health

No NRA Cancer Insurance (or soup) for me…

I received a large envelope from the NRA in the mail yesterday.  On the outside it said Health Care Reform 2013.

I was intrigued.  After all, I’m on disability and Medicare, and any help with things medical and insurance would be welcome.  I cannot afford any ‘doughnut hole’ coverage.

So, I began to peruse the envelope’s contents.  Basically, it appears to be coverage for cancer, and will pay up to $300,000 CASH directly to the policy holder (eligible NRA members) in case of such a diagnosis.  They even include a plastic membership card!

AND, the fees are quite reasonable.  Even I can afford them!  ($6.77/month at my age)

But, alas…

The not-so-fine print states I cannot apply if I’ve been diagnosed and/or received treatment for CANCER, Leukemia or Hodgkin’s Disease within the past 10 years.  They do allow skin cancer (which I also have had)!

And I had lymphoma, which was treated with chemotherapy, within that time frame.

No cancer coverage or soup for me!  I do still have Medicare, though (?)

Adventures in Burgers, Dogs and Beah(s)

I hesitated to post this, as most gun bloggers who post about food post about fine food:  seafood, chili, gourmand cuisine.  Think Brigid, and many others.

I like to cook, and am not half bad at it – traditional American fare:  lasagna, deep-dish pizza, steak, hamburgers, hot dogs.  Baking.  Some sugar-free stuff.  But, with my various infirmities, standing and cooking usually isn’t a pleasant experience.  (I need to eat more salads, anyway).

So, I’ve taken to finding foods I like near my new digs.  Mexican food, bar & grills, pizza.  Usually accompanied by alcohol (or diet soda ).  Much depends on how close it is to ‘payday’.

We used to frequent a pizza place near my old house.  Our favorite waitress appeared to be a recovering tweaker from Boston – always pronounced beer as beah, so we adopted that.  For fun.  (Yes. sarcasm and mockery are our stock in trade!)

Of late we (my roommate and I) have found a couple new places.  One had excellent burgers and fries – at steak prices, and 52 craft beers available.  We took immediately to Mr. Pineapple Ale, then found out the craft beer was $7.00/pint!

As much as we liked the food, we went on the hunt to find Mr. Pineapple, and found it at another place we have been known to frequent.  For $4.50/pint!  Have three beers and you’re saving money!  (see what I did there?)

The problem is, the food at the cheaper beer place, while good, is not as good (or as costly) as the expensive beer place.  They do have 1/4 pound BACON-WRAPPED hot dogs, though!

A friend recently gifted me with a fine single-malt Scotch.  Perhaps I should just stay home with that.

I’m certain my doctor would agree.

Probably without the dark chocolate, though…

FTC – San Tan Brewery gives me nothing.  Now go away!

PHEW! That was close!

threedonia, in the midst of all the horrific news regarding the ever-fascistic encroachment of government bring us good news…

The TWINKIE is returning!

The new owner of Hostess Brands Inc’s snack cakes hopes to have Twinkies back on U.S. store shelves by this summer, according to a member of the purchasing group.

“Our family is thrilled to have the opportunity to reestablish these iconic brands with new creative marketing ideas and renewed sales efforts and investment,”Daren Metropoulos, a principal at his family’s private equity firm, told Reuters in an email on Tuesday.

“We look forward to having America’s favorite snacks back on the shelf by this summer.”

I guess this means when we complain about the sardine-seating in the cattle cars headed to the ‘re-education’ camps, and are told  “Let ‘em eat cake!”  we will again have another choice of chemically enhanced sponge cake tubes, with cremey filling (no dairy involved – hence the spelling creme) from which to choose!

That, and a 16+ oz. soda to celebrate Freedom’s return!  Or not.

Compulsive? Me? Naw…

So (I told myself) “I’ll get all these different tasks accomplished in my roommate’s absence.”

Fat chance.  (Why are a fat chance and a slim chance the same? – George Carlin)

To be fair, I did go to two grocery stores this morning, in preparation for the Christmas feast.  But I thought I’d be able to rearrange my bookshelves to accommodate more books, and clear the remaining boxes from my room after emptying their contents into precise spaces in the closet.

Fat chance.

I did get some of the bookcase rearranged, but, between the bending, kneeling and having to wear ‘Ed’ (the really big shoe) to keep my pain level at a minimum, work took it’s toll.  (Note-to-self:  realize that self-made projects expand to fill the time allotted, plus 25%.)  My back, knees and hands are now killing me.

