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US - 131

IA - 14/13

MN - 1

Interesting day.

I start out by calling my DOT physical clinic. They had offered to set up the appointments last Wednesday but I wanted to make sure my BP was down before starting to test. But the person I talk to today says 'no can do.'

So I call my usual clinic, but things have changed. I just can not walk in and see a nurse anymore, it has to be an appointment and they do not have any today. They offer to set one up somewhere else but if it is somewhere else, I want it closer to me. They can not do that, so they transfer me to 'another division.'

I end up being on the phone for an hour setting up appoints. At one point they tell me that I already have an appointment set up at my usual clinic for tomorrow but I let it slide.

... the appointment for today is 35 minutes away and I have 30 minutes to get there ... and they say '... arrive 15 minutes early ...' Then I need to get off the phone.

Not sure how my BP is going to be down if I have to get ready in 5 minutes and get out the door.

I decide to let BB drive ... that is never relaxing for me :)

Today, someone decides to pull back into traffic from the side of the road, just as we get there. At 20 mph. BB tries to get over in the other lane but there are no openings. What she doesn't realize is that the car ahead of us is not speeding up so she ends up slamming on the breaks. No issues, just likely created a backup.

When I get to the clinic a couple of minutes late, I walk in and when I say 'BP ....," they point me to the lab. "No," I say and explain. Or try to. They look me up and ... after spending an hour on the phone finding somewhere, anywhere, to get these appointments they are all for labs/blood draws ... not BP checks.

The receptionist wants me to double check with the lab, but I know what I need.

Back at the car, we find one clinic that has an opening today. 4 PM in SLP.

Just before I get to the clinic at 4 PM I get a phone call but let it go to voicemail because I am driving.

... I pass ...

Then I listen to the message, call my main clinic. I try but calls won't through. Finally I head that way, we are only 10 minutes away.

Calls still are not going through as we travel so I walk in and talk to the receptionist. There is a line of people waiting behind me and only two receptionists and one of them walks to talk to the Dr. They are gone about 10 minutes and come back clueless. I have to play the message for them before anything clicks.

That call was, or should have been, made last Friday ... but I got it today at 3:45. It was from my Dr and would have explained why there were meds for me on Saturday when we stopped by at the pharmacy.

As I am researching, I see that I was very close to NEVER being able to get a 1 year DOT physical again. And if that had happened I could never drive for my two companies again and maybe anyone else either. I would be legal but insurance has different requirements.

BB cancel's the lab appointments, or tries to. Later I get a check in notice so BB tries again to cancel.