She Texted Me!

I arrived just a few minutes before my 10 o’clock appointment two days ago. A lady walked in soon after who you could just tell, was not used to the setting. If I am not confusing her with a different patient, she knocked instead of just opening and coming in, and greeted me like we were both waiting for an exam or interview. Very different to how others act.

The practice manager asked who she was, and it was ascertained that she was the 12 o’clock lady. Talk about coming early!

After the doctor saw me, while the practice manager was talking on the phone after we’d started fixing up my paperwork and also trying to sort out the next patient, I asked why she’d arrived so early! She said she was new to all of this… Never sick, never been to a hospital, is scared of doctors. And she had never been to this area so has been scared she would get lost and be late. She was “NERVOUS!”🥹

She then said, “I heard you talking. You seem like you know all these things. You spoke about colon what what and the doctor who sent me hear had mentioned colonoscopy..”mispronounced.)

“Could I please have your number so I can ask you things when I get scared?”

Who could say no?

I told her she should not only ask me anything, she MUST send me a text so I can pray for her when she knows when her colonoscopy will be.

She’d been healthy, no bowel problems and suddenly, a low full of blood. And it happened more than once when passing stool. She became terrified, phoned her mom, panicked, her mom panicked… “Do I have cancer!?” I felt so, so bad for her!

I know there are some non malignant bowel diseases that can cause blood. But yeah, it IS a sign of cancer. I told her that I really hoped for the best for her. That I’ve had tumors removed which have thankfully been benign and I hoped that her cause was benign to, but that it is great that she overcame her fears because it definitely needs checking out ASAP and that I too have bladder surgery scheduled because of a growth I need removed which we are hoping is non cancerous. I understand her nerves and have been there for. The thumping heart, the asking yourself if your crazy. I’m glad for her that she has a mom who doesn’t belittle her worries.

So, when the practice manager then asked if she should squeeze me in this Monday, or the next one, though this Monday would have been better, I feared that her case was urgent and she would need the squeeze, and chose the following Monday.

I hope I don’t have anything awful going on in my belly. And if I do, I hope an extra week’s wait won’t have done anything bad. And I don’t mind the wait.

Last night, after we wondered if she WOUKD get in touch, she did. She said she had been emotionally and psychologically spent the day of the appointment but was now reaching out. And yep, they will be getting in on Monday to check out what’s up.

I’m glad she got in touch. We aren’t all veterans. If I hadn’t been operated on multiple times as a child, maybe I too would be as scared as many adults become before surgery. Her mom is very far away. I hope I can provide peace.