It's My Beeswax

I saw my rheumatologist yesterday. My appointment was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. After seeing the doc (11:30) and having my labs done I made it home at 3:30, a whole hour before my quitting time at work.

Today I had several people comment on the fact that I was out for the entire day. I'm sure they don't realize that my rheumatologist appointments are not the same as the usual doctor appointment. For one, my rheumatologist is 45 minutes away. Not because I chose to see someone out-of-town. There are no rheumatologists in my small town. For another, a rheumatologist appointment always includes lab tests which entails another wait at the lab. My appointment often also include xrays, joint injections and DEXA scans.

If my appointment had been in the afternoon, I could have taken a half day from work, but then I'd have to also take time the next day, to go to the lab. I'd have another 1 1/2 hours of driving and that would mean another half day from work. So, no difference in sick leave used. I usually try to scheudule my appointments at a convenient time, but I'll get a letter in the mail a month or so later, letting me know that my appointment has been rescheduled. So, I am at the mercy of the appointment lady. I take what I can get, because I desperately need to see my rheumatologist.

I am definitely not a malingerer or misusing sick leave. I have worked with broken ribs, with splints on my thumbs & wrists, drug side effects, and with daily pain that would have those whiners at home crying out for Jesus.

I am pissed that I feel I have to defend my use of sick time, or to explain it at all. It is my business.

As it turns out, I'm still working on yesterday's appointment. The doctor goofed on a couple of my prescriptions and so now I'm caught between the pharmacy and the busy doctor's office to get it all straightened out. Of course that is time consuming, head-warping and not too much fun too.

On a good note, the changes in my prescriptions and some other recommendations he made should have me feeling better by the weekend.

I guess I'll be posting again soon about the wonders/evils of prednisone.