This is why I moved back to NY last Fall. I was living in NC and was about 2 hours from all my specialists. I couldn’t make the drive myself, so I always had to inconvenience someone else, plus it took a huge toll on my body, as you mentioned. Also, when I did get hospitalized, I would be so far away that no one could come see me and I felt so lonely and isolated.

I used to live near where you are, and I know what you mean about finding doctors there too. It has been a HUGE sacrifice to come back to NY, financially, emotionally and physically, and it was a lot for mom to deal with. We did it because we truly felt we had no other option for me to receive the care I needed. The upside has been that mom is also receiving better care. The doctors in FL treated her like an old person who was going to die anyway, why do much for her. She is 75 years old and had never had a stress test (both her parents died of heart disease and my 50 year old brother has had a major heart attack already!) or a colonoscopy! Up here the doctor’s are appalled that these things haven’t been done and they are doing them.

It is a serious problem, and of course not everyone can, or wants, to move to a metropolitan area. I am so glad you started this discussion. I will be interested to see what others have to say.

Maureen
http://beingchronicallyillisapill.blogspot.com