If this is being well, I'd rather be sick
I am through with my cold; no more sniffles, no need for a copious amount of tissues, no more coughing. I should be feeling good, right? Well, not so much. As a matter of fact, I am doing worse than I was before I asked to do a round of SoluMedrol. My walking is laborious with the walker, getting up out of bed in the morning (or afternoon) is a chore, and this turn of events has me concerned.
My neuro wanted me to consider going on Gilenya or Tysabri at our last visit. Uh, not really interested in cardiac problems or an incurable brain disease, so no thank you. Let's give them time to kill off a few more people first, mm-kay? So he suggested PT, and that's not a bad idea, but DSHS has stopped paying my co-pays as of Jan. 1 because I now make $10 too much with my COLA. One hand giveth, the other taketh away. Co-pays for PT appts. are $30 each. Next I told him again about my messed up sleep issues in more detail, and he agreed with me that they were pretty bad, and we have a plan! He has a new nurse in his office who deals specifically with sleep disorders. She came in and we chatted and she gave me some papers to keep track of my sleep for a few weeks, and we will go over them May 11, then hopefully come up with a plan.
In the meanwhile, just for shits and grins, I will continue with the Copaxone. Who doesn't love being poked with a sharp needle every day? And, I have called DSHS, and they sent me a form to apply for a "Spend Down" program, whatever that is, so I am waiting to hear from them regarding my co-pays. Once I know they will be taken care of, I will do some PT. But I gotta say - every time I've done PT something has happened (illness, relapse, fall) that put me righ back where I started. Whatever. Better to do it than not do it, I guess.
I filled out a request for a DVD about the HoverRound; You know, the one on TV they say they can get for you through Medicare, and if they can't you'll get one for free? I'm looking at the questions they pose to your doctor, and right now I think I qualify. But when I last saw him three weeks ago, I don't think I would have. They have called me twice, and I haven't called back yet. Third time's a charm. One of my sorority sisters, an elderly woman who had heart issues and who used oxygen, got one for free. She was thrilled with it. It enabled her to get around her condo community and commune with her neighbors. I don't know how wide they are, but the turning radios is 22,5". That sounds like it will work well in this tiny house.
I also saw my PCP, and he has given me orders for a mammogram, a bone density test, and a (oh I can't wait) colonoscopy. However, he also said that my blood work came back and my numbers are good. I'm healthy! It's so great to be healthy and feel like shit at the same time. Anyway, that's my update for you for now.
Good Night, TTYL, and Be Well,
My neuro wanted me to consider going on Gilenya or Tysabri at our last visit. Uh, not really interested in cardiac problems or an incurable brain disease, so no thank you. Let's give them time to kill off a few more people first, mm-kay? So he suggested PT, and that's not a bad idea, but DSHS has stopped paying my co-pays as of Jan. 1 because I now make $10 too much with my COLA. One hand giveth, the other taketh away. Co-pays for PT appts. are $30 each. Next I told him again about my messed up sleep issues in more detail, and he agreed with me that they were pretty bad, and we have a plan! He has a new nurse in his office who deals specifically with sleep disorders. She came in and we chatted and she gave me some papers to keep track of my sleep for a few weeks, and we will go over them May 11, then hopefully come up with a plan.
In the meanwhile, just for shits and grins, I will continue with the Copaxone. Who doesn't love being poked with a sharp needle every day? And, I have called DSHS, and they sent me a form to apply for a "Spend Down" program, whatever that is, so I am waiting to hear from them regarding my co-pays. Once I know they will be taken care of, I will do some PT. But I gotta say - every time I've done PT something has happened (illness, relapse, fall) that put me righ back where I started. Whatever. Better to do it than not do it, I guess.
I filled out a request for a DVD about the HoverRound; You know, the one on TV they say they can get for you through Medicare, and if they can't you'll get one for free? I'm looking at the questions they pose to your doctor, and right now I think I qualify. But when I last saw him three weeks ago, I don't think I would have. They have called me twice, and I haven't called back yet. Third time's a charm. One of my sorority sisters, an elderly woman who had heart issues and who used oxygen, got one for free. She was thrilled with it. It enabled her to get around her condo community and commune with her neighbors. I don't know how wide they are, but the turning radios is 22,5". That sounds like it will work well in this tiny house.
I also saw my PCP, and he has given me orders for a mammogram, a bone density test, and a (oh I can't wait) colonoscopy. However, he also said that my blood work came back and my numbers are good. I'm healthy! It's so great to be healthy and feel like shit at the same time. Anyway, that's my update for you for now.
Good Night, TTYL, and Be Well,
Sorry you're not feeling well, Webster. Sometimes a cold can really knock you for a loop. Since our immune systems are so whacked out anyway, they probably go on overdrive with something else in our system. Good luck with the Hover Round, and let us know how it goes. I'm interested in one myself. How well do they go into cars? Good luck with the tests.
ReplyDeletePeace,
Muff
hate that you aren't feeling better, and doing worse... bleh!
ReplyDeleteand i have to say, i think that having someone shove something up the, um exit ramp, might cause me to relapse haha!
good luck with the spend downs and copay help... sucks that the things we need so badly are made so incredibly inaccessible to us...
feel better soon!!! and if you get a hover round, i think you should tangle it up :)
You have so much. (((hugs))) I can't offer anything but that. However, it's sincere.
ReplyDelete(((hugs)))
I've been battling pneumonia off and on for about 3 months. My MS is raging. My point... illness can make the MonSter roar louder than usual. Hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteI spent today at a refresher course for MS Peer Support Volunteers. Among the other gems they told us was that stress triggers relapses. As do raised temperatures - from illness or climatic conditions. They were not so helpful about how to avoid these things.
ReplyDeleteI really really hope you start to feel better than your excellent blood work soon.
you said "It's so great to be healthy and feel like shit at the same time." made me laugh.
ReplyDeletealso while typing this response i SWORE i saw "Put on your blog girl panties and just deal with it" LOL.
Sorry to hear that you're going through all this. With everything else going on, one would think/hope/pray there's at least some way to ease the burden of what sounds like a confusing nightmare of insurance red tape?
ReplyDeleteYou know that I like reading your posts. I don't know how insurance and money support in USA, but I know that here in Italy you have very few money support for very ill people. It's very sad....
ReplyDeleteI can only send you good vibes and hugs. :))