A less than enjoyable time last night. I guess the doctor hit a nerve or something when he was digging on my flesh yesterday because my foot throbbed painfully all through the night. Not much sleep. The pain finally diminished about four this morning. At least I don't have to go to my hellish job this morning, not that I could. I hope that the swelling goes down by tomorrow so that I can wear a shoe on that foot. I rather not be at work in my socks.
My blood sugar was at 124 this morning. That’s annoying. Probably the stress of the surgery and my lack of activity. It's hard to exercise when your foot hurts. The doctor told me to stay off it and not overtax it until the infection heals. I need a swimming pool that I could walk/swim laps in. Wish I had some generous friend that would allow me the use of theirs every evening, but I don't. There is a fitness center here that has a pool, but they only allow swimming during the times I'm at work. I've simply got to lose weight and need to exercise to do that. Somehow I'm going to work this out. Don't know how yet, but there is a solution of some sort out there.
While at the doctor's office yesterday, I wrote the following:
And now I'm at the doctor waiting for him or the nurse or whoever will be cutting on me. This is a very busy place with lots of limping people wandering around. Not a place to attempt to put together a cross-country team, I think. The nurse acted strange when I asked to use one of the empty desks to set up my roommate's laptop. She said, "We don't have Internet here." I said, "That's fine. I'm going to write." "Oh," she said, clearly unconvinced that anyone would want to do anything with a computer other than surf the Net. Anyway, I'm in an examination room, using the small desk in here to type. The aide left the door ajar so I'm able to see into the hall and watch the people mill around. Apparently this is surgery day as I'm seeing a lot of pale people limp past the door, their faces white with pain or maybe they've just seen their bill. Either way, it's not encouraging.And now I need to soak my foot again and take some pain meds. My foot's unhappy. Me, too.
I'm off work tomorrow. At least that's the plan right now as they told me that I would need to elevate the foot for 24 hours. Which means I'm stuck watching TV or reading or talking on the phone, enjoyable activities in small measure but not for a whole day. Oh well, it could be worse. Years ago I had a plantar growth cut off a toe and spend three days sick from the pain pills. That's when I discovered that certain pain medications and I don't go together.
Truthfully, I don't much like doctors. For every good one, there seems to be four others who care only for money. And they all have an exaggerated sense of their own importance and the worth of their time. Although I must be honest and point out that no one had even paid me $80 an hour so maybe they have a point.
The nurse came in and moved me to an examination table. Once again, the laptop seemed to bother her. I guess I'm just supposed to wait here quietly reading a magazine while they drink coffee and party in their secret party room while their patients bleed to death ... Yes, I am a little irritated. Mostly by the cost. And the fact that I can't seem to get ahead of my bills or even come close without something like my foot happening. Something I can't ignore because A) the problem won't go away B) the problem will become worse and C) it could spread and I end up in the hospital, which is in a whole new range of costs.
Basically our health care system is killing us. The United States -– with its proud stance of no "socialized medicine" -- has one of the highest infant mortality of the developed world. What's up with that? We also have one of the lowest lifespans of the developed world. Once again, what's up with that? If our health care system is so wonderful, why do our doctors treat more and more people with advanced cases of cancers that should have been caught earlier, but aren't? Could it be that the costs of tests and unwillingness of insurance companies and the government health agencies to pay for those tests keep people from having them?
Whenever I mention England or France or Canada, people always mention that their sister, their cousin, their brother or themselves had a terrible, TERRIBLE experience in the aforementioned health care and the U.S. is better. If so, you'd think the stats would support that, but they don't. I know people who have died due to errors in the U.S. heath care system. My good friend Marsha had to struggle to get treatment for her breast cancer. She realized early on that her insurance company wasn't trying to aid her; in fact, they kept looking for ways to deny her coverage and treatment. Her doctor plainly told her the best treatment for her wasn't going to be paid for by insurance and since she had no money herself, he'd have to recommend another treatment that didn't have as good success rate. Only her determination got her treatment in time, treatment that she will continue to have to pay for her whole life unless, she says, she woos a rich man. I think it's wrong that she has had to sacrifice her future just to stay alive, and I hope she finds that rich man soon.
