TAKE anything for it . . . finally I remembered an anti-nausea suppository that my daughter had left from a prescription, and thankfully that relieved the nausea, so I could eat, so I could take something for the headache.

I probably need to go to the doctor again, but I really, really don't want to . . . but that's another post!