when the truth should be avoided.
remember what I said about fever and chills Saturday? Well, my fun lasted through to yesterday morning. So there I am, checking in at the Oakland Outpatient VA facility. They ask me if I have been exposed to COVID.
No. Ill? No. Fever or chills in the last 2 weeks?
And I mention that I had a normal reaction to my booster.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. The screening person then informs me that I can’t be seen.
Why? I don’t have COVID, I haven’t been exposed. I had a normal reaction to a booster, same reaction as I had last February.
She calls the nurse. Nurse says no.
I very quietly and firmly insist on speaking directly to the nurse. I don’t have a choice about today’s visit. I am out of an essential medication.
After 20 minutes, one of the nurses comes down. I carefully explain, and suggest that they talk to my doctor since I will need medication in any case. He wanders back upstairs. Another 15 minutes pass and he comes back to say that I can be seen after all.
It is now five minutes before my appointment time.
Turns out, this appointment was worth it. This particular physician grew up and trained in NYC. He landed here on the West Coast because of a fellowship at UC Davis. Late 50s, he just shook his head over my hassles with the SFVA staff, reminding me that as a teaching facility, they put more stock in tests and less in patient’s experience. Lab? My lab from July is fine (this is the lab that I thought was ok but was refused as “off” by the teaching staff earlier this month). He isn’t worried. I can have my refills.
I am even willing to drop back in five months. I appreciate consideration and kindness.
