Shortly, my dear, shortly

/ roughwighting

Pixabay, waiting room, shortlyI’d never met this doctor, so I was unprepared for his hurried and noisy entrance into the room where I had been waiting for him. It’s not called “the waiting room” for no reason. I’d been ushered into the room by the nurse who asked me my name, birthday, medications, and then promised, “the doctor will be in shortly.”

What an obsolete phrase – “will be in shortly.” Shortly as in five minutes, or 30? All in the eye of the beholder, or in this case, in the seat of the beholder. I was beholden to this doc – he was going to make sure my recent heart palpitations were not a precursor to a heart attack. But I also knew that sitting for a “shortly” time was unhealthy for my body. We folks are reminded we must replenish our aging bodies with water, exercise, and activities that keep our brain sharp. At this “waiting room” I was unable to do any of the three. Pixabay, doctor sign, waiting room

So, I began practicing my yoga postures. First, standing still in Mountain Pose. Then a short sun salutation, merged into triangle, then warrior, and finally pyramid pose. Ten minutes swept by. I completed two tree poses, balancing on my left foot for 3 minutes, then my right foot for 2 ½ minutes (need to work more on that leg).

Pixabay yoga https://pixabay.com/vectors/yoga-pose-silhouette-woman-health-8878595/ I was in the middle of dancer pose, bending at the waist with my right leg raised behind me and my left arm straight out as if to touch a nonexistent barre, when in barged a medium-size, middle-aged man wearing doctor-blue pants with matching shirt, a white lab coat, and a grin as wide as an ocean.

“How can I help you, young lady?” he began, proffering his hand and keeping me upright as my dancer almost collapsed.

I readjusted my blouse, slid back into my shoes, and responded, “I’m practicing yoga while I wait, which I’ve read is good for our heart.”

He grinned even wider. “What a smart thing to do. Most important – balancing. Can you do this?” Chat GPT, balancing, doctor visit

The doctor proceeded to lift a heavy medical tome in his right hand while standing on his left foot, and then he switched the book behind his back to the other hand. But in the matter of ten seconds, he almost fell over, so I reached out to keep him upright.

“Um, have you just begun yoga?” I asked.

He responded with a harrumph: “So when was the last time your heart jumped?”

I didn’t dare tell him – just now, when you tipped over like a teapot.

Chat GPT, doctor visit, doctor's office, yoga

How long have YOU waited in a doctor’s office? And has your doc shared yoga poses with you? P.S. My heart is fine.

100 thoughts on “Shortly, my dear, shortly”

  1. I have six doctors who need to make sure I keep coming back if only to keep up the the Mercedes payments. Waiting to me is the time to take care of emails. I always have my Mac with me and the minute I hit the waiting room I am busy. The waits are usually in the ten minute range but that is okay with me. A fun story as usual, Pamela.

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    • I have a hard time sitting still. ProbablyProbably because I’m nervous when I’m at the doctor’s office, I find Yoga keeps my heart rate slow and steady when they take my blood pressure. But here’s a story. One time at the doctor’s office-GYN -I had to wait a long long time and then a very good looking young man came in and said he was the substitute for my regular doctor. Then he took my blood pressure. I think he was ready to admit me to the ER. 🤣

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  2. I am VERY glad to hear your heart is fine.

    And the longest I have waited is…. 45 minutes! I was not a happy camper, tell you what. And since I was told to wear the lovely paper “gown”, I was in no position to exercise without risking total exposure…

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  3. That is a funny story. Glad your heart is OK but always better to check. I’m not good at waiting and have left the office a few times when the waiting became too much. Good idea to do yoga but there are usually other people in the waiting room. I do do yoga in the pool though. Have a super weekend!!

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  4. I love your story and love even more to read your heart is fine.
    I hardly ever wait more than 15 min. What a great idea to exercises during that time.
    Happy weekend
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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  5. I’m glad your heart is OK. Most of the time I don’t have to wait too long, but I remember a doctor from years past who routinely booked several patients at the same time, and there were very long waits.

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  6. I think I’m inspired with all your yoga poses-good for you as balance was definitely not aa problem! And I’m very glad your heart is fine. Life is really great when all the right boxes are ticked off 🙂 Thanks for another terrific story as always, Pam 🙂

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  7. When Greg and then Michael both suffered chronic illnesses and had to see specialist doctors, I use to wait up to 7 hours at the doctors. Not easy with first babies then toddlers and small lads. Your story is amusing. I used to read to my sons while we waited.

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    • Reading while waiting with youngsters is so smart! But 7 hours…that’s beyond the bounds of patience. 😗 Yet you managed, Robbie! Add that to your many talents. 🧡

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  10. Pam….your teapot sense of humor made me giggle out loud. 🥰
    Thanks for sharing that all is well with your heart…glad to hear that news. 💕
    And nope. I’ve never been quite so fortunate. No docs-doing-yoga moments to entertain me. 🥰

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  11. Glad your heart is fine as is your sense of humor. Haha!

