Just when I thought I knew it all, God puts me under the drill.
Really, it is a good thing. Right now my heart is heavy with a few issues. I am glad they are coming up before we solidify our church membership so that I can commit fully, having worked through some serious issues. It was all quite unexpected, though. God is amazing.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Medicine- Does it really heal anymore?
Warning: This is a venting session.
I went to the doctor yesterday and it got me thinking about health insurance. How come eyes and teeth aren't covered in health insurance in our personal medical insurance? They are body parts, they affect our overall health. Some plans include both, some include one or the other. But when a person takes a job in their chosen field, how is it possible that an employer gets the control over how much medical coverage a person gets? It is cheaper for us to buy an individual policy for our child than to have him on my husband's coverage offered through his employer. How messed up is that? And because our son had surgery on his knee for a congenital issue, we could not continue on that private policy and ended up paying twice as much on a new policy but still less than through my husband's employer because of the pre-existing condition that is congenital and cannot return, at least on that knee. This is not about being ungrateful for insurance or criticizing the employer because I know they try to choose very carefully. It is about the insurance industry and the cost of medical care and the priorities someone else choosing about my medical care and the care of my family. So, in order for me to have glasses I can see an opthamologist and they are covered under medical insurance, not an optometric physician. But to pay for the condition (needing corrective lenses) comes completely out-of-pocket whether I see an MD or an optometrist. My need for glasses is the same as a prescription for diabetes or high cholesterol and yet that isn't the concern of insurance. Don't even get me started on the laws on drug patents.
It took me 2.25 hours at the gynecologist yesterday. I was waiting, on the exam table, in my paper half-shirt and the paper blanket that hardly wrapped around me for 40 minutes without anyone coming to let me know anything. The doctor comes in and whimsically says, "I got hung up with something," and immediately starts my breast exam. (This was after I got redressed because I had to go to the bathroom so bad after waiting for so long and the only person in the hallway was a doctor at my doctor's office doorway, hanging out.) No one even noticed I'd left my exam room except for that random doctor because I asked for directions. It was the roughest exam I have ever had. And then the doctor would hardly answer any of my questions- why bother to even take me into your office if you just want to talk at me about what I should do? What about what you did and found? He reminded me of my father-in-law, which certainly did not enhance the situation. He seems to be from the school of thought that I should just let him do his job and not ask questions or be involved in my body's care. It does not make me a feminist because I want to know what a person is doing with my most intimate body parts. I would take this stance with any physician regarding any patient in any situation, except for a life-or-death no-time-for-questions emergency.
I know that it may seem cumbersome for a doctor to have to explain things to a layperson about their body, but a little talk can go a long way. This connection is part of healing and there a very few doctors who seem concerned about it. After I get my diagnosis from this ob/gyn I am going back to midwives for care or to a female ob/gyn. What about building a relationship with patients so they trust you and you know them and their issues? The one thing I have been the most impressed about recently is the call I received from my primary care physician to talk to me directly. That goes a LONG way in my book towards respecting him, wanting to comply, wanting to listen, knowing he knows his stuff. I do have some medical background which is far from being a doctor. But I do know myself and my body. That does make me an expert on me and together with a doctor, that should be optimal care. I wonder how much it bothers doctors today to have very little time with their patients and to just churn out a daily schedule and hardly make real connections.
I went to the doctor yesterday and it got me thinking about health insurance. How come eyes and teeth aren't covered in health insurance in our personal medical insurance? They are body parts, they affect our overall health. Some plans include both, some include one or the other. But when a person takes a job in their chosen field, how is it possible that an employer gets the control over how much medical coverage a person gets? It is cheaper for us to buy an individual policy for our child than to have him on my husband's coverage offered through his employer. How messed up is that? And because our son had surgery on his knee for a congenital issue, we could not continue on that private policy and ended up paying twice as much on a new policy but still less than through my husband's employer because of the pre-existing condition that is congenital and cannot return, at least on that knee. This is not about being ungrateful for insurance or criticizing the employer because I know they try to choose very carefully. It is about the insurance industry and the cost of medical care and the priorities someone else choosing about my medical care and the care of my family. So, in order for me to have glasses I can see an opthamologist and they are covered under medical insurance, not an optometric physician. But to pay for the condition (needing corrective lenses) comes completely out-of-pocket whether I see an MD or an optometrist. My need for glasses is the same as a prescription for diabetes or high cholesterol and yet that isn't the concern of insurance. Don't even get me started on the laws on drug patents.
