I realized today why I love my job. This weekend I kept the clinic open an extra 5 minutes, while I waited for a patient to show up- who had called. Typically I am not supposed to do this. But he called, I felt bad for him because of the story he told me. So I informed the nurse that we would stay open for a few extra minutes to give him time to get there. Pretty quick I hear *flop* *flop* outside and he comes running in. He gives me this huge hug and thanks me and says he owes me. The next day he comes in BRIGHT and early. We joke about how he is certainly on time! Today I walk in and there is an envelope with my name on it by the computer. I open it up and its A THANK YOU CARD! He left it I guess last night. In short it says thank you because he didn't know what how he would have made it through without me staying open. I nearly cried. It was wonderful.
Okay, steering away from work for a bit... I have got a massive headache. And I think its from my sinuses- that or getting up at 4:30. Its absolutely killing me. But, its manageable. I am supposed to start painting my welcome home signs today. I'm not sure if I want to. I just don't feel good. But if I'm not careful I will be painting them on the night before he comes home- AGAIN! Yes I did do that last time. I'm such a slacker sometimes.
We had another TTC chat the other night. We got in a huge fight. He was laughing saying how "oh we'll try in 4 years." I was telling him how it took my friend 4 years to get pregnant. And he said that 4 years was perrrfect. I was screaming and yelling (I feel bad for THAT phone monitor!) about how I was NOT going to be 27 when I had my first! He thinks he is SUPPPPER hilarious. And I don't agree. But last night he emailed me and said that we would talk when he got home. I've been on the metformin for like 4 months now. And at this rate, I would rather keep going. I don't wanna start everything over again. I guess I'm gonna put off going on Clomid again...
2008-05-28
2008-05-26
2008? No 2007.
So I forgot my password. And I went through the whole process that blogger has to reset it. I managed to lock myself out for a minute. oops. That is NOT a short process to fix the password. But I learned something. The URL for my blog is www.marinewife20080113.blogspot.com. OKAY BRILLIANT! I got married in 2007. THAT is why I don't use numbers. So for the record- my anniversary is January 13, 2007!! Aye.... Maybe it just feels like I've only been married that long. I never see my husband. In fact, sometimes I don't even recognize him. It makes me wanna cry. Its not that I don't recognize him, but to me it feels that sometimes he is just a picture on the computer. Even when I webcammed with him the other day. It was hard to recognize this man. I am SERIOUSLY looking forward to some alone time to get to know each other again.
I never intended for this to be a blog about work or rehab. It just happens to be the most exciting thing in my life. Sooooooo Here it is... My memorial day at work- yuck
So this patient comes in. She had been on vacation so her treatment that she had been taking home she thought was done. She checks in, and pays her late fees (welcome to the end of the month!) and proceeds to get in line. But it pops up that she couldn't medicate. Okay, I didn't think anything of it. She tells the nurse "I only had X to take home" and after a lot of research, some calls to the nurses and the counselor, it was decided she was given X+1 to take home. A lot of drama ensues. Some of her anger "I've NEVER gone a day without dosing you better not do this to me!" A call to her husband- so she could prove that she only got X doses. "My husband only counted X amount of bottles." Oh really? Finally the nurse brings me the record of how many were brought home the day she left and asks me to find her. So I looked through the paper. And SURE ENOUGH X+1 to go with her! I bring the list back to the nurse who then asks me to go tell the patient the bad news- she was outside. So I head out there, afraid of whats gonna come. I show her the paper and say "this is what this tells me, you got X+1 to take with you and then you got one when you were in the clinic that day. So you aren't due back until tomorrow." No shit, I got this response "SOMEONE MUST HAVE STOLEN IT THEN BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE IT!" Hahahahaha seriously? I'm not stupid. I tell her that I'm sorry there is nothing we can do. Not EVEN 5 minutes later I get a call "Oh, my husband just called me and he found the extra bottle." Yea sure. Uh huh! I just about died laughing.
