Recently, I experienced a few thoughtful accommodations during a necessary medical appointment. They eased my migraine symptoms just enough to make it bearable. And I thought, sometimes … this is all it takes.
I had a morning appointment on a medium level migraine day. Something I try to avoid, but it can’t always be helped. It had already been postponed once, and anyways, it was too late to cancel.
…
I drink some water. Take anti-nauseants. A few sips of coffee. Lay in my dark room till the the last possible minute. Brush my teeth. Pull on my sweats. Shuffle to the car.
Behind the scenes I imagine plans being rearranged, since I can’t drive myself now, or take care of the rest of the things that were supposed to happen today.
In the exam room, the attending physician is kind enough to dim the lights for me. Bless her. We struggle through the requisite allergies/medications questions, but she’s patient. I can’t conjure up the names of the prescriptions. I describe what they’re for, and maybe how the word starts. This sometimes happens to language during a migraine. (Note to self to make a list of them on my phone.) She rhymes through the options until we agree on all of them.
She raises the head of the exam table before I get on so I can sit up a bit, and makes sure my neck is supported with the cushion. Then she makes me a cool wet compress out of paper towels and puts it over my eyes. Bless her again.
At the end, she sneaks me past all the winding hallways I came in through, so I can exit behind the reception desk, and wishes me rest and recovery.
