THE WAY IT WAS

Author: Theresa
October 7, 2015

In the past, when a person was sent to the hospital for routine blood tests, you walked into the appropriate department and took a number then sat down and waited for your number to be called. That’s the way it always was back then.

 

Oh, but that’s not the way it now. Last week, my physician thought it would be a good idea to send me to the hospital for a glucose tolerance blood test.

 

In recent years, the hospital that I went to had undergone a major renovation. I believe that it was to make it more patient friendly. At least, that’s what all the signs seemed to indicate.

 

My appointment was for seven in the morning, but I was told to get to the hospital by fifteen minutes to seven, take a number and go to admitting. Well, I arrived at six in the morning. Since I was the only one there, I went through admitting almost immediately. I presented my medical card and my hospital card. My hospital card was confiscated as I was told they no longer used them.

 

I was asked why I was there and I told the admitting nurse it was for glucose tolerance test. She asked me if I had fallen within the last week. I answered that I hadn’t fallen recently. It was six o’clock in the morning and I had not had a wink of sleep the night before because I was afraid I wouldn’t wake up on time for this appointment. Perhaps she had seen me walk into the area in my usual dizzy way. I have been dizzy since I was a child. That’s just me. I couldn’t walk a straight line if my life depended upon my doing so. She then asked me if I needed wheelchair assistance. I told her that I could manage on my own.

 

I was then directed to take another number and wait for the blood clinic to open at seven o’clock. I did as instructed then took a seat outside the blood clinic.

 

At seven o’clock, the door to the blood clinic was opened and I went in and presented myself. I was asked my name in full and my birth date.  

I was called into the back of that area behind a curtain and led to a chair that resembled a barber’s chair, except for the fact that it was quite high off the floor. I was wearing slippery polyester slacks and nearly did myself in by trying to hop up onto the chair. After slithering off on my first few attempts, I finally made it. Once again, I was asked to give my name and date of birth. I have to say, those questions were getting a bit old, as far as I was concerned. Even in my mindless state from no sleep the night before, I could remember my name and date of birth. I briefly wondered why they couldn’t remember especially since they had all my info in front of them, and typed out on my hospital wrist band. Oh, well, I thought, I might as well humor them.

 

Once the blood was drawn, I was given a sickly sweet cold orange drink that I had to drink in front of them. I was told to stay within the hospital for the next two hours and then to return at nine fifteen for the second drawing of blood. I could have stayed within that area and watched television, but I was certain I would fall asleep. I thought it was better to sit out in the public waiting area because I knew the constant flow of people would keep me awake.

 

At nine ten, I returned to the blood clinic to wait out the last five minutes. I’m not sure what happened, but between nine twelve and nine fourteen, I think I blinked and my eyelids momentarily stuck shut in an urgent need to sleep. I awoke in a flap of arms and legs flailing all around me. I almost fell off the chair I was sitting on. Instantly, I stood up and went to report in for my next blood draw. Yup, you guessed it… I was asked my name and date of birth.

 

I went behind the curtain and yet again was asked to give my name and date of birth. Finally, the last blood was drawn and I was told I could leave. I had to ask them why they kept asking me to give my name and date of birth. The reply was that they were testing my memory. I assured them I didn’t have a problem but wondered if they did. As I was about to leave, I calmly muttered that I wondered where I lived. Everyone’s eyebrows shot up. I laughed as I left.

 

THE END

 

3 Responses to “THE WAY IT WAS”

  1. mary Says:

    Good story, Theresa.

  2. Louise Says:

    Funny girl !

  3. Patsy Says:

    Good story! Also a good thing I didn’t have to answer that question. I fell 3 times this week. Twice on the ice when I was out for a walk and once down the basement stairs.

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