The Bad--Part 2--February 2022

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It's coming--eventually! Bad enough my birthday didn't come out the last day of this February but I had a 3 hour (at least!) nightmare on the phone! For those who have been following my physical ailments you know I am very unhappy with my current cardiologist and though I was hesitant about changing midstream I decided to search for my former cardiologist who supervised my aorta valve replacement in 2008 as I remember he was caring and listened but, just as important, explained in plain language what I could expect before, during and after. All I know was that he was part of the current group of doctors in this office and one day he wasn't and I met his 'replacement' and when I asked no one (seemed) had any information about the departed doctor. I wasn't having any problems so I decided to stay where I was and I had very little interaction with the new doctor and I was impressed with his nurse practitioner. It wasn't until the beginning of 2021 that I started to have problems again and after a few interactions, lacking any information, that I started to think about 'looking' for the previous doctor! After doing some research---yes, Chuck, I googled him--I found out the previous doctor was still with my insurance company and had offices not too far from me! I waited a few days thinking and talking to my primary doctor about switching and he advised there was no harm in getting a second opinion about my current problems . The next day I canceled my upcoming appointment with the current cardiologist, called the office of my former cardiologist and got an appointment for February 28. As I don't have a car I, generally, use either my HMO insurance that offers free rides and/or TOPS, our local department of transportation that offers rides to those who do not have local, convenient bus stops that they can walk to and, in many cases, free rides. I had spoken to Allen a few days before and he mentioned a doctor's appointment on February 28 so we, briefly, discussed his picking me up, after his appointment, and bringing me home. Using the 2 services mentioned above are great GOING to an appointment, but COMING home waiting for your ride could take an hour, even 2, sometimes. I woke up early--for me--on Monday, February 28, morning with a feeling something was wrong and all I could think of, after talking to Allen who had the wrong date for his appointment, that, maybe, for the first time, I hadn't arranged a ride for this appointment!!! Also, I had a feeling they may not have gotten the referral that is needed for me to go to specialists so I decided to check that first as it was early enough that, maybe, they could get it faxed before my appointment which was in the afternoon at 2:30!! And the phone 'fun' began---part 3 tomorrow