Positive Reinforcement

When I was little, my dad used to want to go get ice cream after dentist appointments. It was as much of a treat as the treasure box at our dentist’s office was. This came from when he was a kid and got ice cream after going to the dentist.

Over the past couple of months, I’ve averaged about one medical appointment a week. Between getting set up with my pump and establishing new medical care since moving north, I see the inside of a lot of different medical facilities. I’ve also verified my medications and allergies more times than I can count!

My office is awesome in that it operates on a flexible work schedule year-round (flex schedules are typically used to extend summer weekends at some places) so I don’t have to take personal, sick or vacation time to go to all of these appointments.

I tend to schedule them in the morning so I can just go into work a little late. During one morning appointment I was craving coffee and knew that the morning pot of coffee at work would be gone when I arrived. Then I thought to myself, “I’m doing well today, I’ll stop at Starbucks on my way in.”

Now I treat myself with a skinny peppermint mocha between the doctor’s office and work. I’ll tell you what, I deserved that tasty little treat today. I went in for a fasting blood draw before a scheduled appointment. Not only was I at the lab before 8 am, it took two stabs to get the blood and I almost passed out.

Treat earned.

What rewards or traditions do/did you have for successful appointments?