I wish I could say it was any better in the US, but it's practically the same here.
My mom waited something like 3 months for surgery on her gallbladder.
My ex waited like 7 months to get seen by the urologist for reoccurant UTIs, because the one in our area only worked every other thursday since he traveled across the state, unless we wanted to drive 45 minutes to their other office location(s) (or go to the hospital and wait 12+ hours).
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
I wish I could say it was any better in the US, but it's practically the same here.
My mom waited something like 3 months for surgery on her gallbladder.
My ex waited like 7 months to get seen by the urologist for reoccurant UTIs, because the one in our area only worked every other thursday since he traveled across the state, unless we wanted to drive 45 minutes to their other office location(s) (or go to the hospital and wait 12+ hours).
At the very least the services are all free and we don't have to worry on that level/about her attaining debt
We'd deal with the drive if they'd actually allow her to be seen. Just going to recommend the ER trip the next time she lands a migraine or something I guess. Ugh.
Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
I have gone to the ER while waiting for surgery dates because the pain was getting too bad and that caused the dates to get moved or tests to get altered. In fact, almost all of my tests were done as a result of being hospitalized or put into the ER. There is no reason for you to suffer unnecessarily, and people go to the ER for baby cakes bullshit boo boos.
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
I have gone to the ER while waiting for surgery dates because the pain was getting too bad and that caused the dates to get moved or tests to get altered. In fact, almost all of my tests were done as a result of being hospitalized or put into the ER. There is no reason for you to suffer unnecessarily, and people go to the ER for baby cakes bullshit boo boos.
Yeah, someone walked in with a cold while my ex was going into septic shock
so
uh
yeah I'd probably go to the ER if I had a fucking tumor and the docs were like: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ "maybe it's not cancer tho"
not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
Sounds like they are sure it's cancer. They just don't know/think it's malignant and don't think it's emergent, I guess? Because, and say it with me now, "it's only pain"
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
Just tell her to go to the ER if her symptoms get slightly worse.
I mean, if she's feeling bad enough she should go ahead and go there, get some relief, and she'all get the CT scan too.
As someone who also lives in Ontario and has dealt with a lot of this kind of stuff this is good advice.
Just spoke to her and that's basically the plan, now. As soon as some symptom or another pops up (and it's a day where she doesn't have a ton going on at work the next day) she's going to go in. Only alternative to waiting is to get a referral from another doctor calling it Urgent, but if they reviewed her case and determined it wasn't, our family doctor would get hit hard by fees, and he's also a family friend who we wouldn't want to do that to. An ER referral would dodge that.
Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
So because my Stellara has been doing jack shit for my arthritis, it's apparently time for me to go on Methotrexate! A drug commonly used in cancer treatment to block folic acid uptake and prevent cell division.
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
So because my Stellara has been doing jack shit for my arthritis, it's apparently time for me to go on Methotrexate! A drug commonly used in cancer treatment to block folic acid uptake and prevent cell division.
methotrexate did fuck and all for me with my psoriasis and made me shed hair like a mofo
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
It also has the benefit of being highly liver toxic!
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
At that point I would wonder if the pain from arthritis is better than the side effects of the medication.
I switched off it ASAP but for me it was a requirement of my insurance that I try the cheapest treatment first and see if it worked. For some people it works fine and isn't awful, apparently. Switching from Stellara to methotrexate is an odd choice for me, unless he means they're adding it on top of other shit which is apparently a thing they can do to try to beat your autoimmune system into submission from multiple angles
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
I'm not switching from Stellara to Metho, I'm adding Metho to the Stellara since Stellara isn't effecting my arthritis.
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
Metho is the one you take once a week and never, ever more often, isn't it?
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
I mean, I am going to be taking it weekly, I don't know the limits on it. But I would imagine you wouldn't want to take it more often, since it is basically a form of chemotherapy.