About the "I'm not a damn secretary post" to my CW girls. This nurse that I work with today. She seems to think that my job description is slave. I'm constantly being asked to "get this paperwork ready for me" "Get this person on the phone" "oh tell this patient this" Okay lady- I'VE HAD IT! Its your job to do your paperwork. If YOU have an issue with a patient YOU call their counselor. Not me- YOU!! If I have a problem I call the counselor. See how that works? No one else in the office makes me do their stuff. They ask. Even the director apologizes if she has me fax something. But not the nurse... Okay done with that.
I do like my job. I really do. I kinda find it fun sometimes. But I would like to break away from that. I'd like to be able to share life details sometimes. I will- eventually....
I never intended for this to be a blog about work or rehab. It just happens to be the most exciting thing in my life. Sooooooo Here it is... My memorial day at work- yuck
So this patient comes in. She had been on vacation so her treatment that she had been taking home she thought was done. She checks in, and pays her late fees (welcome to the end of the month!) and proceeds to get in line. But it pops up that she couldn't medicate. Okay, I didn't think anything of it. She tells the nurse "I only had X to take home" and after a lot of research, some calls to the nurses and the counselor, it was decided she was given X+1 to take home. A lot of drama ensues. Some of her anger "I've NEVER gone a day without dosing you better not do this to me!" A call to her husband- so she could prove that she only got X doses. "My husband only counted X amount of bottles." Oh really? Finally the nurse brings me the record of how many were brought home the day she left and asks me to find her. So I looked through the paper. And SURE ENOUGH X+1 to go with her! I bring the list back to the nurse who then asks me to go tell the patient the bad news- she was outside. So I head out there, afraid of whats gonna come. I show her the paper and say "this is what this tells me, you got X+1 to take with you and then you got one when you were in the clinic that day. So you aren't due back until tomorrow." No shit, I got this response "SOMEONE MUST HAVE STOLEN IT THEN BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE IT!" Hahahahaha seriously? I'm not stupid. I tell her that I'm sorry there is nothing we can do. Not EVEN 5 minutes later I get a call "Oh, my husband just called me and he found the extra bottle." Yea sure. Uh huh! I just about died laughing.
About the "I'm not a damn secretary post" to my CW girls. This nurse that I work with today. She seems to think that my job description is slave. I'm constantly being asked to "get this paperwork ready for me" "Get this person on the phone" "oh tell this patient this" Okay lady- I'VE HAD IT! Its your job to do your paperwork. If YOU have an issue with a patient YOU call their counselor. Not me- YOU!! If I have a problem I call the counselor. See how that works? No one else in the office makes me do their stuff. They ask. Even the director apologizes if she has me fax something. But not the nurse... Okay done with that.
I do like my job. I really do. I kinda find it fun sometimes. But I would like to break away from that. I'd like to be able to share life details sometimes. I will- eventually....
2008-05-24
Can I just have your payment please?
This may not be the longest entry. As much as I love Wednesday nights and Thursdays. I'm not a fan of Fridays. Its the start of an actual 4 day work week. Which means I gotta get up early tomorrow. :( And I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. Right from work I have to head out and go about a half hour from work. I'm gonna chill at Barnes and Noble for a bit- get a wonderful book that has been suggested "taking charge of your fertility." And then I have a dress fitting. Wonderful. I didn't get to shave tonight- I feel bad for the people there. haha! I'm in a wedding in about a month and a half and I have to get the dress, and the best appointment they could give me was 11. So no back to bed tomorrow. But its okay. It will be worth it!
Work today. Lets talk about patients shall we. Or as someone (I don't remember who- sorry!) said to me, "patients who don't have patience." Monthly fees are due on a specific day of the month. That day was a few days ago. A patient comes in today with a full balance. And I asked him VERY politely "do you have your payment today?" And I get a strange crazy look
Patient:"what's my balance?"
I tell him.
Patient: "Well I still have time."
Me: "No, no you don't fees were due X days ago. It is now the 23rd. You don't have time."
I can see his frustration escalating.
Patient: "Yea, but they know me, I don't have to pay today."
I point to the sign we have up saying that they are due on that day X days ago and tell him
Me:"_______ As far as I've been told that sign has been up for months. I know you don't come in every day, but I know you've seen it. Either you pay now or you detox."
