Another brother down.

Please visit Little Pond today and follow the links in the top two posts. We need to support those who care for us when we get beyond medical help.

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Little Pond

Rinse and repeat

Wow. It's deja vue all over again, as they say. Monday I finished the latest round of doctors' visits and MRI--this time with a complete spinal scan.

As a matter of course I went to the neuro's to inquire if paperwork went out to Aetna for the temporary disability time. At the moment I am required to return to work Monday, April 18.

Not feeling great, but really, I went right back to work after the first attack, some fifteen years ago. Perhaps the intervening years have taken their toll on my ability to bounce back.

As has already happened twice before, the office reacted with shock when I announce that I was going back to work on Monday. Voiced the same indignation over the insurance company wanting further documentation. And, of course, had not sent in any of the papers that I had filled and given to them to send along to Aetna.

Just like the last time. If I were feeling just a tad better, I would return to work on Monday and tell the neuro (and his office) to screw himself. I'm tired of playing my own disability caseworker.

Although I must admit, I'm becoming a pretty good one. Lots of practice, you know.

Maybe I should consider a change of careers.

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Little Pond

A working-over?

So now I have been poked, prodded, stuck, and a few things I can't describe in any sort of good taste. In fact, who knew all the places they can tack-on electrodes?

At this point, I have healed from the bruising left after the three Solumedrol infusions. And I have gotten over the rashes left by the tapes used to secure various medically-invasive implements. The worst one being the goop used to secure and maintain the connection needed for the electrodes attached to my scalp. Again: who knew?

And lets not forget the ringing in the ears. Two different tones, apparently one for each side. It wasn't there, I don't think, before all this frigging loveliness.

Ahem. Some of the adhesive left only a minor spot or two that healed in just a day or so, but the electrode in the hair, well, that is still a sore/hot spot in my scalp. Sort of like those hot spots fleas leave on a dog.

Without going into the nasty details, I am only left with a Urinary Tract Infection, caused by the tubing used to pump me full of sterile water. Of course, I have a mild UTI almost all the time, anyway, from self-catheterizing, but the laboratories caught this one. Now I am on Amoxicillin for the next ten days.

Last, but certainly not least, is the after effects of the MRI: an entirely new one now scheduled for next week.

We are now officially keeping the Arnot Ogden Medical Center in business, single-handedly. The bills for the copays, etc, are piling up.

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Little Pond