One of those days
I’ve been having one of those days.
Oh, the weather’s fine. But I’ve been dealing with the health problems of a friend – my ex-husband, to be exact, because I’m the only relative (ex-relative?) nearby. I’ve gotten the usual run-around from various doctors, offers for appointments a year from now – you know the drill. I did finally get him an appointment for about 2 weeks from now with a doctor who might be able to expedite matters a bit, so there’s that. But it’s been very stressful and frustrating and makes me think that, at least in my area of the country, the health care system is more broken than ever.
And then I had some computer problems.
And now, here I am! Greetings, earthlings.
“I’ve been having one of those days.”
It’s okay to give yourself a day, neo. (You have my permission.) Do what you gotta do. Don’t worry ‘bout us. God bless.
(And thanks as always for all that you do.)
I second MJR’s thoughts. And I admire your willingness neo, to step up and help your ex.
As I recall, your ex was helpful with seeing you got safely to California and back for your epic cataract surgery. It’s good to help each other.
Kate:
You remember correctly.
I had a hunch that your ex husband may be the friend you mentioned helping.
I hope you continue to make progress with his medical needs and he is soon well!
Rufus T. Firefly:
Thanks for the good wishes. I hope so too. But it’s very serious, distressing, and frustrating so far.
Oy. I am ancient and have seen a lot. The slow destruction of the US medical system crept up on us. Around 1979 those behind this told us what they planned to do, but few wanted to believe them. By 1986, the steps had begun in earnest — to train more and more non-docs. It was in 2016, when I saw posters advertising “zero premium” “health care” [note, not “medical care”] policies, that I knew that real trouble was ahead. In mid-2019, medical facilities began competing for experienced docs — biding against each other even as they had little money in the bank to pay those docs. In mid-2022, the new trend became for facilities to try very hard NOT to hire docs, but to “make do” with non-docs. Between 2019 and 2024, 24 to 25 US hospitals closed each year. I believe it was in 2023 that the feds began allowing rural ERs to function WITHOUT a doc on the premises — with some locales allowed to have a doc within a 20-minute drive and some more isolated locales allowed to have a doc within a 40-minute drive. In 2025, as of June 1st, 13 more US hospitals have closed. We now have at least two generations of folks who have little idea as to what “good medical care” once looked like — so much of the population does not realize what a mess we are in at this point. Stay as healthy as you can! Good luck to all of us!
If I were 20 again, I would not go into medicine. The forces arrayed against MDs delivering competent, sympathetic care are impossible to overcome. Most MDs today are mere employees of “systems” of healthcare, with the non-physician, wise (HA!) medically ignorant administrators, whose primary concern is moolah, controlling the docs.
I’m sorry to hear about your difficulties, Neo. I’ve been there and it’s no fun. All you can do sometimes is to take things one day at a time, take a deep breath, and remember that tomorrow is a fresh start. You’ve got this.
neo,
“… it’s very serious.”
This saddens me and I am sorry words are failing me now. God bless you both.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=raV_A8YcBu0.
Pink Floyd:
“One of these days I’m going to cut you into little pieces”.
Almost an instrumental prog rock spacey psychedelic, off their Meddle album, 1971, just before Dark Side of the Moon.
A far more soothing song is from Nilsson, not yet mentioned, the Moonbeam Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OTyuLj9RpY
My wife was very happy to hear my urology test scores are greatly improved from last year, at our doctors’ visit yesterday. Govt controlled, socialized medicine, is probably less bad in most cases than the mixed up system in the US, which likely remains the best for great care for the rich, but expensive.
I hope your friendly ex is ok.
“The sun is the same, in a relative way, but you’re older.”
I’m feeling pretty mortal this week.
RCP: Interesting. You are the only other person (myself excepted) of whom I am aware who has noted the effect of language on the whole medical-care/medical-system mess: Calling it “health care” increases the system’s authority purview over all citizens at all times and under all conditions; references to “wellness” does so even more: There is nothing they cannot control if they are given power over the citizenry’s “health” and “wellness.” The system is no longer involved in mere treatment of disease and disorder.
I have noticed for years that if you are sick, you cannot simply call your doctor and get an immediate appointment to receive medical care; doctors have no appointment openings, often for so long as a year–they are up to their own stupid necks in dealing with their patients’ “health and wellness.” Their offices will instead direct you to a walk-in clinic in which you will see a Physician’s Assistant or other medical-care stand-in.
I am impressed with Neo’s good relations with her ex. I constantly read or hear about exes killing each other which is how a lot of people deal with disagreements and breakups these days.
I come to this site daily or weekly but I rarely comment.
I did want to comment to betsybounds‘ post. I have a doctor that I like. He runs his own business and is not part of these conglomerates taking over the health industry.
I’ve called for an appointment and multiple times I have gotten in on the same day. Usually it is never more than 2-3 days to go in.
I joke that for someone who never smoked, didn’t do drugs, rarely ate junk food, I am now having multiple issues: leukemia, prostate cancer, beginning of arthritis. I would have been wilder in my youth if I had known. Clean living doesn’t always pay off.
I have gone through a lot of doctors until I found a set (pcp, oncologist, and urologist) that I like, including the staff—very important that the staff be as good as the doctor.
I live in Arizona and it seems I have wrongfully assumed that it was the same elsewhere in the U.S.
I am grateful that my oncologist’s office has a program for help with cancer costs. They found a foundation to help pay for pills I have to take for a year at a ridiculous cost of $2000 co-pay a month. They also got a drug company to supply a chemotherapy drug for free. The infusion is even more ridiculously priced at $4000 co-pay for each treatment until I hit my maximum out-of-pocket limit. I’ve had 9 treatments so far with the last one next month. The generosity of the company/foundation means I am paying roughly $350 total co-pays for the entire process.
I’ve never been hospitalized or needed surgery so I don’t know how that experience will be.
I do ceramics every day for 8-10 hours. I am trying to give the foundation, drug company, and my oncologist’s office a ceramic piece as a thank you gift—their selection as opposed to what I think they might like.
Oh well.
==
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZbKHDPPrrc
Best of luck to you, Brio!
The ceramic gift is thoughtful and will be appreciated!