Agony

Last night was the worst pain, next to natural childbirth, I've ever experienced. From 8 to 11 p.m., I couldn't escape the blinding pain. So today I finally went to the walk-in clinic with Finn first thing this morning while Chris stayed home with Lily. I was in and out within 45 minutes (which is good compared to how long I've waited in the past). Unfortunately, the doctor I saw was useless, recommending that my family doctor refer me to a specialist. Uh, thanks. 'Cause I've got time to kill.

When I got home, I called the HealthLine for yet another opinion. After chronicling the last five weeks of problems I've had (starting with a blocked duct) and all the help I've tried to access, the nurse on the phone consulted with the charge nurse and recommended I go straight to emergency as it was obvious I'd exhausted my options.

I think we set a record in the ER. We left the house at about 10:30 and from triage to the time we got a bed/room, it was 12 minutes. After the nurse took our info, the doctor was in within five minutes. After she examined me and we talked about all possible courses of action, it took another twenty minutes to get a pricey prescription for this infection and we were out the door – and home before noon.

While it isn't over yet, it feels like a good start.