28 May 2008
Put On Wait
Posted by admin under: Cliff Jr's Thoughts .
Okay so maybe the clever play on words has caught your attention. Today’s post is really going to be a semi-helpful guide to dealing with waiting before and after a Doctor’s appointment. Yesterday I did not deal with waiting very well and at the end of a long day my frustration with Doctor’s offices and hospitals was pretty intense. So here are a few things to consider based on the events yesterday.
- Don’t Be A Hero
What I mean by this is sometimes if there are multiple Doctors appointments in one day, as well as lots of running around to pharmacies and other errands, it may be best to call for reinforcements. Perhaps another family member or friend that can take your patient to one of the earlier appointments, and then you can step in later in the day. What this does is provide a distraction for the patient, as they will want to sit and talk to the family member/friend while they are in the waiting room and won’t have run out of things to say or talk about. Having been at the majority of the appointments yesterday, all we had left to talk about at the last appointment was how long the wait was, making a 15 minute wait seem like 30 because we were both frustrated. If you’ve split the day up between multiple people, it gives the patient a chance to start a new conversation and keep their mind, and your mind, off how long things are taking.
- - Bring Distractions
Books, easy card games, your own magazines and even a hand-held game can help pass the time while you wait for the nurses and Doctors to get their act together. Most of the time, you’ve read all the magazines in the waiting room before, or if you like a certain magazine, chances are someone is already reading it. In my case someone grabbed it when I put it down for a second to help Mom with her oxygen tank. Perhaps there is a book you are dying to read that isn’t intellectually intense and you can pick it up and put it down without having to go back and read a few pages to get back into it. I find that Fiction works best in this case, but I’m sure a few of you out there could probably be reading a book on Theology and jump right back in. What is probably the best solution is something that keeps both you and the patient distracted. Such a small hand-held game that you can pass back and forth (sound off of course) that will keep you from wanting to stick your foot out in front of the out-of-control kids that keep running by you. Simply buy an extra tote bag and put all the necessary distractions in it to keep your mind off the wait.
- - Bring Food And Water
Chances are if you have a lot of traveling back and forth across town you’re going to get hungry. Eating at a sit-down restaurant is risky business because you never know when the service is going to be slow or lousy. Eating fast-food should never be an option because it’s overpriced and not good for you. This means you probably need to pack a lunch and some assorted snacks for your journeys of the day. Even an expert climber is going to pack something to eat if he is only climbing for a few hours. Driving in the car, especially if there is traffic, can be very hard on your body if you have to do it all day, so don’t be fooled into thinking that you’re resting as that 18 wheeler almost smashes into you. You should also bring a few bottles of water. Doctors offices are notoriously cold and air conditioned. This makes the air very dry and you can easily get dehydrated if you’re not careful. The same goes for the car. Chances are, you drive with the AC on in the summer-time which dries you out.
- - Know The Difference Between Patience And Patients
There will come a time when the Doctor’s office, or hospital is behind schedule and backed up. Because of Genesis 3 sickness abounds on the earth and there are lots of people that are sick. When you’ve been waiting 20 minutes with 6 other people because the gal behind the desk is making phone calls instead of helping patients it’s easy to loose your patience. However, sometimes the rooms are full of people that need help and the people behind the counter were not responsible for your last waiting room experience, so it’s better to be patient rather then rush the other patients. You, as the driver/helper of your loved one know how it feels to be in the waiting room for 30 minutes, only to have the Doctor see you for 5 minutes. Make sure you don’t add to the problem by being impatient while the Doctor is in with a patient.
This list is not exhaustive and if you can think of anything to add here, feel free to do so by leaving a comment below.
2 Comments so far...
Stretch Says:
30 May 2008 at 7:50 am.
Hey buddy! That was actually very well done! I am impressed. I pray for you all every time I see your FB/blog/think of you all. Stay strong and keep pressing forward!
Joe Keller Says:
1 June 2008 at 12:04 am.
Thanks for the updates and the vulnerable and practical insights into your thinking. Press on brother.