But, I DID make a dent.  Progress, not perfection.

More tomorrow.

PS – I wrote this the next day.  It’s been three days more, still having ‘issues’.  Guess I’m officially old and out-of-shape!

A small Gun Show Bleg

My apologies in advance.  I AM quite reluctant to do this, but…

End of this week is the Crossroads of the West Gun Show, here in Phoenix.  This is the BIG show, with 7-8 buildings (exhibit buildings in the State Fairgrounds), separated by a large parking area tarp-covered outside display area the size of another two buildings.  Something like 1500 tables.  And the Small Arms Review exhibit, as well.  Traditionally, I’ve been attending this every year, but the past few years I’ve not been as fortunate.

In December 2008, while attending this very show, I began having breathing difficulties.  We didn’t stay very long, nor see all the exhibits.  The end result was end-of-January 2009, I was hospitalized and diagnosed with lymphoma.  Six months of chemotherapy followed that.  Today (thankfully) I’m lymphoma free. 

I tried to attend last year’s show, but other health issues occurred.  So, I didn’t get to see very much.  Those issues have in part been resolved (now wearing ‘ED’, the really big shoe (built-up) – and can walk better).

But this year there’s another issue.  On my small income, I really don’t have the means to drive across town, and pay parking and admission.  Certainly not enough to buy anything.  That’s not what I’m requesting.

If someone could cover parking and admission for two, it would mean a lot!  That’s about $32.00, last I checked.

Update – I’ve been informed I’ll have the needed funds, tomorrow!  Thank you kind benefactor!  gfa

Cleanliness is next to…

So, I’m reading passing-over, yet again, another warning on the Internet regarding keyboards.  It seems, more than public bathrooms, computer keyboards are THE source of e-coli bacteria for most folks.  E-coli is one of those nasty things we sometimes access through uncooked food and can cause serious illness and even death.

Yeah yeah, sure sure…yawn

I’m a bit of a germaphobe.  Being slightly OCD and having been ill many times in my life, this is not surprising.  A while back I was reading how the so-called 5-second rule is more realistically a 5-minute rule.  (dropping food on to a generally-clean-appearing floor does not automatically mean it’s instantly acquired enough strange bacteria to be a health hazard if eaten!  As if I’d do something like that! )  Currently living in a house with three dogs and a cat usually means mishandled food doesn’t even make it to the floor.  If it does, it means they’re kenneled, sleeping or seriously full.

So, back to the keyboard.  Specifically MY cordless computer keyboard.  Usually observed in low-light conditions, no issues are observed.  Wait-a-minute…what’s THAT on the keyboard, that red stuff (OH, it’s probably wearing paint…) WAIT!  The keyboard has black with white lettering, no color!  Uh-oh…

Yep.  A couple months back, just after my move, I developed a habit of eating at my computer, over my keyboard in some cases.  Usually…aw geez!  That’s it!  Jack-In-The-Box Tacos!

Old, dried TACO SAUCE ON AND IN-BETWEEN THE KEYS!  Yucch!

Apply Clorox Disinfecting Wipes to the affected area, twice!  And to all the electronic gadget remotes living in my room, just in case.  Because one never knows.

I feel better now, and a little hungry.  What sounds good?  mmmmm-tacos!

Revisiting FEAR

There’s a Huey Lewis song – The Power of Love.  Something else can have power if you give it some – FEAR.

In 2009, I was diagnosed with lymphoma and given six months of chemotherapy.  I lost my hair, my cancer, and my job.  And it took me some time to get disability benefits, including Medicare.  And on my meager disability, I couldn’t afford COBRA.

So I went for two years without any medical care, save affording some meds for my diabetes.  The other conditions I have had to wait.  Including follow-up with my oncologist.

When I was finally awarded Medicare last July, I thought great, now I can go see my oncologist.  In the previous two years he had scheduled a number of tests for me, but as I couldn’t afford them, I didn’t go.  And I worried about losing benefits if still in remission, and about not having gone soon enough if not.  The classic double-edged sword.

But, I finally found some courage and went yesterday.  My doctor completely understood why I’d not been in to see him, and I shared my trials of the past couple years with him:  few meds, losing my home, fears about benefits, ability to pay the 20% Medicare requires.  He was very understanding and accommodating.

He said as his exam showed no recurrence, and it had been over three years, there was no need for an MRI or other expensive tests!  I’m to return in six months, and probably one more time after that.  Then, only if I have symptoms.  He didn’t think being in remission would affect my benefits.  And, I’m still cancer free!