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
we don't have a more appropriate thread, i think, or i'd hop there.
first psychiatric appointment tomorrow!
i am trying not to freak out, nor get my hopes up. i hope that my brainprobs might be sourced in thyroid issues given symptoms and my mom's diagnosed thyroid issues, but i am too timid to really pursue medical help. or just... generally follow up in self-care. last year, the new PCP grudgingly ran some tests that came back in a normal range, and i never worked up the nerve to ask for a referral to an endocrinologist, despite recommendations from friends with diagnosed thyroid issues. and some slightly abnormal levels years before that. (i do appreciate when youse have directed advice my way.)
and i think my natural emotional resilience (i am an optimist under the anxiety and depression) is hitting a point of saturation after howevermany years of whatever this is -- i'm just tired of it in a more severe manner, and i have noticed my negative self-talk is on an upswing. there are Life Circumstances that contribute, but my carrying capacity is just abysmal. everything is stress.
so i am trying not to think about how things might get better while making a different effort to try and improve. printed and filled out the required worksheets and paperwork, and even wrote a list of my symptoms so i'm not just a bundle of nerves, but a somewhat prepared bundle of nerves. just wanted to vent, i guess.
anyway, hugs and respect for y'all negotiating this stuff on the regular. i don't have any advice or tricks to send your way, but you're in my thoughts, and it's encouraging to witness such perseverance.
how on earth do I have one of the few doctors who seems to think brain problem drugs are totally useless, she fights me on changing my prescription or upping my dose every time I bring up that I feel like fucking dying
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KetarCome on upstairswe're having a partyRegistered Userregular
how on earth do I have one of the few doctors who seems to think brain problem drugs are totally useless, she fights me on changing my prescription or upping my dose every time I bring up that I feel like fucking dying
I had a psychiatrist like that. He was also a certified life coach, and he was clearly far more interested in life coaching than anything involving medication. I ended up seeing a psychologist as well eventually and finding a new psychiatrist through her, as it might have taken years to find an effective treatment through him.
whereas my prescribing APRN has given me all the drugs because i am so far gone i need powerful medicine. and also all the bloodwork (as baseline for the meds but also to check into thyroid stuff.)
i only half joke -- fluoxetine (Prozac), lorazepam (as needed) and zolpidem (Ambien.) i hope the generics are what she meant for them to give me, since she mentioned fighting insurance to get patients their more-effective brand names! now i need to make an appointment with the PCP so insurance will cover the labs? she gave me forms for the lab her office uses, and i am not sure if it's in-network for my insurance ..??? fucking bureaucracies.
i cried... SOMUCH, there, on the way to lunch, but man. i had mentioned previous reluctance towards brain meds, and she was gently probing me on current thoughts -- i said i came to a psychiatrist (which she started to clarify IANAL-style) because i wanted someone to suggest options, i am at the spindly edge -- "I need an advocate." and i feel like she is in my corner as a caring professional. gave me a list of recommended therapists, and side-eyed me about taking a multi-vitamin daily and getting a smidge of exercise; she strongly suspects my Vitamin D is lacking, and i joked about how a previous doc had written me a scrip for "15 mins of sunshine." she lit up at that and said that totally works, but we needed to get me back to a point where it could be effective, among other holistic choices. so i feel as elated as i am capable of right now. also because it is lovely rain and storm outside.
now i need to decide what time i want to have as bedtime. i need to be up early to go vote before dropping the beau off at work.. maybe i should start the sleepmed tomorrow night... but i've committed to this course, now it's just details.
cabsy, i'm sorry your doctor is a shit. you deserve respect for helping yourself be better, not a roadblock.
whereas my prescribing APRN has given me all the drugs because i am so far gone i need powerful medicine. and also all the bloodwork (as baseline for the meds but also to check into thyroid stuff.)
i only half joke -- fluoxetine (Prozac), lorazepam (as needed) and zolpidem (Ambien.) i hope the generics are what she meant for them to give me, since she mentioned fighting insurance to get patients their more-effective brand names! now i need to make an appointment with the PCP so insurance will cover the labs? she gave me forms for the lab her office uses, and i am not sure if it's in-network for my insurance ..??? fucking bureaucracies.
