http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M17aG_Po2Y

Oh, and a little oil on a piece of cotton will get rid of the sticky stuff really quickly.

All the best!

First and foremost, Thank You for your brutal honesty whilst “reporting” under, shall-we-say, less than graceful circumstances. I’ve also been through the whole stomach thing. Unfortunately though, until I moved back to where my parents lived and they told the Docs that THEY would “cover everything”; I had to deal with the daily queasiness and throwing up, waking up to acetic vomit in my mouth several times a night-despite religiously sticking to a strict diet. Unfortunately, I didn’t have, or couldn’t afford any medications.
See, less than 2yrs earlier, I’d been booted by my 20yr insurance company, who insured me through my employer-A hospital.
I’d been thrown off a horse while taking a break from my 3 job life, and utter chaos at home. That month had begun with a tornado destroying most of our home, and ended, along with my marriage, at the end of the month after my husband found out I would likely incur permanent spinal damage,…and up to a year in spinal rehab. But, although I ended up with only 3 weeks of rehab-it wasn’t my husbands girlfriend, (yea, I know), but instead my insurance company who decided I wouldn’t be getting the care I so desperately needed at that time. Despite knowing FULLY about a genetic disorder that I was born with, and even covering an “experimental surgery”, ten years before that was specifically due to this genetic disorder–all of a sudden it became a “pre-existing condition unknown to the insurer”.
“Well, THAT would NEVER happen to ME, I LIKE my insurer and they’ve ALWAYS done right by me!!”. Yea, I said that, I lost track of how many times when I’d care for my uninsured patients. It DID happen, AND, I ended up losing EVERYTHING, and I mean everything. Because I was unable to complete the physical/spinal rehab that my injury needed to heal correctly, I had serious problems, (after I was approached as I lie in traction in the hospital by the “business office” to tell me I was being discharged because I no longer had coverage), and not only lost my home, (to medical bills), my career,…but worst of all, I lost residency of my 3 children.
Over the past 35years, I have watched the healthcare “industry”, (a term itself that makes me shudder–I just never saw it as an “industry”), go from a Patients First to a PROFITS FIRST Business. During my 2nd year of medical school, I’d already seen and experienced enough evidence to become a VERY early proponent of Single Payer. At a recent, fairly local, “public discussion” of healthcare reform, I saw several things that struck me. People YELLING, yes, yelling,..that they didn’t want the Govt. telling their Doctors what to do or what NOT to do. Uhmm..this took me aback a bit. Both in my personal and professional lives, I had more “decisions” made by health insurance than by my Doctors. AND, *I* was a “lucky one” who had friends that would do things anyways–my patients didn’t have that choice. In 7 years now on Govt. Insurance,..I’ve filed 2 appeals, both ended up getting covered. And no, I no longer live anywhere close to where I had with all my medical connections. These lies, mis-statements, rumours, hysteria,…have all GOT to STOP so we can achieve some REAL Healthcare reform, REAL discussion…There is NOTHING about “euthanasia” OR “rationing” ANYWHERE in the current bill from the Senate. I assume everyone knows that this isn’t the only bill out there though–there are still 2-3 different versions going around the House right now. Personally, and after 20yrs of researching-Single-Payer makes the most economical sense, not to mention it would be best for the patients. However, I’ve also known for 20yrs that the ever increasing profits, trillionaire health insurance and Pharma companies will do ANYTHING to stop ANY reform. If a compromise isn’t reached, every one of us will be paying dearly for the rest of our lives.
And Please-if you know anyone who is guilty of using personal attacks in this discussion–whether calling Obama “Hitler”; fantasizing about Nancy Pelosi being poisoned; or personal attacks on Senators and Representatives–tell them to GROW UP!! Has anyone ever heard of *Respect*? Instead of fear and division, EVERYONE in this Country SHOULD be coming together to construct a reform that puts US First!! THIS site demonstrates things I saw first-hand. http://sickforprofit.com/
PS I also had my own business for 2yrs doing Quality Assurance checks for Health Insurance companies.
PSS-despite a gallbladder removal and constant medication for severe reflux; I STILL have problems. I’ve also had recurring gastric ulcers. We believe that all this irritation and damage were caused by years of taking NSAIDs-or, anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and even Cox-2 inhibitors, especially if you have a history of irritation.

I can’t remember the last time I was moved so greatly by a series of blog posts. I am so sorry for what you have encountered and are going through, physically and emotionally, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that they have indeed found the root causes of your discomfort and will be able to swiftly take care of them and you’ll soon feel better.

I also continue to be appalled at the stories of our health care systems and the consequential delays, and all of that. I’ve seen friends in horrible situations and I’ve seen my own. I am sorry to hear of yours.

Finally, the reason I am truly commenting is to thank you, thank you so much for being open about your health ordeal and your fears and your emotions and the experiences. I, too, have been struggling with health issues a great deal the last year. Many of them heart related, as I am public about those to help others. But what I don’t talk about is the endoscopy I had earlier this year due to unexplained nausea and all of the damn pills they have me on because the nausea persists even though my esophagus is fine. Or the colonoscopy my doctor wants me to have but I am too terrified to have, so I didn’t show up for it — even though the doctor said I am young enough to basically face anything and be OK if we catch it NOW. Even though I have unexplained anemia.

I’m sharing this because I want you to know that because of your openness and willingness to be real with us, I’m going to call and make that terrifying, uncomfortable appointment, and stop medicating all of my symptoms.

Sending much support your way.

Jennifer

Now your reason for not going to the doctor when you should have likely has nothing to do with coverage, but I knew and know too many American girlfriends who are self employed and choose not to go to the doctor when they know something is up simply because they don’t have health insurance.

Why is it Americans are so afraid of what the President is suggesting? How can any inconveniences associated with a national health care plan be better than NO COVERAGE at all. In Canada it works wonderfully well – not perfect but great. We’re not a socialist regime, our tax rates are moderately higher than yours – I lived and worked in both countries and can hardly tell the difference.

My daughter lives in the U.S. and I want her to have access to decent health care coverage so come on folks stop listening to the moronic scare tactics of crazies. Ironically enough it seems to me that the biggest critics of the Obama health care plan are some of the very people who have the most to lose if the Obama health care plan bombs.

In the past it took as long as 10 to 20 years to die slowly (and with lesser pain). Now it’s accelerated deaths, with no energy and no hair (balding). Do you trust your doctor the way MJ trusted his WITHOUT question? Mammograms bring deaths closer to cancer sufferers…did anyone not notice?

Time patients seek any many opinions as possible before they opt for a treatment. Time doctors get an ice-cold shower to wake themselves up too!