Ladies and gents, a new speed record in doctor visit! (Week 2)
2 weeks post-op. 2nd doc appointment at hospital. A new record broken for speed to see the doctor.
And I’m not talking about waiting room part, which was 1.5 hrs.
When I finally got into the room, I believe it was a total of 30 seconds. He looked at my leg for a second, asked when I last came in (he doesn’t have this info!?), and then repeated the same lines as last week - “come back in 2 weeks to take off the cast and go into a boot”. Yay, but what… no more info to provide!?
I tried to ask more about his completion of the Short Term Disability form for work but the doctor he was already jetting off to another patient next door, so I had to speak up and ask when I would go back to work and he just said “2 months” and said call his office for the form.
No other clarification. Why did I have to visit to get this? You have a phone? Ugh.
Fine. So I guess I’ll just wait here at home on the couch and keep the leg elevated and do nothing for the next 2 weeks. Wow, this is gonna take a while.
Because I’m getting bored of talking about my achilles recovery, I’ll offer some unrelated good news: I’m starting to make plans to have some sort of life in the real world again. I booked tickets for my girlfriend and I to see The Swell Season at Massey Hall (good news, a sit-down venue) - November 3rd (I’ll be in a boot on October 28th). For those who don’t know this band, perhaps you’ve heard about the movie Once, set in Ireland, about a middle-aged guy who is a great musician going nowhere who meets a Czech immigrant girl and they bond with their shared love of music. Fun and not very hollywood movie, but the music is fantastic if you like that folk-rock sound like I do. Both the lead actors are actually musicians in real life and all the music in that movie was the basis of the band. And out of pure coincidence I saw the movie recently and then discovered they’re playing in concert 3 weeks later. What timing and coincidence!
Have a listen, no pun intended on this sample song from their new album - “Feeling the Pull”, quite the inspiring little tune.
Cheers!
Brian
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Bigred - Great song! And great idea to get out and about like a real person. It takes a bit of extra effort (actually a lot of extra effort on crutches!) but I’m always so glad I did. It’s all too easy to take root on the sofa. We went out last night to see a British band called Show of Hands which you might like. I haven’t quite sussed out how to put the YouTube link into the blog, but if you bash Show of Hands into the YouTube search bar it all comes up. Santiago and Cousin Jack are my favs.
Smoley
P.S. I hope your doctor is better with the scalpel and sutures than he is with his people skills!
Loved the music….Yeah, 1 week post op I figured not much for Doc to do but look at the incision and say “looks good” or “looks bad”. My Doc spent about 10 mins with me on first visit and about 15 with me on 2nd.. Most time spent with people that do the cast stuff.
One thing I have learned….don’t chit chat. From minute he comes in, start asking your questions…He is at work and has many more patients to see after me.
Like someone else said, keep it elevated, don’t feel bad when left alone all day on the sofa. My wife makes me a lunch, snacks, etc. and leaves next to me on the sofa…When she walks out the door, I am on my own til she gets back. My world consist of laptop and TV… I am situated so that I can see outside, that helps.
Keep on keepin’ on!
Yep, sounds familiar. This is OHIP. These guys have 20 patients booked per hour.
Pendersnitzel is right: as soon as he enters start asking the prepared questions next time.
And no news is good news.
I guess if they were chatty people they would have become surgeons but family physicians…
Massey Hall’s seats are not too comfortable though….
Wow, guys, from my understanding of the Canadian system, I would’ve thought that you could demand a little more attention from your surgeons. Guess I know less than I thought I did.
Re: concert-going, I went to a magical Lyle Lovett-John Hiatt concert when I was in the boot, last week (when I was just shy of 5 weeks). Luckily, we were in box seats that had regular, moveable chairs. They played for 2 1/2 hours and I did feel a little sore towards the end, but it was well worth it.
Smoley: I did check out Show of Hands on Youtube and they sound amazing! That Santiago is especially good! Sounds like it would have been a great concert! As for embedding video, as you can see with my post, I had some issues in the overall post trying to do it, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. :^) Next time I post inspirational songs/videos, I’m just going to pass the Youtube URL.
Pendersnitzel and 2ndtimer: Great advice. I guess I was a bit optimistic that it was a unique experience that he didn’t chit-chat at all, but that pretty much negates any polite wait-my-turn manners that I may have previously allowed for.
I went to see The Cult at Massey Hall 2 months ago, seats weren’t too bad at all.
Ultidad: Yes, unfortunately. And it’s interesting to watch the progress of Obama’s push and significant backlash against government funded health care. Definitely good and bad. But I’m thinking, like 2ndtimer said, that this is primarily a surgeon issue. I’ve never had my family doctor act that badly.
But glad to hear everyone is still making sure to get out and enjoy life.
I’m thinking that Feeling the Pull song may become my recovery theme song.
Keep up the healing folks. Cheers!
Bri