Thursday, May 29, 2008
Medical Curve Ball
Just when I'm totally convinced that our medical establishment is designed to be so completely hostile that more and more people will stay home and be sick as a preferable alternitive to running the gauntlet to seek medical care, I have this experience:
I arrive at my Dr's office about 4 minutes before my appointment, because I know there is no use to showing up early. I sign in and sometime between being asked to confirm my address for the third time in 4 days and handing over my copay check, I realise that there is someone standing at my elbow. I turn and find.....
A Nurse, with an clipboard computer! She looks right at me and smiles. "As soon as you are through there, we're ready for you." You coulda knocked me over with a fender. I made a joke about how I could not possibly be ready to see the doctor for at least 1/2 hour, and we laughed politely, and went right on back to a patient room.
After we dispense with the BP, temp, pulse, hop-on-the-scale routine, and I start in on telling her why I'm here, she stops me; "Why don't you tell Dr. - He's standing outside the door waiting for me to finish.
No. Way. This. Is. Happening.
Now I have to tell you, my family doctor is one hard working guy. He's good at what he does, but working for a big clinic that is owned by a big insurance company that ensures mostly government employees Guarantees that he will be vastly overworked. But somehow...not today.
Doc walks right in, sits down, we chat about this nasty staph infection, he tortures me to the point of nearly puking, and advises me to return on Monday for more torture. By 20 minutes past my appointment time I'm walking out the office door to the appointment desk. 45 minutes after my appointment time, I make it home.
One Sure Thing----> that will never happen again.
I arrive at my Dr's office about 4 minutes before my appointment, because I know there is no use to showing up early. I sign in and sometime between being asked to confirm my address for the third time in 4 days and handing over my copay check, I realise that there is someone standing at my elbow. I turn and find.....
A Nurse, with an clipboard computer! She looks right at me and smiles. "As soon as you are through there, we're ready for you." You coulda knocked me over with a fender. I made a joke about how I could not possibly be ready to see the doctor for at least 1/2 hour, and we laughed politely, and went right on back to a patient room.
After we dispense with the BP, temp, pulse, hop-on-the-scale routine, and I start in on telling her why I'm here, she stops me; "Why don't you tell Dr. - He's standing outside the door waiting for me to finish.
No. Way. This. Is. Happening.
Now I have to tell you, my family doctor is one hard working guy. He's good at what he does, but working for a big clinic that is owned by a big insurance company that ensures mostly government employees Guarantees that he will be vastly overworked. But somehow...not today.
Doc walks right in, sits down, we chat about this nasty staph infection, he tortures me to the point of nearly puking, and advises me to return on Monday for more torture. By 20 minutes past my appointment time I'm walking out the office door to the appointment desk. 45 minutes after my appointment time, I make it home.
One Sure Thing----> that will never happen again.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Movin' out
After living not quite 6 months at home after graduation, Meredith is picking up keys to an apartment on 7th street today. The life of a hip, happening young professional is incompatable with living with the 'rents - mainly because those people insist, even when our kids are adults, on calling them on their BS and having 'house rules' that have to be kept. How boring is that.
In many ways it will be good to get back to just two adults and one (somewhat more impressionable) teen at home. At the very least, I'll have a 33% better chance of finding my stuff where I left it.
~M.E.
In many ways it will be good to get back to just two adults and one (somewhat more impressionable) teen at home. At the very least, I'll have a 33% better chance of finding my stuff where I left it.
~M.E.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Tiny Little Army that is Out To Get You!
It all started with a small bite, or perhaps an ingrown hair. Last Thursday while sleeping I scratched it and noticed a sting. My fingernail may have even introduced the germ.
By Saturday morning a nasty red pustule had formed on my upper torso, under my arm. I applied heat, ice, and a little judicious pressure to get the gunk out, and fully expected it to go away.
Sunday morning I had a patch of cellulitis the size of a playing card – time for some medical intervention. For our insurance there are a few hoops I have to jump to get to a doctor. First I call TeleNurse, and wait for her to call back. This makes ‘home’ the first waiting room. ½ hour later it takes me all of three minutes to convince her to put the Golden Ticket of a referral to the Prompt Care Clinic into the master computer that controls all of my medical benefits. Then I drive to the Prompt Care, and wait again. An hour later a nice lady calls my name, and I make it to the last waiting room, a patient room. Twenty minutes later a nice woman Doctor shows up, has a look at the nasty boil and decides what needs to be done. An hour after that, I limp out of the clinic (Why am I limping, this has nothing to do with either of my legs!) with a bandage over the newly-drained hole in my side, and a ‘script for a powerful antibiotic.
