They Say, I Say, Pay another CoPay

Well it is official. Satan didn't reclaim the earth yesterday (June 6, 2006 or 6/6/06). Not that I was worried or anything but I must admit I was ready to kick some ass.

Next week I have an appointment with my Rheumatologist. We shall discuss my concerns that AS is indeed the accurate diagnosis and not Fibromyalgia. God help me if this is just an add on!

AS is the lovely....warm up your vocal cords....me meme me me.... Ankylosing Spondylitis. Sounds like I have spider disease don't it!

I tested positive for the gene marker in 2004. My gastroenterologist thought I had it then and she suggested my Rheumo doc check. Apparently it is more common with people who have Crohns and Ulceritive Colitis. He agreed that I had some of the symptoms but wanted to proceed with the Fibro diagnosis.

The horrific pain in my heels and the bottom of my feet for over a year now seem to be classic AS symptoms. As well as the horrible knee pain I have if I sit for long. I sometimes don't think my knees will bend again. Many of the other symptoms are the same as Fibro. Including night sweats and fever. Hmmm my primary care doc said I probably had those as well as the feet pain because I am FAT. Yes oddly enough being FAT is a likely cause according to my dr. and my mother. Yea ok.... but since I barely walk cuz it hurts so damn bad and I work at home which requires little to no movement (scarey but true) ... maybe being FAT isn't the damn problem. Phew... a wee vent was in order.

Since AS is progressive and more serious that sucks... however it is a recognized disease medically (unlike Fibro in many dr's minds) and has 2 medical treatments at this time. The worst bits in my estimation is indeed the spine fusing bits. That doesn't sound good eh?

But really the most annoying part is that in order for me to do ANYTHING re: my personal medical welfare I need to schedule an appointment, pay my $10 co-pay and then ask a dr. or nurse practitioner to do something on my behalf.

The latest jaunt? Lordy lovely I got a jury duty notice. Can you imagine.... Excuse me your honor, I need to be excused to go to the bathroom. Mam, you just did that 30 minutes ago. Yes sir, but I have UC and go on average 10+ times a day around 15 minutes a go.... You can always just park a loo outside your chambers for me.........

So off to the dr. - co pay - please write me a letter as it outlines on my notice for medical excuse - nurse practitioner (NP), sorry due to the new hippaa laws and privacy we can't write that letter - result she writes me a "prescription" stating I have a medical condition making jury duty impossible. I can hardly wait to hear what the courts say for this.

Need to see my Gasto - need to go to my primary and get a referral. Done - co-pay done.

Need to see my rheumo - need to go to my primary and get a referral. In process however, scheduled appointment anyway, gastro however never received referral. Need to contact my primary office again and try and track down.... copay, copay, copay.

Was given sample meds for new GERD med and it works WUNDERBAR!! Aciphex. Loving it. Not throwing up into my throat or spewing greenish yellow bile out my nose at night anymore. However, just realized that NP wrote jury duty script but no meds script included. Lovely....damn.... now I need to take maarten to work again so I can use the car, so I can go into the office and PAY ANOTHER COPAY to get the prescription for the drugs that she gave me a months samples of....

La lee laa le laaa me dances around in me head some more. Cuz that is what this all is

Living in the land of sick one dances around alot in ones head. My head in particular.

They say I need this. I say I prefer an alternative or something I just read in a recent study. I remain proactive with my health. I don't think the dr's have the time to stay on top of all the research on every disease and illness "out there".

Either way. I pay another copay.