Cranky and past my sell-by date

[kyburg]

This is what losing your kidneys looks like.

Damn proud of her. But one of the things I don't think she hit as hard as yours truly would have:

YOU HAVE TO BE ON DIALYSIS to be on the one single-payer, government-supported health plan we have working today. It's called Medicare, and it works so well a lot of doctors today prefer accepting it instead of a number of private health plans.

If she had had that kind of care up front, she wouldn't be here now. And it's not a matter of 'few bucks there, same few bucks later' - this is easily one of the most day in and day out EXPENSIVE costs out there (that's why it was moved to Medicare as the only 'instant approval' diagnosis in 1972).

(I'd love it if someone could research it and tell me who put that bill to Congress and who supported it. Watch it be Blue Cross.)

(Some of my favorite orthopods won't take any other patients than workmans comp ones these days. Yes, it pays that much better, without all the bullshit 'denials' private plans put you through. They can choose, and so they do.)

Tell a friend.

...

I guess getting the news on the hypothyroidism is settling in - I'm going to see about gathering every bit of information we have on record (which means getting it translated) - I was told he was seen regularly for this, and even after referral last year, it was checked and reported that he still needed to be followed for it.

If they simply did not change the paperwork to allow me to be placed anywhere but where he was - if they allowed him to be overmedicated - or incorrectly diagnosed....

*blows air* Nobody has a thing to say to me about not taking proper care of him, or having his interests uppermost in mind when making decisions. Not today.

Outflanked him this morning though - still taking the antibiotic in shave ice syrup, but has become increasingly resistant to the idea (part toddler oppositional/attention getting, part this stuff is NARSY) and just turns his head at the oncoming bottle of water we give between sips to get this stuff down.

So I just got on one side of him, Jim was already on the other and we gave him a little hug (holding his head gently between the two of ours). Can't make ya, huh?

We're running out of time to get out the door, though - and one of the casualties has been the morning bottle of formula. Kid no longer wants it. And since it was one of the fastest methods to get something in him before running out the door, he's been hitting daycare without breakfast...and what they serve is often not something he'll eat.

But he'll down mass quantities at dinner, methinks to compensate. Not terribly impressed with the lack of breakfast - it's not something I want to continue.

So that's something that we need some more time for. Guess who's getting up even earlier as soon as possible?

Also considering dropping the group insurance through work entirely - except I'm not exactly sure that would wise. It was largely to make sure the kid got specialist care at need - since that exact need is non-existant....

Also broke. And cranky. People being pissy. That sort of thing.

Comments

[lesliepear.livejournal.com]

How much longer is he on the antibiotic?

Would he drink a smoothie in the AM?

Could you leave cereal and milk at daycare for breakfast?

[ms-hecubus.livejournal.com]

Good idea. Delia likes both the Ensure for Kids and Pediasure shakes. She doesn't like the new Gerber ones though.

Will he eat a fruit and cereal bar? Those are easy and with the shake should fill him up.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Nine months, not a chance and they already have it. Changes daily. Problem is, not too much of it is something he'll eat.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

No on both accounts. Imagine a kid who does not like anything tart or sweet - basically, anything fruit flavored. Dairy is nearly always a no - so.

[monkeyfruit.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting that. I get so angry at failing to find a real job and people I live with being asses, but I need a reminder every now and again that I am at least healthy and everything functions well.

[dame-of-dames.livejournal.com]

Since Xander doesn't like sweet stuff, may I suggest plain oatmeal? Or my favorite, which is Greenmax's Yam & Multi Grain Cereal?

http://organicsamm.com/2008/09/23/greenmax-yam-multi-grains-cereal/

It's a veggie gruel kinda thing.

Actually, Greenmax has some pretty good instant stuff that has substance to it...

http://mymall.netbuilder.com.my/index.php?doit=showclass&cid=39&domain=greenavenue

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

As a Medicare patient, I gotta say there are some SERIOUS flaws in its system. And since it is a sort of standard, many of those same flaws ended up in our insurance system as well.

And I don't know where you're getting the info that more doctors are preferring Medicare - my sources say more doctors are refusing to deal with it, partly because it doesn't pay enough. I *know* several managed care plans fled the new HMO alternatives, leaving some patients out in the cold.

Medicare is frighteningly cost-based. I can have three doctors, including one of THEIR doctors, say "this patient needs X" and it gets turned down because of cost limitations. Thousands of Americans are trapped in their homes because Medicare won't approve mobility devices if you can walk a few steps - you don't need to leave the house, even to see your doctors, apparently.

They do NOT pay for an annual exam. Or almost any preventive care. They won't pay for a second opinion before major treatments.

They refuse to cover custodial care; the nursing home lobby puts a lot of money into making sure people can't stay in their own homes if they need ADL help.

And what they do cover, they cover at only 80% - you've got a roulette wheel of Medicaid, Medigap, and local plans to cover the rest if you can't afford it.

Yes, it's a hell of a lot better than nothing. But that doesn't mean I am going to ignore its faults.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Then you can well imagine how poorly some private plans are paying if they prefer Medicare patients, neh?

The only game in town in California for nursing home care is MediCal; custodial care? *laughs* That's what winning the lottery is for. Or your local police department. (Seriously. I had to work, leave Cliff at home - and depended on Meals On Wheels to check him at lunch, and if he didn't answer the safety call at 2:00, I called the cops to check him. They found him unconscious three times out of the four I did that.)

Yup. Most people don't know about this. Those who need these services tend to be the most invisible. You know what I mean.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

He hasn't had a bowl of rice with furikake on it for a while - but it's the sheer time to get him up, awake and ready to eat that's the pisser.

We've got about 15 minutes. Go.

[dame-of-dames.livejournal.com]

Ah. Yeah, that'll do it...

The one yam drink is like a smoothie, but not as sweet. I drink it when I want a snack. It's filling and has texture. You can make it at night and heat it up in the morning.

I wish you guys well with the whole child-rearing thing. ;-)