Went in today for my surgery pre assessment visit followed by an appointment with the surgeon.

This was after I was told my health insurance has been cancelled. HR had told me that I was covered for this month, and to get my surgical pre authorization letter before switching to the insurance I will be paying as there can be delays during the switch. So when I followed up with the insurers today they told me my employer had cancelled my insurance. I have written to HR and will see what happens…I honestly don’t have the energy to get stressed about it now.

On a more humorous (or deeply worrying, not sure which…) note, my surgical pre assessment was incompetence at the level of Fawlty Towers. I first saw the physio, who ignored The Man until he actually introduced himself 5 mins into the appointment. Then proceeded to tell me that even though I have had surgery blah blah…it took me telling her twice for her to register I hadn’t had surgery yet. Then she talked me through a leaflet of exercises – stunningly dull.

And then the nurse version of Manuel entered. She is a senior nurse, according to her badge. I am not sure if she was actually someone that came in from the street and had nicked a nurses uniform… She is honestly one of the most incompetent nurses I have ever met. All over the place, forgetting everything, not asking me half the things she should have, was surprised I had had chemo…And for the finale, she couldn’t take blood. Seriously. She commented my veins are hard and shrunk – no, fuck me, really. That is unusual after 6 months of chemo…not. Then she uses the thickest needle (the type with the tube attached where they then insert the vials to fill with blood) and manages to get the vein. Then either forgets or never knew to keep the needle in my arm still so is literally waving the tube and vials around and of course the needle is moving and the blood stops. 

I was  fighting with myself to not grab it off her and do it myself. Or punch her. She then sends me to the place where I had the chemo and the lovely phlebotomist there – who was cracking up when I was telling her what had gone on! 

I was told to set aside 2 hours for this visit. 20 mins. Including the physio. Manuel didn’t even ask me if I had any allergies to meds…

The surgeon visit went well – although I was a bit subdued (yes, it can happen) as I think I was thrown by the pseudo nurse…bet she is a plumber in her day job. But all fine, apart of course from the minor fact I may not be covered for the surgery…I didn’t mention that today. I also won’t get results until a week after surgery which I prefer – the idea of waking up and getting some results immediately was a bit daunting.

So, the nurse may prepare me for knee surgery on Monday, the accounts department may throw me out and so long as I don’t need bloods all should be fine…