WRONG! He starts absolutely LOOSING it on me.
Patient: "WHY DIDN'T ANYONE CALL ME AND TELL ME MY FEES WERE DUE? You can't detox me! Where is __________ (the director)?! I wanna talk to her. No one said my fees were due! You can't spring this on me!"
Oh really?
Me: "______ has gone home for the day. You are welcome to talk to her on Tuesday. But for now I have to detox you. Its what I was told to do. No one gets an exception."
Wrong again?
Patient: "THEY KNOW ME! Why didn't anyone call me and tell me?!"
At this point I was loosing my mind trying to figure out what his problem is.
Me: "Sir, you want me to call every active patient before their fees are due each month and tell them they are due? Do you know how many patients we have active? We have _____ patients. That would take days!"
Patient: "I don't care if you have 1200 patients! You need to call us all and tell us when they are due!!"
really???
Me: "Sir this sign has been up for months. You need to pay or you are detoxing. End of story."
Patient: "I'll give you $100. Then the rest you can have later. I have it all but I am not giving it to you
You must be kidding me!!
Me: "Fine I'll take that. You can take your doses home, but you have to pay on Tuesday."
Patient: "What is your name? I want your name so I can tell the director about you on Tuesday too. In all the years I have been here I have NEVER been given the run around like this. No one has ever bugged me for my payment the way you have. This is bullshit. I pay my money so I don't get treated this way, yet I am getting treated this way."
Okay 1) You clearly AREN'T paying your money. 2)Treated like what? I absolutely CANNOT take it when people are ignorant and stupid. I can take it when people are rude, because that is just humans. But ignorant and stupid. No.
He complained, of course, to the nurse. Who pages me and asks if there is anything we can do as far is him taking the rest of his doses home. I tell her nope. Explain the incident that happened up front. Told her that HAD he been polite about the whole thing then maybe I would be more inclined to work with him. But he wasn't. So I won't. She said she stood behind me.
Moral of the story. Don't fuck with the girl who controls the money. :)
And I just realized how truly long this really was!!
Work today. Lets talk about patients shall we. Or as someone (I don't remember who- sorry!) said to me, "patients who don't have patience." Monthly fees are due on a specific day of the month. That day was a few days ago. A patient comes in today with a full balance. And I asked him VERY politely "do you have your payment today?" And I get a strange crazy look
Patient:"what's my balance?"
I tell him.
Patient: "Well I still have time."
Me: "No, no you don't fees were due X days ago. It is now the 23rd. You don't have time."
I can see his frustration escalating.
Patient: "Yea, but they know me, I don't have to pay today."
I point to the sign we have up saying that they are due on that day X days ago and tell him
Me:"_______ As far as I've been told that sign has been up for months. I know you don't come in every day, but I know you've seen it. Either you pay now or you detox."
WRONG! He starts absolutely LOOSING it on me.
Patient: "WHY DIDN'T ANYONE CALL ME AND TELL ME MY FEES WERE DUE? You can't detox me! Where is __________ (the director)?! I wanna talk to her. No one said my fees were due! You can't spring this on me!"
Oh really?
Me: "______ has gone home for the day. You are welcome to talk to her on Tuesday. But for now I have to detox you. Its what I was told to do. No one gets an exception."
Wrong again?
Patient: "THEY KNOW ME! Why didn't anyone call me and tell me?!"
At this point I was loosing my mind trying to figure out what his problem is.
Me: "Sir, you want me to call every active patient before their fees are due each month and tell them they are due? Do you know how many patients we have active? We have _____ patients. That would take days!"
Patient: "I don't care if you have 1200 patients! You need to call us all and tell us when they are due!!"
really???
Me: "Sir this sign has been up for months. You need to pay or you are detoxing. End of story."
Patient: "I'll give you $100. Then the rest you can have later. I have it all but I am not giving it to you
You must be kidding me!!
Me: "Fine I'll take that. You can take your doses home, but you have to pay on Tuesday."
Patient: "What is your name? I want your name so I can tell the director about you on Tuesday too. In all the years I have been here I have NEVER been given the run around like this. No one has ever bugged me for my payment the way you have. This is bullshit. I pay my money so I don't get treated this way, yet I am getting treated this way."
