A crazy day of waiting

Have you ever had a day, which seems to be perfectly planned, but then it goes completely haywire? Well, that was my day today.

I first went to pick up lab orders at my primary care doctor’s office. Although I had been called and had been told they are waiting for me at the front desk, when I arrived, the receptionist could not find them. After waiting a while, I finally had to leave. I had to get to the lab to have blood work done for a different doctor.

From previous experiences, I know the lab can be busy. I made an appointment for today to guarantee I would not have to wait very long. (Having an appointment skips the long line of people who arrive via the walk-in system.) When I checked in, the waiting room was packed with people. I waited, but after a number of people were called back (and it seemed me having an appointment did not make a difference in the time I was going to have to wait), I left to go to a doctor’s appointment.

At the doctor, I was taken back quickly. But then I had to wait. One hour and 45 minutes later, the provider arrived in my room. Thankfully, she was able to create lab orders to have the test I needed which my primary care doctor had ordered. However, this doctor uses a different laboratory.

After my appointment, I had to go to a laboratory, drop off the lab orders and then go back across town to a different lab to have my lab work done.

I am grateful everything was completed, and I was able to go home. I tried extremely hard to make today as short of a day as possible with planning ahead, but things just did not go my way. It was a long day of waiting.

High blood pressure, low blood sugar: Crashing at the doctor’s office

Yesterday, I had an extremely busy day. I had to get everything out of my room to have part of my ceiling cut out. Although I had planned ahead, the workers came early. I had to scramble to get everything out.

Then, I had to hop in a car and travel 45 minutes to a medial appointment. Upon arriving at the clinic, the waiting room was packed with people. All the chairs were occupied. People were standing. The waiting room was so full, people were standing outside the office. I sat on the floor as this was the only open seating available.

After waiting 45 minutes, the receptionist told a patient the doctor was not at the clinic. He was running late. By this time, I was shaking from exhaustion. My blood sugar was dropping. I was sweating profusely. My muscles were quivering. I struggled to speak.

After an hour of waiting, I was called back. The medical assistant took my vitals. My blood pressure was 182/84. When she touched my skin, it was burning hot. She asked me if I was sick. I told her I was extremely tired. She seemed concerned. She told me to stay where I was.

A few minutes later, the doctor rushed into the clinic. He apologized for being late. He came to my exam room first. He asked how I was. He quickly raced through my appointment. He then escorted me out of the clinic, and held open the exit door for me. (He is an extremely kind doctor.)

Once I left the clinic, we had to get gasoline. We then had an hour to drive to another engagement I had. On the way, my blood sugar continued to drop. Even though I was running my IV nutrition called TPN, I was shaking uncontrollably, it was hard to think and I was struggling to breathe.

We stopped at the grocery store. I was able to get a large bunch of bananas and some baby carrots. I quickly consumed two bananas. My head stopped hurting. And my body stopped shaking. I munched on the carrots as we made our way through the city.

We arrived at the event right on time. I nearly fell trying to enter the building. My head started spinning very quickly, and my muscles started shaking. Thankfully, I was able to use a wall to steady myself and was able to continue on after resting.

At the event, I tried my best to act social, but I was incredibly tired. I caught only fragments of sentences. My mind often drifted off. I had to fight to stay awake.

When I felt as though I had stayed long enough, I politely excused myself. I got back in the car and settled in for a 30 minute drive back home.

Once home, the ceiling construction work was complete. I then had to clean up my room. Ultimately, I need to put everything back into my room. Many things are scattered in the dining room, and my closet is heaped high with miscellaneous items. But all that would have to wait. I was too tied.

After running my nebulizer and clearing out the mucus in my airways, I settled into my bed. I had made it. And now it was time to not move for a very long time.

It's the little things which make me smile

This weekend, I was thinking about my former Bible teacher. As I often do, I break down in tears thinking about her. I deeply miss her. I cannot tell you the profound way she has impacted my life. I prayed to God, asking for her to be well. I also prayed I could find someone at Bible study who recently spoke to my teacher and had an update.

I was stunned when, unprovoked, someone gave an update about my former Bible teacher at Bible study. I was thunderstruck because it was an EXACT answer to my prayer.

Since hearing about our current Bible study teacher’s eye, I have prayed many times for her eye to have a full and complete healing. I asked God for her eye to be healed and her to be well enough to teach. I was overjoyed her eye was healed and that she was feeling better. She gave a fantastic lesson as always.

I also asked God if I should express to my Bible study teacher that I was praying for her. (I have many friends who get upset when I asked about their health. I did not want to do anything to bother my wonderful teacher.)

I again was flabbergasted she answered this prayer request when she expressed her gratitude to those who reached out to her concerning her eye.

I know God always hears our prayers, but still I am usually astonished that He answers in such a detailed way. Some people look for the big miracles. I smile when even my small, unimportant prayers are answered.

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. (1 Chronicles 16:11)