It took me 2.25 hours at the gynecologist yesterday. I was waiting, on the exam table, in my paper half-shirt and the paper blanket that hardly wrapped around me for 40 minutes without anyone coming to let me know anything. The doctor comes in and whimsically says, "I got hung up with something," and immediately starts my breast exam. (This was after I got redressed because I had to go to the bathroom so bad after waiting for so long and the only person in the hallway was a doctor at my doctor's office doorway, hanging out.) No one even noticed I'd left my exam room except for that random doctor because I asked for directions. It was the roughest exam I have ever had. And then the doctor would hardly answer any of my questions- why bother to even take me into your office if you just want to talk at me about what I should do? What about what you did and found? He reminded me of my father-in-law, which certainly did not enhance the situation. He seems to be from the school of thought that I should just let him do his job and not ask questions or be involved in my body's care. It does not make me a feminist because I want to know what a person is doing with my most intimate body parts. I would take this stance with any physician regarding any patient in any situation, except for a life-or-death no-time-for-questions emergency.
I know that it may seem cumbersome for a doctor to have to explain things to a layperson about their body, but a little talk can go a long way. This connection is part of healing and there a very few doctors who seem concerned about it. After I get my diagnosis from this ob/gyn I am going back to midwives for care or to a female ob/gyn. What about building a relationship with patients so they trust you and you know them and their issues? The one thing I have been the most impressed about recently is the call I received from my primary care physician to talk to me directly. That goes a LONG way in my book towards respecting him, wanting to comply, wanting to listen, knowing he knows his stuff. I do have some medical background which is far from being a doctor. But I do know myself and my body. That does make me an expert on me and together with a doctor, that should be optimal care. I wonder how much it bothers doctors today to have very little time with their patients and to just churn out a daily schedule and hardly make real connections.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Lots of Developments
My doctor called me himself to tell me that I do NOT have diabetes. I am borderline, which is highly motivating, but I have not yet crossed the line. Amen and Allelujah!
We started membership class at our church and are looking forward to becoming a part of the family. Soon after that, I will be starting up a bible drill program which is very very exciting!! Hoping God will bless the program greatly.
Working on a Baby Brag Book for my sister, slowly but surely. I am also trying to decide between Stampin' Up and Close to My Heart. Have no idea which way I am leaning at this point. Like both of the companies and could see myself being a demonstrator for either one. Just got the Adobe Suite and cannot wait cannot wait cannot wait to dig in!!! (Thanks, JS!)
Had a dream in which I was going to be teaching a college class (which I did for a year at MSU) and the technology was so advanced and the students were so wired -- literally, that I could not connect with them and felt like an outsider. Very, very strange.
I am so worn out from the last week I have no wit to share. But, I have so much to look forward to and will continue to keep updates.
We started membership class at our church and are looking forward to becoming a part of the family. Soon after that, I will be starting up a bible drill program which is very very exciting!! Hoping God will bless the program greatly.
Working on a Baby Brag Book for my sister, slowly but surely. I am also trying to decide between Stampin' Up and Close to My Heart. Have no idea which way I am leaning at this point. Like both of the companies and could see myself being a demonstrator for either one. Just got the Adobe Suite and cannot wait cannot wait cannot wait to dig in!!! (Thanks, JS!)
Had a dream in which I was going to be teaching a college class (which I did for a year at MSU) and the technology was so advanced and the students were so wired -- literally, that I could not connect with them and felt like an outsider. Very, very strange.
I am so worn out from the last week I have no wit to share. But, I have so much to look forward to and will continue to keep updates.
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