AH, THE MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT

Good news. My pap was normal. That is a huge relief. Blood work indicated low vitamin D and elevated HDL, the latter is quite unusual for me. I've always had high LDL cholesterol, but the "bad" cholesterol was always low. I'm equating it with my recent foray into processed foods. I just haven't felt like cooking, so I've been eating things like fish sticks and canned or boxed soup. Granted I eat organic canned soup, but still, it's not a good thing to do for any length of time. Oh, did I mention the butter? Well. Butter. I've sort of been going a little overboard with the butter because I got to the point where I thought, "What the *&#$," I want to eat what I want to eat. So there!" Alas, my elevated HDLs tell a different tale. So, I'm switching back to olive oil exclusively, as I wipe away a tear, and I'll be better about eating fresh food rather than processed.

THE MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT
Yesterday I got a confirmation letter in the mail from the orthopedic surgeon office in Springfield where I have an appointment on Monday. The thing is, they had me scheduled with the wrong doctor. I called the office, only to find out that the Hand Guy I wanted to see is away until the second week of February. Why on EARTH didn't the scheduling person tell me that when she made my appointment with Hand Guy #2. Unbelievable. She didn't say, "Well, Dr. Hand Guy is out of town, but I can schedule you with our physician's assistant, Dr. Hand Guy #2." Nothing. She just made the appointment with the wrong person and didn't say a word, despite the fact that I specifically asked for Dr. Hand Guy. Geez. So I called the office and got a new appointment on Valentine's Day with The Real Doctor Hand Guy. Amazing.

INSURANCE WOES CONTINUE
Alas, my insurance woes are not over. I got a letter two days ago stating that my insurance was ending at the end of February. Why? Because I did not furnish them with the correct information. I went through this with Commonwealth Care three months ago and got the whole thing straightened out. Luckily, I saved the direct phone number of the person who helped me, so I called her right up and, in her own words, she has "no idea" why someone went in and changed my status. Still, I have to send her my schedule Cs from 2010 taxes to indicate the breakdown of my whopping $2,313.00 self-employment income.

And, when I went to pick up my Lamictal prescription yesterday at the pharmacy, they were going to charge me full price, stating that I had no insurance. I took a deep breath and scraped my nails on the counter and said, "Yes, I DO have insurance." "Do you have your card," she asked. "Yes," and I handed it to her. Then I had to wait while they re-billed the whole thing. So, instead of costing me around $160.00 it cost me $5.39.

ULTRASOUND MONDAY
I go to Springfield for the ultrasound on my left breast on Monday. Remember, I thought I was seeing Dr. Hand Guy too, that morning, so now I'll just have one appointment, which is fine. I'm nervous about it, but I haven't been able to find the little pinhead thing I felt last week, just outside the nipple. I'm glad to have this checked though, and may insist that I get an ultrasound every 6 months on this particular area. We have to be pro-active.

That's all for today. I've been receiving great letters about my book, and how it is being used in hospitals. Very exciting. The tour is beginning to shape up and we're focusing on the south at the moment, looking into Georgia and Florida for the spring. Chicago in the summer, etc.

I hope you all have a great day. If you'd like to make a donation to Out of the Darkness Walk, please click here, and look at the top left of the screen, where it says "Support Me!" donate online. I'd really appreciate it. My goal is to raise $3,000.

Love,
Sue