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> I have been making the medical rounds myself lately, and have discovered that it takes a lot of patience to be a patient. A lot of waiting seems to be involved--I don't mean just sitting in the waiting room until your turn comes up, but also waiting for the next available appointment, waiting for lab results, waiting to be scheduled for the specialist or the next test, and so forth. Weeks have passed, no diagnosis yet, no treatment yet, and I am getting antsy just waiting around!
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> Coincidentally, my cat has also been ill. He, on the other hand, was able to be scheduled for an appointment with his doctor the same day we called, had blood test same day, and got the lab results the very next day, along with medicine and two treatment options. The vet actually called our home to find out how the cat was doing. I am beginning to feel a bit jealous.

I've also noticed a striking difference between the way doctors and vets interact with their patients. I've never known a vet who didn't absolutely love animals, but I have seldom met a doctor who made me feel that they went into the profession because they like people so much.

Of course, koalamom, you must also ask yourself:
Are you unbearably small, cute and adorable?
Are you likely to bite your doctor in the leg if he isn't gentle enough, or even because you just happen to be in a bad mood and don't like going to the doctor?
Are you likely to start a huge brawl with six of the other patients in his waiting room? Or ... dare I say it ... wee on his carpet out of spite? Heh heh. Vets *have* to be nice to animals.

Brunnen-"hopes koalamom and her cat get better soon"G