"Not everyone can be the type of housekeeper I am. It takes years of neglect, and a natural sense of entropy." -- Sam Starfall

Someone broke math and made Mac 25?

Oh, as usual, dear.

If he remembers me pleasantly, please tell him happy birthday from me.

Happy 25, mac!!!

I am having a pretty shitty day today. I was scheduled for a physical, but yesterday missed a call from my doctor's office (it showed up as unknown number so I didn't pick it up) and when I listened to the message it was the admin telling me my appointment had been canceled because my doctor "isn't accepting new patients" and since it had been 3 years since my last visit, I was considered a new patient (even though I've been with this practice for a decade).

I spent the majority of my childhood in and out of hospitals, ending with a major kidney surgery when I was 8. I have a MASSIVE amount of internal resistance to preventive healthcare (on principle I'm all for it but it is a huge effort to actually get it done for myself). I also have a healthy neurodivergent/elder-millennial level of phone fear. Making this doctor's appointment in the first place was a big fucking deal, and now I have to either confront my now-former doctor's office and beg them to take me back, or start over with a new PCP? Excuse me while I crawl under a rock and just hide for the next five years.

(Please don't offer advice. Sympathy is welcome but do not tell me what to do, I already feel like enough of a failure at adulting.)

Not a failure at adulting! Good grief that is annoying, and yeah, I would never pick up an unknown number either.

How is Mac 25? Happy Birthday to him!

Jess, no room for advice here because I am chock full of raaaaaaaage on your behalf. That is utterly fucking ridiculous.

Fucking healthcare system.

Ooof, that's very stressful, Jess.

I recently (as in last week) got a new primary care provider. I've had my previous doctor for 20 years and have seen her exactly once in that time. There were so many barriers to getting appointments at her office, it was so expensive and it took six weeks to get in.

Finally I just buckled down and looked on my insurance to see what the other options were and wound up going with One Medical (which is owned by stinky ol' Amazon) because I could get an appointment immediately.

For me it's turned out to be a good fit because they prioritize ease of contact and appointments. My new PCP is a Family Nurse Practitioner who can prescribe meds and order tests. Also you can drop in for blood draw or vax without appointment. I do everything through their online portal which is easy and also prompts you on stuff you've been avoiding (like my shingles vax).

Anyway it's been a revelation to me because I've long felt the issue was the barrier at the beginning. Usually I need to see a doctor on the way to getting a referral to a specialist and that's where the obstacle were. Having an FNP as my point of contact is way easier for me.

Ugh that is ridiculous and they should’ve told you sooner, also!! Adulting sucks.

I've heard anecdotally that One Medical is good on the West Coast but crappy in NYC, but if they take my insurance and I can make appointments online I'm willing to give it a try.