Monday morning, after a dubious night’s sleep, I wake to find that the angry red cellulitis is now the size of a checkbook, swollen, rock-solid, and yet another icky pustule has formed. So, this being a Holiday, when we return to the queue of medicine it moves at a much slower pace. Telenurse: well over an hour, and two phone calls to remind the operator that we’re still waiting… Two hours in the waiting room at the Prompt Care with various dozens of other sick and suffering folks… 15 minutes for the Doctor to show up, and decide to do the procedure all over again in the new spot… And ½ hour to wait for a procedure room that has the equipment for the upcoming torture.
These sudden skin infections used only be seen in elderly, infirm, or hospitalized patients. The over-use of antibiotics in our society, both in human and animal food sources has encouraged several strains of super bugs that are able to enter the body through tiny breaches in our defenses, and grow very, very quickly even in healthy individuals, like me. The Doctors I spoke with routinely see 1 or 2 cases like mine every day now – whereas only 5 years ago this was a rare thing, and they may have done some blood testing to check me for immune impairment. The lady Doctor I saw Sunday told me this stuff was rampant in High School wrestling because of the skin contact, and they have started seeing it more in day care children.
Google ‘MRSA’ to read more about just one type that the medical communities are battling.
Update: My actual family Doctor has an open appointment for me on Wednesday to have this wick drain taken out and the whole shebang rechecked. Isn't that nice? Since his wife/partner retired from practice last year it has been very difficult to get an appointment that isn't 3 months out. Is it any wonder that avoiding doctors is a hobby of mine?
By Saturday morning a nasty red pustule had formed on my upper torso, under my arm. I applied heat, ice, and a little judicious pressure to get the gunk out, and fully expected it to go away.
Sunday morning I had a patch of cellulitis the size of a playing card – time for some medical intervention. For our insurance there are a few hoops I have to jump to get to a doctor. First I call TeleNurse, and wait for her to call back. This makes ‘home’ the first waiting room. ½ hour later it takes me all of three minutes to convince her to put the Golden Ticket of a referral to the Prompt Care Clinic into the master computer that controls all of my medical benefits. Then I drive to the Prompt Care, and wait again. An hour later a nice lady calls my name, and I make it to the last waiting room, a patient room. Twenty minutes later a nice woman Doctor shows up, has a look at the nasty boil and decides what needs to be done. An hour after that, I limp out of the clinic (Why am I limping, this has nothing to do with either of my legs!) with a bandage over the newly-drained hole in my side, and a ‘script for a powerful antibiotic.
Monday morning, after a dubious night’s sleep, I wake to find that the angry red cellulitis is now the size of a checkbook, swollen, rock-solid, and yet another icky pustule has formed. So, this being a Holiday, when we return to the queue of medicine it moves at a much slower pace. Telenurse: well over an hour, and two phone calls to remind the operator that we’re still waiting… Two hours in the waiting room at the Prompt Care with various dozens of other sick and suffering folks… 15 minutes for the Doctor to show up, and decide to do the procedure all over again in the new spot… And ½ hour to wait for a procedure room that has the equipment for the upcoming torture.
These sudden skin infections used only be seen in elderly, infirm, or hospitalized patients. The over-use of antibiotics in our society, both in human and animal food sources has encouraged several strains of super bugs that are able to enter the body through tiny breaches in our defenses, and grow very, very quickly even in healthy individuals, like me. The Doctors I spoke with routinely see 1 or 2 cases like mine every day now – whereas only 5 years ago this was a rare thing, and they may have done some blood testing to check me for immune impairment. The lady Doctor I saw Sunday told me this stuff was rampant in High School wrestling because of the skin contact, and they have started seeing it more in day care children.
Google ‘MRSA’ to read more about just one type that the medical communities are battling.
Update: My actual family Doctor has an open appointment for me on Wednesday to have this wick drain taken out and the whole shebang rechecked. Isn't that nice? Since his wife/partner retired from practice last year it has been very difficult to get an appointment that isn't 3 months out. Is it any wonder that avoiding doctors is a hobby of mine?
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Homeschool Activity Fair '08
I called the library tonight and booked the two big adjoining meeting rooms for the 3rd annual Spfld Homeschool Activity Fair. It’s an event where I try and get everyone who has some sort of activity/class/club they want to offer to hsing families all in one room on one night, and then get the families to come and sign up. This will be the third and last year where I, as a committee of one, will put this party together. There are a few things that experience has taught me will happen:
1) No matter when I set the dead-line for presenters, about 20% of the people will miss it – and still expect to get table space and a blurb in the hand outs. I will get them table space, and take the hand-outs to the printer at the last second to avoid leaving the slackers out. I’m just a nice person.
