I Had To Laugh But I Wanted To Cry!

I visited yet another doctor yesterday in my quest to find out what's wrong with my back/hip. This time an orthopedic surgeon. There was a sign above the receptionist's desk that read: Be Nice or Leave.

I had to laugh though I was hardly in the mood. Three years have passed since I've noticed what appears to be a swelling on my hip. When pain developed I went to the doctor. Oh, probably bursitis. X-ray. Arthritis in my lower back was probably causing the pain. Physical therapy. Nothing.

That round of medicare ran out. Then an auto accident. Acupuncture. Nothing. Back to physical therapy. Nothing. That insurance ran its course.

Back to the Doctor. Another x-ray. Same thing. Arthritis. Dope up on Aleve. Didn't touch the pain. Back to the Doctor. Muscle spasms. What about the hip? Muscle spasms. Stronger pain meds and muscle relaxants. Nothing. Back to the doctor. An MRI. Same result. Back to physical therapy.

We looked at each other. "I don't think there's anything you can do for me. The pain in my hip hasn't been dented after all of this."

"Hmmm. You've been talking about that hip all along."

Duh!

Report goes to the Doctor recommending I see an orthopedist and maybe get a steroid injection. Or at least see what the lump is all about. I call the doctors office. Did you get the report? Let me check. Yes. Has anyone read it? No. I'll have the nurse call you.

Nurse calls. Have you read it? No. It's in your file though. Will you please read it and show it to the doctor? I'll call you back.

Yesterday. Orthopedic surgeon. It's probably a lipoma pressing on the bursa. Let's do an MRI. This time on the HIP! Hello?

Today. MRI. The second one in a month. Next week follow up for results and treatment options. Probably surgery to remove the lipoma and bursa. Sigh.

By the way, all that physical therapy may have aggravated the problem.

You wonder why insurance rates are so high and medicare is nearly broke? Hub, who isn't into dealing with what he deems my hypochrondia, assured me I'm not going to die.

Probably not, though I wonder how many do in the "process"!

But I'll be nice. Or leave.

Brain Trust

Every time I go to the doctor I get a knot in my stomach. Usually for no good reason other than knowing it will be another reinforcement of the fact I'm getting old and have the ailments that accompany the process.

Then I watch the story about Ted Kennedy, a 76 year old not in the best of health in the first place, coming through what was anticipated to be six hours of surgery in three and a half. Plus, he was awake throughout and spoke with his wife immediately after. Wow. Step one has gone well and I sincerely hope his recovery process continues on such a positive note.

The government health plan is extremely generous. In addition, with his personal wealth, Kennedy can afford the best medical care the country has to offer. Then there are the rest of us.

A few weeks ago I had some blood work done. Routine stuff that we elders have done at least once a year. One of the tests was not covered by medicare. Hub wants to know which one and why. Me too.

Obama has promised the American public that we will be offered health coverage to match what those in Congress have. Hold him to that; hold any of the candidates to that! Medicare reimbursements to doctors are being cut to the point they actually lose money by having we old folks as patients. Many conditions and tests are not covered. More and more doctors are declining to take on medicare patients. It's an uneasy feeling.

I try not to bother my doctor more than necessary, but when it is I resent feeling like a financial burden. I don't resent the doctor, I resent the law makers who have put us in this position.

Concern about this area of our lives seems to be one of the Democrats strongest issues. One thing for sure, we are all going to face the need for greater and better medical care as we age. We all strive for that rather than the alternative. Science is obliging us but funding the service end of the deal is failing us.

I don't know if Hillary is going to eke out the nomination or not. If Obama prevails, as expected, I can think of one area in his administration where she would excel. Health care. She has the experience albeit it a bad one. If she is as smart and capable as her legions believe she is, she'll have learned from those mistakes and would make one ferocious champion for those of us who increasingly need one the most and are the least able to fend for ourselves.

Being the best niche player out there could leave her with a better legacy than being president!

A Taxing Situation?

I knew it! Now that we're past the point of extreme vanity and getting used to the fact we're never going to fit into the clothes in our closets labeled "skinny", we've a new burden to bear.

Those of use who are a bit thick through the middle, maybe just a wee bit overweight, are being told we're contributing to global warming! Yep. There was actually a study done by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, reported in Lancet via Rueters . First of all, I find it hard to believe there is actually a school bearing such a name but apparently there is and they are quite serious!

So here's the deal. No more chocolate chip cookies from Super One, no beer with my ribs, less wine with my dinner and fewer steak dinners. Forget the foie gras and the molten chocolate cake! Next thing you know we'll be taxed for every pound of excesss weight we carry! No matter that as I get older there is less and less I am able to do with my once incredible vigor fast disappearing, eating well and enjoying it was something I always could.

Just as I'm beginning to enjoy it without dreading an additional bulge here and there I find I'm part of this humongous world problem! You see, the reasoning goes, we require more fuel to transport us, we eat more leading to shortages. To make matters worse the additional agricultural pursuits required to keep us fat and happy increases greenhouse gas emissions!

Whew! That's quite a bit to bear. Worldwide, they tell us, 400 million adults are obese. By 2015, according to the World Health Organization, 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and 700 million will be obese.

Now. This isn't all bad. You see, in a speech right out of OZ, John McCain told us he could see the Iraq war being won by the end of his first term - 2013. It seemed like pie in the sky at the time. Maybe there is a certain logic to his madness - everyone will be too fat to fight!

Never Too Old To Learn

My posting has been sporadic at best the past couple of weeks. Between Bacchus and myself we've been paying our doctor's overhead. Well, at least he has. I'm a different story.

For Bacchus we pay full freight. After the hematoma healed up he developed a hot spot on his cheek that was a doozy. Getting that cleaned up, along with the accompanying medications, cost nearly as much as getting the hematoma squared away. No medicare for pups, but then his vet gives him all the time and attention he needs.

Then there's me. I used to fume over the fact that, in her later years, my Mom's entire social life seemed to revolve around health care professionals. Now I understand why. I'm learning. It's a process.

First, I figured out why I thought I didn't like my doctor. It really had nothing to do with her, especially as a person, and had everything to do with me. I'd put off going until I absolutely had to, then did so reluctantly with a chip on my shoulder. Why? Because I knew I was going to have to discuss things I did not want to face. Nothing serious. Just having to admit I'm aging, there are issues that come with it and not liking it one bit.

I'd always have to wait. I resented it. Then I learned the first appointment after lunch usually resolved that problem.

I'd be angry I couldn't address everything I wanted to before I'd be rushed off. Then I understood the person waiting for Doc to finish with me didn't want to have to wait either. So I learned a check list was helpful with the most important issues first. I've also learned to talk a lot less and faster to boot and listen more closely. She's been good enough to provide me with written confirmation of what I am supposed to have heard.

She takes medicare patients. She knows how to deal with us and I've learned a lot just from observing how she deals with me.

I've also learned it's useless to put things off, like lab work, because a few extra days really isn't going to make a difference in the grand scheme of things. I've learned that I worry too much. I've learned that a lot of what ails me can be treated and I can actually feel and function better.

I've learned that I've got a doctor I really am beginning to like. Now. If she can teach me how to deal with a husband who's convinced I'm a hypochondriac, I'll really feel better!