'Take a deep breath and hold it.'

Breath... ping ping ping... Take a deep breath and hold it.....ping ping ping..Breathe
First order of business today was a sonogram.The doctor wants to have a look see at my gall bladder before going in and fishing it out of my body. She doesn't like surprises. That took about an hour. I got to see my gall stones. Most of them are pretty small. But I have one big one the size of a marble.  
Before I had the sonogram I stopped by the doctors office for my marching papers. They had my whole agenda all spelled out for me. Its a darned good thing cause it's complicated!
Then I was ushered into the accounting office to discuss how we would be paying for this. She looked me up in the system, asked me my date of birth, then said, 'You have medicare and Tricare. You don't owe a thing'. So, once again I march into one of the finest health care systems in the world  and get the care I need and it doesn't cost a cent. I have a bit of survivors guilt. Why should I have such good care when others are fighting for every bit of care they need? It just isn't right.
No time to ponder, I have a schedule to keep. Ok, Sonogram, check.
Next I go to the PAT office. They have consolidated all the things a pre surgical patient must do in one place. It's a darned good thing, cause the hospital is a maze of corridors.  A person could spend the whole day just trying to figure out where they are supposed to be. As it was  I had to find the radiology department and then get to the PAT office. With a little help from hospital employees heading to the cafeteria I found the PAT office.
Next on the agenda, EKG. It was a guy. He told me he would have to see my chest. Was that all right? What the hey, I said, sure. Cant be slowing things down waiting  to get a woman technician.  He attached 12 leads to various parts of my body. Once they were attached it took a few seconds to do the EKG. I can remember when a fancy EKG like that would take a half hour.
Next a little chat with the nurse to discuss the surgery, my medical history and tell me a whole bunch of stuff. Fortunately it was all written too. Cause I would never remember it all. One thing I do remember very well is that old 'Nothing by Mouth after midnight' 
I hate that one. I sure get hungry and thirsty.  The surgery is at 1:15. So it will be one dry morning. And I can't even chew gum! Thats the final insult! I love my gum, especially when my mouth is dry.
Next was a long wait and then they called me to draw blood. It was a cramped space with several technicians climbing over each other and a lady on a computer who told me to 'sign the medicare form electronically on a little pad. AFTER I signed, she gave me a copy of what I had signed. It seems I agreed to pay if medicare refused. That would have been nice to know before I signed.
 One last insult, I had to produce a urine specimen. Since there was no bathroom in that little space I had to take my brown paper bag with the specimen cup into the public bathroom by the cafeteria and perform the ritual. Then I tucked it into the plastic bag and then into the brown paper bag and brought it back to the PAT department.
Finally I was good to go. I enjoyed a lovely walk to the car along the back part of the hospital that overlooks Torry Pines Golf Course. It was an absolutely splendid day.
Altogether it took about 4 hours. That leaves me the rest of the day to enjoy. Im taking all the happiness I can out of each and every day. There is lots to be had. Tomorrow is a free day. The next day is the surgery. 
Onward and upward!