Squeaky Wheel

I have always tried to do what I’ve said I’ll do, and I assume other people will, too. But sometimes that doesn’t happen, and then you have to figure out whether to be a squeaky wheel. Maybe that comes easily to some people, but not to me. I guess I feel that it makes me look whiny and demanding. On the other hand, sometimes the thing you want to squeak about is really important, and that’s the spot I’m in now!

Besides telling the people I love that I have a benign tumor (emphasis on benign) that will have to be removed surgically, I have been trying to get the referral I need to actually meet with the brain surgeon. It should be easy, but it has gone this way:

Me: (on Friday to the neurologist’s secretary) “Hi, I met with Dr. X yesterday and he told me you would send on a referral to Dr. Y.”

Secretary: “I think I can do that by Monday.”

Me: I don’t say, “Not til Monday! For pity sake, this is my brain we’re talking about!” I do say, “Thank you. That would be great.”

Secretary: I’ll try.

Me: (on Monday) “Hi, I was wondering if you’ve had a chance to send that referral over to Dr.Y?”

Secretary: “No, I’m looking for your file now.”

Me: I don’t say, “I am going crazy with this tingling and vibrating in my body. What do you mean you’re looking for my file?” I do say, “This is making me very anxious. I know you have other anxious people, but will you please do it today.”

Secretary: “It’s just that I have a big pile, and we are short one person. But I’ll try.”

Me: “Thank you.”

After much agonizing the next morning (six days after I have been told I have to have surgery on my head) I decide that yes, I’ll be a squeaky wheel. I call the secretary again.

Secretary: (proudly) “We faxed that over yesterday.”

Me: (calling Dr. Y’s office now) “Hi, I understand Dr. X’s office has faxed a referral for me to meet with Dr. Y.”

Secretary: “No, we don’t have that yet.”

And so it went. Me offering to hand deliver the file from Dr. X to Dr. Y. Me trying not to come out of my skin, so that they could say, “That crazy woman. You can tell she has a brain tumor!”

I am happy to report that the file finally arrived after three faxings, and I now have an appointment for December 7.

Moral of the story: Sometimes it is really important to squeak!