What is the Best Time of Day to…

Ever stood around the pharmacy & wondered where all the people suddenly came from? As someone who lives with a chronic illness you may want to print this article out for your fridge or to stick in your Woman’s Health Resource Journal to refer to when you are making plans.

When should I have surgery?
As early as possible in the morning. When you live with an illness I know it can be hard to get up & get there to a surgical center or hospital. But let’s be realistic. . . are you really sleeping anyway? And most often you are unable to eat, drink or take your medications in the morning, so the sooner in the day you can get in, the better off you will be physically. Plus, studies have shown that patients have fewer anesthesia “complications” than those who have surgery at 4 pm or later. This may be due to the fatigue of doctors or other health-care workers by late afternoon, changes in shift changes, & higher case loads later in the day. If you are uncomfortable ask for heated blankets. Sometimes they can also provide ice chips or moderated medication.

When should I pick up medications from the pharmacy?
Monday & Tuesday evenings after work are said to be the busy time because people call in refills over the weekend. I’ve also found Monday mornings to be busy (kids that were sick have now been to the doctor) & Friday afternoons, as people are getting what they need before going out of town for the weekend. If you can get there before 3 PM you will beat the “after school & work” rush & there will likely be a pharmacist there who may be able to spend a bit more time explaining a medication to you. There is less room for error during calmer times too!

When should I go to the doctor?
We read in as magazine that the best time of day to go to the doctor is 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., or 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. If you are not a morning person, just make it later in the day, & bring something to read. I also found that nurses & receptionist have encouraged chronically ill patients to wait outside or in their cars where they are exposed to fewer germs. just give them your phone number & ask them to give you a quick call when an exam room is waiting.

When should I have lab tests done?
Since many lab tests require fasting you may want to go as early as you can get there so you won’t be hungry or have to wait to take your medication. At the same time, if you don’t work outside the home, you don’t want to end up there at 7:30 & be stuck in the middle of a busy time with lots of people getting lab work done before going to work.

When is the best time to call the doctor to see if they can squeeze me in?
One woman who works in a family practice recommends, “I would call about every 2-3 days. Try calling around 1PM. Most [patients] take lunch between 12pm-1:00pm & use that time to make their phone calls [to cancel doctor’s appointments]. Ask to be placed on a cancellation list also, if they have one.”

As with any schedule there is always room for error. Doctors get caught at the hospital or in surgery. A patient takes longer than usual. The best option is to just ask, “when it the quietest or slowest time that I should come?” Chances are the personal helping you would be glad to have you there when he or she is not swamped with people & dem&s too!

-ljc