Eating Crow Carefully

Today I was scheduled to have a small day surgery on one of my eyes.  It was to be a procedure with minor pain hopefully, and minor inconvenience.  It would be done by an ophthalmologist I don’t like very much.  He is the same person who did a cataract surgery a number of years ago and ever since I have been dealing with a retina irregularity which affects my eyesight and which I am inclined to blame on damage incurred in that original surgery.  I once mentioned that possibility to him and it was not well received.  “The irregularity is a factor of your age,” said he.  “Whatever you say,” said I with a hint of sarcasm.  Our relationship now is stiff and formal. 😕

So with all that prehistory in mind I show up for this snip snip appointment, and promptly learn from the Associate (Junior Doctor) that this is but an examination to determine type of upcoming surgery.  After detailed look at my file and a brief exam it is determined I now need to meet with a surgery coordinator and answer about 100 questions in preparation for a more ominous sounding surgery at a later date.  Also, now I must make appointment to see my GP so he can complete a pre-op form, and I will take a requisition to a medical laboratory for bloodwork, etc.  No surgery today. I have with me now an officious folder of papers with my signature and initials on many pages.

Now I am humbled; humiliated maybe?  My wife and I were not impressed in the earlier encounter and ... here we are again. Now I am reading documents and disclaimers and 'agreeing' to pay $500 fee if I miss an appointment.  I'm not certain whether he may have been burned by previous patients or is this just to make sure his is a profitable practice. I thought my choice to continue with his office was a courtesy, and now have not even seen the smart-assed little muscle man and already he’s got me – again!  Maybe God is calling my bluff.  I may have had to wait a year to see another ophthalmologist!?

I guess I’m eating a little crow as I get shuffled office to office in this clinic.  I do need attention to a little growth in same area he has sliced before. Even as I have some reservations about those earlier slices, he  is now entrusted with further slices. 😞 Aagh, further ‘procedures’ complete with opportunity to pay an extra $300 for radiofrequency surgery not covered by provincial Health Care. Sigh. Growl. Just to assert myself at least a little bit I indicated I shall do without that fancy-sounding private enterprise radio frequency enhancement. Being on fixed retirement income, I'll take my chances on old fashioned scalpels, trusting the good doctor (?) to cut carefully. Ironically the one hint of camaraderie came from the surgery coordinator.  Typing away at her computer she fully agreed with me no need to throw more money at this cause. She's probably at similar income level as I have been all my life.   

Thus endeth this wimpering rant. This retired socialist preacher cannot quite give in to privatized medical care wanting to sneak into Alberta thanks to our present provincial government.