In my case, the hitch was always that the treatment center wouldn't put the request for meds through to the (fortunately on-site) pharmacy until I was actually seated in the treatment chair.

I mentioned to our nurse as soon as we sat down to check on the drugs from the pharmacy, because I knew the clinical study meds have to go through a rigorous checkout process.

And the issue is that JZ can't eat until a half hour after she takes those meds, and they got delayed to 3pm, so lunch was at 3:30.

On the one hand, I don't want to be a nudge with the nurses and the coordinator and the doctor. OTOH, there are all these little details that fall between the cracks if you don't and all of a sudden you're cancelling airplane tickets and buying new ones on the fly.

As, for example, our nurse just noticed that nobody had put in the order for the saline push when we get the pump off, and that would've been a huge fucking drag on Wednesday to show up without an appointment for that.

So much of it is rote for them and they just want to bang through their list, but there are so many elements in play and it's complicated by being a clinical study.

Also adding to the schedule were multiple check-ins, lobby waits, blood draws, doctor consults, and pre-med infusions.

We experienced all of those today! Which is why we showed up at 9:30am and they didn't have her in a chair for the infusion until 2pm.

Target should have a happy hour.

That would supplant Ikea meatballs in the grand hierarchy.

We experienced all of those today! Which is why we showed up at 9:30am and they didn't have her in a chair for the infusion until 2pm.

In a lesser tier of medical annoyances, it took 90 minutes of medical minutiae (WHY) before Tim got to the actual steroid infusion part, which took literally 7 minutes. It'll take 2 or 3 days before he notices any effect. I hope it's a substantial effect.

all these little details that fall between the cracks if you don't

Yep. The trick is to learn the protocol and find ways to help the flow rather than hinder it. In twelve infusions I only had the same nurse twice, but I could listen to the flow of conversations and the tones and get an idea of how well their day was going.

I took some pride in always being early and well-prepared and as self-sufficient as I could be. If there were any delays, it wasn't due to me.

It really sucks that you had to learn how to do that, dcp.

Yes. You are right to be proud of that, but it’s not a skill anyone should be needing to develop.

Went to Target; in lieu of happy hour I got a cold bottle of ginger ale.

Thirding this emotion. just like working the system to get benefits does not feel like a compliment.

Yes, also a skill that should not be required!

I'm good at it, but instead of proud advocacy, it really feels like winning a shit-sandwich-eating contest. you don't want your kids to grow up and learn that!(except that sometimes learning to shut up and keep your own counsel is not a bad strategy, )but other than that, I hate what it's taught me. About people, my own value, the epic personal issues that appear to be the drivers for entry into helping professions, you name it.