Three different doctors ordered a total of 10 tests to pinpoint what's been up with me. The results are in from the tests and for the most part I just need to make a few changes and I'll be on my way to health and strength. The easy things? Make some diet changes and increase some deficient vitamins. That's the easy part, though I'm not too excited about minimizing chocolate, wheat, oats and sugar. I bought a juicer, 20 lbs. of fruit and some vitamins and supplements. The problem comes in when the doctor tells me to reduce my stress and increase my sleep. Not as easy as popping some vitamins. I've already set my life course on busy and I've recently realized I haven't left a whole lot of room for me. I have tried. I really have. The two biggest being the gym and house cleaners. I signed up for the gym because my early morning walks weren't working too well, due to Jon's traveling and Lizzie crawling out of her crib while I was out. But sadly, since signing up over a week ago for the gym, I haven't found a time to go just to get my picture taken for my card! I hired house cleaners to help with the big stuff I haven't been keeping up with since starting the preschool. But sadly, I haven't even been keeping up with the little stuff.
My personality that focuses on perfectionism may have gotten me far in life, but now it's getting me in trouble. I feel like my head is arguing all day long. "It's important! It's not important!" I fear that my days of getting lots done are gone. Sometimes projects for church or school, reading a great book, catching up on laundry have to be paid with the price of missed sleep. I might be tired the next day, but I feel satisfied. Now, I know that missed sleep costs me more than just a groggy day. I'm wiped out for a week with a dip in my health. The price is all of a sudden too steep if I am to be a good mom who can deal with the whining, crying, emotions of a bad day at school, homework, life's questions. I'm determined to alter my perspective. I have to. I'm not giving myself a choice. But, I am allowing myself a time of mourning for my old self (the one who thrived on accomplishing tasks, the one who stayed up late because that was my time) before I take the time to get to know the new me (the one with a bedtime, the one who doesn't eat chocolate chip cookies for breakfast and the one who allows minimal distress in her life even when her 2 year old rips off a diaper in her room at 8:00 at night that requires the room to be quarantined for sanitation purposes. I'll let you know when I get to know the new me, but so far I don't think I know her very well.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Seriously (#3)
Jon told me today that Obama recently used our current health care provider as a role model for his health care reform plans. I guess I'm not surprised. The provider we use is set up very much like the government. Here was my experience with our health care provider this week.
A week ago I had a health issue, one that's been ongoing but sporadic. I called the call center, explained the problem and asked if it would be prudent to see a specialist. No, just see an internal medicine doctor. I made an appointment for yesterday--the next available one. I went in, described the problem, which by now was no longer a problem. I was told I need to see a specialist. Right--what a great idea. AND see the specialist when I am having the problem. Right--brilliant! Very helpful! So far I'm nowhere and I've paid someone $20 to tell me these things.
Well, the problem came back this morning. So, I quickly called after preschool to make my appointment with the specialist. The next available appointment? Next week. I explain the history and what I would like to happen--to be seen today or tomorrow so that testing can be done and answers can be found.
Here is the solution I am told (after talking to several people who didn't know what to do with me): Call to make an appointment with the internal medicine doctor (who is on the south end of town and referred me to the specialist yesterday). She will take a picture of the problem and send it to the specialist. Then the specialist will look at the picture and determine if she wants to see me and then I will get a call to make another appointment for the specialist (on the north end of town).
Seriously!!!
Let's just hope I never have to use Obama's plan because I would end up frequenting the psych ward every time I needed anything medical!!!
Needless to say, in my frame of I'm-not-feeling-very-well mind, the poor nurse who relayed this crazy plan had to listen to my response. I don't think it needs to be scripted here, but wowie, wow, wow! Don't worry, I didn't use any expletives, but I'm sure my tone sure did.
Ten seconds after I hung up with the nurse (saying something like "I'm not playing your ridiculous game!") I got a call from the specialist's office saying she could see me in an hour. Huh? I frantically made phone calls to friends who knew a bit of the situation--Please watch my kids. (What would we do without friends???) The doctor did some tests and the results will be back sometime in my lifetime. I think the results will be: She has lost her mind, and there is nothing we can do for her! But maybe they can take pictures of me in a padded room and send them around to all of you!
A week ago I had a health issue, one that's been ongoing but sporadic. I called the call center, explained the problem and asked if it would be prudent to see a specialist. No, just see an internal medicine doctor. I made an appointment for yesterday--the next available one. I went in, described the problem, which by now was no longer a problem. I was told I need to see a specialist. Right--what a great idea. AND see the specialist when I am having the problem. Right--brilliant! Very helpful! So far I'm nowhere and I've paid someone $20 to tell me these things.
Well, the problem came back this morning. So, I quickly called after preschool to make my appointment with the specialist. The next available appointment? Next week. I explain the history and what I would like to happen--to be seen today or tomorrow so that testing can be done and answers can be found.
Here is the solution I am told (after talking to several people who didn't know what to do with me): Call to make an appointment with the internal medicine doctor (who is on the south end of town and referred me to the specialist yesterday). She will take a picture of the problem and send it to the specialist. Then the specialist will look at the picture and determine if she wants to see me and then I will get a call to make another appointment for the specialist (on the north end of town).
Seriously!!!
Let's just hope I never have to use Obama's plan because I would end up frequenting the psych ward every time I needed anything medical!!!
Needless to say, in my frame of I'm-not-feeling-very-well mind, the poor nurse who relayed this crazy plan had to listen to my response. I don't think it needs to be scripted here, but wowie, wow, wow! Don't worry, I didn't use any expletives, but I'm sure my tone sure did.
Ten seconds after I hung up with the nurse (saying something like "I'm not playing your ridiculous game!") I got a call from the specialist's office saying she could see me in an hour. Huh? I frantically made phone calls to friends who knew a bit of the situation--Please watch my kids. (What would we do without friends???) The doctor did some tests and the results will be back sometime in my lifetime. I think the results will be: She has lost her mind, and there is nothing we can do for her! But maybe they can take pictures of me in a padded room and send them around to all of you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)