American's health care system is broken, but I don't know if it will ever be fixed. Too many people are invested in it continuing the way it is. Doctors in U.K. and Canada speak enviously of the salaries of their American counterparts. It's interesting to note that they don't long for better equipment or facilities, but just that money. Our land of plenty is a land of want when you look at our health care system. It frankly discourages me.
The few times before when I've mentioned health care here, I get a few comments from people who want to share why our system is better than our countries. I'm not going to listen to you. You don't know what you're talking about. When you do research, and you won't because you won't let a few facts stand in the way of your beliefs, you will find no statistics that support what you say. Don't get me wrong. Those systems overseas are not perfect and also allow people to fall through the cracks, and there are thousands of individuals who die because they didn't get adequate care, but overall, they're doing better. Why is that? Why can't we do better? Doctor's here.
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11 comments:
Bang bang. Consider yerself "plugged." :-)
Thanks, ER! You're awesome rednecky.
You are so right about health care, Tech. I know so many people who can't have regular checkups because they're afraid of the bill. As a result, they are terribly sick before they see a doctor.
I'm glad you agree, Gloria. I think yearly checkups are one of the most important things we can do for our health. I regret to say that I don't do them as I should, either, mostly because of cost. But I'm trying to do better.
Thanks for the giveaway plug -- I think a few people wandered over and entered, thanks to you.
I've been spoiled by military medical care for the last 27 years, but we even complain about that. Health care is one thing I'm a little concerned about after I retire next year -- I'll have to travel at least 30 miles to see a doctor who will recognize my coverage (which will cost me $240 a year plus a $10 co-pay to maintain what I have now -- a bargain no matter what). I guess that's the price of retiring to a small, non-military town.
I think one reason our life expectancy may not be as high as it should is a result of the land of plenty -- or maybe just the Almighty Junk Carb. I say this as someone who needs to lose 30% of her body weight to get to the top of what a "healthy" weight is supposed to be. To make the "charts" happy, I need to lose 40%. So this comment is not meant to point any fingers (because there are three warranted pointers right back at me if that's the case).
I hope you feel better soon.
True, our lifestyle makes a difference, but Britain, Canada, Japan, all have their junk foods. Admittedly they have come to it later than us, but they also are dealing with larger-waisted populations, but so far, their lifespans continue to increase. Stats show they are much better at treating cancer and heart disease earlier than we are. Advanced cases are better treated in the U.S. I think they are better at detecting it early because their health care systems all provide yearly checkups, giving doctors an annual chance to catch a disease before it has advanced. There is a reason that the AMA recommends yearly checkups, and it's not just to give doctors more money.
Ugh. Insurance. Health care. I have my own issues too. How can something that's supposed to make you able to afford, be so unaffordable?
Anyway, I hope you are feeling better. Your foot is in my Prayers. I have a pool, too. And, it's open till 8pm. Think you can make it? ;)
Really hope your foot feels better soon! And I've been meaning to watch Michael Mooore's new 'flick' - Sicko. I've heard it's horribly accurate about the US Health Care system.
People I know also always do the whole "my cousin got mauled by a moose in Canada and got horrible health care blah blah" - I just sigh and shake my head. Great post (I giggled at the part about the cross country team)!
Darn that geography, Michelle! Do you think you could get your state to move closer to my state? We could drink fruity drinks and float on your pool after, of course, the suntan lotion massages ... :)
Bri, I've heard about "Sicko," but haven't seen it yet. I suspect it's right on the mark. Thanks for reading!
Um, our pool is enclosed (snow and all) but Hey! Suntan Lotion Massages work for me!
Oh, cool, an enclosed pool. That's nice.
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