Dr's make me ill. Or I hate getting old.

Well, it seems to be the merry-go-round on the health system lately. I've managed to wrangle 2 whole days off this week. Thank you Queensland Health. I'm not complaining mind. I don't mind sitting around in waiting rooms. Waiting.

Monday was blood test and x-ray day. When I arrived, bright and early at the pathology lab, I should have been warned by the sign. Which read closed. Even though they were actually open. So I present myself to the front desk. Only to be told that one of the tests I am scheduled for must be booked in. Darn. Didn't know that. But they decided to let me do the test anyway. Lucky me. It was a glucose tolerance test. And being 12 months since I did the last one - which I don't remember having to book in for - I had forgotten just how nauseated that green drink makes me.

3 hours and about 7 vials of blood later, I stagger off to x-ray at the hospital. I had just managed to settle down with my book, and hey I get called in. How inconsiderate.

The upshot was that I was in and out of there in less than half an hour. And I had arranged the whole day off. You beauty.

Wednesday was back to the hospital for the Dr. My appointment was 0915. But it's interesting to try find your way through outpatients when you have only ever seen Emergency. Or the ceilings of the corridors. But I found my way with plenty of time and settled in. The clinic nurse, an older woman who called herself Steph, proved to be comic relief. She couldn't find a referral on my file.

"Do you have a referral letter with you?" she asked. I denied all knowledge. But I did give her the name of the Dr I had seen as an inpatient. A moments pause, a puzzled frown and her face cleared. Oh, I know Su, that's very naughty of her.

We waited. She popped back to apologise and offer cups of tea and coffee all round. The Dr was delayed, having to see patients in the ward. About 20 of them. And he didn't have a helper. More waiting. I'm supposed to be going off to work after this appointment. This time she mentioned the Dr has a couple of broken ribs. No indication whatsoever about how that happened. Which was probably the best part of the story. "So he's a bit precious" says she. A quiet chuckle and we went back to doing what we do best. Waiting. Most of us read, and listened to one patient snore.

I didn't get in till after 12noon. What? The x-ray is inconclusive? You need a CT? Groan. Make follow up appointments. Done. With still another 40 mintues to finally arrive at work, I phoned the acting Boss. We decided that it just wasn't worth going in. Yippee.

Today, I get to see my GP. Who will no doubt tell me my blood pressure is way too high. Medication will need to be adjusted. Which will make me sick for a few days. And my blood sugar is too high. I will need to diet. I keep telling myself that if I get sick, I get sick. If I need to change my diet, that could be exactly the kick I am looking for. And I just need to chill. And the more I think about it, the more nervous I get, and the higher my blood pressure goes. See comment regarding merry-go-round.

On another note, today I have finally extracted digit, and preordered the final instalment of the Harry Potter books. I am most happy and looking forward to that.