Well, not to worry! The VA still wants me...even without my appendics!
In fact, they still want me on our original time frame...ie, September
5th. So, hopefully, when I go back to see my surgeon this coming
Tuesday, he will write me a release for heavy lifting as of September
5th. Since it was a LAPROSCOPIC procedure, I really think SIX WEEKS of
not lifting is a bit overly cautious, anyway.
I can't believe all the hoops one has to jump through to get a job at the
VA...I guess because is is a government facility(?). Today I spent TWO
HOURS there running from department to department filling out paperwork
and giving blood and urine and getting a twelve lead EKG done. After all
that, I THOUGHT I had had my 'physical'...nope. Turns out that is just
preliminary stuff! They won't give me my physical until they have that
doctor's release in hand...but, they suggested that I come see them
immediately after my 2:00 appointment this Tuesday--hoping they can give
me my physical then. They also wanted a copy of my immunization record!
It has been thirty years or more since anyone has asked me for that! I
have no clue where to even go to find it. (And I had thought they were
reaching back in time when they had told me they needed official
transcripts of my college degree from 1983!) I have NEVER had to hop
through so many hoops for any other hospital position I have ever applied
for. A few times I have thought to myself, "Is it worth all this?" I
think, mostly, though, my doubts are just the fact that what lies ahead
is unknown....and it is always more comfortable to stick with a miserable
known than face the unknown. I am so glad my final shift at my present
hospital was so typically horrible. Had I had a decent day, I would have
been filled with regret at leaving...but, as it was, my last day just
cemented in my heart and mind that it is time to leave, even though I
will miss my co-workers and my boss, a lot. I didn't know that was to my
last day, either. I thought I would be back the next day and also the
following weekend. But, appendicitis changes plans!
Speaking of which, my aunt and mother (and tonight Randy, in the band)
pointed out that it is a blessing that my appendics decided to fester
this week instead of a couple of weeks ago when we were in the
backcountry of the Canadian Rockies...a five hour horse ride out! They
are right. As much as I struggled over the decision whether or not to go
to the ER last Sunday, I know there is no way on earth I would have asked
to be taken out of the Rockies early....wrecking everyone's vacation
plans. I would have just sat there and let my appendics fester until I
fizzled away! (You always hear of appendicitis being this horrific
pain....THAT is what I wanted to feel if this WAS appendicitis, so that I
would KNOW it was something serious. Instead, I just had this really
PERSISTANT pain that wouldn't let go of me, but wasn't what I would
classify as unbearable. It was never unbearable....or even too terrible.
But, it was right there in that right lower quadrant...and it just
wouldn't go away. I wouldn't have ridden out of the mountains to get it
checked out, but I would eventually head over to a nearby emergency room
to check it out.)
Of course Aunt Vonnie has to theorize that the horse-back riding is what
jiggled my appendics into it's state of festering! She would take any
chance to point out once more why she should never again be co-erced to
mount a horse! Ahhh....that truly WAS an excellent vacation! The best
ever!
: 7:12 AM<< Home
