AIBU to attend this appointment? Or should I reschedule?

[INeedAMagic8Ball]

I am absolutely terrible at making decisions. Useless. Please help me MNers you are usually always right

Background. Earlier this year I was being investigated for a shoulder problem. I had scans etc and the last appt they said I would need an op and the consultant would discuss with me. Due to lockdown/shielding it was postponed. I now have an appointment with the consultant (letter last Friday, appt today).

This is good. My shoulder is fucking killing me and feels unstable (original problem was I dislocated it twice and put it back in myself (I've already been told off for this)

The problem is my DD just pointed out due to the time of the appt the bus is going to be crammed full of school children (and a lot don't wear masks). We live in a local lockdown area with high rates and I'm in the shielding/CEV criteria.

Possibly really fucking stupid to go. BUT my shoulder has been hurting so much for ages and is stopping me doing a lot of stuff plus I worry about it dislocating again which would be a bigger op apparently.

I can't get a taxi (far too expensive due to location, no one else can drive me, DH absolutely cannot drive me, new job after months out of work (ironically after breaking a bone himself!) I can't drive myself as I'm epileptic - hence the fucked shoulder and future risk. They will need to see me, not a phone appt, as I'll need to swing my arm around for them

Attend or postpone oh wise sensible Mners?

If anyone doesn't RTFT properly and advises me to learn to drive I'll tell you to fuck off, just saying

I wouldn't cancel. Just wear a mask yourself and sanitise your hands when you get off the bus. The buses all seem to have the windows open any way.

I'd still go - could you go earlier to avoid the school kids?

go earlier

Yes I’d go earlier and grab a coffee 😊

Can you go early and get the bus before the school traffic? Will mean a bit of hanging around near the hospital but at least you will feel more comfortable

I would agree with a pp to consider an earlier bus or could you get a taxi for a smaller part of the journey if only a small section would be full of kids eg get the taxi i to town, then a bus onto hospital once the kids have all got off? Apologies if that is not relevant for your journey

Agree with others, go early and sit around there with a book

I can't really go earlier as the hospital has security guards with lists of appointments and they only let you in ten minutes before your appointment. I'm shielding because of a lung issue and it's freezing so also worry about that (clearly I'm just a worrier generally ) No cafes etc locally and the one in the hospital is closed.

Oh shit this is probs a drip feed - I went to this hospital on Friday for bloods and there was maskless DC on the bus in the middle of the day (they wouldn't do the appts at the same time)

I sound like a right awkward arse don't I. Time honoured AIBU style

Yes but
Yes but
Yes but
Yes but.

Sorry about that

The bus is an hour journey approx and a taxi to/past the schools is still £££ yes but yes but yes but

Appreciate the replies and ideas though!

I’d still go but as pp has suggested can you go earlier, avoid the school children and wait outside hospital for a bit? Wait around a bit again after your appointment to make sure the school rush is well and truly over? Make sure you wear mask and take hand sanitizer.

How expensive is too expensive with the taxi? Is it that there’s absolutely no money spare and so it’s not even close to being an option or is it that you’d really hate to spend that much but could just about stretch to it? If so and you really can’t get different bus times then maybe it would be worth it even if it’s a financial hit? Have you used Uber before? If not is there still a free first ride or at least x amount free thing when you sign up and would that make it affordable? Presumably it would only need to be one way as the school rush shouldn’t be both on your way there and back?

Sorry cross posted with you re bus timings!

Call them now and ask to speak to patient transport! If you're in receipt of certain benefits they will reimburse the cost or they'll book you transport of their own.

Do you have a friend that could take you if you both wear masks and you sit in the back opposite.

HTH

I'd go. Getting the pain sorted out is a priority. It is a small risk.

I beg to differ. It is NOT freezing. Go earlier. Dress warmly. Bring a book and a flask of coffee.

Not only YABU fir all your excuses you’re giving when people are giving you very good advice but to think you’d cancel in the day when you have known about this appointment for a while, cancelling in the day like this creates a wasted appointment. Could be a factor in why it has taken so long to get your appointment.

Get earlier bus to nearest place that does have coffee shop or at least somewhere sheltered to sit and wait, then taxi or bus for last bit.

Out of all those unappealing compromise options, going early and waiting outside in the cold seems the least obnoxious tbh.

far from ideal but are you fit enough to stroll round for a bit? take a flask of coffee with you and find a wall to perch on for a break? It is cold but if you keep moving you will feel it less.

Or settle down in the nearest cafe even if 2-3 miles away and taxi in the last bit.

i would add that most hospital clinics run over the same couple of hours once weekly, or even monthly, so if you reschedule you are likely to get a pretty similar time slot.

Go earlier and a have walk before your appointment. Dress warmly and the cold won’t matter.

RTFT I said in my OP Adore I got the letter on Friday It is 4 degrees here. I spend my life coughing as it is and the cold makes it worse. (Another drip feed, I've already had abuse in public for coughing so it also puts me off)

Patient transport is a good idea but here they don't reimburse you they provide transport and you have to book well in advance (fair enough). It's a good idea though to try and arrange it and get transport if I do reschedule.

These are all good ideas and I've said thank you and I am grateful - and if I was "healthy" I would do any of them. I can't walk fast (another drip feed is I use crutches, should really have said that sorry) It's just annoying the bus service has been cut to once an hour now and is always packed.

As I'm epileptic I do get a free travel pass though which js brilliant (there you go, a positive!)

I would go. Definitely go early and hang around in the cold if that means a quieter bus. There will always be some people without masks. Take 2 masks so you can wear a fresh one home.

I have an insight into how easy it is to end up drip feeding now

I might ring and see what the options are for rescheduling (the staff are always lovely and I do have a explanation note on my file as I sometimes have to reschedule totally unavoidably due to epilepsy)