My Eyeballs Are Floating Just Thinking About It
I can't be bothered to worry about things until it is officially time to worry about them, or at least that's my excuse for waiting until we were on our way out the door. I knew the time for the appointment and the approximate location, but "approximate" doesn't actually get you where you're going. So, with my coat on and purse in hand, I called the doctor's office and asked for the precise address where we needed to go for the ultrasound.
Once the address had been given, the person on the phone reminded me that I should be there at 12:30. "Oh, and make sure you drink 32 ounces of water!" she added.
It's not my first rodeo, and that's the problem. THAT is why I didn't think too hard about what she had said.
As we drove down the road, I reluctantly sipped on water. And more water. And more water. It sounds much harder than it is to drink that much water.
We pulled into the parking lot at exactly the right time. It was then that we told Alexis what to expect. It *is* her first rodeo, so she was just as excited as one would expect. I distracted myself with that excitement because while it's not that hard to drink a lot of water, it is hard to not think about it.
But think about it I did. As we climbed the stairs to the proper office, I thought REAL hard about it. And crossed my legs a bit.
When we walked through the door, the first signs of trouble smacked me in the face. And by that, I mean there was a literal sign that said the staff was at lunch and to wait in the chairs around the corner.
It was 12:25. I was supposed to be there at 12:30. The sign said the staff would return at 1:00.
HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
We sat in the chairs and Alexis started talking. And talking. And talking. I have no idea what she said because did I mention that I needed to go to the bathroom? LIKE IMMEDIATELY?
But, alas, I was told to drink water and hold it. So. SO NO BATHROOM FOR YOU, LADY WHO FOLLOWS INSTRUCTIONS.
Minutes passed. I squirmed. More minutes passed. I squirmed some more. I started thinking about rivers flowing and sparkling streams and ZOMG ONE TRACK MIND. BATHROOM. GO.
But I didn't. I started to get more and more annoyed as I watched the minutes pass by. Five minutes past the appointment time ... ten minutes past the appointment time ... WHY IN THE WORLD WAS I TOLD TO BE THERE AT 12:30 IF EVERYONE WOULD BE AT LUNCH UNTIL 1:00?
I pulled out my appointment book and searched to see if I had written down the wrong time, but then I remembered that the time had been confirmed when I called just an hour earlier. So. THOU SHALT WAIT. LONGER. WHILE NEEDING TO PEE.
Squirm.
Wiggle.
Eyeballs floating.
Misery.
At last, a shuffle of papers and the sound of footsteps came from around the corner. IT WAS THE TECH! SHE WAS THERE! It was 12:50, but that was better than 1:00!
As she rounded the corner, she asked for some paperwork and then said, "If you need to go to the bathroom before we start, there's one right over there."
*Insert the sound of a record scratch here.*
*Insert the crazed lunatic look that was on my face here.*
*Insert a mix of relief and OMG YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME here.*
I looked at her as if she had four heads. All of that waiting while miserable FOR NOTHING. NOTHING AT ALL.
Look, I am fully aware that some ultrasounds require the epic amount of water drinking and some don't. I probably should have thought harder about the fact that my doctor hadn't mentioned the whole thing. Probably. But I didn't. So ... fine. It was my fault I drank too dang much water for nothing. We'll go with that.
But what of the 12:30 appointment time?
"Oh, they tell you to be early in case you show up without your paperwork and I have to look it all up."
WHY DO I FOLLOW DIRECTIONS SO WELL?
Monday, January 6, 2014
Reader Comments (6)
This exact scenario, minus talking kid, happened to me with LB. I was so mad at myself but also overjoyed to go pee.
LOL.. For my ultrasound last month, on reaching the office, I was told there is an hour and a half's waiting! (Welcome to India!)
I told Mr Husband that there was no way that I could hold so long, and straight away went to the bathroom... But I had had so much water that my bladder was full again within 30 minutes, AND THEN I NEEDED TO THROW UP due to morning sickness! Throwing up, with the bladder full is not a great idea..Ahem! so off I went to the bathroom again.. and right after stepping out I as told "Mrs Khanna, you are next!"
Thankfully, the technician was a super sweet lady, who on seeing my bladder empty suggested a transvaginal ultrasound, and saved me the ordeal of drinking so much water all over again...
Oh yeah I remember those -no water needed ultrasounds very well. Thy are so fun aren't they? Hoping all went well & healthy uneventful pregnancy.
That is idiotic. But what could possibly be a good revenge for someone making you wait when you need to pee oh so very bad and THAT'S THEIR FAULT TOO?
communication is key!
And that is exactly why I started making all of my appointments for first thing in the morning. I didn't have to worry about the dr being all backed up from lunch (though sometimes she came in late in the mornings too, which peeved me a lot).