Missin The "Good Ole Days" .......

It just amazes me that in the medical field today, every doctor, (that is NOT a GP), is a 'specialist'. A specialist is a doctor who only has one particular field that he/she practices exclusively. There are literally thousands of different fields of medicine that one can go into nowadays.

If you are lucky enough to find a GP who still makes house calls, then you should consider yourself very lucky indeed. But I can still remember the days when there was pretty much one doctor who could do it all. They could do the tests, make the diagnosis, prescribe the medicine, and even perform the surgery, if needed.

A GP (general practitioner) is simply a go-between now.  The one who refers you to the one who specializes in whatever. In most situations, you won't ever see your GP anywhere but in his/her office. They order blood work, (tested and diagnosed in a lab somewhere else). The GP usually has an LPN or RN who records a patient's blood pressure, and pulse. Your GP is there for routine physicals, and follow-ups and that's about it.

But, the GP is also the most important doctor you see. They are the ones you trust the most with private and personal information. I've always been of the opinion that your GP should be someone that you feel comfortable with, someone you can confide in and trust implicitly. I'm sure ya'all would agree.

However, I'm getting away from the point that I was going to make here. As you might know from some of my previous posts, I am in the process of gathering information for a disability claim. I suffer from 24/7 pain, and I am under the care of a Pain Management Specialist, whom I was referred to by my spinal surgeon. I was referred to the spinal surgeon by my orthopedic surgeon, who was referred by my GP.

Are you confused yet??   I know I am!!!    

Anyway, I had an x-ray taken of my left ankle shortly after I moved back down South.  The x-ray still needed to have a written diagnosis, and an evaluation, and I needed an orthopedic MD, or so I thought. Since I had already seen the orthopedic doctor for a problem with my hip, I felt sure that he could evaluate the x-ray of my ankle.

After all, an Orthopedic doctor is a doctor who specializes in disorders of the skeletal system.  Isn't my foot a part of my skeletal system?????? 

WRONG AGAIN!

As it turns out, my orthopedic surgeon only (specializes) in hips and knees.  For an evaluation of my ankle I have to see a foot doctor!!  Sighhhhhhh.

Like I said before........I sure do miss the good ole days!!

Roberta Ogilvie-Fye (Julyjeanie22) Twitter stats

Roberta Ogilvie-Fye (Julyjeanie22) Twitter stats


Okayyyyyy, Hm???   Sooooo,  Should I be concerned with something like my "Twitter" stats??????  NOPE!  Not one bit!  Twitter is twitter.........and just because I don't tweet everyday, ten times a day, like some folks do - doesn't make me a bad person!  Or.......a lazy one!  Although, if someone who DID worry about their "Stats", and spent their whole day twitter-in, just so their stats would be higher........now that I would worry about! LOL.

Soooooooooo Tired of This!!

Hello All My Friends and Followers,

Yes!  I know its been a while since my last post, Sighhhh. Okay.......before I get to the reason for the length of time between posts, I just want to say a few words about the ladies from Shabby Blogs.

Oh My Goddess!  They are amazing! (no pun intended). You've probably noticed a slight change in the layout of my blog?  Well, it was provided by them! (huge grin here!)  Their backgrounds and stuff are beyond belief!  I was entranced by all of them.  They are all so pretty, it was a really tough decision as to which one I liked the best. However, I settled on this one.  Of course, that is not to say that I might change it from time to time. This is simply because I am a lady who enjoys changes, well...........GOOD changes at least!  LOL.




As you can see, they have many different little thingies that one can add to a blog to make it more homey.  Ahhhhhhhhh, home!!  Isn't it just dandy!  So, without further ado, I must say THANK YOU, to the ladies of Shabby Blogs!

Okay, so where was I......oh yes!  My lateness between blogs.  Well......last week, on Tuesday.........oh wait!  Maybe I should explain something before I get to that??

I'm sure you all should know by now, from reading some of my earlier posts, that I have a condition which causes me endless PAIN!  Most of which is centered around the neck and shoulders. The condition I speak of is called, Cervical Spondylosis.  Long name but the short of it is, I have developed bone spurs on my upper spine that cause no END of pain. Although I've had two surgeries and a plate in my neck, (which they, 'the doctors', assured me would end the pain).  NOT!  If anything it is worse. Oh, there are still a few days when it is less painful, but most of the time, it screams at me unrelenting. I suppose when the weather breaks and it gets a little warmer, it might ease up a bit. The cold seems to make it worse you see.

