What Scheduling should be
Maybe it was stress or maybe I was spiraling, but a week later it genuinely felt like the lump had doubled in size.
I called Baptist to check for earlier appointments. The answer was pre…
The Journey
The Rising
Some nights are darker than others. This is the shape of how the light comes back — told in phases, not dates, because healing was never a straight line.
What Scheduling should be
September 13, 2026
Maybe it was stress or maybe I was spiraling, but a week later it genuinely felt like the lump had doubled in size.
I called Baptist to check for earlier appointments. The answer was predictably "No", but when I told her I thought the tumor had grown and now felt like a golf ball, she sent a message to their “specialized team,” who would call me back within the hour. Finally, someone cared.
Since I was at work and terrified I’d miss their call, I gave her Jon’s number and immediately texted him to be on standby.
Thirty minutes later, my phone exploded with appointment notifications. Jon didn’t know which one I needed, so he booked the first three like he was trying to win concert tickets. I took the earliest, of course, which was only three days away.
I called Baptist to check for earlier appointments. The answer was predictably "No", but when I told her I thought the tumor had grown and now felt like a golf ball, she sent a message to their “specialized team,” who would call me back within the hour. Finally, someone cared.
Since I was at work and terrified I’d miss their call, I gave her Jon’s number and immediately texted him to be on standby.
Thirty minutes later, my phone exploded with appointment notifications. Jon didn’t know which one I needed, so he booked the first three like he was trying to win concert tickets. I took the earliest, of course, which was only three days away.
Mammogram Day… and Another Scheduling Nightmare
I finally got the mammogram done July 7th. The results… Yup, I have a lump.
It’s 3cm, about the size of a grape, and it wasn’t there at my last mammogram.
I called the Breast Center t…
Mammogram Day… and Another Scheduling Nightmare
September 13, 2026
I finally got the mammogram done July 7th. The results… Yup, I have a lump.
It’s 3cm, about the size of a grape, and it wasn’t there at my last mammogram.
I called the Breast Center to see what the next steps will be. I was told I needed a diagnostic breast exam and ultrasound, but I couldn’t schedule it because… guess what I needed… A referral.
The next day, a letter from their Radiologist shows up saying my results were “abnormal” and I needed to call to schedule a diagnostic exam and ultrasound. Great, right? Wrong. I called, and they still wouldn’t schedule it without a referral. Apparently, even their own Radiologist doesn’t have enough clearance to bypass their sacred “policy.”
I called my PCP, and thankfully they squeezed me in the next day. At the appointment, I explained everything and asked for a referral to the Breast Center. He said they usually send referrals to Baptist, but he’d make sure mine went to the Breast Center by the end of the day.
This is where the 2 week battle begins. I would call the Breast Center. They didn’t have the referral. I’d call my PCP, leave a message, just to get a call back the next day for them to say they will resend it. Rinse. Repeat.
I finally hit my limit and called the office manager at my PCP’s office to ask where the referral had actually gone. They’d sent it to the Breast Center and Baptist Imaging. For once, the chaos worked in my favor.
I called Baptist, and the soonest they could see me was 3 weeks out. I scheduled the appointment and was prepared to wait patiently for my appointment. My body had other ideas.
It’s 3cm, about the size of a grape, and it wasn’t there at my last mammogram.
I called the Breast Center to see what the next steps will be. I was told I needed a diagnostic breast exam and ultrasound, but I couldn’t schedule it because… guess what I needed… A referral.
The next day, a letter from their Radiologist shows up saying my results were “abnormal” and I needed to call to schedule a diagnostic exam and ultrasound. Great, right? Wrong. I called, and they still wouldn’t schedule it without a referral. Apparently, even their own Radiologist doesn’t have enough clearance to bypass their sacred “policy.”
I called my PCP, and thankfully they squeezed me in the next day. At the appointment, I explained everything and asked for a referral to the Breast Center. He said they usually send referrals to Baptist, but he’d make sure mine went to the Breast Center by the end of the day.
This is where the 2 week battle begins. I would call the Breast Center. They didn’t have the referral. I’d call my PCP, leave a message, just to get a call back the next day for them to say they will resend it. Rinse. Repeat.
I finally hit my limit and called the office manager at my PCP’s office to ask where the referral had actually gone. They’d sent it to the Breast Center and Baptist Imaging. For once, the chaos worked in my favor.
I called Baptist, and the soonest they could see me was 3 weeks out. I scheduled the appointment and was prepared to wait patiently for my appointment. My body had other ideas.
Scheduling Nightmare Day 2
I tried to book an appointment with my PCP for the magical referral, but the earliest slot was six weeks out. As if I’m just supposed to sit around twiddling my thumbs for a month and a hal…
Read MoreScheduling Nightmare Day 2
September 12, 2026
I tried to book an appointment with my PCP for the magical referral, but the earliest slot was six weeks out. As if I’m just supposed to sit around twiddling my thumbs for a month and a half. Remembering her little “mobile clinics don’t need referrals” comment, I went online and searched for their mobile clinic like I was chasing buried treasure. I was in luck! I found a mobile clinic that actually had appointments available and booked one four days out, no magical referral needed.
