A frightening episode sent me to Dr. Dancel’s office recently. I hadn’t been in several years –wasn’t avoiding him personally, I just avoid getting sick altogether. Plus, surviving all the “bugs” my children have brought home over the years has given me a formidable immune system. Goes to show good things can arise from suffering.
I rolled over in bed one morning, and when I stopped moving, everything continued to spin. When I got out of bed I literally bounced off the walls; my sense of balance was not right. I did what any self-respecting member of our constantly-wired society does: headed to the computer for a diagnosis. That’s the worst thing to do. I was either going to die very soon, or be just fine.
Having suffered sinus congestion and a subsequent earache, I determined an inner ear infection was the most likely culprit. I spent miserable hours with what I learned was vertigo; nausea and motion sickness were thrown in for good measure. The really odd thing was I got up the next morning feeling fine, and seriously considered cancelling my doctor’s appointment. My family, who had watched me in my drunken-looking stupor, would not hear of it.
The good doctor felt it was indeed the inner ear, gave the pleasant news of how it can act up that way, be over that quickly, and wrote down the name of a medication should the vertigo strike again. Then the (mild) chewing out came over not visiting him for so long, and I promised to return the following week for routine blood tests.
Upon my return the following Monday, I encountered a social dilemma. I hope I made Miss Manners and my parents proud. If not, my family will have to suffer public humiliation for my faux pas.
It was a pretty busy morning for the nurse assigned to draw blood, and the doc’s office was full when I arrived. I was somewhat perturbed when I learned the entire crowd was also in line for lab work only. What happened next absolutely melted my heart.
It was standing room only, and at age 37, I was fairly certain I was by far the youngest one in the room. All the men starting standing and offering their seats. I politely declined, hoping my posterior did not appear to require more than one chair.
I walked out into the hallway, and a couple of gentlemen followed, leaving their seats empty. We started conversing, and I couldn’t have enjoyed the company more – what delightful people.
The discussion eventually turned to the many waiting, and the lack of seating. I was once again invited to empty chairs. In an attempt to tactfully stand up for what I believed in, I told them like it was: I appreciated their being respectful of a lady, but I was taught to respect my elders. It appeared we were at a stalemate. “Who are you calling old?” was the reply I got from a gentleman wearing an enormous smile.
It has been said, “Those who don’t stand for something will fall for anything”. I stood my ground, but I still fell for some mighty sweet fellas.
© 2008 Natalie Whatley
Tags: doctor visit, inner ear infection, sweet men
July 27th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I would have hit that seat so hard, the legs would have folded. LOL