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OT: Yet another medical update

Oh brother... This week has been about fifteen days long, and it's not over yet.

On Monday, I went to the pulmonologist for my bimonthly checkup. What a delight - blow into this machine until you pass out. Only good part about it was that it's one of the three tests I'll need to start pulmonary rehab. My doc is a sweetheart though, so at least I didn't end up ticked off.

I did embarrass the hospital staff when I went into their new and renovated cafeteria. (It's been open a couple of months, and they obviously spent a ton of money on it) The cafeteria manager was wandering around, showing some people the renovation, and she asked me how I liked it. I told her it looked great, but did she realize that one of her signs was misspelled? (The "Specials" sign was spelled "Specails.")

I think she didn't appreciate my input. :-o

Then I needed another set of spinal X-rays. The techs were very nice, but I was walking like Quasimoto after getting twisted and smushed around on that metal table. Not fun. Oh yes, this was at a different hospital than my pulmonologist, so I got to visit two hospitals in one day.

On Wednesday, I got a call from the Evil Disability Insurance people. It's funny - as soon as I hear their name on a phone message, my stomach knots up.

I returned the call and got a "benefits transition" nurse. Great. Anyway, remember last year when I went to the ER and the stupid doctor said that there was nothing wrong with me, even though I was blue and gasping? Well, the insurance company has decided that this joker is more believable than all the specialists who have been treating me for years. The nurse wants me to go to some place that will transition me back to working.

I told her that was out of the question, and that she needed to speak with my doctors. Immediately, she gave me the third degree because she was unable to reach my cardiologist. I explained that the cardiologist had twins recently, and is on maternity leave. Then the nurse asked for my cardiologist's home number. Even if I had it, I wouldn't give it out. The resulting conversation was not pretty, and she was due to call my primary care doctor and my pulmonologist today.

Then we got a call from our across the street neighbor - the wife of the couple has been suffering from a brain tumor. He told DH and me that if we wanted to say see her in this lifetime, then we needed to go there now. We rushed right over, and sat with my poor neighbor. She's so sweet and young (under 50), and this just sucked. We hugged her and said nice things to her, and tried to comfort her poor husband. She died a couple of hours later. :-( Today was my bimonthly appointment with my primary care doctor. He had my X-rays from the beginning of this week, and informed me that I have degenerative disk disease. I have to go for an MRI on Monday "to see if there might be a non-surgical solution to your problems."

He didn't sound very hopeful though, and was even less optimistic after he gave me those basic neurological tests. I have significant weakness in my legs (especially the left one, which is probably related to my spinal problems last year). My reflexes aren't even close to equal, and I cannot stand on tiptoes even for a moment. Not good. On the way out, he told me to plan on seeing the neurosurgeon again Real Soon Now. (I don't like the neurosurgeon, even though he's a nice guy. Surgeons cut people open, and I don't want that - at all)

His other concern was the incredible swelling in my legs -- the medications they've given me aren't doing a darned thing, and I still have to wear DD's shoes. I had to have a bunch of blood tests to see if it's cardiac insufficiency that's keeping me from getting rid of the fluid, or if it's the beginning of kidney failure. Nice choices, those. He also insisted that I see the cardiologist the day she returns from her maternity leave - so I get to see her on the fifteenth.

Happily, when I mentioned the Evil Insurance Company, he told me that when they contact him, he'll explain that there is No Way I can transition to work anytime soon, if ever. That's not exactly what I want to hear, because I want to return to work, but at least it keeps me from freaking out because the Insurance Company wants to shut me off.

BTW, my sister reminded me that it's time for the annual Evil Insurance Company's "Let's Make Kath Nuts" exercise. She's right - this certainly isn't the first time they've pulled this stunt. Hearing that gave me perspective, and I'm not as panicked as I was at the initial phone call. I now have the confidence I need to fight them, if need be.

At least the Egyptian cuff bracelet is coming along beautifully. I'm thinking about making a netted necklace to coordinate with it, using a whole slew of faience scarabs I got somewhere.

Kathy N-V

Reply to
Kathy N-V
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Good grief. I'm so sorry. I will put you up there in my thoughts and prayers.

Reply to
Debbie B

Kathy, I am sure you have heard the saying...what doesn't kill us makes us stronger? I have a new one I am using now.... What doesn't make me bang my head on the wall makes me laugh.

I know it must be beyond frustrating for you to be dealing with the insurance jerks....but if you can find even one minute out of your day to laugh at them for their stupidity, I swear it will make you feel a bit better.

Comforting Hugs to You! Beki

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Reply to
DreamBeadr

Kathy, I am so sorry to hear about all this. When are the Evil Disability Insurance People gonna get it through their thick freaking skulls that there is no way in hell you can work. They have been told over and over and yet it still escapes them....How damned thick headed can these idiots be? Anyway, I hope that things work out for you and that it isn't as bad as they (your doctors) think it might be.