Okay 1) You clearly AREN'T paying your money. 2)Treated like what? I absolutely CANNOT take it when people are ignorant and stupid. I can take it when people are rude, because that is just humans. But ignorant and stupid. No.
He complained, of course, to the nurse. Who pages me and asks if there is anything we can do as far is him taking the rest of his doses home. I tell her nope. Explain the incident that happened up front. Told her that HAD he been polite about the whole thing then maybe I would be more inclined to work with him. But he wasn't. So I won't. She said she stood behind me.
Moral of the story. Don't fuck with the girl who controls the money. :)
And I just realized how truly long this really was!!
2008-05-22
Surviving Babies R Us
I didn't work today. I think Wednesday nights and Thursdays are probably my favorite days of the week. Its when I finally get to sleep in and stay up late. And Fridays I don't get up early either! And thanks to the wonderful holiday, I don't have to get up at 4:30 until Wednesday!
I'm addicted to blogs. I read them nonstop. I have them bookmarked. A LOT of them. Not so much blogging. I'm gonna have to get used to this. But anyways. I suppose there is more to my life then working at a rehab (but that IS the most entertaining). I've been reading a few blogs about infertility (thanks to Kassi, I will have the links up sooooon!). Which is something I face. I am now scared shitless. Multiples? Do you know me?! I am NOT organized. That wouldn't work. No- no not at all. For Chris that would be amazing. He's the organized one. We face IVF within the year if we don't get our current path to work. We have grown impatient with our attempts. I have essentially been off birth control since we met. Thats nearly 2 years unprotected (a little disruption due to deployments, but unprotected none-the-less). It should have worked by now- the joys of having PCOS.
My medical problems are starting to sound like the Marine Corps with all the acronyms! Maybe I should make a dictionary? haha
I have a friend who is 8 1/2 months pregnant. Every time I am around her my baby fever spikes. I get all sorts of jealous. I want to be in her shoes. So on the way home I bought her baby shower gift (I don't like to run errands that are far away, I group them together- gas prices suck). I walked into Babies R Us. Soooo not sure what to do. I asked this lady where I could print her registry. She pointed me to the kiosk. I should have KNOWN from there things would go downhill. I walked to the WRONG side of the kiosk. how I managed that, I am not sure. But that could NOT be a good place to start. I finally get the registry printed, and wouldn't you know it- I simply cannot find anything on it. I finally find a bopee. $40. Pass. Not that I mind spending $40. Its just, I'd rather get her something more for that price. I call my friend. Tell her that she needs to be there. I am lost in the store. But I keep looking, decide to go look at the diaper bags one more time and try to find hers. FINALLY! I think I nearly screamed. I spent 45 minutes in that store, nearly peeing my pants, but I found it! I got the diaper bag, and a package of diapers (which my friend suggested getting a size 3) and some wipes. I also managed to loose my baby fever in the process and my mind. But I survived my first real trip to Babies R Us. Maybe I will survive my next?
PS. The baby fever is back. It never runs away for long...
PPS the links are finally up! I'm sure there are more to come!
I'm addicted to blogs. I read them nonstop. I have them bookmarked. A LOT of them. Not so much blogging. I'm gonna have to get used to this. But anyways. I suppose there is more to my life then working at a rehab (but that IS the most entertaining). I've been reading a few blogs about infertility (thanks to Kassi, I will have the links up sooooon!). Which is something I face. I am now scared shitless. Multiples? Do you know me?! I am NOT organized. That wouldn't work. No- no not at all. For Chris that would be amazing. He's the organized one. We face IVF within the year if we don't get our current path to work. We have grown impatient with our attempts. I have essentially been off birth control since we met. Thats nearly 2 years unprotected (a little disruption due to deployments, but unprotected none-the-less). It should have worked by now- the joys of having PCOS.
