Part 3 of Sound of Fury is in the final stages. Meanwhile, here’s this.

“So you said, ‘Sorry, but I’m not licking anyone!’”

Their giggles grew into laughter as the receptionist on the phone and the colleague to her right saw my bemused self on the other side of the plexiglas. For 3 years I’ve checked in at the Rheumatology side of this elongated desk* once a month for Infusion with J, the receptionist who just spoke that fabulous line above through her headset. For the last 2.5 years we’ve only seen each other masked. I feel familiar with her voice, eyes, hairstyles, humor.

“Right! I don’t blame you!”

J motioned that she’d be right with me and would explain everything as she said into her headset,

“I mean, sometimes tragedy just can’t be avoided.”

Then she looked at me, then at her colleague, smiled, listened, and … burst out laughing. I enjoyed seeing J in high spirits. She’s always been an honest and efficient part of my team at Rheumatology and I look forward to seeing her. There have been times I’ve approached the desk just after someone has been discourteous to J, if not also disrespectful, and I sense it’s probably for something beyond her control and she’ll wave it off with a Well, I don’t know what he thought I could do about that? or Some people just — or {sigh} and then greets me with a smile.

Sometimes we patients are justified in our anxieties and rages. (That’s no excuse for abuse!**) Sometimes receptionists can not only not be part of the solution, but also contribute to the problem. Especially for a sick person in crisis. These receptionists feel they are gatekeepers for their bosses, the docs, rather more than they are part of the team that serves the patients. A great receptionist like J knows how to balance the two interests with aplomb. In most cases. Can’t please everybody, of course.

Change is afoot! I had high hopes for this anti-lupus drug I’ve been infusing monthly for 3 years now. I’ve had high hopes for treatments in the 4 years before that. But … We gave it time. More than we planned, should it fail to elicit the desired results. Next up, while also a biologic, is a considerable step up in immune system wrangling, designed to aggressively address all 3 of my autoimmune diseases. Sort of. Close enough for government work! as my Uncle Tom used to say.

My rheumatologist, Dr. K, and I were first thwarted by covid19. Then by organ damage/cancer scares. (Benign!)*** Then Dr. K got sick.

Soon after the start of 2022, I heard Dr. K had just gone on indefinite medical leave. Rumors and dates of her return came and went. Finally, in late July, I saw Dr. T, who joined the practice a year ago, I think. He’s “young” and exuberant and pretty excited about my rare disease and somewhat unusual autoimmune disease profile. I like the geeks, as long as they’re caring as well, which he seems to be. Good thing, as Dr. T told me he is now my rheumatologist, as Dr. K is officially not coming back.

So, it’s serious. I truly wish the best for Dr. K. I’ve missed seeing her these last several months. I so hope this decision and what follows work out in the best possible way for her!

Dr. T also claimed he read through my chart prior to my appointment (Wow!) and that he was going to start work on getting insurance to approve the biologic no. 2, the one Dr. K and I discussed. Promising. Scary. With a very different infusion schedule.

I was already scheduled to receive my monthly infusion the following week. Good thing, too, considering my insurance took a full month to give the ok. It appears my memorable check-in with J marks my last infusion of my first biologic!

Speaking of which … J explained that the person on the line had rescued two tiny kittens. Despite rescuer’s best efforts, one kitten died. Rescuer was relaying to J info/advice received from Humane Society expert, who pointed out (more than once, apparently) that mama cats lick the anuses of their young to stimulate bowel movement and keep it all clean down there. Thus, prompting the protestation against licking anyone. And the wholehearted agreement of same sentiment by our lovely J.

I’m right there with them! Maybe a warm towelette?

I’m so grateful that I’ve had these years with Dr. K! After that last infusion I cried about not being able to take this next step with her, as planned. I’m truly thankful I can take it now with a new doctor and the same support team I’ve come to know and trust. Even though they’re not licking anyone! Not even to save a fragile life!

September has become a difficult month for me, with occasions to dwell on the passing of a few loved ones. But this has been the second extraordinary August in a row! Last year’s was all about the most stressful business property sale we could have never imagined, intermixed with adopting a marvelous puppy (Roo!) with a nasty parasitic infection after a beloved dog (Duke!) died at the end of July.

Today, 25 August 2022, is the first anniversary of closing. Out of business, we are. Have been.

This month began with a week of migraines. One day I bent at the waist to get a bottle of water out of the fridge and was overcome with excruciating pain. For the next two weeks I was in varying degrees of debilitating and immobilizing pain and muscle spasms. Then I returned to my normal level of chronic pain, fatigue, etc. I can move! Cook dinner! Think! (With caveats you understand.) Halle-freaking-Berry-lu-jah!

And now the migraines are back, because —? But second biologic approved/authorized and now awaiting scheduling and then maybe wait a few months to make effectiveness known …

Meanwhile, don’t expect my team at rheumatology to lick anyone. They’re very good and professional. They have their limits. Good to maintain boundaries!

*Rheumatology shares a long reception desk area with the Pain and Spine Clinic, which makes sense, or would, if they actually coordinated care, but they don’t. The receptionists make good use of their shared space, though.

**😇🐮! That rhymes! But also, prednisone can be an excuse for abuse. Another in my growing list of topics I mean to write about here sometime in the future. But when? I ain’t got no idea!

***I would not make you hunt for benign v malignant cancer determination in the footnotes! Who do you think I am? I will make you wait through much of 2021 and 2022 while I go through the whole process without telling anyone a thing about it, though. Yes, that I will do.