i cried... SOMUCH, there, on the way to lunch, but man. i had mentioned previous reluctance towards brain meds, and she was gently probing me on current thoughts -- i said i came to a psychiatrist (which she started to clarify IANAL-style) because i wanted someone to suggest options, i am at the spindly edge -- "I need an advocate." and i feel like she is in my corner as a caring professional. gave me a list of recommended therapists, and side-eyed me about taking a multi-vitamin daily and getting a smidge of exercise; she strongly suspects my Vitamin D is lacking, and i joked about how a previous doc had written me a scrip for "15 mins of sunshine." she lit up at that and said that totally works, but we needed to get me back to a point where it could be effective, among other holistic choices. so i feel as elated as i am capable of right now. also because it is lovely rain and storm outside.
now i need to decide what time i want to have as bedtime. i need to be up early to go vote before dropping the beau off at work.. maybe i should start the sleepmed tomorrow night... but i've committed to this course, now it's just details.
cabsy, i'm sorry your doctor is a shit. you deserve respect for helping yourself be better, not a roadblock.
Be careful with Ambien! Just in terms of... have your boyfriend keep an eye on you and truck you off to bed. Having tried it before it's way easy to be like oh sure I'll go soon and then you're basically blackout and loopy but still doing things like messaging people on IM or whatever. You might wanna wait a day if you have to be up and alert very early tomorrow, just to give yourself wiggle room... I'm super proud of you for going! It's damn hard to take that step
thanks, ma'am. yeah, i figured i'd start the meds tomorrow. i also remembered my aunt was convinced i have sleep apnea, so i left a message asking the doc if i should have any concerns about it. i am not a regular snorer (or at least not enough to wake myself often) so i didn't bring it up when she was asking.
as for sleepwalking etc., no worries there. as paranoid as i am about drugs, i will have my ass in bed with a book as i take the pill.
Dad is on it bc he's on swing shifts, and managed to scare Mom a couple weeks ago by puttering around after taking a dose; she thought he was having a stroke. back in college, i had an underling who described her various unpleasant adventures in sleep medications, so Go Immediately to Bed Do Not Pass Go has long been my take on them.
Last time I took an ambien I woke up in the shower of the Bellevue Washington Hilton hotel. I was very confused until I remembered I was there for pax, then I blanked out again until I was in line at the convention center.
Don't want to frighten you though, just have someone keep an eye on you in the morning.
no, it's okay, i am aware of the potential side effects. i already let the beau know about the possibility and that it is Not Normal, Please Inform if it does occur. my tentative plan is to knock out at my old normal bedtime of 2am, and wear earplugs and an eyemask just in case his rustling around in the morning might disturb my Odinsleep.
i have such trouble making decisions, but once i commit to an informed course of action, i am pretty good about channeling my stubbornness in a positive way. between the doc being thorough and my existing awareness of those side effects, i don't feel scared about that aspect -- if it happens, i don't take it again! it's the unknown things that rattle my cage.
but my optimistic side is at play because it's been a productive day, so i admit to a rather freewheeling mood right now.
yeah I didn't have a bad time on it or anything and it was nice getting a VERY solid night of sleep when I took it, just remember taking it while talking to my friend I was staying with and then it's sorta hazy until I went to bed two hours later and woke up having, for some reason, methodically shredding only one leg of the tights I had on in a very neat horizontal stripes pattern
I mean, I am going to be taking it weekly, I don't know the limits on it. But I would imagine you wouldn't want to take it more often, since it is basically a form of chemotherapy.
Yeah, I thought it was this one we had about in class, just got a bit confused since the Norwegian name for it is slightly different.
You're supposed to take it once a week. People are killed by it because someone fucks up and administers it daily, a mistake which apparently is more common than it should be. So if/when you're hospitalized, ask about it.
As a future nurse, I greatly appreciate this thread. We're told over and over again to respect the patients and listen, so it's awe-inspiring how much the people in here knows about their own stuff and medicines. Gives a much clearer picture of modern patients than a lecturer can. And now I've found out how hard it is to say I respect you all and the way you get through these things in a way that's not disrespectful, because I do.
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
I am super scared of a Trump presidency. I am terrified now that he's going to immediately slash Obamacare without any concern for the consequences, leaving me without insurance or any way to receive coverage (hel-lo pre-existing condition). The results of which would either be me being dead from my disease, wishing I was from my disease, or finding a way to die because the disease won't do it and living becomes an eternal hell.
