Doctors in AK

This is not where I would want to grow old.

At our military hospital here, it seems like there are never enough doctors. It's hard to get appointments and when you get there you tend to wait.

I know quite a few people that have had serious health issues, and they are always sent somewhere else - Anchorage, Seattle, Portland.

I have a painful varicose vein in one leg which I developed when I was pregnant with Kate. Since I've been pregnant 3 times after her, it has just gotten worse. I went to the doctor about it and he gave me a referral to a specialist who might be able to do some sort of procedure/surgery on it.

So, I called and made an appointment today for a consultation. Then, when I asked the receptionist for directions, I realized that the doctor was in Anchorage. I am in Fairbanks.

I am absolutely not driving 6 hours in the dark and snow (in November) with all of the kids for a doctor's appointment. It just isn't going to happen. So, I will have to see if they can extend the referral to next summer and maybe I can make the trip down then.

This area just doesn't have doctors/facilities to deal with so many different medical issues. It scares me to think that if something were really wrong with me or the kids, they might have to fly us all the way down to Seattle. That's a long trip!

We will definitely not retire and grow old here....