Two days go by, and suddenly the Breast Center calls asking if I’d switch to an earlier appointment at their physical location. I agreed. No magical referral required to do this, because apparently, we’re just making up "policy" as we go.
So now I have an appointment... at their physical location... and still did not have the referral they refused to schedule an appointment without.
Two days go by, and suddenly the Breast Center calls asking if I’d switch to an earlier appointment at their physical location. I agreed. No magical referral required to do this, because apparently, we’re just making up "policy" as we go.
So now I have an appointment... at their physical location... and still did not have the referral they refused to schedule an appointment without.
My Scheduling Nightmare - Day 1
When I got to work, I figured I’d quickly schedule my annual mammogram. They’ve done the last two, so it should’ve been routine.
Spoiler: it wasn’t.
I went online to schedule it, and…
My Scheduling Nightmare - Day 1
September 12, 2026
When I got to work, I figured I’d quickly schedule my annual mammogram. They’ve done the last two, so it should’ve been routine.
Spoiler: it wasn’t.
I went online to schedule it, and as soon as I marked “yes” to feeling a lump, the whole system shut down on me like I’d confessed to a crime. I tried starting over and saying “no” (just to get the appointment booked) planning to explain later, but it was still forcing me to call.
I tried calling on my lunch break, but after three calls and the full hour gone, I was still stuck.
The first call was the Breast Center insisting on a referral before they’d schedule a routine annual mammogram.
Second call: my insurance said I absolutely did not need a referral for routine exams.
Third call: the mammogram center doubled down and said it was their policy, not an insurance requirement.
I told her I never needed a referral the last two years, and said it was only because those were done through their mobile clinic, which apparently operates under a completely different universe of policy rules. I still have no clue why, but whatever.
Spoiler: it wasn’t.
I went online to schedule it, and as soon as I marked “yes” to feeling a lump, the whole system shut down on me like I’d confessed to a crime. I tried starting over and saying “no” (just to get the appointment booked) planning to explain later, but it was still forcing me to call.
I tried calling on my lunch break, but after three calls and the full hour gone, I was still stuck.
The first call was the Breast Center insisting on a referral before they’d schedule a routine annual mammogram.
Second call: my insurance said I absolutely did not need a referral for routine exams.
Third call: the mammogram center doubled down and said it was their policy, not an insurance requirement.
I told her I never needed a referral the last two years, and said it was only because those were done through their mobile clinic, which apparently operates under a completely different universe of policy rules. I still have no clue why, but whatever.
Day 1 - I'm gonna start from the beginning...
It’s weird…
I don’t remember the exact day, but I do remember it being a Wednesday.
I was taking a shower before work when I felt a lump. It was small, about the size of a grape, but …
Day 1 - I'm gonna start from the beginning...
August 24, 2026
It’s weird…
I don’t remember the exact day, but I do remember it being a Wednesday.
I was taking a shower before work when I felt a lump. It was small, about the size of a grape, but impossible to ignore.
I was confused...
A few days earlier, there was nothing.
I yelled for Jon to come and feel my boob, which he was more than willing to do. I think I just needed someone to tell me I was hitting the panic button for nothing, and he kinda did. We both shrugged it off as a clogged duct, like I’ve had before, but in the back of my mind, I kept thinking, "What if it’s not? ".
Then, on my drive to work, my brain just wouldn’t shut up (thanks ADHD).
Between my knee surgeries and everything else, my mammogram got completely pushed to the back burner, so I figured I’d try to schedule one. It felt like the adult thing to do, even though my anxiety was throwing a toddler-level tantrum.
That became a nightmare in bureaucratic absurdity, with every attempt getting blocked by some 'policy', like they were the Shaolin Monks of Nope.
I don’t remember the exact day, but I do remember it being a Wednesday.
I was taking a shower before work when I felt a lump. It was small, about the size of a grape, but impossible to ignore.
I was confused...
A few days earlier, there was nothing.
I yelled for Jon to come and feel my boob, which he was more than willing to do. I think I just needed someone to tell me I was hitting the panic button for nothing, and he kinda did. We both shrugged it off as a clogged duct, like I’ve had before, but in the back of my mind, I kept thinking, "What if it’s not? ".
Then, on my drive to work, my brain just wouldn’t shut up (thanks ADHD).
Between my knee surgeries and everything else, my mammogram got completely pushed to the back burner, so I figured I’d try to schedule one. It felt like the adult thing to do, even though my anxiety was throwing a toddler-level tantrum.
That became a nightmare in bureaucratic absurdity, with every attempt getting blocked by some 'policy', like they were the Shaolin Monks of Nope.