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.

PODIATRIST VISIT

Forty-five years ago I had need of a podiatrist.  I visited two different "Doctors".  I figured maybe it was just my luck I got two doctors which I thought were only in the profession because of a foot fetish.  To me they were no better than the reputation Chiropractors had.  They seemed like Quacks.  [BTW we had a family Chiropractor at the time and were always trying to convince others they needed one]

 

Eighteen months ago a problem started developing. 

I  put it off making an appointment, using as an excuse my traveling.  It was true I was gone a lot.  The pain finally got to the point I couldn't put it off any longer, the appointment was made. 

 

I chose my Doctor by an ad in the local paper.  Their office was nice, in a great location and their office help seemed efficient.   There were two doctors sharing the office. I took the one they suggested. It was a very good first impression. 

 

Now that I have been to the doctor, I looked up the definition of what a podiatrist is.  The following are three of the definitions in Google.  There were lots others but they all repeated these:

 

chiropodist: a specialist in care for the feet

po·di·a·try  (p-d-tr) n.

The branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the human foot. Also called chiropody.

 

podiatry noun  

  

Medical specialty dealing with the foot. Podiatrists diagnose and treat foot diseases, disabilities, and deformities by means of physical medicine and rehabilitation, special shoes and other mechanical devices, drugs, and minor surgery.

 

I wanted to make sure I understood what I should have expected from a foot doctor.  Maybe I expect too much.  I paid a generous co-pay of 35 dollars.  I have no idea what the office charge is or how much the insurance pays.  I would like to find out.  I really wonder if I am getting my money's worth.

 

The first fault I can say in this office's routine, was with the glorified physician's Assistant.  I don't think she was a nurse.   She did not introduce herself when she came in.  I had to ask her.  I said, "Are you the doctor?"  She answered, "No, I am the PA".  No name, no warmth, nothing.  She asked all these inane questions which I knew the doctor was going to re ask.  She said, "Take off your shoes and socks."  I told her, "My husband does this for me since I lost range of motion in my leg from dropping a garden tractor on my leg."

 

She didn't even volunteer to help.  She watched me struggling rubbing one foot against the other working to scoot the sock down over the heel. 

 

The following is a blog on the incident:

 http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2011/04/hidden-in-grass.html

 

She left the room with out even saying, "The Doctor will be with you in a moment."

 

I sat there, the room was very chilly due to being on an outside, north corner wall and it was literally Zero degrees outside.  There was nothing to cover my feet with.  They were getting very cold.

 

After 15 minutes a lady came in.  She was dressed in a collard Tee and scrubs.  She said, "Hi, What are you here for?" 

 

I said, "Are you the Doctor?"  She responded yes, not even introducing herself.  I told her what I was there for and that I hadn't been to a Podiatrist in 45 years. 

 

She gave the problem a cursive look and sliced it with an Exacto knife looking thing.  Then she put on a pad and said, "See you in a month".  There was just a little discussion about the situation.  She knew I hadn't seen a foot doctor  in recent years and she did not look over my feet to see if there was an impending problem.  I am now in the geriatric population at 69 years old.  I am also part of the overweight problem in the United states.   Both conditions which are known to contribute to feet problems which contribute to back problems.

 

I wonder, am I being too critical, am I expecting too much from my doctors?  The Doctor saw me for approximately 15 minutes, did I get my money's worth.  Did she earn the compensation from the insurance company.

 

I will probably cancel the appointment coming up in Twenty days.

 

 

For more blogs by me visit at:

 

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com
A blog mostly about quilting,

but cooking, poetry, prose and a little gardening,
A tutorial on how to make 5 panel Boxer Shorts.
Blog about dolls.

Quilt BLOCK OF THE MONTH BLOGS

I am hosting a mystery for my guild.  Find the clues here:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

New blogs about the vegetables we have been starting.

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm
Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry
Blogs about seed sprouting.

Tutorial on planting Strawberries.

 

As always, any pictures or writings are my own.

Credit has been given to contributions not my own.
Please do not use without permission.