So, I am currently seeing a Pain Management Specialist who I've seen twice now. On my last visit I asked him about maybe integrating some physical therapy into the mix.  Dumb idea on my part, but at the time, I thought surely it would help! Boy!  Was I ever wrong!

Anyway, I went to my first visit with a physical therapist, and he gave me one, yes....just one, exercise that he wanted me to complete daily.  This exercise involves sitting up straight in a chair, holding two fingers to my chin and moving it back and then forward, all the time holding my position in the chair.  I thought, at the time, how ridiculous and easy it was to do.  This should be simple!....or so I told myself.  WRONG again!

It probably wasn't an hour later that the pain hit me like a knife stabbing me in the back! Right between my shoulder blades the knife was twisting!!  OMG!  I wanted to scream and cry at the same time. I laid in my bed the rest of that day bemoaning my decision to try physical therapy.  It took the greatest part of three to four days for the pain to lessen enough in order for me to function.  So, I hope this helps you to understand why I haven't been at my post, posting!!

I have an appointment tomorrow with my neurologist, and I am going to ask him for a brain scan.  I have an awful feeling that the interceptors, (or whatever they are called),  in my brain that signal pain are working overtime!!  I've read a great deal about Chronic Pain and also about RSD. I'm hoping that a brain scan will at the very least solve the mystery of my constant 24/7 pain.

Meanwhile I have a few pictures that I would like to share with you.  As you know I live in "Sunny" (most of the time very mild weather), South Carolina.  Well, if this is not proof of "Global Warming" then I don't know what is!

  

This is looking out from our front porch across the cul-de-sac.

This is looking out onto our back deck....notice the gas grill which I can guarantee you we weren't going to be using that day!

This picture is also looking out our front porch, but pointed toward the entrance to our cul-de-sac.

And..............last BUT NOT least!

Well.......What is a Snow Day without a Snow Lady!!  Boobs and all!!

I have read that from what the scientists say, global warming will cause those regions that normally don't see this kind of weather will start to get more of it!  All I know is........I'm sick of it!

I just talked to my physical therapy people and I have rescheduled an appointment with them for this Thursday, at which time I will tell my therapist what GodAwful PAIN one little bitty exercise caused me.  There has GOT to be a better way!

Laterz folks  ((waving bye bye))

Americans With No Health Insurance.....

I ran across this article and it reminded me of a time when I was in this same situation, more or less.  Anyway ...........take a gander.

Many Americans Have No Health Benefits
Written by: Jermaine Brandon

Many people today take health insurance coverage for granted; there are many people who do not even have coverage. The issue is over 46 million people who do not have any health insurance or dental insurance. When you look at these numbers it breaks down that one out of every six people have no medical or dental coverage. As you view this problem it's happening to people all across the country.

The major issue facing medical insurance and dental insurance is the pros and cons of enforcing a universal coverage law that has been based on the research that many people across the states are uninsured young individuals, such as teenagers who are healthier individuals who don't believe they need any coverage.

But the problem is, there are millions of people who don't have health insurance because they suffer from chronic conditions and cannot afford the treatments. (That was me)! Although I had health insurance, I could NOT pay the deductible!

You have one out of every three working-age Americans without medical insurance who has a chronic illness to deal with, but the lack of medical or dental coverage is due to getting accepted for any health or dental insurance policy when they have a pre-existing condition. In these trying times, getting the proper care a person needs is difficult if they are already dealing with a health problem, which is going to cost them a lot of money to just get a little bit of coverage and a lot of times they are not fully covered.
 
With Baby Boomers reaching retirement, the need for good inexpensive health and dental care has reached an all time high. Prices for these services continue to go up with no end in sight and most people are beginning to wonder if they can afford to have dental and health at all. AmeriPlan has the answer to this problem with a program that cuts out the middle man and brings you straight to the dentist or doctor. Programs listed for every member of your household include everyone you live with, even if they are not family and all this does is allow everyone to be able to afford the health care for themselves and their family.

About the Author

http://www.totalhealth1.com

When the hubby and I were separated I was still covered under his insurance, however, I did not take into accounting how bad my situation was going to get during that period of time.  I wish I had known about AmeriPlan back then, although, even with that, it was still going to cost me money.  There is no such thing as a "Free Clinic" anymore.  Everyone is out for themselves it seems.

Not long after we separated I became severely, physically, and mentally depressed.  I could not work due to the physical effects of my depression. What I mean is that my depression was so bad that I went for weeks not being able to function as a human being.  Days when I could not even muster up the strength to get out of my bed.  Yes, I had family close by, but I could not tell them how bad things really were, I was embarrassed by the fact that I had gotten myself into that situation, and it was basically my own fault. Besides which, they could offer plenty of emotional support, but not financial.

