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29 Oct |
US health insurance at its finest! Health Care
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Just read this post on the Mulitple Myeloma (MM) message board I subscribe to, which I thought of value, as it points out how little most Americans know of how the US health care system works.
I was in the hospital a few months ago and was asked if I wanted a flu and a pnuemonia shot. I thought it would be a good idea, since I don’t want to bring any nasty germs into the house and subject my MM hubby to them. Before I was released, I was told my insurance (Blue Cross) wouldn’t pay for the vaccines because I was too young. I am 48.
What surprised me the most about this post, was not the fact her insurance company denied the claim, but that she seemed surprised they did.
Doesn’t she understand how the US health care system works?
Unfortunately she, like many others, don’t understand that health care in the US is controlled by a “for profit” health insurance industry, whose priorities lie not with their policy holders in insuring the best health care possible, but rather with their share holders in the form of ever increasing profits.
They accomplish this in a number of ways, but high on the list is to deny and/or delay care whenever the opportunity arises.
And people really prefer this system of “for profit health insurers” paying the bills, over the government, who doesn’t have a vested interest in denying or delaying claims, paying the bills.
It boggles the mind, how unaware some people are of how the US health care system really works.
Of course once you get sick, you learn very quickly!
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24 Oct |
Things are looking up! Edie
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I sure hope I’m not getting too far ahead of myself here, by extending a big thank you to Millenium Pharmaceuticals (MLNM), the makers of Velcade.
So far, Velcade is doing a great job of treating Edie’s myeloma. All of Edie’s counts are essentially back to normal, with the exception of some minor discrepancies, which I’m not going to fret over, and she has been off dialysis, since last Monday, October 15th.
Edie has been experiencing some peripheral neuropathy (PN) which has been causing her difficulty in opening containers, and even writing, so the doctor has decided it is best to cut back on the dosage from 1.3 mg/m2 to 1.0 mg/m2.
The recommendation by Millenium Pharmaceuticals, when the PN is that bad, is to eliminate the Velcade altogether, until the PN subsides, but we really didn’t want to do that, since the Velcade seems to be doing such a good job, and her kidney function has not returned completely to normal (only enough to get off the dialysis).
So we mutually agreed to continue at the lower dosage, leaving the option opened to dropping the dosage even further to .7 mg/m2, or stopping it altogether should the PN not improve or get worse.
In the mean time, we’re going to schedule another visit with the transplant specialist to discuss whether she can now be considered a candidate for a transplant.
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19 Oct |
My new bike Cycling
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Well I think I’ve finally got the new bike dialed in.
Yeah, I know it’s only been just over 6 months since I got my last new bike, but hey, I wanted another one.
I just love the curved top tube, on this bike, and had to have it. It also makes the bike look fast, even when it’s just sitting there. And when you’re as old as I am, you at least have to look good.
And if you notice in the background, even Morris had to stop and admire it.
I was going to sell the Torelli, but after riding the Specialized, I’m not so sure I want to. They are two very different riding bikes.
The Torelli is a much stiffer and a better climbing bike, while the specialized is soooo much smoother. It’s like the difference between driving a Porsche or a Cadillac. I’m just not sure which one I prefer better. They both have their pros and cons.
And after struggling on todays climb up Turnbull Canyon, and beyond, on the “Cadillac”, I’m pretty sure I’m going to keep both!
And just as a side note, while I did struggle on todays ride, it was still worth it.
It was a beautifully clear day, and when I got to the top of Turnbull Canyon, I realized just why I love LA so much, and managed to get this shot. While my cell phone camera doesn’t do the view justice, trust me when I say it was spectacular.
You don’t get a view like this very often, so it’s always a treat when you do. You can see LA, about 35 miles away, just above the mountains, and all the way to the Valley, another 20+ miles beyond.
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13 Oct |
Helpless in Long Beach Day to Day Life, Edie
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Well, here it is Saturday morning, and it’s raining, so you all know what that means. No bike ride and another post.
The last couple of days have not been so good. It seems the cumulative effect of Edie’s treatment regimen is taking its toll.
Fridays are typically very draining for Edie, consisting of dialysis in the morning, then chemo in the afternoon, but yesterday seemed especially draining. After getting home around 4:30 PM, all Edie wanted for dinner was a chocolate milkshake from McDonalds, and then she was off to bed.
I should say she tried to get some sleep, as the peripheral neuropathy, and overall body aching made that difficult to accomplish. Fortunately she has managed to get some sleep, and is currently asleep as I write this post.
Hopefully all this sleep will rejuvenate her enough (like last Saturday, when she felt well enough to go out for dinner) to go to a friends 60th birthday party tonight.
I used to think the AS9100 audits, I go through at work every year, were the most stressful thing I would ever have to endure in my life, and while they are stressful, they pale in comparison to watching the misery Edie is going through right now.
Watching someone you love go through such misery, and feeling helpless do anything about it, except for holding her hand, an occasional hug, or cuddling in bed, is by far the most stressful thing anyone will ever have to endure in their entire lifetime.
BIG SIGH 