Marissa

Reply to
Marissa Undercofler

Hi Kathy,

Those insurance people are operating in another universe of reality or unreality. I don't know how they can sleep at night. It's like the biblical tax collectors. I am sorry that your week sucked. Did get a chuckle out of the reference to Quasimoto, however. Your neighbors are so lucky to have caring people in their lives, meaning you and your husband. I can't think of anyone better to spend my last hours with. How's your daughter doing these days? Is she in high school now? I know she's close in age to my daughter, who is a freshman this year.

I don't check in here too often these days. Glad to hear that you are beading away. Your last project was amazing; a huge amount of work went into that (like I'm telling you something you didn't know).

Reply to
mkahogan

JEEBUS. klunk ~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links

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Reply to
Dr. Sooz

At least she has all her paperwork and knows the system. She's probably doing better that 99% of the people who deal with Disability who have serious injury or illness. Most of us go in there traumatized and unprepared for the overwhelming job of dealing with the system -- and come out with next to nothing. And we get blamed for being unable to work with these adversarial organizations when our brains are on hold from pain, and other maladies. Most of us just don't have the resources Katky does.

These organizations that are supposed to advocate for the injured, etc, and instead are answerable to people who want to deny them fair treatment insense me.

Tina

Reply to
Christina Peterson

That's the whole point. The insurance company is not an advocate for the injured. They are a for profit industry, plain and simple, and with medical costs skyrocketing, they are trying to get out of paying everything they can. Is it ethical? No. Do they want to make money? Yes. The sad thing is that this woman who gives Kathy sh-- on the phone is probably just barely making enough to live on herself. The only people making money are in the boardroom. The employees in the insurance "industry" are paid low salaries but are told to do the dirty work. I think that after a while they forget that the person on the other end of the line is really a person. They focus of the narrow guidelines their bosses give them.

How ya doing, Tina ?

Reply to
mkahogan

On Sat, 6 Mar 2004 11:50:30 -0500, mkahogan wrote (in message ):

Ya know, I don't know if the individual employees are such bad people. I think that they're brainwashed. Look at all the television news stories about people who cheat the system. I can't remember ever seeing a show about someone who deserved their insurance benefits. It's always about someone who claims to have a bad back and cannot work, but lifts weights and does roofing in their spare time.

Of course, the media follows the money. Disabled people don't buy advertising time and build big buildings, unlike insurance companies.

God, that was hard. I was telling our friend that she didn't have to fight anymore, that we all understood, but what Bob said broke my heart. He bent over, gave her a kiss on the cheek and said, "Say Hi to my mom when you get there, Hon."

Kills me to even write it.

Three more months of middle school. She's excited about going to high school, and we've been busily going through the class catalog, picking courses. I'm freaking out that I'm the mother of a kid in high school! Where's that little kid that was poking me with sticks and calling me "Her?" (heh, heh, heh)

I'm really, really enjoying doing these scultural projects. It's pushing the boundries of what I thought I could do. The research I do beforehand is incredibly interesting, and I feel like I'm connected to all the women who've been before me, beading through the centuries.

BTW, did anyone notice that one team on the show Survivor spent a lot of time drilling holes into shells with a stone, and making necklaces? It gave me pause for thought that these people don't have a regular supply of food, yet they found time to make beads. Sort of reinforces my thought that beadmaking is a primal drive, something that people need to do. (Not that Survivor is usually food for deep thought, but the beadmaking really surprised me)

So glad to hear from you, Kathy. You've been missed.

Kathy N-V

Reply to
Kathy N-V
  1. I agree with you about insurance people, and those folks who you deal with are really low salaried, usually pretty unhappy people who are just following the guidelines that they are given. I can't think of a more unfulfilling job.

  1. Your research into the project is inspiring. I can relate to the feeling of connection to women throughout the centuries. I feel that way when I look at beadwork in a museum. You make a good point about people taking time to make beads when they were most likely busy enough just filling their stomach and keeping safe. I think artisitic expression is a very primal thing. If nothing else, showing status by displaying personal ornament is present on almost every culture..... except Amish, but then they do the beautiful quilting and woodwork.

Reply to
mkahogan

The numbers on insurance fraud are extremely low. 2% or 1/2%. Something like that. And they use those numbers as an excuse to make doctor (sometimes not licensed to practice) a tremendous living/kickback. Also think of the labs, and investigators, etc, so busy and paid well to spend all that time disproving claims.

I have to say though, the caseworker for Pete's disability has bent over backwards to help him. Bent some rules. No it's not that the employees are bad people.

Tina

Reply to
Christina Peterson

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