My medical problems are starting to sound like the Marine Corps with all the acronyms! Maybe I should make a dictionary? haha
I have a friend who is 8 1/2 months pregnant. Every time I am around her my baby fever spikes. I get all sorts of jealous. I want to be in her shoes. So on the way home I bought her baby shower gift (I don't like to run errands that are far away, I group them together- gas prices suck). I walked into Babies R Us. Soooo not sure what to do. I asked this lady where I could print her registry. She pointed me to the kiosk. I should have KNOWN from there things would go downhill. I walked to the WRONG side of the kiosk. how I managed that, I am not sure. But that could NOT be a good place to start. I finally get the registry printed, and wouldn't you know it- I simply cannot find anything on it. I finally find a bopee. $40. Pass. Not that I mind spending $40. Its just, I'd rather get her something more for that price. I call my friend. Tell her that she needs to be there. I am lost in the store. But I keep looking, decide to go look at the diaper bags one more time and try to find hers. FINALLY! I think I nearly screamed. I spent 45 minutes in that store, nearly peeing my pants, but I found it! I got the diaper bag, and a package of diapers (which my friend suggested getting a size 3) and some wipes. I also managed to loose my baby fever in the process and my mind. But I survived my first real trip to Babies R Us. Maybe I will survive my next?
PS. The baby fever is back. It never runs away for long...
PPS the links are finally up! I'm sure there are more to come!
2008-05-21
Fire an outside company?
I'm adding in an extra post today. Because one of the blogs I read (once I figure out how to post links, I'll get her link up here) reminded me.
Last weekend we had a computer problem. Nothing new. Since I've worked there we have had nothing but problems on the weekends. I've learned how to handle things accordingly.
This time it was the nurses computer. She's new too and at her wits end for the day (it was 7 am and it was already shaping up to be a long day for the poor woman). So she's trying to fix it, and I'm working my best to fix it for her. Neither of us are succeeding. I go out to the waiting room to update the patients and check the rest in. Some wise ass chimes in and tells me "you need to fire your IT people." Really? I tell the patient "they are an outside company. We really have no control over what happens with their systems." "We pay all this money can't you afford a better system?" Ummmm... "Corporate chose this system. We can't do much about it" (not to mention does the patient think that methadone is free and the clinic just blows their money?). "Yea well you need to fire them!" Again "its an outside company we can't do that." "Well why?" Thankfully her computer was up and running again and he got buzzed back...
Last weekend we had a computer problem. Nothing new. Since I've worked there we have had nothing but problems on the weekends. I've learned how to handle things accordingly.
This time it was the nurses computer. She's new too and at her wits end for the day (it was 7 am and it was already shaping up to be a long day for the poor woman). So she's trying to fix it, and I'm working my best to fix it for her. Neither of us are succeeding. I go out to the waiting room to update the patients and check the rest in. Some wise ass chimes in and tells me "you need to fire your IT people." Really? I tell the patient "they are an outside company. We really have no control over what happens with their systems." "We pay all this money can't you afford a better system?" Ummmm... "Corporate chose this system. We can't do much about it" (not to mention does the patient think that methadone is free and the clinic just blows their money?). "Yea well you need to fire them!" Again "its an outside company we can't do that." "Well why?" Thankfully her computer was up and running again and he got buzzed back...
Rehab is not funny!
Okay, disclaimer here- I do NOT in ANY way find rehab to be a joke. These people have serious issues that need to be worked through. But I have noticed some of the funniest behavior at work. And sometimes those things need to be shared. I will NEVER share what a patient is using. I will NEVER share their names or info. I will NEVER share any sort of problems. Just some comedic points throughout the day.
So today there is this patient, she is the one who you roll your eyes when she walks through the door and think "not today." She walks in and looks at all the staff at the front counter (there were about three of us) and says "have any of you thought of getting a heart transplant?" She wasn't kidding. She was very very serious. I chose to stay out of that conversation and just listen in. One of the people back with us gets a very confused look on their face and says "what do you mean?" And she says back (again very seriously) "anyone can get one and I was wondering if any of you thought about it?" And then continues on back to her meeting with her counselor.
No. No unnecessary heart transplants for me.
