9:29 pm 03/09/08
I’m in a pretty unique situation (not really but all of my doctor’s billing departments seem to think so) when it comes to health insurance. Without going into detail, I have two types of coverage. One must be primary and one secondary. That’s where the sticky part comes in. The billing offices are used to keeping the one that’s primary secondary and so on.
So what ends up happening is that I get medical bills. Now if you know a little about me, I practically live in doctor’s offices. So this is not only annoying but time consuming. Even though most of the doctors I see are in small offices they have corporate performance management departments that handle their billing. I can’t just talk to someone the next time I go to the office. Instead I have to call and explain my situation over and over.
It wouldn’t be so bad except that I have to do this almost every week. I think I’m going to tape myself speaking and play that to them when I call next. And there will be a next time.
8:29 pm 03/09/08
Having Sjogren’s Syndrome causes many symptoms. One of them is dry mouth which in turn can cause dental problems. I go to the dentist every 4 months to have my teeth cleaned to prevent tooth decay. Our health insurance has turned down my dentist’s request for the one extra cleaning per year even though it’s necessary.
If money is an issue check your newspaper or mailings that come to your home for coupon codes for dental clinics. This can save you money as well as your teeth.
10:29 pm 03/08/08
When we are on medications it is very important to be careful of what extra items we take such as any over the counter medications, diet pills, vitamins, minerals, etc.
Although many people want to be proactive with their health and take things that can help control their medical conditions it is very important to speak to your doctor or pharmacist to be sure that there won’t be any interaction with your prescribed medications.
Always be truthful with your doctor or pharmacist as an interaction can be life-threatening.
11:19 pm 03/07/08
This is a continuing series which began with this post. Looking at the diagnosis of a Chronic Illness in the framework of grief we’ll begin with the first stage called “Denial”. Please note that these stages do not have to happen in order, that people may not go through every stage and that people may waffle back and forth between stages.
Feeling denial may occur when a person is first diagnosed with a medical condition that they are told will last all of their lives and for which there is no cure. Denial may also occur if a person’s medical condition worsens, if he is diagnosed with other chronic illnesses or other medical problems, or if she is told that her condition has become terminal.
Denial is acted out in different ways. Sometimes we deny that we are sick at all. This is especially easy if we look healthy, which is common with some chronic illnesses like Fibromyalgia, Heart Disease, Diabetes and CFS. We can also be in denial concerning our need to care for ourselves physically, the need to prepare for the future and the lifestyle changes we may need to make.
For some people not getting over denial can cause them to not progress psychologically to reach the stage of acceptance. They may go along with their doctor’s treatment and even have surgery but not face what is really happening. This is like a parent whose child is having a large party. You find a hall for the party. You hire a caterer. You do all the work for the party but you never send out the first communion invitations. No one can attend the party.
Without getting over the denial no one can support you in a manner you need. No one can reach out to you or talk to you about your feelings. It’s the proverbial white elephant in the room. It makes others uneasy and you too.
So how do we conquer denial? Remember that moving towards acceptance means that you may go through sadness, anger and fear. But this process is so important. You will gain so much. You may need to be selfish for a while and this is OK. You are the person most affected by a life altering medical diagnosis. Take the time you need and let your loved ones know that this is what you need. They will be hurting of course so I don’t mean that you shut them out completely.
It took me time, tears, facing my fears, a lot of prayer and seeking the counsel of my Pastor and a therapist. You will find your own way. Just allow it to happen. If you are having difficulty there is nothing wrong in seeking help. You are not alone.
9:06 pm 03/06/08
March is National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Month. MS is a difficult disease to diagnose and to treat. It affects 1 in 700 people in the United States . (from Understanding Autoimmune Disease:NIAD)
There are many organizations that provide information, support and funding for people with MS, caregivers, family and friends and for physicians and researchers. Here is a short list:
Often when the diagnosis of MS hits, people may feel that it means a death sentence. It helps a great deal to find a doctor that specializes in MS. There are often clinics in major research hospitals also.
Online support, support groups and blogs offer people with MS a way to connect with others in the same position. These are sometimes based on weight loss groups where members can share their struggles and their triumphs.
