OT: contrasts in the healthcare system

Don Foreman · 2011-02-26T06:21:56+00:00

Last night, when coughing vigorously (on purpose) to try to dislodgesome phlegm at the back of my throat, I felt a sharp twinge in my sidethat made me yelp. This was at the place that hurt when I fell onthe ice last Monday. That made me wonder if I might have a crackedrib after all and that cough made something slide a little. It wasstill quite tender this AM even with two 650-mg tylenol. No fever,difficulty with deep breathing, shooting pains or pink sneezes so I'mnot worried but I decided I probably should seek medical consult. Hadsome driving to do first. Today was a down-and-back-same-day drive to Mayo for Mary's chemo. Ibrought lots of Tylenol. Good help is readily available at Mayo ifyou know where to look -- and we do now. The folks at the rehabcenter were also very helpful so all I had to do is drive -- no heavylifting (for me) today getting Mary moved from wheelchair to car andconversely. All I had to do is drive, and push the wheelchair aroundwithin the Mayo campus after others moved her from car to wheelchairat the main entrance to the Gonda Building. The level places were no problem but the stairs would have been toughwithout the help of the blue-haired lady.(just kidding) Driving condx were OK: quite cold but bright, no snow, good road. I was glad I didn't have to mess with a gear shift today. While there, I decided I probably really should see someone here aboutme so I got on my phone to my clinic in the cities while Mary wasbeing infused.What a contrast! After the exemplary care Mary has been getting atMayo and other places, I thought I was in a third-world country --with cellphone service connected to phonebots, idiots andpassive-aggressive trolls. It turns out that the story I got depended a whole lot on from whom Igot it. I guess I did learn a few things in Corporate America, hmmmm?After being told variously that all clinics and ER's in the cities areswamped, see a chiropractor because MDs don't do much about...

Feb 26, 2011 45 Replies

Rate this thread:

Rich Grise 15 years ago

Did you have a bean and salsa burrito and a bowl of Raisin Bran with raspberries for breakfast? >:->

Cheers! Rich

Vote

Tom Gardner 15 years ago

4 gabapentin a day but I get NO side effects from them, they help but sometimes my feet hurt so bad I want to scream! Doc doesn't know what else to try. My A1C, Cholesterol and glucose are really good, I thought the neuropathy would ease up but... What DOES work well is an hour a day on the bike, but a couple of surgeries and a couple more to go have prevented the bike sessions.

Vote

Michael A. Terrell 15 years ago

formatting link

>> >>

Sleeping with my feet elevated at least a foot above my head does the most good for my feet. It reduces the swelling and the pain more than anything else. I take three capsules of gabapentin per day, put I'll have to dig out a new bottle to be able to read what the dosage is. I hate those thermally printed labels that wear away so fast. :(

Vote

Lewis Hartswick 15 years ago

Don Foreman wrote: dryness of a senior fart is not to be trusted. Aint that the truth. :-)

Vote

Michael A. Terrell 15 years ago

Like most gases, they need to be run through a dryer. ;-)

Vote

Michael A. Terrell 15 years ago

They are 400 miligram.

Vote

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required