Doctors and Lawyers and Such.......

So, yesterday I had my first appointment with the civilian doctor who will be treating me for my abnormal pap smears (TMI? Don't worry, I'm not getting into details). I arrived at the clinic right on time and was pleasantly surprised. Complimentary valet parking for clinic patients? Why yes, that sounds just fine. Free WiFi in all waiting rooms? Huh. Providence 2, Navy Clinic 0. There wasn't even a single sign threatening death and dismemberment if I didn't turn off my cell phone. In fact, I leisurely checked my email and Facebook on my BlackBerry while waiting for my appointment. I even texted Meircee from the exam room! But why was it necessary to text Meircee from the exam room? Well, it was necessary because I had the need to vent! The Navy clinic conveniently neglected to forward my chart to the new doctor, making it necessary to repeat the procedure I had already had done. No, this procedure is not a fun one, or even a benign one. I was not a happy camper. Providence 2, Navy Clinic -1

When Dr. Wong made his appearance (at the precise time my appointment was scheduled: Providence 3, Navy Clinic -1), I nearly fell over. He was a Doogie Howser, I swear! My first clue should have been his diploma, hanging on the wall. You know, the one that was dated 2002? Heck, my kids are older than this guy's medical degree. What the hell is up with this? I am not supposed to be older than the doctor. Am I? I'm used to being older than the nurses. The corpsmen (aka nurses) at the Navy clinics have always been younger than me, and that includes when I was a twenty-year-old new mom, but the doctors? Oh no. They are supposed to be much, much older than I am. Apparently this middle-age thing is sneaking into all aspects of my life.

My procedure went just fine (fuzzy covers on the stirrups: Providence 4, Navy Clinic -1) and the doctor and his staff were very nice. My only complaint was with the whole weighing-in thing. At the Navy Clinic they just ask me how much I weigh and take my word for it (heh). Here, they asked me to step on the scale. At first I thought it was weighing me in kilograms, because surely that number couldn't be right. It must be blah blah point blah blah. But alas, it was blah blah BLAH point blah. Erg. Providence 3, Navy Clinic -1.

Now I wait two weeks before my follow-up. Dr. Wong will tell me then what treatment is necessary and then he'll perform the procedure (no more Navy Clinic for me-at least for this). I'll get to experience that valet parking a few more times and then hopefully I can be done with doctors (both older and younger than I) for a long, long time.