    It was hard to tell when your real story turned into fiction, Pam. (Maybe it was all true.) I guess you know the doc has cameras installed to record your whole routine. 😀

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  13. This is wonderful. Not the needing to be at the doctor part but the way you passed your time waiting for him. I’ve sometimes wiggled my ankles or rotated my shoulders while waiting for a doc, but never went full on yoga practice. Clever.

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  15. Oh what good humor you have always, Pam and I so love this little lesson for your doc! Good on you. TG he didn’t know you over as he sounds like a short little tea pot. A girl after my own heart… I do this to when I’m waiting! 🙌🏽

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  18. I’m so glad to read that your heart is fine. I haven’t done yoga at a doctor’s office (at least not that I remember). But I have done it (a full workout actually) at the airport. I figured that I was never going to see those people again anyway. And nobody said a word…at least not to my face! 😀

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    • We think alike my friend. I often embarrass my family by going through three full sun salutations as we wait in the long line to board. I prefer to be the last one on anyway, so I find a quiet corner like a yogi while the rest stand in line like cattle. No moooing from me! 🐄 🧘‍♂️

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    • Had to chime in that I am also one to do a few yoga asanas at the airport – I find a quite little corner (if possible) and even just a sliver of an area can allow my to do triangle pose, chair pose, and some forward folds. I sometimes look around and feel sad that more people do not embrace “stretching” more – not just while traveling, but especially while traveling – because they would be amazed at how great it makes them feel.

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  19. I typically schedule my appointments first thing in the morning. Still, even then I may have to wait a long time after hearing, “The doctor will be in shortly.”

    Glad to hear that your heart is in good shape.

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    • Yes, we try for early appts too although sometimes it means twice the time to get there because of commute traffic. My last dermatologist visit (important one) was scheduled for 4 but the 3:30 and the 3:15 clients were still waiting for their turns. In that case, I left the office,knowing how late they’d be. Doc called half hour later apologizing profusely and found a mid morning slot next day. Doctor was so nice and apologetic and spent extra time with me.

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  20. Come to think of it, I seldom have to wait long. The doctor usually arrives “shortly.”

    Your doctor’s-office-waiting routine is amazing. I sometimes do simple exercises while waiting, but nothing as impressive as yours.

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    • That’s great that you have short doctor waits! Don’t be too impressed with my yoga routine – you haven’t seen my poses. ;-0 Nowhere near perfect, but we’re taught in yoga that we are ALWAYS practicing. I like that attitude! Happy summer. xo

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    • You are so kind! Yes, my heart skips a beat once in a while, but only when I skip too much in Zumba, or get excited about the plot in my next story. 🙂 Thanks much for reading and enjoying.

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  24. I am so glad that your heart is ship shape! Keep on keeping on, Pam!

    I have had some LONG waits . . . but usually followed by an apology and a good reason ~ sometimes doctors get stuck in traffic after morning rounds at the hospital.

    When I’m waiting, if they’ve got decent music playing, I move and groove by dancing! No music means I do Tai Chi, or a standing yoga pose or two, or just marching in place. It passes the time and feels better than just sitting. If I’ve had plenty of exercise, I’ll sit and meditate or follow my breath or run through my gratitude list and count my blessings.

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    • You and I should have written this post together, Nancy. Oh my, could you see us both together in a waiting room? Hysterical. Dance a bit, yoga-dance pose for a few minutes, then count our blessings to each other out loud. LOVE IT.

      And yes, I appreciate it when a doctor who’s late apologizes and explains. The last wait was with my dermatologist, and she had a patient come in with an emergency. Fine by me as long as I have room in the waiting room to move. ❤

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      • What a team we would be!

        BTW: The melanoma on my upper thigh is GONE. Excision last week. Sutures in place. Healing going well. Pathology report = all margins benign! 😀

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  25. We all know you have a good heart and it makes good stories. I always take my tablet and as soon as I start to read, the medical person comes in the door. Works every time. The rooms they stick us in are to small to stand much less do yoga in but it’s a great thought. We have few doctors left here. PA’s or NP’s only. I spend very little time there but I like the person I see and rarely have to wait long. Glad you will be writing for a long time. Now, go hold that pose. 🙂

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    • You have magical abilities, Marlene; I’ve always known that. You’ve discovered the spell to get the doctor into that room – open your tablet! Funny. I use a spell when I’m driving and get close to a green traffic light and don’t want it to turn red before I get there. It’s a bit of a secret but it includes flicking my fingers a certain way. Works every time, and then I give the light (and the energy source) a thumbs up. 🙂

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  26. First of all, I’m glad your heart is fine!! Worth the wait, I’d say, to get that bit of information. I don’t mind waiting, anymore, not that I can read books while doing so. Sometimes, I wouldn’t mind waiting longer so I can finish a chapter! Hugs, my friend.

