What do you mean April 7th?

I just called my dermatologist's office to make an appointment. I am lucky that I've never had bad skin or acne problems but I have had a few ailments that have resulted in my needing to visit a dermatologist. Today's particular ailment is a mole on my face. Luckily it is not a big mole, nor is it very noticeable in general, but to me it is awful. I have hated it since I was young and have finally decided to get it removed. I also have two moles on my upper chest that I would like to have taken off too. Again, not big or ugly necessarily, but I would like to have them done away with.

There are 3 doctors (2 males and 1 female) at the office I use and I have seen 2 of them (1 of the males and the female). I like the female best so when I called my dermatologist to make the appt I asked for her. Now, silly me, I thought surely 6-8 weeks would be plenty of time to get me in, or at least by the end of the year. The date I was given you ask. April 7, 2005! I am not joking when I give you this date. That's almost 6 MONTHS away. M.O.N.T.H.S. Yes, months! When I sounded shocked the woman I was speaking to acted as though that was a standard time period.

Of course being the negotiator that I am I asked if there were any appointments available with the other doctors for a sooner time. She asked which one and I said either. Then she asked if I wanted to be seen in my city or the one 30 minutes away to which I responded either. 30 minutes seems reasonable to me to be seen sooner than 6 months from now. I will now be seeing the male doctor I have seen previously on December 22nd, 2004, a mere 10 weeks from now.

I know this may just be a dermatology appointment but there is something seriously wrong with a doctors office if 6 months seems standard. Maybe I'm crazy but I hope this isn't the trend for all doctor's practices.