Full Moon

So, last week's clinic was on the Tuesday after a full moon on Sunday. I know, there are those of you out there that are thinking – OK, she’s nuts. But, seriously. You should be in a hospital, an Emergency Room, or a free clinic during the full moon phase. It is not something we make up.

 

Tuesday night, a man came in well after our 6 p.m. cut-off wanting to be seen. He was told that we don’t see anyone that has not registered by 6 p.m. … but he proceeded to tell me that he has come in “all the time” after 6 p.m. and is always seen (lesson number 1: don’t lie to me – I can put up with a lot, but not lying). He was also visibly drunk. He left, then came back requesting a note for his employer that he had been at the clinic. After escorting him out the door, I was dealing with the next crisis – a loud, brash, rude woman complaining about how long it was taking to get seen – by a chiropractor at a free clinic!?! Seriously? Yup, she was complaining. She went as far as to say one of the volunteers didn’t like her, so she put her chart to the end of the line (lesson number 2: don’t be rude to my volunteers).

As I am listening to her complain (not really the word that was going through my mind), Connie brought me the phone. It was the wife of the drunk man – accusing us of all sorts of things. We had told her we would see him (not true – again, don’t lie to me) and that he was not drunk (really? I am not stupid) and that she wanted to speak to my supervisor. OK – not a problem, except, oh, yeah – I am the supervisor. Sorry. (And, I will admit, I hung up on her – there is no reasoning with idiots, and there were other issues to deal with).

One of our long-time patients was in – he said to me, “remember when I was here the last time? I had that tooth ache?” Well, I did remember because he didn’t stay, so he wasn’t seen by the doctor. So, he then tells me, “I left here that night and went to Walgreen's and got one of those gels for toothaches. I used that and then I pulled my own tooth. Got rid of that.”

Oh, no… can you imagine? Pulling your own tooth? And, what if it broke, and what if there was an infection and what if???? Oh, my.

Susan was here for a follow-up on her tests. We were able to order the next test that needs to be done for diagnostic purposes. I talked to the doctor that saw her – it sounds like there is hope for a favorable outcome, but we have to know for sure what is going on. Scary stuff.

One patient was here for medication refills and began having an allergic reaction. Not sure to what – she had eaten just prior to coming here, but had no previous history of food allergies. She started off itching, with some swelling. We got her right in to see the doctor, and fortunately were able to give her an injection of steroid and then put her on a steroid medication to continue treating the allergic reaction. Scary stuff.

There were the rude, the impatient, and the grateful. Sometimes on these crazy nights all we hear is the craziness. But, at the end of the night there are the people we have helped, those who come in quietly, are polite and patient, and those are the ones that matter. 

But, somehow, we remember the crazy, rude, drunk ones. It is always a challenge for me to look into those eyes and see the face of God. But, that is what I am called to do – and I keep on trying.