Thanks, Pat. It actually surprises me that Alan has been my tech for this test for so many years. But it’s interesting, the relationships you develop with a chronic illness. There’s a nurse at the hospital infusion center who has a magic touch whenever I’ve needed IV lines inserted for antibiotics–the one person I really trust with my difficult veins–other nurses who support my rheumatologists who know me and catch up when I see them. A little village.

Basil, I don’t envy your having to do PFTs four times a year, especially under those circumstances. Not my favorite test, either, but as you say, what test is fun? All too often, tests and procedures can feel so impersonal, especially when conducted in a high volume medical center, as you experience at Mt. Sinai. The Catch-22 is that if you have a rare condition, you need the experts at urban teaching hospitals. I’ve found the medical professionals at Boston Medical Center to be very caring, but my experience with the techs there and in my home community varies, and so much depends on how many procedures they have to do in a day. That said, I wish all techs would undergo the tests they give, just to see what it feels like to be on the receiving end–and then apply that experience to how they treat their patients. A little consideration goes a long way.