Erin, does your insurance have a NP on call type of thing (call the 800#, talk to a Nurse Practitioner). That might helpe alleviate the woes, or she may know just what to do, and avoid the hassle of doc appointment. If not, go through the hassle of a doc appointment. There is nothing worse than letting something fester just to hear the doc say "well, if we had caught this sooner..."

My last blood test showed that my thyroid levels were off, and my doctor wanted to start me on medication for that. The results came in just as I was leaving town for a while, so I said that I'd make an appointment when I came back. Well, I tried to make an appointment, and now my doctor is out of town for the next few weeks. I'd wanted to start the medication during the summer, so that I wouldn't be adjusting to a new medication while also doing all the beginning-of-semester stuff, but the first available time that my doctor can see me is right when classes start. I can see a different doctor, but I'm not sure that I should go to a different doctor for something long-term like this. Any suggestions?

Guess who has two thumbs and just called a new landlord, telling him he found a tenant from late October? This girl!

I'm very excited. This is the first time I decided on a place completely on my own. Hope I did everything right. The only thing that could be better is the rent - I think it should be a bit lower for a place as small as this, but other than that - it looks very nice. In some aspects, even perfect.

(Can't wait to leave current place. Landlady's crazy).

P-C, don't know what to tell you, either. Did she ask you any questions in return?

Nope. I asked her what she'd been doing on Sunday in hopes of sparking interesting conversation, but since she only replied yesterday, the answer was "Work as usual." So I don't know.

I can see a different doctor, but I'm not sure that I should go to a different doctor for something long-term like this. Any suggestions?

I would see the different doctor, but make an appointment with your regular doctor for follow-up as soon as s/he gets back.

As someone who goes to a teaching practice, I see a lot of residents because I can often get an appointment that day or the next. As long as the other doctor is seeing your medical records and has a sense of your history, it will probably be okay. My issues with continuity of care are mostly from annoyance. Mostly I get the same med/diet/exercise speil with every new resident.

I would see the different doctor, but make an appointment with your regular doctor for follow-up as soon as s/he gets back.

This was weird. I went to reschedule the appointment that they'd given me for tomorrow, since I just don't feel like getting up as early as I'd need to for an 8:30 appointment, and one of the reschedule options the system gave me was seeing my regular doctor at 11:10. Not sure what's up with that, but I took it.

Shir, nice! Where's the apartment? Hope it's somewhere you're happy with. Very exciting.

Um. This isn't good. There was a delinquent tax notice on my door, saying that, unless the landlords pay $13,000 in taxes, the town will seize the property and sell it. I moved the notice over to the landlords' door (there are two front doors on the house, one going into my apartment and one going into the main part of the house) and emailed them.

The location couldn't be more perfect. It's the best part. 10 minutes walk from the train station - AKA my lifeline to work, in the German Colony in Haifa. And the street is quiet. Should be an upgrade in some ways. It's considered a "better" neighborhood from the one I currently live in (when in Haifa), though I found it's mostly stereotypes about it. But the train, transportation in general, close supermarket - all upgrades that will hopefully save time which I rarely have to spare.

The only minus is that it's kindda small for the price they're asking, but I don't think I'll find much better (considering the location) in that price.

Hil - what? That sounds bad.