Quick update!

Hello Hello! Alright here is a little update for you. I sent ALL my medical/dental stuff to PC June 21 and they received it June 29. I got notice today that I have dental clearance!!!! Sweet! Now for the big step, medical clearance. On a side note, I am in Cairo Egypt now....and it's amazing :)

I lied

Ok so a change in plans. I received all my lab reports expect for my varicella titer...which they said should be here any day now. As I was reviewing my reports trying to decode all the medical lingo to see if I was normal or not, I found my urinalysis didn't appear normal because of some stuff. So I called my doctor and explained why I thought it didn't appear normal and she agreed I needed to do another one before I send it all in. I called the VA to see what they were going to do and luckily they agreed to do another one and instead of having me go allllll the way to Nashville I went to the VA in Murfreesboro. This trip to the VA lasted only about 5 minutes and nothing crazy and weird happened. They said it should take only a day for the report to get back! Now I just have to wait for those two reports and I can send it in. I think I properly decoded the rest of my lab tests and everything in my opinion appeared to be normal because my result was always in the average range. Keep your fingers crossed!!!

Done!

I am officially done with everything in my control for this medical exam process! I got my polio shot today (which didn't hurt at all) and now all I have to do is wait for my lab tests to be mailed to me. I called the VA today and they hadn't mail them (grr), but they said that they would be with me by the end of the week. I asked the guy on the phone how many labs he was sending and he said there were 4 pages worth....so hopefully that will be everything! Once I get those back I can mail this in and take a big deep breath and get to do my favorite thing....wait. At least starting a week from tomorrow I can do my waiting by walking like an Egyptian....in Egypt. That's right ladies and gents, I am a week away from spending 3 weeks in Egypt!!! It's weird to think I am going to Africa for a 3 week vacation and then about 1.5 months later I should hopefully be moving there for 2.3 years. Too bad I am not there now for the World Cup. Gooooo Netherlands!!!

A Day at the VA

After angrily arriving at the VA in Nashville, I was told I had pretty hair. That simple comment calmed me down after sitting in rush hour for 1.5 hours (which i'm sure 1.5 hours of rush hour in my air conditioned vehicle is much better than any mode of transportation in moz). Parking was intense. I pretty much played follow the leader until I found an open spot. Once inside I easily found the business office and signed in. There was an old woman knitting in waiting room who kept staring at me like i
didn't belong. How could she guess?

Once they called me back I was told "I didn't look military" when they asked for some id number and I had an confusing blank look on my face. What I'm wondering is why I don't look military???? Part of me was offended, but I got over it. I was flirted with by the guy doing my application even though he and no one else knew what to do with me (what's new?) because I'm not a veteran. Peace Corp appears to confuse everyone.

After leaving there I was on my way to employee health. There were old men filling the hallways. Most with walkers and wheelchairs and others moving at a pace less than fast. Many of the men had arms decorated with tattoos. Other had women who I would guess to be their wives. I seemed to be the only one who had no idea where they were going and I think they knew.

On the way an old man with a cane twice my size in height and weight asked what i was doing here. (Was it that noticeable I was out of place??) Confused as to why it was his business i told him i had to get some Peace Corp labs. He then told me that I was doing a good thing and just walked away......

Once I found employee health the guy at the desk sounded like Morgan Freeman and it made me laugh every time he would talk. He sounded like God from Even and Bruce Almighty. While waiting to be called back from my labs I picked the best hiding spot in case a killer was on the loose (hospitals have a new meaning to them now that I've watched the Greys anatomy finale...hopefully the VA won't turn into Seattle Grace) My hiding spot consisted of two options: breaking glass and going out the window or ducking in the nearest exam room and going in a cabinet. Neither one seemed promising.

Once my labs were ordered I was told to go to the lab area. Let me just explain this. The lab area is FILLED with old men waiting to get lab work. People are all over the hallways lining both sides and I was clueless if and how to check in. About 4 people at once realized that and shouted for me to grab a buzzer and tag with a number on it. It's like waiting to get a seat at a restaraunt!

