This is a tough one, NY biker. That's why I grabbed the opportunity when I was to go in for the colonoscopy the very next day after my medical prelim. interview visit. Someone cancelled...so I actually took a sick day off (Our collective agreement is that we get 90% pay not 100% pay for a sick day. I told my employer blatantly why I was off so suddenly the next day) because dearie was around to take me to and from the hospital during a work day. Otherwise it would have been another few months wait. Fortunately my boss understood since she's around my age and has Crohn's disease.

I could if desperate, call upon a distant friend locally and maybe hung around at the hospital at the cafeteria with a laptop, book etc. until she finished work to pick me up. How about that option?