2) I will get lots of suggestions but no volunteers.
3) There will be complaints about everything costing too much. People complaining that there aren’t enough free activities won’t be the ones volunteering their time to keep other family’s costs down.
4) Some new homeschool mom will come in the door and see everyone and start crying, because she suddenly doesn’t feel so alone.
5) When it’s over I’ll be glad I did it, but glad it’s done.
1) No matter when I set the dead-line for presenters, about 20% of the people will miss it – and still expect to get table space and a blurb in the hand outs. I will get them table space, and take the hand-outs to the printer at the last second to avoid leaving the slackers out. I’m just a nice person.
2) I will get lots of suggestions but no volunteers.
3) There will be complaints about everything costing too much. People complaining that there aren’t enough free activities won’t be the ones volunteering their time to keep other family’s costs down.
4) Some new homeschool mom will come in the door and see everyone and start crying, because she suddenly doesn’t feel so alone.
5) When it’s over I’ll be glad I did it, but glad it’s done.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Hobbittown Smash
For a bit here, we’ll change from a laundry blog to a cooking blog. I got this recipe from a lovely hobbit lady who runs a small tavern and eating spot in Hobbittown. We all know that Hobbits live close to the earth, and use lots of root veggies in their diet. This casserole’s classic comfort-food yummyness and ability to keep well in a warm oven makes it a perfect lunch, dinner, supper, or even second breakfast offering.
Peal, pare, and boil in salted water until barely tender:
6 medium potatoes (if skins are nice, leave some intact)
2 large turnips
1 large sweet potato
4 large carrots
1/3 head cauliflower
While those are boiling, brown, and drain ( I used leftover Italian Beef in this step):
¾ to 1 pound lean hamburger
Salt, pepper, garlic to taste
1 medium onion
Microwave or cook until barely done
1 ½ to 2 cups fresh or frozen of EITHER
Sweet corn or green beans or peas or chopped broccoli
When the root veggies in pot are done, drain off all water and let them sit and steam-dry for 2 minutes. Then add:
1 packet of buttermilk ranch dressing mix
3 TBS butter
Salt and pepper to taste
(1-2 TBS of your favorite herb mix)
Mash or whip with enough milk/cream to make a spreadable, but slightly lumpy mixture.
Assemble in a large, greased casserole dish as follows:
Layer ½ of the mashed veggies, cover with meat mixture, and cooked veggies, plus
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
Cover with remainder of the mashed veggies, leaving peaks and valleys to brown, sprinkle top with
½ cup cheddar cheese
Cook in 325 oven for at least 45 minutes, or up to 2 hours. Feeds about 6 or so with a green salad and bread. Keeps well for latecomers. Makes good left-overs.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Various Observations
~Congratulations to all my young friends who are graduating from various things.
~If I had three more pets, I'd never get to sit down. I'd spend 100% of my day walking from door to door letting four-footed, pain-in-the-rumps enter and exit this time of the year. Really what they want is me to be outside celebrating spring with them. Sometimes I want to be inside.
~The 'Geezers' still have it: At the end of year Scholastic Bowl Party a team of parents, whom the students named 'the Geezers', beat the students 305 to 247. There were only two toss-up questions someone didn't answer correctly. Good pizza, too.
~Spring has sprung, and the dangerous part of the pollen season is past - no ER visits for asthma attacks!
~Unless a Pot of Gold falls from the sky, a weekend trip to Chicago will be our vacation trip for the summer. I'm trying to figure out how to make the best of it.
~M.E.
~If I had three more pets, I'd never get to sit down. I'd spend 100% of my day walking from door to door letting four-footed, pain-in-the-rumps enter and exit this time of the year. Really what they want is me to be outside celebrating spring with them. Sometimes I want to be inside.
~The 'Geezers' still have it: At the end of year Scholastic Bowl Party a team of parents, whom the students named 'the Geezers', beat the students 305 to 247. There were only two toss-up questions someone didn't answer correctly. Good pizza, too.
~Spring has sprung, and the dangerous part of the pollen season is past - no ER visits for asthma attacks!
~Unless a Pot of Gold falls from the sky, a weekend trip to Chicago will be our vacation trip for the summer. I'm trying to figure out how to make the best of it.
~M.E.
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