dental cattle call

walking into the waiting area was not conductive to remaining stress and panic free. in a space designed for ten to fifteen adults was at least double that number along with assorted children. voices blended into a dull rumble, which brought to mind the sound of a freight train on a long lonesome journey.

turning and running was the first thought that came to mind. a thought though that could not be reflected in action. with the abscess in my mouth continuing to provide discomfort and annoyance leaving was not an option.

the assorted masses were gathered for the same purpose, a consultation with the dental surgery department. the primary focus of which was the dental care of difficult children who were either afraid or unable to for some other reason sit through a dental appointment. which made me probably the oldest actual patient in the room. no stickers awaited me when the visit was complete.

the check in line had all the glamour of a cattle shoot on a dairy farm. leading us down a dark corridor in order to be milked. it took great amounts of self-control to suppress the moo within that was anxious to be heard.

finally, the front of the line was reached and paper work was collected to be filled out. as a veteran patient of the medical provider system completing the forms for me had been reduced to a science. fill out the required boxes. no pregnancy is not currently a condition my body is experiencing. attach list of current meds. attach list of current medical professionals contemplating all or part of my medical history. return paperwork to front desk and find a corner in which to hide from the masses there by preventing the onset of a panic attack. settle in for long wait.

surprises apparently still happen in the medical world. before the first page of my current book had been read my name was already being butchered. my escort/dental type person escorted me to a consultation where my medical history was reviewed. beginning with why an older person is in need of dental surgery versus daily run of the mill dental work.

once my various health conditions were discussed and a review of my meds and doctors was conducted the dental type person seemed to grasp why the dentist type person of last week had referred me to this particular university hospital.

as is always the case in these not to complicated situations it appears that nothing can be decided without the input of some unnamed committee. dental type person informed me that no decision would be made today. my current doctors would need to be contacted and a joint decision made on how to approach my dental care. if for some unexplained reason they were unable to help me assurances were given that a referral to someone who could help would be passed along.

all in all another annoying and frustrating day on the medical treadmill. it would be a pleasant surprise if just once my medical conditions would follow the path of least resistance.