Tickled Tuesday....

Well, my day (and Joe's) didn't start out with either of us "tickled" about much, but the day was saved.

My appointment at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute was for 10:45.  With Joe driving, we decided to leave at 9:30 and take the back roads over to Tampa/Temple Terrace, rather than drive I-4 at the tail-end of the Tampa rush hour.  We arrived unhurried with time to spare and even found a Handi-Cap parking space right in front of the door. TICKLED!!!

Then I signed in to see the PA Brian Yates, for my cortisone shots.  We were told there was a 90-minute back-up due to lots of surgeries last week and a vacation schedule.  That 90-minute back-up turned into 3 HOURS!!

If you have followed my posts for a while, you know that I struggle with being patient.  Joe is actually much more patient than me (what!!!).  If we weren't an hour from home, I might have rescheduled. BUT my knees have really been hurting and over-hearing conversations with others who did indeed reschedule, it would be another month before getting in (because of the doctor's vacation).

Doctors are allowed to take vacations.  I'm not begrudging him his, but a $100 gift card would have been nicer than the bottled water and crackers they put out for everyone.  One of the administrative women told someone there were 138 patients scheduled for the day.

Okay... back to being tickled.  Really tickled.  When we were finally called back to a room, where I expected to wait even longer, the doctor himself walked in with a med-student.  He jumped in to help his PA (Physician's Assistant) with some of the patients. This is the doctor that our nephew recommended to us.  Sean has been in the OR with Dr. Bernasek and told me to see him for my knee surgery. Sean represents a company that makes the 'hardware' for replacements and watches/over-sees the surgeons using their products in the operating rooms.

Dr. Bernasek was GREAT!  He apologized for the long wait, didn't take the notes in my file as gospel until he examined my knees himself, looked at my x-rays, and talked to me about strengthening my muscles before surgery.  He gave me a prescription for some physical therapy with instructions to work on my knee strength daily.

I did not mention Nephew Sean's name until he was getting ready to leave so the nurse could prepare me for the shots.  He remembered Sean (we both thought it was genuine) and he spent just a little more time with me then.  The nurse came in to clean my knees to prepare for the shots and Dr. Bernasek came back in to do the shots himself. He did the injections in a different place from either of my former doctors, so I am hopeful for a lot less pain in the coming days. He also shook my hand and then Joe's and reminded me to get ice on my knees and take it easy for a couple of days. (That's what I am doing anyway! LOL)

SO.... a good day turned bad turned good again.  I was actually tickled to have left the house at 9:30 and not arrived home until nearly 4:00.  Glad we had nothing else on our calendars.  We did have lunch in the little cafe there before we left the clinic. Both of us were starved!  My bleu cheese burger was great and Joe loved his Godfather sub!!

PS... I was really tickled to see this selfie on Facebook, from my nephew, Dr. Mike Kelly, who began the first rotation of his internship in the pediatric emergency department of his post in Toledo, Ohio!!  So proud of him!!

Today, bright and early, I see Dr. Hahn for my post-op appointment.  It seems to be all about me this week!!  Hoping I will be tickled with her report and that I can drive again!

Thanks for your visit!!  What are you tickled about?  Peace & hugs!!