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
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I ZimbraWorst song, played on ugliest guitarRegistered Userregular
My fiancee went back to work last week, and was back for less than a week before she re-injured her knee at work, on the electric scooter that her work provided which we told them was unsafe for her to use. Thankfully there's no structural damage but she'll be off work for the rest of the month to heal the inflammation and soft tissue damage. Obviously we, her surgeon, and our attorney are all furious. 3 1/2 years of work and 11 surgeries almost went down the drain because they don't give a shit.
Her employer has been dicking us around on accommodations and life is about to come at them extremely fast.
I ZimbraWorst song, played on ugliest guitarRegistered Userregular
Yeah, that is going to be catastrophic for us and I really don't want to think about it.
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
Well, I'm off to the hospital because my ostomy seems to have recessed entirely into my body, possibly causing a major blockage. This is probably why I have been having those cramps.
God dammit this has not been a good week.
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
NPR mentioned last night that Trump stated he wouldn't remove the pre-existing conditions portion of the bill. Not a lot of reassurance considering it's Trump, but at least he's not specifically targeting that aspect.
NPR mentioned last night that Trump stated he wouldn't remove the pre-existing conditions portion of the bill. Not a lot of reassurance considering it's Trump, but at least he's not specifically targeting that aspect.
If the GOP manages to think for about half a second they're going to do something to try and keep the incredibly popular portions of the bill around. What they have to give the insurance companies is going to be the question. Stuff that isn't super obvious to folks (like lifetime maximums....) might well be that thing. I think preexisting conditions are probably not on the block. Remember that prior to Obamacare it was that so long as you've been insured continuously then a new insurer couldn't pay attention to preexisting conditions. I'd be surprised if that went away as well.
Of course, if you're on a Marketplace plan or expanded Medicare you're pretty well fucked.
Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
Ulcers at the end of the stoma, and positive for C-Diff.
I am actually positive for C-Diff.
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
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The most fucking ridiculous part is that Ajax, four hours away, has a 10 day wait list
But the government will not allow you to go to another location unless there is no availability at the list you're already on, apparently
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My mom waited something like 3 months for surgery on her gallbladder.
My ex waited like 7 months to get seen by the urologist for reoccurant UTIs, because the one in our area only worked every other thursday since he traveled across the state, unless we wanted to drive 45 minutes to their other office location(s) (or go to the hospital and wait 12+ hours).
At the very least the services are all free and we don't have to worry on that level/about her attaining debt
We'd deal with the drive if they'd actually allow her to be seen. Just going to recommend the ER trip the next time she lands a migraine or something I guess. Ugh.
3DS Friend Code: 0216-0898-6512
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Yeah, someone walked in with a cold while my ex was going into septic shock
so
uh
yeah I'd probably go to the ER if I had a fucking tumor and the docs were like: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ "maybe it's not cancer tho"
As someone who also lives in Ontario and has dealt with a lot of this kind of stuff this is good advice.
Just spoke to her and that's basically the plan, now. As soon as some symptom or another pops up (and it's a day where she doesn't have a ton going on at work the next day) she's going to go in. Only alternative to waiting is to get a referral from another doctor calling it Urgent, but if they reviewed her case and determined it wasn't, our family doctor would get hit hard by fees, and he's also a family friend who we wouldn't want to do that to. An ER referral would dodge that.
3DS Friend Code: 0216-0898-6512
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methotrexate did fuck and all for me with my psoriasis and made me shed hair like a mofo
yeah and when I say 'shed like crazy' I mean my eyebrows and eyelashes were falling out too so that was real exciting
I switched off it ASAP but for me it was a requirement of my insurance that I try the cheapest treatment first and see if it worked. For some people it works fine and isn't awful, apparently. Switching from Stellara to methotrexate is an odd choice for me, unless he means they're adding it on top of other shit which is apparently a thing they can do to try to beat your autoimmune system into submission from multiple angles
I figured you might mean that. Good luck with it, I was Not A Fan
first psychiatric appointment tomorrow!
and i think my natural emotional resilience (i am an optimist under the anxiety and depression) is hitting a point of saturation after howevermany years of whatever this is -- i'm just tired of it in a more severe manner, and i have noticed my negative self-talk is on an upswing. there are Life Circumstances that contribute, but my carrying capacity is just abysmal. everything is stress.
anyway, hugs and respect for y'all negotiating this stuff on the regular. i don't have any advice or tricks to send your way, but you're in my thoughts, and it's encouraging to witness such perseverance.
