How Did We Get Here?

RANT ALERT!!! (As if you couldn’t tell by the title of my post and the visual aid above.)

I’ve had three doctor’s appointments this week. My usual chiropractic visit on Wednesday, a yearly follow-up Thursday with the dermatologist, and a new patient appointment with a urologist today, Friday.

The chiropractor doesn’t require a mask and never has. The dermatologist has a note on file from my M.D. stating that I don’t wear a mask due to asthma and anxiety so no problem there. I show up for the urologist visit, ready to fill out new patient paperwork, and I’m told I’m required to wear a mask according to UT Southwestern. I explain that I’m exempt according to the American’s with Disabilities Act and I’m told that ‘this office doesn’t follow those guidelines’.

“So, you don’t follow federal law?” Short answer: No. They don’t. The woman at the desk says she’ll consult someone else about it and be right back. Then another woman comes out and I get the mini lecture about how ‘they’ don’t like having to wear masks either but ‘they’ do what is necessary.

I looked at Brad and he shook his head. I thought about it for all of about 10 seconds and said, “Nope, nope, nope. I’m not doing this.” And I left the office and went out to the hall to wait by the elevators. To my credit I did not lose my temper, curse or raise my voice. My anxiety level was headed through the roof second by second and I needed out of the office. Brad stayed a few seconds longer to explain that this wasn’t about me being anti-mask/vax or any such thing, it’s about my health. They ‘have no choice’ apparently. Well, neither do I.

So, when mask mandates are being relaxed at other clinics, UT Southwestern has elected to remain the Mask Nazis of the medical field. Clearly, these days the medical field as a whole doesn’t care about patients. They aren’t interested in how their mandates impact the people who need treatment.

I had a kidney stone last year and ended up in the hospital for three days. The urologist was great. Wonderful. Everything went fine. The last checkup I had after the stent was removed, it all changed. Brad wasn’t with me that time and Dr. McGrael proceeded to chastise me like I was a schoolgirl for not wearing a mask in the exam room, and went on to say that HE had to wear a mask because I wouldn’t. Excuse me??? That visit didn’t end well and I never went back for the follow-up in January, hence the appointment with the only other urologist in Grayson County, as far as I can see after my online search.

I’ve put off visiting my dentist for the same reason, the bloody damned mask requirement…to walk 30 feet from the front desk to the exam room. Because, “We can’t have you breathing on someone.”

I’ve put off having my vision tested, not because of the mask thing…they didn’t require that the last time I was there, but because of the atmosphere at the clinic. It’s a new building with high ceilings and an ‘open concept’ office area where the slightest low key conversation is magnified by the cavernous interior of the building so that it sounds like the staff are yelling at one another. Then, on top of that, is the never-ending nauseating crap that passes for music blaring over the speakers. It’s not conducive to a relaxed visit. Thirdly, I’ve had to have my glasses redone three times since I’ve been seeing Dr. Long. Apparently the lab they use really sucks. And the more I think about it, it’s a bit difficult to trust someone who uses a sucky lab to have expensive lenses made!

So. I’m looking for another eye doctor and dentist and I’ll probably end up in Collin County seeing a urologist…and end up facing the same BS and nonsense anyway. When is this crap going to stop? I’m really, really sick of it. I’ve tried so hard to conform…at least in the beginning…because it seemed like the right thing to do. It’s not the right thing to do. It’s harmful to my health, not that the medical community as a whole gives a large, hairy rat’s ass about that.

I have laundry that needs changing out and it’s time to think about what we’re going to do for dinner. It’s Lent. It’s Friday. I’m Catholic. Bean soup sounds good…comfort food. And it’s thawing in the fridge. Right now, I am going to read. There is something about Mitch Rapp kicking ass and killing bad guys that resonates with me at the moment.