No-one on earth will be happier than me/I/me when I cease and desist from posting about medical matters. They are boring me to death, so I can only imagine what they are doing to the rest of you. But hey, I don't actually have anything else to talk about right now! Unless I start being observational/philosophical/random. Maybe later.
The doctor's surgery and I are becoming well acquainted. I do believe I may be less than amused if I arrive and find someone sitting in "MY" chair next time. The medical staff may be sick of me though. Come on then, hopalong, he says as he ushers me down the corridor. The doctor, that is.
Yesterday's little venture was to check out the fact that my thigh is now starting to swell. And as I have medical friends, one of them suggested that I start measuring it and if it gets bigger, have it checked out because we do not want to have a venous thrombosis, do we. I, of course, googled venous thrombosis, and moved on the DVTs and decided I did not want to wake up dead. And so we went to visit my chair again. Today I will go to the hospital for a scan to check. The doctor does not think I have anything to worry about, but, probably because I was a wreck when I hobbled in the door, he is going to make sure.
I can live with that. Living is something I plan to keep doing.
Just so I can bug my son. He has just finished cleaning the gutters outside, made me coffee, and has watered my garden. And now he has the dishwasher to empty. He is muttering, but I like sons who mutter. They make me grin. He is a star really.
You know, what is driving me crackers about this leg is that none of this swelling or complicated bit would have happened if I had seen a specialist straight away and been treated. It is 5 weeks since I wrecked my knee. The longer I have waited, the more damage has been done. Change in diagnosis, conflicting treatment, increasing pain, different doctors....... the NHS is not having one of its finer moments. In my opinion. The scary thing is that we are well within what is regarded as acceptable time frames by that NHS. And we have yet to see how long I will have to actually wait for treatment. I am not optimisitc here at all. And yes, I could have gone privately and been seen sooner, but the absence of significant zeros in my bank account precludes that alternative.
For those of you who don't know how the NHS works - we have free medical treatment for all in the UK. GPs, Consultants, operations. The lot. You just have to take your place in the queue. Of course, it is not really free, because our tax and national insurance pays for it, but still, everyone has access. And in an emergency, everything is quick. So I have plenty to be thankful for. Just frustration at the delays tends to hide the blessing of free care. I know, I know. I am grateful really. Really. I am.
I had to remove the gold bangles and rings for the scan. You have no idea. I thought my hand was going to need reconstruction. There is a reason they have not been off for over 20 years. Airport security officers and I know each other well. They don't come off. Well. They have now. It was not a pretty sight, and I used oodles of soap, and there was much muttering and moaning. They will stay off now until I am sure I am fixed. It feels strange, though. I am used to them. They are part of me.
On a completely unrelated note, I have had some lovely comments from people who are new to this little corner. However, when I click on their name to go and visit them, blogger comes up with no link to a blog. So if you are someone who has posted a comment and I have not been round, please leave your link in the comments for me! And thanks, Karen, for doing so yesterday. It was the reminder I needed to mention this here.
And now I have to hobble off to make myself look respectable.....
8 comments:
I hate dealing with insurance companies and/or the government. In my case it's both since I have government subsidized insurance. Like you, most times now they put you on a waiting list unless it's an an emergency. It's almost impossible to be seen when you're actually sick unless you can manage to get your Dr. to sign a referral to a walk in clinic. It's all a big pain, both literally and figuratively.
I'm grateful to have insurance but it seems they could come up with a better, more efficient way to get care for people.
I hope you get a good report from your test, Linds. Hopefully it's just (JUST, I say, but still it's better than a DVT) swelling with your injury.
Have a great weekend, and bless your son for stepping up while you need him.
Love and hugs,
Diane
I know there must be a better system than our costly insurance, but NHS does not seem to be the answer! Contrary to what many politicians in our country seem to think. Please write Edward Kennedy a letter concerning your experiences! He is bound and determined to have nationalized medicine, and I don't see that as the solution! Thanks for letting me vent a bit politically.
And I hope they get to you soon!!
But I am happy to see that your wit is intact.
I can sense your frustratioin growing as this whole situation gets more complicated. I'm praying that the healing comes and your body is restored.
Your NHS sounds much like our medicare these days. But still it's there for all of us, which is so, so important I think.
((( HUGS )))
heheheheh......
"and decided I did not want to wake up dead" Now will you please explain to me how you plan on doing that?
You are such a piece of work. You deserve a special award for keeping your wonderful sense of humor in the face of so much pain and discomfort.
I laughed when you told about son mumbling. Riley has been an active part of our household for going on two weeks now. Every once in a while he is faced with something that he just doesn't want to do and he will say, "My Mommy and I don't go to Jackson any more because we don't like it there." I come back with, "Well Riley, there are times in life when you have to do things that you don't like to do..... This is one of those times. Buckle your seatbelt." And then there was the conversation over how many chicken nuggets he needed to eat out of the four that he ordered. "My Mommy only makes me eat two." I snicker ate him and say, "That's why I am Grandma. I make you eat four of them." All of this and he still loves me best.
heheheheh......
"and decided I did not want to wake up dead" Now will you please explain to me how you plan on doing that?
You are such a piece of work. You deserve a special award for keeping your wonderful sense of humor in the face of so much pain and discomfort.
I laughed when you told about son mumbling. Riley has been an active part of our household for going on two weeks now. Every once in a while he is faced with something that he just doesn't want to do and he will say, "My Mommy and I don't go to Jackson any more because we don't like it there." I come back with, "Well Riley, there are times in life when you have to do things that you don't like to do..... This is one of those times. Buckle your seatbelt." And then there was the conversation over how many chicken nuggets he needed to eat out of the four that he ordered. "My Mommy only makes me eat two." I snicker ate him and say, "That's why I am Grandma. I make you eat four of them." All of this and he still loves me best.
Okay, there's still way too much excitement at the doc's office. Glad that he doesn't think it is what he's sending you to be checked for. Love your comment about the grumbling son.
Sorry that the rings are off until a later date. I know how difficult it must be to get used to the feeling. Perhaps as difficult as the other way around. ;>
Oh, I've had the same troubles with connecting back to people. It gets very nearly impossible a lot of the time.
Oh, poor Hopalong. Thank goodness for sons/slaves.
Are you POSITIVE you're following doctor's orders? M'dear, if you don't have callouses on your behind by the time this is all over I want to know the reason why!
Please DO take care. I need you too much to have you croak on me. :>)
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