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Saturday, July 18, 2009

My Routine: Expect the Unexpected

I am writing this from Urgent Care. Seems I had an encounter yesterday evening with something that gave me a pin prick injury through my gardening gloves. It really hurt and bled too, but I kept going, washing it off and bandaging it when I got into the house. After the initial prick, it didn't hurt especially and I sort of forgot about it by bedtime.

Well I woke up this morning and was in pain. At first I thought I had slept funny. Then I started moving. I had pain in my arm up to my shoulder. It took me a while to remember about the encounter in the garden and then I started to worry. I got stung by a bee a couple of years ago and got a nasty infection at the sting site, so my first thought was, "Not another infection!" Next, I can't remember the last time I got a tetanus shot. I wasn't going to miss out on taking my dog to Advanced Training class at PetsMart at 3 PM, so I pushed. It never goes well when I push ... I came home in more pain and got really worried.

My husband hates taking me to Urgent Care, especially when it means he misses out on going bowling. But he took me and we've been waiting now for almost 3 1/2 hours. Urgent and speedy aren't the same thing. I want to just leave, but knowing how wonky my body reacts I better stay. It's a long way to Monday and I'm trying to head off an infection before I get there.

The doctor just came in and they are going to X-ray my finger to see if there is something there that needs taking out. I am also getting a tetanus shot. Now more waiting to go to X-ray...

Wow, things are moving now. Got the tetanus shot and then right after was whisked off to have three views taken of my right hand. I'm back in the room now waiting for the results. Wonder if I'll be getting any antibiotics too.

I know what is wrong with health care! I just informed the argumentative Patient Financial Services Representative that I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Medicare parts A and B and Medicare pays my co-pays. He informed me in a snippy tone that they don't bill Medicare and I quipped back, "Well then you're not going to get paid." He retorts that I am going to get a bill for the co-pay and I snip back, "I am going to call your billing department and tell them the same thing. If you want to be reimbursed for my co-pay, bill Medicare!" What the f*#@/! Bill the damn insurance because I sure as heck can't do it myself.

The doctor has finally come back with the results. No foreign body seen on the X-ray, but I am getting sent home with antibiotics and pain medication. It's been 5 hours and Robert is hungry and grumpy. First stop is to get something to eat, second stop is the 24 hour pharmacy.

I wish I could say this kind of thing is a once in a blue moon occurrence. I can't, which is why the motto of my life with chronic illness is "Expect the Unexpected."






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