So today there is this patient, she is the one who you roll your eyes when she walks through the door and think "not today." She walks in and looks at all the staff at the front counter (there were about three of us) and says "have any of you thought of getting a heart transplant?" She wasn't kidding. She was very very serious. I chose to stay out of that conversation and just listen in. One of the people back with us gets a very confused look on their face and says "what do you mean?" And she says back (again very seriously) "anyone can get one and I was wondering if any of you thought about it?" And then continues on back to her meeting with her counselor.
No. No unnecessary heart transplants for me.
2008-05-20
Semper Fi
The thing that I don't think people realize about me is how extremely loyal and faithful I am. I am not just referring to Chris. But to everyone. If you are my friend, I am loyal. Well loyal that is until you eff me over.
Semper Fi is not just a marine thing. Its a Marine wife thing too. "Always Faithful" I would never get it tattooed. I think Chris would hurt me! Haha. But its the truth. I am always faithful, to God, to him, to my family, and to my friends. I bend over backwards for those that I love.
So why does it leave me baffled when I get stabbed in the back? Maybe its because I would come running for you in a heartbeat if you needed me. And I try to figure out why sometimes people do what they do. But I've realized that people can't be stopped. They are gonna do what they are gonna do.
But, remember this- next time you stab someone in the back. Next time you drop a friend for no reason. Next time you pick a fight because you are in a bad mood. Or whatever else you may do. Remember this. Was that friendship worth it? Did you just loose a friend for a good reason? Or was that friend like me. Would he or she come running when you were in need? Think about it.
Semper Fi is not just a marine thing. Its a Marine wife thing too. "Always Faithful" I would never get it tattooed. I think Chris would hurt me! Haha. But its the truth. I am always faithful, to God, to him, to my family, and to my friends. I bend over backwards for those that I love.
So why does it leave me baffled when I get stabbed in the back? Maybe its because I would come running for you in a heartbeat if you needed me. And I try to figure out why sometimes people do what they do. But I've realized that people can't be stopped. They are gonna do what they are gonna do.
But, remember this- next time you stab someone in the back. Next time you drop a friend for no reason. Next time you pick a fight because you are in a bad mood. Or whatever else you may do. Remember this. Was that friendship worth it? Did you just loose a friend for a good reason? Or was that friend like me. Would he or she come running when you were in need? Think about it.
2008-05-12
The disease from the ER!
4 months down...
Well a few days ago it was. There are days that I wonder how in the world this flies by. This has flown by this time. I suppose it is just because I know what to expect this time around.
We're workin on his re-enlistment. Okay, he is working on it. I'm sitting back and saying "uh huh, uh huh." I figure that at one point or another, the contract will be signed and we will know what is going on. At this point it has changed so often that I don't even know what to think that we are going to be doing anymore! But, I saw the packet, and I know what were doing or trying to get.
I have been so sick lately. I took a friend to the ER on Thursday night and I think I contracted some sort of disease. Haha please note- disease! I thought I lost my voice from the concert when I woke up yesterday and it was gone! And I had to go to work like that! I whispered to all my patients. And they couldn't understand why I was whispering. And today I woke up and it was worse. It was like no voice, on top of some sort of sinus thing. I NEVER get sick. Well I get like stomach aches but never actual sicknesses! Yuck!
Here's to another day gone by!
Well a few days ago it was. There are days that I wonder how in the world this flies by. This has flown by this time. I suppose it is just because I know what to expect this time around.
We're workin on his re-enlistment. Okay, he is working on it. I'm sitting back and saying "uh huh, uh huh." I figure that at one point or another, the contract will be signed and we will know what is going on. At this point it has changed so often that I don't even know what to think that we are going to be doing anymore! But, I saw the packet, and I know what were doing or trying to get.
I have been so sick lately. I took a friend to the ER on Thursday night and I think I contracted some sort of disease. Haha please note- disease! I thought I lost my voice from the concert when I woke up yesterday and it was gone! And I had to go to work like that! I whispered to all my patients. And they couldn't understand why I was whispering. And today I woke up and it was worse. It was like no voice, on top of some sort of sinus thing. I NEVER get sick. Well I get like stomach aches but never actual sicknesses! Yuck!
Here's to another day gone by!
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