Doctor Visit #4

No, this is not our car. We walked by it and I had to have a pic. It matches my sweatshirt!

The short story is that the kids and I left our place at 2:30pm to walk to my appointment with Nurse Stella at 3pm. We returned home at 8:30pm.

The long story is that the kids and I left our place at 2:30pm to walk to my appointment with Nurse Stella at 3pm - on time!
Nurse Stella asked the front office staff why I was seeing her since she can't write prescriptions. The cranky lady explained that she'd already told me I needed to see the doctor and that I didn't show up for my appointment with him last Tuesday. She told Nurse Stella that I'm a private patient and I must pay for an office visit. My husband is working, so he does not need to pay, but his children and his wife must each pay 50 pounds ($100) before we can see the doctor because we are visiting and are not residents. (Side note: we can't get travel discounts because we are residents.) I couldn't get a word in, so I just sat there quietly.

After the cranky lady left the room, I told Nurse Stella that I was too sick last Tuesday and could not make the thirty minute walk to the office and that I called to let them know. When I called again last Thursday, the office staff set me up with her, even though I told them I needed prescriptions filled (they don't fill prescriptions written by American doctors). I told her I was doing the best I knew and that all I was really concerned about was getting my prescriptions filled. In addition to other prescriptions that I'd been out of for two weeks, my arms have been in pain with their tendonitis and no medication to help them. Nurse Stella told me not to let the office staff trouble me and that she'd take care of it. She did not have me pay to see her, but I did pay to see the doctor later that day at 5pm.

In the meantime, the kids and I walked to Pekham Library, built in the year 2000. We were each able to get library cards because we are all residents (I showed them a bill for our water with both Dave and my name on it). Kiana and Malakai took off to find books while the Chloe, Quinny, and I hung out in the young readers section. We all had a great time, and left at 4:30 to make it to my 5pm doctor appointment.

We were twenty minutes early. The sign on the door clearly states that we are not to enter if we have an appointment after 5pm. So, we walked to the nearest corner market and bought something to drink ($2 each for a small juice). We slowly walked back, one minute early for my appointment.

At 5:15pm, I paid my 50 pounds and got to see the doctor. I explained my situation (sweet Nurse Stella had already pre-informed him) and he did what he was able. England doesn't have the same medications as America, so he matched them up as best he could. He told me the kids and I should be able to see him at no charge because my husband works for England, is paid by England, we pay England to live here, we pay England property taxes (can you believe we rent, but we pay the property taxes?!?), etc. All he needs is a note or phone call from the NHS and we won't need to pay $100 US dollars to see him every month to get my prescriptions refilled - and the cost of the prescriptions on top of that.

The doctor notified his friend at the pharmacy (across the street from the Pekham Library) that we were coming. The kids and I walked to a pre-known area (yipee!) and gave the pharmacist the prescriptions the doctor had written for me. When we finally got my prescriptions, it had been a little over an hour. In the meantime, Quinny needed to go potty.

I asked the gal at the register if he could use their bathroom, but she said they didn't have one and to go next door. Quinny and I went next door, used the toilet (in a closet with a large trash can and office supplies stacked to the ceiling with no sink to wash up) at the doctor's office, told the office staff, "Thank you," and walked out.

A woman's voice was yelling, "Excuse me! Excuse me!" over and over again, so I turned around to see who she was talking to. It was me. I went to her and she yelled at me for using her bathroom (Quinny held on to my leg tightly). After she was done venting, I told her the gal at the pharmacy told me to use this bathroom for my three year old son. I apologized and told her I won't use her bathroom again. She said, "Very good. No need to ever return."

We went back to the pharmacy, when Quinny told me he needed to go potty again. I asked the Asian guy (with a British accent) at the counter if he could use the bathroom they use, and he took us through a locked door with a key code, then another locked door with three locks. When Quinny was done, I picked him up so he could flush with the tank above by pulling on the chain - another fun experience. Again, no sink. There were signs everywhere to "Wash Your Hands", but no sink in sight.

Fifteen minutes passed, and now Chloe had to go. Oh, dear. I looked at the gal I'd asked earlier for Quinny and explained to her that now my daughter needed to go and could she please use the toilet they use. I told her I got yelled at by the doctor next door and she responded with a crazy look on her face, "Yes, she's evil." What?!? All kinds of thoughts went through my head, but getting Chloe to the toilet was my priority.

Finally, my prescriptions were ready. To my surprise, the doctor I'd seen earlier had called and asked his friend to give me a discount. He gave me 5 pounds ($10) off!

We left the pharmacy and walked to a large market. They make you pay one pound ($2) to use a shopping cart. Anyway, we did our shopping and walked home. I like to try different routes, so we went home a different way than how we came. We went way out of the way. Oh, well. We got to see a new street (Rye) we didn't know of before. (It reminded me a lot of the streets in Thailand.) We'll return, but by bus next time!

On Rye, I saw the first person since I've been here greeting those she passed by. I wanted to me her so badly! I had a good excuse - we didn't exactly know where we were. As we were about to cross paths, I excused myself and asked her if I could bother her for a minute. I told her she was the first person I've seen saying hello to those she passes and I thought she'd be a good person to talk to. She had an English/Jamaican accent and was very helpful. She told us we were on Rye and in the market section. She told me how to get home and I wanted to give her a big hug!

We arrived back home at 8:30pm. We'd been gone six hours and were ready for dinner and bed!