SEVENTY, NOT SENILE

My temples are gray around the ears,

But I look younger than my years,

I 'm fortunate with the genes I was given,

From my dad and my mom in heaven.

Today a lesson I was given,

When to the ER, I, by myself was driven.

Not once, but three times I was,

Offended by what someone does,

I was spoken to like I was ten,

Over and over and over again.

First they acted like I couldn't hear,

Then insulted me by calling me dear,

 They spoke to me in a Baby voice ,

Telling me I had no choice.

If it was medicine I wanted, 

With an ex-ray I was taunted,

It was a soft tissue injury,

Could be seen if you didn't hurry,

The diagnosis would confirm,

But they made me wiggle like a worm,

It was how the institution C Y A's,

Another way they make medicare pay.

I went in for a strained bicep muscle...I knew it wasn't broken because I had used it for two days while it was only a minor pain.  I knew there was no pain in the shoulder or the elbow and the only pain I had was in the outer muscle on the arm. Heat and cold packs hadn't helped the inflammation.  My Tens unit did not help intercept the pain.  Aspirin and Advil did not even take the edge off the pain.  I went to bed on the 2nd day thinking to myself that the third day is always the worst.  When I woke up it started yelling at me big time and through the day became worse.

It was nightmare on Elm Street. The pain was excruciating when I used the muscle.  If I held it close to me and did not stretch it out it got better but didn't go away.   I only wanted a small prescript for a couple of nights pain pills so I could sleep.  I knew the arm would be well within the next week if I was careful with it.  Instead I was made to jump through hoops and get an ex-ray I didn't need and put the radiation in my body I didn't need. BTW.....October 27 I was in the same place having 5 ex-rays I didn't need..I should have been sent for an MRI for them to see what they needed to see.

When I asked why I wasn't sent for the MRI first,  I was told they had to make sure there wasn't something else causing the condition.  It seems to me the hospitals are milking the system to get as much as they can at the patients expense.  There is a saying, "Buyer Beware".   Aren't we all buyers when we are seeking health care?  We are at the "Mercy" of  providers.  How come there is never a list of prices for us to see up front?  We never find that out until the insurance bill comes. 

It would be nice to know what they are charging the insurance for the services they render us before they do the procedure.  I shop department store ads for things I need.  Shouldn't I be allowed to shop Doctors for the services I need and then present my card for them to recoup the charges...isn't it like a charge card which has money stored to use for their particular services.   

I really wish they would realize I am an adult who just happens to be 70, I am not senile.