Thank You, Next!

I went to the doctor today. Just a typical well check. I’ve been putting it off for a few years because I know what they are going to say and I don’t really want to hear it.

You ever feel like that? Yeah- I got it. Self care. I’ll see you when I retire.

One time they suggested that I get a different job. I laughed at it. Trust me- already looked and turns out I’m grateful for my union.

But anyway, I went to the doctor because I’m finally ready to tackle that childhood trauma of getting a hearing test in that little sound booth they put you in with a lot of wires, a little button, and then make beeping sounds to see if you can hear. It’s not a fun time when you have tinnitus and hate feeling incompetent.

So now that it’s been 25 years, I decided to finally address the elephant in the room that’s called, “hearing loss”.

First the doctor started by saying, “Well it’s been 3 years so I should be calling this a new patient appointment.” Yeah- not funny. This is why you haven’t seen me.

But we eventually moved on to things I actually wanted to discuss sprinkled with some things I didn’t really want to hear.

It was fine until they asked me if I’m ever tired.

“Are you getting enough sleep? Do you feel rested when you wake? Do you find yourself getting tired during the day?”

I’m always tired- what do you think I do all day? I work with kids who view me as optional for 6 hours each day and then I go home to my own who only save their best versions of themselves for me, all while realizing that I still haven’t done anything to take care of myself. Yeah- I’m not sure how that equates to feeling rested and sleeping well. I’ll just take that referral and I’ll be leaving. You are welcome to ask for me to come back in 6 months and I’ll continue to reschedule that appointment until I’m a new patient again.

Thank you, next!