So, even though I had insurance coverage, I had  to pay a deductible before I could get anything done.  I had no income from which to pay for doctors visits or hospital stays, or emergency room visits.  Women like myself at the time (displaced home-makers), really have it rough out there. This is especially true if they have no marketable skills to fall back on, and they have been housewives and mothers for many years.  There are charitable organizations out there, if you know where to look. And even when you find them, there is usually a very long waiting list to get anything done.

What is really unfortunate for some women my age, is that in today's current economy, and under our current government, these women,who are, for whatever reason, unhappy in their marriage, but also do not have any marketable skills, are pretty much stuck in whatever situations they are enduring, unless of course, their husbands just happen to be rich.  Looking back, I realize that I didn't have it so bad.  Others like me suffer much worse.

Baby-Booming Freaking (Trauma Related) Ailments!!!

Okay...So when are you going to get with the program babe???   Never a better time than right now! Correct????!!!!

That folks....... was the little voice in my head that whispers to me on occasion. Actually.......its been whispering,(more like screaming - LOL), quite a bit lately!

I have not been taking care of myself in the last few years. This is partly due to severe depression, constant chronic pain, and so on and so forth. Blah, blah, blah!!

Back up the truck here Jeanie ole girl, (yes, I also talk to myself incessantly) and es'plain yerself. Must I?   Yes!  You must!  All the better for folks to understand what you've been through babe! Hmmm......well, I suppose that's true, okay, so here goes nothin.

The story, (slightly abbreviated version).

When I was very young, married and already the mother of my first born son, I was a victim of a very serious vehicle accident.

The three of us, the 1st hubby (now an ex) myself, and our 2 year old son, (hubby driving), were involved in a horrible and very tragic vehicle accident. I ended up with the worst of the injuries, and in a way, I'm glad it was me, and not my little son. He was sound asleep in the back seat of the car at the time. He was completely unaware of what had happened.

My husband and I were coming back from spending a long deserved week-end at his folks small 'home away from home'. They had a tiny mobile home rented and placed in a 'summer retreat' near Louisville Kentucky, overlooking the Ohio River. It was on the Indiana side of the river. Anyway, I digress too much.

It was the dark of night, and as I stated before, the hubby was driving down a state highway. I believe it was Hwy. Three toward North Vernon, and from there to Columbus, Indiana. However we didn't make it to North Vernon.

From what I was told, days later,(I do not recall the impact), we were hit on the drivers side of our vehicle from a vehicle that had gone through a stop sign,(high rate of speed), from a side road. The vehicle that broadsided ours was traveling so fast that the impact threw me bodily through the front passenger side window of our vehicle. I wasn't wearing a seat belt. Back then seat belts were not as yet being enforced. I do remember that I had turned sideways to lay my head on the seat and had apparently dozed off.  They told me that the impact probably knocked me unconscious immediately. My husband was thrown bodily to the back seat of our vehicle and suffered a concussion. To this day, he does not remember the accident. The concussion he suffered caused a memory block. Our son had fallen asleep on the back seat of our vehicle. In those days baby seats, and or child restraints were not being enforced either. At impact our son was thrown to the floor behind the front seats. It's possible that it could have saved his life.  He was lucky to end up with a few scrapes and some floor burns.

When I was thrown through the window I landed in a ditch beside the highway, which was bad enough, but then our vehicle rolled back and hit the ditch right where I had been thrown. It came down and hit me at an angle, crushing both my left ankle and right hip. Had our vehicle not rolled back on top of me, I probably would have been okay except for a few cuts and scratches here and there.  It took many months of recovery and physical therapy to even begin to walk again.  I lived through it however, and that is what counts.

So, as the title of this particular blog specifies, a 'trauma' related injury or ailment, is one that can sneak up on you years after an actual accident.  I developed bone spurs on my upper spine. I've had two surgical procedures where a plate was inserted and spurs removed. The last surgery was needed to remove a bone spur that was pushing against the outer wall of my spinal cord. I had endless pain for years and years, and the surgery hasn't helped much, although the bone spurs were removed, the pain continues regardless.  I was less than 45 years of age when I had to have my right hip replaced.  However, all in all I'm not complaining, for I know that there are people that have things much worse.

My little inner voice is telling me to go to bed now.  Ugh!  More wrinkles, and shadows under the eyes!