I proceeded to sit down because there were signs all across the hallway saying don't stand in the hallway even though people are doing it anyway. I'm going to try to piss of the least amount of people I can.

At the employee health I found out I can't get a polio titer, I have to get a shot...which is $50. Grr. That is $50 I don't have, but anything for the Peace Corp. I should have been done today! Oh and some form of lab work takes a long time to get back. Great. More waiting. Patience and flexibility. :)

Have I mentioned this entire "trip" I have had a bad case of the giggles? Everything makes me want to laugh and I'm not sure if it's the fact I realize everyone knows I'm lost or if its the old man with walking farts who had a cotton ball fall out of his
pants...

After all my labs were done and some more paperwork to fill out I was finally free to go. They only took three tubes of blood...which freaked me out because I had 7 labs that were supposed to be done...I did my best to get myself out of the maze I was in. With all that being said, it was really cool to see so many veterans in one place. Being the journalist guru I am, I wanted to ask everyone what their story was. Where, when and why they served and all the details that come with it, but instead I kept my mouth shut and had the most interesting day ever.

Almost there!

I am almost there. I had my medical exam yesterday and I believe all went really well. On Monday I get my lab work done and then all that is left is waiting to get copies of the reports. Then I can send this bad boy in and a just have to wait....but my waiting will be taking place in Egypt!!!!! That's right, after I send all this crap in I am going to Egypt and visiting a friend for 3 weeks. Watch the PC contact me while I am there for more testing. Haha. Ooooh now I get to focus my stresses elsewhere :)

Potentially good news

My doctor appointment for the medical clearance is on the 2nd....I have to have about 8 different lab tests run....which more than likely won't be covered by my insurance....which could be really expensive. So I have been calling around to see if someone in the surrounding Nashville area loves me or the PC enough to give me discounts or some kinda help. I mean after all I did get a gratis tdap shot and TB test. :) After a few phone calls and visits to clinics it has happened. The VA in Nashville CLAIM that they will cover ALL (that's right...ALL) my lab work that needs to be done. Say it isn't so?!

Yes, this is what they claim. I have to call to make an appointment next week to get it done so we will see if they keep their word. While I am in Nashville I am going to go to Nashville Cares and get a free HIV test which also has to be done. So a tdap, TB test, HIV and all lab work for free.....this isn't just luck....this is me not giving up and fighting for what I really want and it's all made possible via God.

In the meantime I have already finished the extra work that PC wanted me to check on and everything looked really good. Now for some more waiting....which I am getting pretty good at these days. I think I am going to go eat a mango in celebration of my potential gratis lab work. (I never thought I would be so happy to get blood work done for free)

Everybody take shots!

VS.


Shots shots shots! That sums up my day....not the kind of shots I would prefer though. To be more clear: vaccinations....needles. (I could have used a shot or two before this day started had I known everything to come).


Going back to earlier this week my dental exams are all done and ready to go. I think my gums are still swollen from all the poking and prodding. My dentist said he doesn't see any reason as to why I would not get dental clearance....did you hear that PC? He said, "He doesn't see any reason as to why I would not get dental clearance."

Here is the run down of today and why I am the perfect person to go to the PC in Mozambique.

915AM: Arrive at clinic for potential polio, varicella and HepB dose #2 shots.
1130AM: Leave to head to next health clinic
Noon: Leave to go home....maybe take my own version of shots

What happened in those two hours you ask? Well it included lost paperwork, calling insurance companies, calling my volunteer place and doctor offices I haven't been to in over 10 years to fax immunization history and receiving incorrect shots the first go around so now calling doctors to see if I can get second dose now or later. Yes....you are welcome PC. (I hope this somehow later will prove my dedication to them)

So I needed a Tdap shot and this health clinic will give them for free if you volunteer for the flood victims (Nashville just about washed away a couple weeks ago). I told them I will find a way to volunteer even though I think PC is going a little above and beyond the flood of Nashville and I should still get it for free.

In conclusion: I didn't get the polio because I need to see if what I already have is good enough. I didn't get the varicella because I might be able to get a titer to prove I am immune. I did get the tday and Hep B. Whew.

So I was very patient and flexible today. :)