October 4, 2018, 1:50 p.m.
Acupuncture day. I so need this today! Acupuncture, combined with meditation and mindful breathing, is the height of relaxation and stress relief!
When the assistant called for me, I followed her down the hall to Paul Simon’s acupuncture treatment room. She logged in at the workstation, as she usually did, and I expected her to follow with scheduling my next appointment. Instead, she informed me that today was my last appointment until next April!
“Today is your sixth appointment,” she said.
“Yes, I know, and I’m supposed to have 10,” I protested.
“No, it’s six,” she insisted.
“I was told 10.” Francis was the one who had first informed me of that and Paul Simon had confirmed it. “Well, if that’s the way it is, okay, then.” There must have been some attitude in my tone of voice that made her look again at the monitor.
“Are you a chronic pain patient?” she asked.
“Well, yeah,” I responded, probably in the same tone of entitlement.
“Okay, well, no one put that in your record,” she sighed. She typed again, then apparently looked in Paul Simon’s calendar. “The next available appointment is November 5, 2:10 p.m.” Her voice was authoritative and final.
“Sure,” I agreed. “What day of the week is that?”
“Monday.”
“That’s perfect.” Then I reminded her that I use the massage chair instead of lying down on the treatment table.
Paul came in shortly after that, with his usual cheery bedside manner, and greeted me then checked the monitor for my medical records. Somehow, I feel that Paul is less than enthusiastic about treating me since he found out (last time) that I’m taking Lyrica. I have tried to assure him that my intention is for Lyrica to be very temporary as I search in my relentless quest for healing, above and beyond mere pain relief.
Neither of us seemed very chatty today, although I did tell him about having to sit through a 48-hour board meeting, stopping only to eat and sleep. I told him I was doing a lot of acupressure, and indicated on my neck, just under the base of my skull, which pressure points I did that were most effective.
I settled into position on the chair, and he put the needles in. His movements were quick and precise. One of the needles on my right shoulder he put right through my t-shirt. He put three needles in my right hand and wrist (instead of the usual two) and he asked if he could put one in my left ankle. He confirmed that I wanted music and the heat lamp.
Ah! The music was that Eastern music track that I love to hear during acupuncture, and seemed quite appropriate since I was wearing my t-shirt with the Chinese characters on it. I took a deep cleansing breath and began my mindful breathing. I tried very hard to let go any thoughts of how much web client work I had to do when I got home and just be aware of only how my body felt on the massage chair. I began with an awareness of how it felt where the needles were placed and where the meridians are. Yes, my mind wandered a lot and I had to keep bringing it back to the present moment.
At one point, I became so relaxed that I actually dozed off for a split second and my right arm fell from the arm rest of the massage chair. I panicked! I was sure that I had knocked out all the needles. But I brought my arm back up very gently to rest on the massage chair arm support and then opened my eyes. All three needles were still there. I became aware again of the needle in my left ankle and the needles on the right side of my head and neck. All is good!
Paul came in once, as usual, to check on me. I didn’t stir, but just mumbled, “Fine,” when he asked how I was doing. He informed me that I had another 10 minutes.
The session seemed to go by awfully fast today. I realize that, after the initial greeting, scheduling the next appointment, and then removing the needles at the end, the actual acupuncture part is only about 35 minutes. But it is sufficient. When Paul leaves, he always says, “Good-bye, Jacquie.” He is a thorough professional!
Hearing Center
As I was leaving the Physical Rehabilitation department, I caught a glimpse of the Hearing Center just across the corridor. On impulse, I headed in that direction instead of turning left toward the elevators. There were two check-in clerks at the reception desk, one was a young black woman and the other one an Asian. I gravitated easily toward the Asian woman. “May I help you?” she smiled. And as soon as she opened her mouth, I knew she was a Filipina!
“I just have a question,” I began. And as if I thought I needed an explanation for my question, I said, “I’ve been getting letters and emails a lot about having my hearing checked–probably because of my age–and…well, I’m wondering where I should begin.”
She did not seem surprised, so I’m guessing this happens a lot. “You want to make an appointment for a hearing test?” It was more of a statement than a question. But, yes, I suppose that’s what I want to do.
“What’s your Kaiser ID number?”
I told her, then asked, “Do you need to see my card?”
“Oh, no, I’m just putting your number into the system here.” Well, of course, she didn’t need to see my Kaiser ID card and my driver’s license to verify my identity. We are both Filipina women!
As she turned to her monitor to check the schedule, I added, “I’m not generally available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.”
“How about Thursday, October 18, at 9:10, 10:10, or 11:10?”
“Oh, 11:10, please.” I laughed. “That’s the day after my birthday. I’ll be 72 when I come in that day!”
We both laughed. She typed some more then printed out a sheet, highlighted the paper with bright yellow, and handed it to me. “See you then!”
Wow. I did it. Linda is going to be so proud of me!
Flu Shot
Linda knew I intended to get my flu shot, so I got into an elevator to the first floor and then headed toward Building A. It was farther than I thought, and when I finally found it, I was at the wrong end of the line and had to go even farther. I was very glad I had remembered to wear my Fitbit today!
Getting flu shots at Kaiser has become very routine by now. I gave the clerk my Kaiser card, which she used to stamp a paper, and then instructed me to complete the first five questions. The line was not long, the process worked very smoothly and uneventfully, and I soon had my flu shot.
What did NOT go smoothly, however, was finding the van after getting outside. I went from Building A back into Building B (where the Acupuncture is) and out the entrance where I had gone in when Linda dropped me off. I looked up and down all the rows of parked cars. Several times. I called Linda’s cell phone and we tried to determine where each other might be. When I finally found her, I saw that she was parked right outside the front entrance to Building A.
“I thought you would be coming out of Building A,” she explained. Well, of course, she would think that since there were large signs in front of Building A that clearly said, “FLU CLINIC TODAY.”
I felt like I had just been a rat in a maze.
When I got into the van, I gave Linda the paper from the Hearing Center. “You’re going to be proud of me,” I bragged. She took a moment to look at it and then proclaimed, “Yes! It’s about time!”
Indeed, it is time. I don’t know yet how I will manage the co-pays, at the same time that Linda gets new glasses which she desperately needs, but somehow we will. We always do.
