Meaningless system, part four

Another week, another visit to the hospital. Second appointment with the nephrologist (kidney specialist), and new referred appointment with the ophthalmologist (eye specialist).

Arrived by 08:00 hours for the blood test, which went smoothly all considering, got delayed at the registration part but the lab part was smooth. Thumbs up to the lab people.

Done within 30 minutes, including the surprised urine sample request, which I wasn't awared of until then. Gave them what my bladder could produced then, not a lot but they didn't called me back so I guess it's sufficient.

Went straight to the nephrology clinic, the nurse took my weight and blood pressure and told me in a nice way to bugger off. The appointment with the nephrologist was scheduled for 10:40 hours.

So I went out to breakfast. Oh, I walked to the hospital in the morning, and walked back home when I was finally done. Everywhere else in between that was also walked, for a total of 1 hour and 47 minutes split between six walking sessions.

Took 15 minutes to walk to breakfast and 15 minutes back to hospital, still more than an hour until the appointment with nephrologist so I went to the ophthalmology clinic first, see if I could get lucky and get that appointment done first.

No luck, the appointment was at 11:00 hours. I told them I had a 10:40 hours appointment with the nephrologist so most likely I would be late. They smiled, they know. Well, at least I prompted them to sort out the medical insurance thing, which strangely was issued for yesterday instead of today, so not totally a waste of effort.

Went back to the nephrology clinic and took out my novel to pass time, slightly more than one hour to kill. If the consultation was on time, that is, which it wasn't. No surprise there, and no prize for guessing if it was earlier or later than the appointment time.

The nurse called me 37 minutes after the appointment time. Took 6 minutes for the consultation, basically being told my blood test showed same results as the one done in December, and still need to wait a few days for the other test results. So another appointment was scheduled in late February and none the wiser on what's wrong with my kidneys.

So naturally I was late for the 11:00 hours appointment with the ophthalmologist. The consultation happened at 12:24 hours, but if we take away the time delayed by the nephrologist, then really it's "just" 41 minutes late.

The ophthalmologist said maybe it's the spectacles, or maybe dry eyes. Advised me to make a new pair of spectacles and gave me some eye drops, and said to go back early March. So another appointment. Looks like I still have to visit the hospital on weekly basis end of February and beginning of March.

I went straight to the optometrist to get a new pair of spectacles made. They tried to sell me two pairs, one multifocal for distance, intermediate and near, the other an office glasses for intermediate and near. I resisted and said I only need one, the office glasses. Already cost me an arm for that, I don't need to lose both arm and leg.

After all that is done, went for a late lunch and by the time I reached home, it's already 15:25 hours. That's another leave gone.

Other |runaway rants| category entries.