I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Dealing with the health care industry (pretty much any part of it) can make anyone homicidal.
I just went back and forth with one of my doctors’ offices for three days trying to get a prescription renewed. Finally they just gave up and did it. And then the next day someone messaged me to say I’d have to make an appointment to authorize the new refills. Joke’s on her! I had them already.
UGH. So sorry you’re having to deal with this. Insurance companies are the bane of so many.
Thank you all for the kind support. Don’t mean to be a blackhole of bummer. My spirit is just a bit broken.
Sometimes it helps to release the anxiety and pressure just by putting it into words.
We are here for you. While we may not be able to do much to help you, I hope you continue to feel comfortable sharing with us. Sometimes, a good rant / venting sesh can be a relief.
And I think nobody here assumes our lives are all sunshine & rainbows & great meals.
Vent away.
I’m so sorry you’ve fallen into this awful tar pit of a system.
If I might offer one last hint which might or might not help: your doctor’s network, or your insurance company, might have an ombudsman. Most major hospitals have them, so if your doc is practicing through one, that might help.
Their whole job is to be a patient advocate and help guide folks through the system. Some are very good and a godsend. Others, well… but it certainly couldn’t hurt to ask.
Such places also often have social workers which may overlap duties with ombudsman. I say this having recently been contacted by both a case manager and a social worker regarding my mother’s recent hospitalization.
I will think scissor-y thoughts for you in your battle against the red tape.
Couple of things. Bone Appetit had this real boner advice for poaching chicken breasts:
Season aggressively: Add 3 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 3½ tsp. Morton kosher salt and any optional aromatics.
Well, 3 Tbs DC is about 30 grams of salt, and 3.5 teaspoons of Morton Kosher is roughly 18 grams. One of these things is not like the other. And if they meant “Tbs” instead of “tsp.” for the Morton, it’s wrong in the other direction, then having 30g vs ~ 50g. Possibly they meant some finer type of Diamond Crystal, but they didn’t say that and, IMO, if you say “DC” then I’m thinking the low density flaky stuff.
Chicken legs were half price and I got close to 12 pounds (2x12 family packs). While I understand that “chicken is a natural product so you should expect some settling during… er… I mean expect some variation”, what I got in one was pretty surprising.
The heaviest 3 legs averaged about 260g, while the smallest two averaged 90g (and the smallest was 70g, looked like a wing “peg leg”), with the rest around 220-230g.
Everything went well with Sunshine’s hand/thumb surgery. I had prepared for it to be a long day (which it was), so everyone was fed leftovers.
We were warned that it could take up to 3 months before Sunshine will have use of her hand. Moreover, the doctor wants her to take it easy.
For now, she is resting comfortably and not in any pain (which is great). There will be lots of movies in her future (streaming), and I’ll pick up some books at the library and trade books at the neighbor’s little free library (end of her driveway).
We go back for a follow-up on March 11th, so we’ll know more then.
I’m currently stranded in Kolkata because of events in the Middle East and associated flight cancellations. Unsure whether I should wait it out (difficult as I need to be back at work physically; there isn’t an option for me to work remotely) or try and make my way back to the UK via Delhi or Singapore, which still seem to have direct flights to the UK but for $$$$. I’ve checked my travel insurance policy which doesn’t seem to cover acts of war 
.
Flights were selling out in front of my eyes, so I ended up shelling out the $$$$ to secure some of the last few seats on flights that will get me to the UK over the course of the next 5 days.
Oh my goodness! Wishing a safe and swift journey.
Thanks 
Ohh, geez. Stay safe and I hope your travels are uneventful!
I’m so sorry. I’m sure our gubmint will reimburse you for your troubles. /s
Thanks @LindaWhit and @linguafood
This site could use a hug emoji.
Safe journey, @medgirl. Please let us know when you have arrived home.
I just finished filing my Taxes (on-line)…
After clicking that submit button, I felt like I needed a shower.
I’m going back to Chicago to see mom this Tuesday Her surgery went fine. She has several pins in her upper left femur and is now in an in-patient rehab facility. I’m just doing a quick trip in for my own peace of mind and so I can meet the docs etc personally so I know whom to ask for updates and such.
I’ve spoken with mom over the phone several times in the last week or two. She really has almost no functional recall anymore. My aunt will tell her it’s me. She’ll say hello. She’ll ask how I am and where I live. She hasn’t a clue who she’s talking to.
The rehab people seem pretty optimistic. It’s hard for her to fully participate in rehab because she can’t retain the info, but they tell me she is compliant, cheerful, and motivated, which is about all that can be asked at this point.
At least I’ll get my fix of White Castle, a hot dog and cheese fries, and maybe a lunch pizza at Pequod’s.
The John Woo catalogue is returning to theaters for limited runs ahead a whole bunch of blu ray releases. The rights were tied up for years, but they’ve finally landed with owners who actually care about them. I think I’ll hit up A Better Tomorrow on Wednesday evening. Beats sitting alone at the hotel.
Just a little update on my Sunshine.
All is well, very little pain – she did take one motrin, but that is all she said she needed. She is eating well and sleeping through the night.
The patient is already bored, though. Maybe I’ll try to distract her with a game of Scrabble tomorrow, but for now the doctor really wants her to take it easy – so she has to stay put and keep that arm/hand elevated.
