It seems like all I’m doing these days is going to various doctor’s appointments, either mine or Peter’s. Shortly after Peter saw the nephrologist last Friday, which culminated in the fabulous breakfast you see above, before I had to give a Sherry & Tapas Tasting at 12.30 (no point in going home in between) he suddenly got a call saying he had an appointment for an abdominal ultrasound on Monday. Like wtf? Meanwhile I’ve been waiting since October to see the knee surgeon.

Anyhow, as Peter’s ultrasound was at the Virgen del Rocío general hospital yesterday I decided that, since we were there anyhow, I’d try and find out what’s going on with my other appointments. No small feat. I tried the general info office and was told I would have to go to each different department (in different buildings, natch) and check with their secretaries. To be honest, they were really nice, and when I got lost in the ultrasound dept a very nice woman (there with a friend, not employed by the hospital) helped me find the right secretary for echocardiograms. A shut door in a hallway, like what? And the woman said “just knock and walk in” so I did AND IT WORKED (who knew?) The secretary was on the phone but waved me in and motioned me to sit down. And she was great. Turns out I have an appointment on May 26th at 9.30 am. She said I will probably get the notice in the mail next week. Okay-dokey… but then the most important one was still not accounted for.

Off I headed to the Traumatology hospital (behind the general hospital). Yep more walking. Oh, I didn’t mention that getting a taxi to the hospital the day after Feria closed meant that the usual route was virtually shut down due to everyone trying to close their casetas and remove all their STUFF… when we finally managed to flag a taxi the driver said “it’s hell down there” and said he could find another less direct route so we didn’t end up stuck in traffic forever. What the heck. In the end it only cost about 4 euros more than the usual fare to the hospital and wow did we get a tour of the city! I was really impressed by this guy. But approaching the hospital entrance from “behind” meant we had to walk a bit to get to there. So then having to go BACK to the Traumatology hospital (where the taxi had dropped us off) felt a bit like OMFG… but hey we were already there. Or at least in the general vicinity. Whatever, went for it.

Hobbled over to the T-hospital and, after being misdirected a couple of times to the wrong person to ask, success! Just go down to the basement level and ask for the Secretary there. Downstairs. With only two of three lifts working and taking everyone from the basement, sub-basement and up all the floors up to the fifth one. Let’s just say they were SLOW in coming and then so packed out that I finally said FUCK THIS and hobbled/crutched my way down the stairs. Yeah, hurt like fuck, but so would have waiting half an hour for the fucking lift. Anyhow…

Eventually found the Secretary (I’m getting good at this!) hobbled in and said I was looking for my lost knee surgeon appointment. And, just like the other secretary, she was really nice and helpful, had a look around and said that because the original request for the appointment came from the Fleming Clinic I would have to back there to “reclamar”. And I just thought… oh no…

Because I probably should have done that last December instead of going to the Defensor del Pueblo, who are also very nice but so far… nothing helpful. And I should have definitely done this last March when I went to the Mercado Palmeritas doing research for a Bitesize article and WALKED RIGHT PAST the goddam Fleming Clinic on the way (it’s really not close to home). I could have just stopped in when I was in the neighbourhood. A missed moment? I guess I’ll find out.

Because I have a mammogram scheduled on Friday – SEE IT’S ALWAYS SOMETHING – and no it’s not really close to Fleming but it’s also not far, so I am going to stop in there on the way and ask what’s going on. Because even the secretary at the main Traumatología hospital said this waiting period (since October) is not normal.

I hate to think I may have lost months because I didn’t take a day in December to go back to the scene of the crime and just ask them what the hell was going on. What I found out today is that this seems to be what you have to do. Not call, not write, not whatever else… just go there and stand in front of an actual person and ask them to check for you. You may lose a morning or an afternoon but hey, better than losing months by being in painful limbo.

So, that’s the plan and I guess there’s no point in thinking about what has maybe been lost, or how this or that may have turned out differently had I known this or that sooner, had acted sooner or better. Because it may not have turned out different or better anyhow. And all I can do is hope to get this dealt with. I’m so tired of it all, feeling helpless, always in pain, not knowing when (if??) help will be offered. So very tired.