I had a psychiatrist like that. He was also a certified life coach, and he was clearly far more interested in life coaching than anything involving medication. I ended up seeing a psychologist as well eventually and finding a new psychiatrist through her, as it might have taken years to find an effective treatment through him.
i cried... SOMUCH, there, on the way to lunch, but man. i had mentioned previous reluctance towards brain meds, and she was gently probing me on current thoughts -- i said i came to a psychiatrist (which she started to clarify IANAL-style) because i wanted someone to suggest options, i am at the spindly edge -- "I need an advocate." and i feel like she is in my corner as a caring professional. gave me a list of recommended therapists, and side-eyed me about taking a multi-vitamin daily and getting a smidge of exercise; she strongly suspects my Vitamin D is lacking, and i joked about how a previous doc had written me a scrip for "15 mins of sunshine." she lit up at that and said that totally works, but we needed to get me back to a point where it could be effective, among other holistic choices. so i feel as elated as i am capable of right now. also because it is lovely rain and storm outside.
now i need to decide what time i want to have as bedtime. i need to be up early to go vote before dropping the beau off at work.. maybe i should start the sleepmed tomorrow night... but i've committed to this course, now it's just details.
cabsy, i'm sorry your doctor is a shit. you deserve respect for helping yourself be better, not a roadblock.
Be careful with Ambien! Just in terms of... have your boyfriend keep an eye on you and truck you off to bed. Having tried it before it's way easy to be like oh sure I'll go soon and then you're basically blackout and loopy but still doing things like messaging people on IM or whatever. You might wanna wait a day if you have to be up and alert very early tomorrow, just to give yourself wiggle room... I'm super proud of you for going! It's damn hard to take that step
as for sleepwalking etc., no worries there. as paranoid as i am about drugs, i will have my ass in bed with a book as i take the pill.
Dad is on it bc he's on swing shifts, and managed to scare Mom a couple weeks ago by puttering around after taking a dose; she thought he was having a stroke. back in college, i had an underling who described her various unpleasant adventures in sleep medications, so Go Immediately to Bed Do Not Pass Go has long been my take on them.
Don't want to frighten you though, just have someone keep an eye on you in the morning.
i have such trouble making decisions, but once i commit to an informed course of action, i am pretty good about channeling my stubbornness in a positive way. between the doc being thorough and my existing awareness of those side effects, i don't feel scared about that aspect -- if it happens, i don't take it again! it's the unknown things that rattle my cage.
but my optimistic side is at play because it's been a productive day, so i admit to a rather freewheeling mood right now.
so I guess my 'black out' go to is now crafts
Yeah, I thought it was this one we had about in class, just got a bit confused since the Norwegian name for it is slightly different.
You're supposed to take it once a week. People are killed by it because someone fucks up and administers it daily, a mistake which apparently is more common than it should be. So if/when you're hospitalized, ask about it.
As a future nurse, I greatly appreciate this thread. We're told over and over again to respect the patients and listen, so it's awe-inspiring how much the people in here knows about their own stuff and medicines. Gives a much clearer picture of modern patients than a lecturer can. And now I've found out how hard it is to say I respect you all and the way you get through these things in a way that's not disrespectful, because I do.
Her employer has been dicking us around on accommodations and life is about to come at them extremely fast.
Yeah democracy!
God dammit this has not been a good week.
Bnet tag: Nermals#11601
If the GOP manages to think for about half a second they're going to do something to try and keep the incredibly popular portions of the bill around. What they have to give the insurance companies is going to be the question. Stuff that isn't super obvious to folks (like lifetime maximums....) might well be that thing. I think preexisting conditions are probably not on the block. Remember that prior to Obamacare it was that so long as you've been insured continuously then a new insurer couldn't pay attention to preexisting conditions. I'd be surprised if that went away as well.
Of course, if you're on a Marketplace plan or expanded Medicare you're pretty well fucked.
I am actually positive for C-Diff.
I see what you did there
i didn't, but wow.