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    • My heart is healthy although I now have AFib so am more aware when my beats go pit pit pitterpatterpitter. ❤ I used to take my Kindle but I'd get distracted waiting for the doctor to enter, so I find yoga poses more productive. Whatever keeps us centered and relaxed, right?

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      • I have an irregular heartbeat and sometimes it’s very distracting (mostly if I’m a bit dehydrated). My cardiologist says not to worry about it, but… still. Hard not to at times!

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  27. Your heart is fine! What a relief, Pam! It’s interesting you do yoga while waiting for the doctors. I just check on things on my phone. In the waiting area, there’s a sign saying if I wait for more than 5 minutes, go to the front desk to let them know. Then in the doctor’s rooms, I usually don’t need to wait more than 10 minutes. The longest wait I had was about an hour at my last appointment seeing a allergy specialist. She’s the owner of the clinic and does whatever she wants. I read the reviews and one comment was that she would take as long as it needs to address the patients’ situations. It was true that she spent a long time with me.

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    • Glad you were able to see the allergist, Miriam. We were commenting about this together a while ago. Yes, that is true. I have a doctor who is notoriously late but she takes a lot of time with each patient (including me when it’s my turn), so I understand. I go to that visit with comfortable clothes so it’s easy to get in my yoga practice while waiting. 🙂

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  28. I loved this! I usually just look at my phone, cleaning up my emails while waiting in the doctor’s office, but I think I will try practicing yoga instead. I also tend to take a book with me anywhere I may have to wait. I can wait forever if I have a good book to read! But I do wonder what would happen if the doctor walked in while I was reading and I said, “wait a minute, I just want to finish this chapter….”

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    • Ha! I’ve thought of doing that also, Ann. Thus, I no longer bring a book because I hate getting interrupted at an important part of the story. Of course, getting interrupted while in Warrior pose isn’t convenient either. 😉

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  29. What a good idea to do yoga waiting for the doc. At least if they don’t put you in the paper cover…lol. I usually spend time on my phone but I like the idea of moving. Glad your heart is ok! Xo

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    • THANKS for the question about my nose, Jennie. I still have some scars, but they are fading every day. My ‘renovated’ nose is the same shape as before the surgery, which is a miracle! However, I’m told I will probably never have feeling back on my nose or my forehead (where the artery was removed). That’s taking a while to get used to. Whoops, sorry for the long answer. My hope is if anyone else has to go through a flap surgery, they can ask me alllll about it. ;-0

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  33. What a cute story, Pam, and I’ll never think of a teapot in the same way again. 🙂 I’m so glad your heart is fine! I’ve never done yoga while waiting, but it’s usually only 15 minutes or so. Not too bad. Sometimes, I bring a book though to be prepared, and it’s amazing how most everyone is glued to their phones. 🙂 ❤️

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    • I think it’s sad, to see everyone, as you say, ‘glued to their phones.’ That’s why I turn mine off when I’m in the waiting room. Take away the temptation and balance instead. 🙂

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  34. At first, I thought this was a fiction post, but then realized you were sharing a true story and it was so well written. I liked the part about the need for a new term rather than “shortly” – and as I already chimed in on a comment above – about how I used to do yoga poses in the airport – I will not get into that now. However, I did want to add that warrior three is a pose that I do before I go into meetings – or if I need to calm my body. For some reason, that pose allows me to get a quick reset, deep stomach breaths, and it pulls out all this stress. Of course so many poses can do this! Oh and I noticed you said that tree pose is a good one for office waiting, and my friend Kim resets her back with tree pose….

    cheers to the many benefits of wonderful yoga

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  35. I agree with Yvette. At first as I was reading this, I thought it was a fiction story. Until I got to the end and read the fine print. So cleverly written, and every phrase really described how we usually feel about doctor’s offices and going to the doctors in general. I wish I was like you and did yoga poses in public. Always feel like I’ll topple over 😂

    My doctor is really popular and takes her time with her patients. Like really, really takes her time. Even with an appointment, I turn up on time and can end up waiting for an hour or sometimes more. ‘Running late’ as the nice receptionists always put it. Same with a telehealth call with her. The only time I don’t wait much is when I get the first appointment of the day with her.

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    • Kind of a Catch 22, Mabel. You appreciate that the doctor spends so much time with you, when it’s your time, but not that you have to wait for YOUR time. I always wonder why a doctor doesn’t have her receptionist plan the time for each patient accordingly. I’m afraid it’s all about the money. Doctors have to get a certain number of patients in each day. (Slapping hand on forehead.) I suggest you at least practice your ‘tree pose’ (balance) as you wait. When we ‘topple’ over in yoga class, the teacher always says “so, your tree is just blowing from a big breeze!’ 🙂

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      • Exactly. I really appreciate my doctor who spends time on me, listening and attending to my needs. But most of the time I have to take the day off or rearrange my schedule a heap to have a half an hour appointment with her 😂 Tree pose is one of the more calming pose for me…yet the most easy to fall over. Can’t let myself get distracted with that one!

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