Patience. I thought I had it?!

I've taught second through fifth grade for 15 years (with some near disasterous moments in kindergarten and summer school)! I was pretty sure I'd developed a strong sense of patience.

BUT! Waiting for the doctor's office to schedule my surgery is the last straw! 

I've been patient...

My hip started hurting in September or October. I thought my new mattress was too hard and bought some memory foam. In November, a friend told me she had similar pain from bursitis. I looked online for exercises and took it easy. 

Right after Christmas, I saw my doctor when I started having trouble walking. I told her my pain level was a 10. I got a hip X-ray and some Vicodin.

In January I started physical therapy. It didn't get better, it got worse, and I asked for a specialist and an MRI, and stronger painkillers. I was unable to work, walk, sit, or get off the floor after January 17. On the 25th of January, I hurt so badly, I finally broke down in tears and had a friend drive me to the emergency room. My doctor gave me stronger Vicodin. I had now discovered pain levels 11, 12, and 13, but I had hope that I was going to receive treatment soon.

I've been so patient...

On January 31, I finally saw a spine specialist. He reviewed my MRI and referred me to a pain clinic. In February, I had epidural steroid injections in two places in my back. They made me feel a little better for a week, but I had now run out of sick time and was still stuck in a prone position. Praise God for the generosity of friends and co-workers who folded my laundry, brought me food, and drove me to the doctor. 

 

It was determined by the pain clinic and the spine specialist that I would not undergo another series of injections, and I would move forward toward surgery on two bulging disks. The spine specialist told me it could be three weeks or a month to meet the surgeon and schedule the operation. That was when I finally really lost it. The nurse assured me that he didn't know anything about scheduling and they'd be able to get me an appointment the next week. I had to call them to find out when my appointment had been set.

I was patient...

That was a week ago. I was told that I had to wait for my insurance to authorize the procedure and then the surgeon's office would schedule it.

I called them on Friday. They'd faxed the authorization request on Thursday. I called them yesterday. The authorization had arrived and the woman who does the scheduling would call me back that afternoon. She didn't. I called again yesterday afternoon only to find they stop answering the phones at 4:00.

I'm am no longer patient. 

I called again at 10:30 this morning. The woman who does scheduling was "with another patient" and yes, she'd received my messages and would call me back today. What in the world do they have her so busy doing that she can't schedule appointments?

I have spent eight weeks in a prone position on the floor. I am out of paid sick leave and will run out of 2/3 disability in two weeks. I've seen at least eight different doctors, physicians assistants, and nurse practitioners, and a physical therapist over 15 separate office visits since December 30. That's not counting x-ray techs and other support staff. And I haven't even started recovering from surgery yet.

Maybe that doctor was right when he told me it'd be another month... or three to get a date set.

I need this woman to call me and schedule my surgery now. I have had it with being optimistic and patient. It's about time to really start making some noise!

Edit: I rallied a little more patience and waited for her call at 2:30. I'm go for surgery Monday! (phew!)