I've left so many messages lately with the nurse line at my RE's office that I completely forgot someone was likely going to call me back today in response to my message yesterday to schedule my first set of appointments. Luckily, I was at my desk with my cell phone next to my computer when it began to vibrate at 3:16 pm. I waited four rings before answering - as many as I dare before having it roll to voice mail - as I rushed to the stairwell to make my way upstairs and outside. I work in the basement of my office building so reception is extremely poor, plus I don't want anyone overhearing my personal conversations.
When I answered, I knew I had not made it far enough up the stairs for the person on the other end to hear me so I prayed she wouldn't hang up. I hastily made it up the four flights and anxiously waited to hear a voice on the other end...as I panted heavily from practically running. Whew! After some apologies and a brief explanation on my part, the nurse or scheduler or whoever it was, didn't seem amused as she got right to the point. She gave me a few options for my next SIS (ugh - this will be my fifth one, I think, or maybe my fourth??) and practice transfer, and a few options for the "nurse consult" appointment. I took the first available for the saline sonogram / practice transfer, which was Tuesday, December 8 at 11:45 am, and the second available for the nurse consult: Monday, December 14 at 1:15 pm. Then I asked about the nurse line and if I will always have to leave a message and will always have to wait for someone to call me back. She said yes, that phone is never answered because the nurses need to have the patient charts in front of them to be able to answer questions. I find this ridiculous. I don't know if they need to update their systems or if everything is done on paper or what but my OB/GYN's office just puts me on hold for a few seconds while they pull my chart. I almost never have to leave a message there. So I expressed my frustration in a polite manner and she didn't seem to care. I made a mental note to address this with my RE the next time I see him.
Since the person I spoke with today wasn't the most pleasant, it threw me off and I completely forgot to ask about a prescription for Valium or something before my SIS. I have a history of this test not going very well and being extremely painful so I brought this up with Dr. C at our consultation in September. He said he could prescribe me a pain medication like Vicodin. I let him know Vicodin makes me sick so we both agreed on Valium. Valium is wonderful. :) So now I'll have to call back again to ask for a prescription. :/
The scheduler also mentioned my next step was to call back on the first day of my period so I could start BCPs...and I assume to make sure my upcoming appointments are indeed scheduled for the right time of the month. I mentally looked at my calendar in my brain as I was on the phone to recall my last CD1 and became alarmed when it seemed to be around the same time as my SIS appointment. I mentioned this and the scheduler seemed to think I was overreacting. She said something like, "Well you'll be on birth control." Me, in my head: "Um, ok. I can still have my period and be on BC." Me in reality: "So you're saying I won't have my period then because I'll be on birth control." Her: "Yes, you should be starting that at the end of November." Me, in my head again: "We'll see about that. It should be more like the first week of December."
It doesn't seem like there is much to do at this point other than wait. Wait, wait, wait. Oh, and try to get a hold of someone about my Valium question.
When I answered, I knew I had not made it far enough up the stairs for the person on the other end to hear me so I prayed she wouldn't hang up. I hastily made it up the four flights and anxiously waited to hear a voice on the other end...as I panted heavily from practically running. Whew! After some apologies and a brief explanation on my part, the nurse or scheduler or whoever it was, didn't seem amused as she got right to the point. She gave me a few options for my next SIS (ugh - this will be my fifth one, I think, or maybe my fourth??) and practice transfer, and a few options for the "nurse consult" appointment. I took the first available for the saline sonogram / practice transfer, which was Tuesday, December 8 at 11:45 am, and the second available for the nurse consult: Monday, December 14 at 1:15 pm. Then I asked about the nurse line and if I will always have to leave a message and will always have to wait for someone to call me back. She said yes, that phone is never answered because the nurses need to have the patient charts in front of them to be able to answer questions. I find this ridiculous. I don't know if they need to update their systems or if everything is done on paper or what but my OB/GYN's office just puts me on hold for a few seconds while they pull my chart. I almost never have to leave a message there. So I expressed my frustration in a polite manner and she didn't seem to care. I made a mental note to address this with my RE the next time I see him.
Since the person I spoke with today wasn't the most pleasant, it threw me off and I completely forgot to ask about a prescription for Valium or something before my SIS. I have a history of this test not going very well and being extremely painful so I brought this up with Dr. C at our consultation in September. He said he could prescribe me a pain medication like Vicodin. I let him know Vicodin makes me sick so we both agreed on Valium. Valium is wonderful. :) So now I'll have to call back again to ask for a prescription. :/
The scheduler also mentioned my next step was to call back on the first day of my period so I could start BCPs...and I assume to make sure my upcoming appointments are indeed scheduled for the right time of the month. I mentally looked at my calendar in my brain as I was on the phone to recall my last CD1 and became alarmed when it seemed to be around the same time as my SIS appointment. I mentioned this and the scheduler seemed to think I was overreacting. She said something like, "Well you'll be on birth control." Me, in my head: "Um, ok. I can still have my period and be on BC." Me in reality: "So you're saying I won't have my period then because I'll be on birth control." Her: "Yes, you should be starting that at the end of November." Me, in my head again: "We'll see about that. It should be more like the first week of December."
It doesn't seem like there is much to do at this point other than wait. Wait, wait, wait. Oh, and try to get a hold of someone about my Valium question.
