<human>: Can you provide a brief overview of the text?

So I washed my passport. Needless to say I am not the first, and won't be the last. I dried it as well, naturally I didn't realize it was in the laundry til it was too late. After leaving it under a heavy object for the last few days, the only serious damage I can see is the back page with the numbering, it has lifted from the back cover. However everything in the passport is still readable, the laminated ID page and signature do not appear damaged. It's a little bent at the corners but nothing that wasn't fixed by the weight. 

I scheduled an appointment with a passport agency to get it replaced. However I lost my birth certificate. Called the passport agency back. They said I could try to renew it, since they'll take the old passport as ID, if that doesn't work I can immediately file for a replacement passport, however that voids the previous passport so I'd need the birth certificate and I'd basically be at the will of the employee I get. 

My question is, what should I expect. Should I even bother driving 5 hours to the agency? Have any of you had a similar situation and had any problems? Am I overthinking this while situation? Are they more reasonable than I'm assuming?

Thank you
<bot>: freaking out about maybe not being able to take a trip I planned for the last 6 months. Passports are not waterproof. Do not attempt to machine wash clean.