Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Slug's PaceBerkeley's Cactus Jungle is a web site I adore due to the photography of Peter Lipson and a retail nursery I admire due to the design of Hap Hollibaugh. Today we received this image of the infamous Venus Slug Trap. Eeeew. Nasty. I love it! (Yes - the Venus fly trap has actually caught and is "eating" the slug.)
They have much more beautiful sights so why is it that we are attracted to such oddities? I should speak for myself, I guess!
OK - Health update:
I feel good. I am stronger every day and went for a walk in the redwoods. I got an X-ray yesterday at the hospital in Santa Cruz (my doctor ordered it "stat" so we could get the results today.) Sigh. I don't understand how much more clear I could get. I asked specifically if the radiologist had the recent X-rays and CTs with which to compare the new films. "Yes", the technician assured me. "Everything is right there in the chart. "
Yet when we got the report back today (had to drive back down to Santa Cruz - pay for another doctor's visit - pain in the butt), the radiologist had written, "No pneumonia. Comparison to older X-rays would be beneficial."
Ummm.
I didn't understand why I was getting an X-ray in the first place. The masses (nodules?) in my lungs were never seen on an x-ray - only on the CT. Apples and oranges really. So I have to get another CT scan - next week - this week. I am not sure. All I know is that I have to swallow more horrid white contrast, get another $6,000 film of my lungs, get another line put in my arm for the iodine and I have to reserve the bathroom for the day afterwards.
Depending on what we see in the CT scan- I face yet another costly lung needle biopsy because the tissue samples were put in the wrong solution despite the affirmative answer to my clearly stated question, "These will be be sent to the dermapathology lab to test for PNP, right?"
If I were not feeling well - I would have more desperation and would welcome the chance to figure out what is happening in my body. But as it stands - I feel pretty good and somewhat inconvenienced by the ineptitude. That's a good sign? I am not sure.
All of this is to say - we know nothing more technically. More, it seems, will be revealed - but only at a slug's pace.
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So glad that you're feeling a tad better, V. (The Redwoods are adding their medicine to the mix, too, I'm sure!)
The incompetence and disorganization of your docs + their techs is unbelievably INSANE. I couldn't believe it when I read that you would have to endure ANOTHER seahorse ride through hell (!), simply because some person couldn't be bothered to check the details carefully enough before leaving for his coffee break (or whatever).
Its truly unbelievable to me that you would have to experience so much NEEDLESS, EXTRA suffering because of some bozo's (or, rather multiple bozos') incompetence.
You are having to endure ENOUGH! It really tees me off (as you can tell).
Is there some way that you can get some $ from this ordeal..? Report them to someone?
I don't know...( I'm sure that's the last thing you feel like doing with your precious energy)-
In any event- They should not be able to get away with such unchecked incompetence, at the expense of sick patients who rely on and trust their care- indeed, like you, who put their lives in their hands.
LUCKILY, your own health has risen up, and come to your aid. (No thanks to your docs.)
Alright...I guess I needed to say a few things here.. (Grrrr...)
And, again, I'm so sorry that you've had to deal with even a scintilla of extra/unnecessary pain.
My hugs to you-
Kim
The incompetence and disorganization of your docs + their techs is unbelievably INSANE. I couldn't believe it when I read that you would have to endure ANOTHER seahorse ride through hell (!), simply because some person couldn't be bothered to check the details carefully enough before leaving for his coffee break (or whatever).
Its truly unbelievable to me that you would have to experience so much NEEDLESS, EXTRA suffering because of some bozo's (or, rather multiple bozos') incompetence.
You are having to endure ENOUGH! It really tees me off (as you can tell).
Is there some way that you can get some $ from this ordeal..? Report them to someone?
I don't know...( I'm sure that's the last thing you feel like doing with your precious energy)-
In any event- They should not be able to get away with such unchecked incompetence, at the expense of sick patients who rely on and trust their care- indeed, like you, who put their lives in their hands.
LUCKILY, your own health has risen up, and come to your aid. (No thanks to your docs.)
Alright...I guess I needed to say a few things here.. (Grrrr...)
And, again, I'm so sorry that you've had to deal with even a scintilla of extra/unnecessary pain.
My hugs to you-
Kim
# posted by 
: 10:01 AM
: 10:01 AM
Hmmm. I guess my reaction is more mildly incredulous instead of anger or hardcore frustration. It's more a pain in butt - inconvenient - expensive. But at this point with bills coming with "patient is responsible for $12,452.00" price tags (for three days of outpatient treatment) - what is another procedure? It's hard to fathom any of it from a financial point of view.
I just feel badly for all of the people who do not even have the courage or the consciousness to ask for what they want or to know that they can be their own advocate.
There is a lot that I do not have control over (doctors who do not understand my disease, doctors who let things fall between the cracks) but I have to say that I do have a lot of control compared to many. I point the direction of my health care in ways that are empowering and not often seen or experienced by other people that I know.
I guess I just want to say that I'm OK with things. I can't sweat the small stuff. (I know, I know - some would say that these issues are not small - but I'm still in the range of inconvenienced rather than devastated.) Maybe I am in a fantasy world but it's not that big of a deal.
Thanks for your love and concern though-- you know I appreciate it!
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I just feel badly for all of the people who do not even have the courage or the consciousness to ask for what they want or to know that they can be their own advocate.
There is a lot that I do not have control over (doctors who do not understand my disease, doctors who let things fall between the cracks) but I have to say that I do have a lot of control compared to many. I point the direction of my health care in ways that are empowering and not often seen or experienced by other people that I know.
I guess I just want to say that I'm OK with things. I can't sweat the small stuff. (I know, I know - some would say that these issues are not small - but I'm still in the range of inconvenienced rather than devastated.) Maybe I am in a fantasy world but it's not that big of a deal.
Thanks for your love and concern though-- you know I appreciate it!
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