
This week has been a painful reminder of how incredibly messed up healthcare is in America. I’ve had an annoying issue that’s been shadowing me for about a month – near constant tingling/numbness in my right arm. I waited a couple of weeks to see a doctor because I thought it might resolve on it’s own, it hasn’t. So I made an appointment and saw my doc – she put me on steroids to see if inflammation was the cause.
I was a little freaked out to take the steroids because I’ve heard some rough stuff but it was a low dose for six days so I tried it. Nothing miraculous happened, the pain and numbness were dulled a bit but not gone. A day after my last dose I had extreme pain so I called the doctors office asking for next steps. No one called me back. I called the next day and got Honied and Sweetied by the nurse.
Nurse: Hold on hon, let me check….(hears keyboard clicking…)
Me: The pain is fairly significant and it’s constant, can we possibly streamline this process?
Nurse: Well Sweetie your doctor is giving you a referral to the Rothman Institute.
Me: OK, will I have a diagnostic test done before then to pin point the problem?
Nurse: No Honey. Go to the Orthopedic doctor first.
So I call the Orthopedic doctor. I’m fortunate they have a cancellation so I don’t have to wait a month or more to get in. The intake person tells me I will see a non-surgical doctor and asks me if I have had any x-rays or an MRI. I call back my doctor’s office…
Me: Can I get an MRI or some other diagnostic testing prior to the Orthopedic appointment so it is a more productive appointment?
Nurse: Pffffft. I doubt it.
Me: Can you ask?
Nurse: (Clearly annoyed) This is what your doctor has suggested.
Me: Yes, I understand that. I’m just in a lot of discomfort and I want to streamline the process if at all possible.
Nurse: (sighs loudly) I’ll put a note in for the doctor.
Next day…nurse calls we play phone tag 4 times before we connect then the call gets disconnected….
Nurse: Doctor says your other option is 4 to 8 weeks of physical therapy, then reconsider MRI, otherwise, insurance likely won’t cover.
Me: So physical therapy for a problem that hasn’t been properly diagnosed yet because an accurate diagnostic test hasn’t been done because the insurance won’t pay….I’ll stick with the Orthopedic referral, thanks.
Once again the death of common sense has been verified. I am nothing but a walking widget to these people…another name in the computer that stumbled off the factory floor and had the nerve to ask relevant questions. I’m sure this nurse started her career with the sincere desire to help people, now she is relegated to towing the corporate line for a variety of insurance companies. The doctor may sign her paychecks but they all work for the insurers now and it’s been that way a long time. This is the insurance we pay $20K in premiums for each year because my husband and I are both self-employed.
In other news, I went for a consultation for a cosmetic procedure today – blepharoplasty (under eye bags). Met with the doctor, scheduled the procedure and poof have an appointment for early November. Easy Peasy!
What’s the difference here folks, cash. The almighty dollar y’all so if you are willing to pay cash you can get your tummy tucked, boobs/eyes/ass lifted, nipped, tucked and fat sucked with barely any questions asked. GAWD forbid you have a real problem then you will jump through hoops of fire to get the coverage you actually paid for, healthcare in America, it’s just swell.

Actual photo of me trying to get the healthcare coverage I already bought. (Pssst, not really I got the image form Pinterest)
Oh God Bryce, I’m hoping that numbness isn’t anything serious. Crossing my fingers for you my friend. And with that said, your so right if you have the cash to get something purely cosmetic done there is no problem getting an appointment. Bud lord forbid you have to have a serious procedure to help keep you healthy, because then you get stuck with snarky nurses and doctors that don’t pay attention to their patients, ugh.
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I’m sure it’s a pinched nerve or a herniated disc – would be nice to pinpoint the location so I don’t accidentally make it worse.
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Well you still need to get it looked at, just to be sure because accidentally making it worse will only make it harder to get an appointment, sadly.
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I’m going to the Orthopedic doc Monday – fingers crossed.
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Neuropathy is nothing to ignore and I hope you get to the bottom of this ASAP.
Health care in the US is excellent, health insurance is the problem. KWIM?
Cures and treatment are out there, it’s just the insurance companies goal is to avoid paying for anything.
After this week and my ER visit…don’t get me started.
Hope you feel better soon.
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Hope you feel better too!
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Right on woman! But more importantly, why the hell are you touching your face!!? Nooo😮
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It’s empowering to fix something that bothers you every day. This is something I have wanted to do for 10 years.
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I hope you get some answers on Monday–if it IS a pinched nerve, I hear acupuncture can help. How do they do eye bags? Does it involve cutting stuff or is it more like liposuction?
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