My Nurse?

I got a 202-area code call this morning and jumped up thinking it was my PO. To my (GREAT) surprise, it was my PC nurse. She said she needed me to write two more personal statements.

1. SE Asian Food Aversion: I had mentioned this to my recruiter, in terms of placement. Silly me. She wanted me to write something about when it happens, if I know what ingredient it is, what happens to me when it does happen, if I've ever had to take medicine or visit a doctor when it happens. I explained to her that it was more of a food taste that I didn't like, but it wasn't anything physical or medical at all. She said that was good, but needed me to write it anyway.
2. Medical Concern: Somewhere, I have no idea where, I had written that I left IU for a semester for medical reasons. I had NO clue what she was talking about for a minute. Finally, I remembered, and said it was due to my epilepsy which they already had documentation of. She said that was good too, but she just needed me to write a quite something about it.

My nurse also told me if she didn't have it by the end of the day she'd have to put my file on hold again UGH. I told her I'd fax it to her within the hour, which she seemed extremely happy about and said she would be circling the fax machine. That's good right!? Good that she seemed so happy it'd be there asap. And isn't it good that she seemed to imply that both of these things were not big deals, but more formalities instead of "life or death?" That's good too I think.

Here comes my question: why was I contacted by my nurse? Was she bored and randomly reviewing my file/clearance? I doubt it since they are super busy. Had she realized that she missed something with my file that needed to be done? Doubt that she for some reason was thinking particularly of me out of the hundreds of people she deals with (though I have now talked to her 4 times on the phone which seems to me to be typically unusual concerning PC nurses) 

To me, the only possible reason that she would have to open my file and look at it and decide she wanted that small bit of information was if my PO contacted her about a possible placement. (Since I have a restriction, my PO has to clear my placement with her before inviting me.) That is the only reason I can come up with. In that case, it seems like she'll have gotten back to my PO today, and I could reasonably get invited tomorrow?

Anyone? Thoughts? Any other ideas on why I was contacted by my nurse after being cleared and having spoken to the PO about new placement options?

You Have GOT TO BE KIDDING ME

My medical screening assistant replied to my e-mail at 7:30 am her time.

Jenna,

We received your kit at the end of May. Your nurse has not yet had a chance to begin the review. This is our busiest time of year and we’re currently working to clear applicants that are leaving with earlier programs. We’re aware of your timeline and will do our best to help you make your program.

Thanks for your patience and let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help you out.

Best,

Lisa, Medical Assistant
Peace Corps Office of Medical Services

Again...you have got to be royally kidding me with a big f.u. They haven't even opened my medical file! What the holy hell! Ummm AUGUST PEOPLE! Its almost the beginning of JUNE! Like 2 months before I am leaving. Please, seriously, are they still clearing people for July? BECAUSE I DOUBT IT! Maybe a few here or there. But please, seriously!? That was just a big smack in the face for me to wake up to at 6:30am. Just ...ugh.

Okay, Seriously.

I know that most people have to wait months on end for Medical Clearance, but the fact remains that my departure month is set for August.  That said, I won't be waiting too long for medical clearance. They've been "reviewing" (according to the ToolKit) my medical for over 2 weeks now. I really really did think it would be cleared this week. I am going to have a medical restriction that dramatically reduces the amount of countries I can go to, not to mention that gets cut down even further when you take into account that I can only work in certain work areas.

I truly hope to have as many options open as I can in case my nomination must be moved around, as is very likely. A lot of July is already not an option due to the 6-week rule, and of course not all those are epileptic countries! There is August, and of course September, but after that they send very very few people out until Jan/Feb...and I must leave before December. I want to get cleared ASAP. 

That said, for my actual nomination and looking at a couple of the dates, I must get invited by about July 6th. That's exactly a month from now. So really!? Where is my medical clearance!?!? I need it badly! I need options open!!!! I NEED TO GET IT AND FIND OUT WHERE I AM GOING! Please medical office please god clear me!!!!

Does anyone think I should send Lisa Backstrom, my medical screening assistant, an e-mail like hey hey, where is that clearance? If so what should I say!?

Update

No, sorry, nothing interesting. Still no update from the MO. So far I haven't heard that I'm cleared :( But I haven't heard that they need more from me :-D

A girl with a similar nomination, same region/month...we have been following each others medical progress. We sent our medkits in about a week apart from each other. She got dentally cleared, 2 days later I got dentally  & legally cleared and she also got legally cleared. Two thursdays ago I got an update they they received and began looking through my medkit, and 2-3 days later she got that update. However, today she got a letter in the mail requesting additional information. Scared me because so far we've been pretty on par with each other! However, my hope is that since they started with my medical a few days before hers, that I might be out of the clear for that. Yet, unfortunately, its entirely possible I'm not. But lets keep optimistic! 

I sent a couple doctors who were handling my medkits thank you notes for everything they did. (the ones who did a lot of work for it and weren't jerk-offs about it like certain neurologists) A few days ago I was in Target and decided that if I get invited, I want to send the people who recommended me, and all the doctors who wrote anything for me thank you notes and information about my country and work. So I bought a pretty pack of thank you notes for them. Just something so simple, but sort of reaffirmed in my head that yes I'm doing this and am so close to it!

Oh, medical clearance, medical clearance...come out come out where ever you are!

Frustrations

Everyone seems to get ancy and frustrated after they send medical in. To be honest, I didn't really totally see why, though I understood it, and I didn't think I would be. Yeah, well, now I know better. I am VERY ancy and frustrated! 

I sent my Medical Kit off to DC on May 7th, 2 Wednesdays ago. So that was a week and a half ago. I thought for sure by now that I would have heard something with medical--not necessarily clearances, but at least that they had received it.  I know it takes a while to hear anything about clearances, so that doesn't really worry me. But come on, they HAVE to have received it, right!? A week and a half? And really, its got to be out of the mail room by this point, right? So where is my ToolKit update saying they have received it?  Another girl who sent hers in right at the same time had a ToolKit update Friday saying they got it, and SUNDAY a message that she was dentally cleared. WHAT!? SUNDAY!?

It just makes me want to shoot myself in the foot. I just want to know they have it!

I tried calling my screening assistant, but she's out of the office for the next couple days. I left a message on her voice mail, so hopefully she calls me back soon. In the mean time, I called the Medical Office to just speak with a general person. The lady who picked up asked me for my social, then confirmed my name. This made me think she was about to tell me if it was received or not. Again, all I want to know. Next thing I know, she transfers me and the line is ringing. Except it keeps ringing, and I know what she did. She transfered me to another screening assistant. And as is very typical of the PC, the phone rang and rang until voice mail picked up.

The only thing that made the call worth it was the PC Operator who directs calls to the correct office.  Instead of saying "Please Hold"...she said "Peas Ho" ...and it made me giggle inside.