Medical Networking....Because Being Sick Is Not Enough

Starting over in a new city can be hard when it comes to friends, a routine, feeling like you have a home..... but the hardest way to start over is medically.

To be bluntly honest, The easiest way is going through the ER.  I have so many different conditions, that no single doctor is qualified to attend to all of my various health needs.  So rather than finding a doctor to refer me to the other doctors, checking insurance coverage, coordinating appointments for at least four different docs, usually months in advance, and having to get to and keep track of all of these appointments when I'm already weakened from pain.... the ER has them all available and in network, and they all come to my side when I need them.

I'm need another nerve block.
Fortunately/unfortunately I've done the ER routine in New York City a few years ago, so I still have my Crohn's doctor.  Unfortunately, however, he knows no one who performs nerve blocks and doesn't know anything about the condition my LA pain management doctor identified and was treating....

So here I am, proactive enough to know what I need and when....and here are all the steps it took to maybe possible have a lead:

1.  Called old doctor (if I didn't have him, I'd have to find a primary care to refer me to him, putting me here about two weeks later, if we were moving efficiently)
2. He knows an anesthesiologist.
3. Googled that doctors name.
4. Called the wrong medical practice and got another number that might work for him.
5. Called the right one and gave them insurance information.
6. They checked my benefits and called me back. We scheduled an appointment.
7. And so now I'll be seeing him, in hopes that he performs nerve blocks and if not can link me to someone who does.

He is also out of network, which for now is covered, but come January 1st, I won't be able to see him until I've payed the copay equivalent of $5,000 for his services to then be at least partially covered. Otherwise he'll own every I have.

Years.
Years of self research to know my body this well, but what's taken even longer is knowing how to work the system. Not work it even, just survive in it. I'd be dead if I hadn't. Homeless, in pain, unable to get the care I need, in debt, and eventually dying from lack of medication.

I am so thankful to be working through this when I'm at least somewhat stronger physically than I was even a few months ago.

I also have to call three different medical offices to get copies of records sent to these new doctors. You know, because having the conditions aren't bad enough....but I need to have other doctors to prove that I have them, otherwise I'll be treated as a junky and not given even a milligram of help or respect.

This is why it's easier waiting until my body starts ripping itself into pieces and going to the ER.
Somehow that is easier than this.

I really hope this doesn't start to consume my life again.....I just started feeling like a person.

Today Was Actually a Good Day

I had the day off today.  I got to sleep in for an adequate amount of time, but didn't have to choose between rest and being alive (my body wants to sleep 16 hours a day and that's just not possible to do while also having time to be a human).

I went to get two of my nails fixed (somehow those broke off) and the kind guy at MJNails (go there!) did it for free because I had been there just last week.  And when I in a panic mentioned that I didn't have any cash on me for a tip, he very simply said it's fine and next time.  It seemed he honestly hadn't thought of it, he really was just being giving.

Moving on to other kind souls, I went to a doctor's where I haven't had the time to go recently.  It's a place that does acupuncture, massage and chiro all in the same office, so there are a lot of friendly people who work there, and that's always part of the treat.  It's been about a month since I had the time and energy for an appointment and I'm grateful I did.

After that I headed over to a pet store to get just a single lightbulb for Spencer.....and of course I purchased $35 worth of hermit crab treats.  It only cost me $23, however, because the kind fella to whom I asked sooo many many crab questions and told even more stories - found a way to give me a major discount.  He knew so little of my story, and still decided to help :) He also could tell that I'm a writer (lately everyone can tell I'm an artist and it's very reaffirming) and also...when I was inquiring about the food they feed their hermit crabs and sheepishly asked if I could have a sample to see if Spence likes it....he came out with a big tub of their food and just GAVE IT TO ME.

I'm just in awe.  Good people.  There are good people in the world who want to help make life easier.
This is the world I wanted.
I grew up with an angry woman.  She was mean to everyone but blamed it on everyone else being awful.  I remember the first time I went somewhere alone and how easy it was to have kind interactions when you are kind to everyone.  I decided then that that's who I would be, and that that's the kind of world I want to live in.

And at least for this one day, I lived in that harmonious world.

I also had to take an über back to get home safely, and my driver was a clever and worldly man from Germany, and it was so incredible to talk about Europe and share what I learned from being abroad and hearing a native's opinion on some of my observations.  I miss traveling and different cultures and people so different that I can't even imagine something as simple as their daily routines.....and it was such a treat to end the night with a reminder of how important that is to me and a taste of what I've been missing.

So I would call that a good day.  (....finally)

The 11th CC