And isn’t knowledge and action better than ignorance and FEAR?  Perhaps I’ll remember this next time.

How the mighty have fallen!

not Ed, but a reasonable facsimile

…and even the lowly like me!

Being a disabled individual most of my life, I’m usually pretty careful about falling.  I have fallen a few times in the past ten years, usually by catching the edge of a kerb with my shoe by not picking up my leg far enough.  Last year, having had additional issues, I purchased a shoe lift for my right leg, making up the missing height with a taller sole and heel.  Except for my fused hip, I can walk almost normally with this shoe.  No walking on the toe or shoulders dropping with my gait.

But, there are occasional  problems.

Yesterday, I became a bit miffed with myself.  I moved June 30, but haven’t yet found places for many boxes, cannot get into my closet and am missing many items.  So I did some work to remedy this.  Or so I thought.

Mid-afternoon, after emptying some boxes, I was repositioning a floor lamp to get better lighting in my room, and promptly tripped on the extension cord with Ed (aka the Really Big Shoe)*.  I fell face-first into the space between my barrister bookcase and my dresser, tweaking my lower back, hitting the edge of the bookcase with my face, bruising my chest, and scraping my right wrist.  My eyeglasses also were reconformed into a modern art piece.  Getting up from almost prone has always been a challenge, and was now more so with the various added injuries.  But we prevailed.

My roomie returned from work and fretted over me, and took me out for beer.  A little alcoholic anesthetic helped, but wasn’t a cure.

At least I didn’t damage the furniture, and no arteries were severed; no bones broken; joints sprained.  I was able to plier-cobble my eyeglasses back into shape.  I do have a cut on my right cheek and two bruises on my chest.  It’s been suggested I make up a fight story.

Naw, just an old guy stumbling.

Another Fine Whine

I’ve a tendency to whine.  I’ve matured over the years, and whine less, but, when I do, it’s a fine full-bodied, aged, whine!  (I think I’ve complained about this before, but, it warrants additional complaining!)

Since I’ve been able to receive medical care, I’ve been seeing my physician every three months.  And she has prescribed for me five medications.  Of course, these need reauthorization by her every couple of months.

And there’s the rub.

It seems every month, my physician and my pharmacy cannot get it together.  Some months it’s one scrip that need reauthorization, some months four or five.  And it is as if the pharmacy speaks Tagalog and the doctor’s office Farsi, and never the twain shall meet.

EVERY MONTH I get to wrestle with the two of them telephonically, until the missing med is reauthorized.  This most current event began last Thursday, when I called my prescription requests to the pharmacy.  I was able to pick up all but one med on Monday.  Still awaiting one permission.  And two of the drugs I collected had needed reauthorization(!)  WTF?

And, my doctor won’t authorize the 90 day prescriptions – guess she wants to keep closer tabs on me.  I’m scheduled for another visit this month.

Two of the medications are blood pressure related.  I wonder if I’d only need one, if someone simply did their job!

My previous doctor and pharmacy seemed to work in concert with one another.  Of course, they were more expensive.

I’m still awaiting confirmation the scrip has been ordered.  Sigh.

Update – after over an hour on the telephone with both the doctor’s office and the pharmacy, they told me they would transfer me to my doctor’s medical assistant (who was given the message yesterday) to get this resolved.

It went to her voice mail!!

If It LOOKS Like A Duck…

I’ve been feeling ‘poorly’ for the past week or so.  Not that I don’t usually, having diabetes, neuropathy, arthritis and ‘weight issues’, but even more so.

I’ve been enjoying much of the Summer, taking an early morning swim at the community pool most every other morning before I do the blog thing.  This past week I’ve not felt up to it – chalked it up to increased pain, general malaise and the fact I possess chronic illnesses.

But, another element has been added.  My roomie (who has her own health issues) has been feeling poorly, too, coupled with bouts of gut pain and more recently chills (!)  Now she normally has some other issues which produce excessive warmth (she’s gonna kill me for writing this) so chills usually aren’t in the equation.  Nor is gut pain.

Suddenly, it occurred to me:  The Flu!  I don’t generally get colds and flu, but she does, and this makes perfect sense, especially with both of us having ‘issues’ simultaneously.  I even ran our total symptoms past a friend who is a nurse, and not only did she agree, but thinks she has a mild case, as well.  She had chills last night!

So, guess we ride it out.  I seem to be doing better, and Roomie’s symptoms are subsiding.  Whew!

Perhaps this is what’s wrong with WordPress, lately?