We caught the flu from the CLINIC...

...will be my blog post title if we get Oinked.

The boys still have goopy, crusty eyeballs, so I decided it was time to take them into the clinic for a new prescription and an actual diagnosis of conjunctivitis.  Well, let me tell you that our trip to the medical clinic at RAFB was the icing on the cake to an already bad morning.  We arrived at the clinic and before we could get through the doors, we were greeted by a team in full gowns, masks and gloves inquiring what our symptoms were.  No fever or flu symptoms, no masks needed, go on in...to the Pediatric clinic which was doubling as, get this...the FLU clinic.  Oh yes, we were then forced to don masks (the boys did look pretty cute) and wait in a tiny waiting room with everyone in the clinic who suspected they have swine flu.  After 10 minutes of my kids absorbing the germs on every surface, I went to the desk and said, "We are not here for the flu.  We're here for Pink Eye."  I was told we had been checked in and if I felt more comfortable, we could wait in the hallway (that everyone passes through coming in).  Eventually, we were triaged, in the same area where they triaged the flu patients, and that sent me over the edge.  I am not freaking out about getting swine flu, but I do not wish for my healthy kids to be exposed to all the sickest people in the clinic.  I asked to be moved to a "well waiting room" and was directed outside to the area by the lab.  No masks out there. No exposure to piggy people.  

Needless to say, I was mad.  VERY mad.  Pregnant and protective, I politely, but firmly let the nurse, the doctor and then the clinic's patient advocate know that healthy peds patients should not be forced to check in and sit with the sick flu patients.  I also informed the patient advocate that if our family contracts swine flu, I will know to thank the administration at the RAFB medical clinic for ensuring that this healthy pregnant lady and her two healthy sons get some swine exposure.  RIDICULOUS. 

(Disclaimer: This post is not against any of our sweet doctor or nurse friends.  I am well aware that it was not the medical physicians who set up the combo flu/peds area.  The doctor today and the nurses seemed equally peeved.)