What A Slacker!

Blood Test Back I Have a High SED Rate

Add comment May 27th, 2010

Of course when they called and told me my blood work was back and everything was okay except I had a high SED rate, I had no idea what that could mean and they did not explain it to me either. Thank goodness for WebMD.com (maybe), where I got an explanation even if it wasn’t exactly promising.

From WebMD.com…

Sedimentation Rate

The sedimentation rate (sed rate) blood test measures how quickly red blood cells (erythrocytes) settle in a test tube in one hour. The more red cells that fall to the bottom of the test tube in one hour, the higher the sed rate.

When inflammation is present in the body, certain proteins cause red blood cells to stick together and fall more quickly than normal to the bottom of the tube. These proteins are produced by the liver and the immune system under many abnormal conditions, such as an infection, an autoimmune disease, or cancer.

There are many possible causes of a high sedimentation rate. For this reason, a sed rate is done with other tests to confirm a diagnosis. After a diagnosis has been made, a sed rate can be done to help check on the disease or see how well treatment is working.
Why It Is Done

A sedimentation rate (sed rate) test is done to:

* Find out if inflammation is present.
* Check on the progress of a disease.
* See how well a treatment is working.

And their definition of autoimmune wasn’t very promising either….

Autoimmune disease

The immune system is the body’s defense against foreign substances, such as bacteria or viruses, that may be harmful. An autoimmune disease is an abnormal condition that occurs when a person’s immune system attacks its own tissues as though they were foreign substances.

* Normally, when a foreign substance enters the body, the immune system creates special cells to attack and destroy the foreign substance. These cells include antibodies and white blood cells (lymphocytes).
* In a person with an autoimmune disease, the immune system recognizes some of the person’s own tissues as foreign substances. The body makes antibodies and other cells that attack and destroy these tissues. This process often leads to inflammation and eventually, if it continues, scarring and destruction of the organs that are made up of those tissues.

Why the body attacks its own cells is not known. Autoimmune diseases include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and Sjögren’s syndrome. Certain types of diabetes and thyroid disease are related to autoimmune reactions. People who have autoimmune diseases are at an increased risk for infections.

Texas Health Care Reform

Add comment March 21st, 2010

Get more information on Austin Health Insurance.

Unless of course you are waiting for some kind of federal healthcare reform with the National health care bill.

Why Go Without Health Insurance

Add comment February 12th, 2010

I was just reading about how about half of the country’s uninsured people actually choose to be uninsured not because they can’t afford it but rather they just don’t feel they need health insurance. Can you believe that? Even if you are young and healthy you still need insurance for the simple fact that you never know what lies ahead for you.

California Tonik Health Insurance was designed to address that very demographic.

Having health insurance was always something that was drilled into me by my parents. I could never have imagined being without it even when I was in my 20s.

Sponsored by TonikCalifornia.org

Target Pharmacy Closed in Middle of Day

Add comment April 30th, 2009

Target pharmacy has pissed me off. These days that is real easy to do (not that it isn’t pretty easy any old time, just more so now). Target no longer calls their customers — well, customers. They call them guests instead. I think it is to foster a better image, but it doesn’t work. All it does is allow them to ignore the age-old adage that the customer is always right (whoever heard of the guest is always right?) Heck, it even allows them to ignore the customer.

Well in my home the guest is treated with respect and gets pretty much what they want not so at Target especially the pharmacy. I went on Sunday; my only available day, to pick up my prescriptions and the pharmacy was closed for lunch! They can’t even man the pharmacy for the posted hours for their store. For god’s sake take people from other departments but don’t shut down in the middle of the day when people need to get their medications. I could not wait for it to re-open as I had to get to the hospital and it would be closed by the time I got home. I had to wait until my next day off to make a special trip in to Target just to pick up my pills. If I weren’t already boycotting CVS I would take my business there. Maybe I will see how the new Rite-aid does with my next Rx.

I’m just saying if you can’t be open during published hours then maybe you don’t deserve any business?

Hospital Horrors

Add comment January 5th, 2009

I had to go to the hospital for tests (more ultrasounds on my legs because of the accident) the Friday after mom’s funeral. It was hard enough going back into a hospital only days after my mother just died in one, but given the reception (or lack there of) at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Reading it is a wonder I did not snap. My appointment was at 1pm, bad time because most likely everyone takes there lunch from 12 to 1. When I first arrived there was no one in the reception area that I was directed to for patient registration. So I popped out to ask the person at the window I had just passed, but she was now gone. As I was going back into the waiting area a couple was coming in as well. I held the door for them and said something about nobody being here. Just then a lady popped out of an office a started to take the couples info. When I spoke up about being there first she got downright nasty to me saying she saw them come in first (DUH, I held the door for them as I came back in the room). After a little argument with her she finally took me in first.

Yes, I could have waited a few minutes, but as I said it was bothering me even being in the hospital in the first place and her treatment of me become a real issue for me. Why would any hospital have someone with such a horrible disposition working the desk where patients need some kindness and compassion? She had no idea why I was there or what my back-story was yet she treated me like dirt. I could have been there for a very serious test and been extremely worried about my health and the outcome of said test. If that were the case I certainly should have been handled with kid gloves not in the harsh manner that I was. In fact ever person walking into that room should be treated in a kinder, gentler manner than how she addressed me since you never know why they are there in the first place.

Once I was finally registered (by another person thankfully) I was directed to another unmanned waiting area. After my last experience I decided to stay put this time and wait to see if anyone ever bothered to show up. Someone eventually did and took me back for my test.

The lady that gave me my ultrasound that day was so kind and personable that it almost made up for the treatment I received when I first walked in that hospital. While I was back there they called a code blue (you all know what that is) and I got really upset as the memories flooded back to me. I told her that my mother had just passed away to explain my tears. She reached out and touched my leg telling me how sorry she was. I could tell that she was showing genuine compassion for me. She also told me if she were me she would not be having this test done. (But I knew Mom wanted me to find out why my legs are still so bad even a year after the accident, so I went.)

After my test was over I thanked her repeatedly for her kindness and for explaining what she was seeing during the ultrasound (techs won’t usually do that they leave it to the doctors who don’t really tell you anything). I just wanted to make sure she knew how much I had appreciated her that day.

Now St. Joe’s needs to find a few more of her to deal with the patients as they walk through the door and get rid of that grouchy one they have now.

Mom Passed Away Today

Add comment December 28th, 2008

Like the night before I fell asleep on the sofa, but I had a little help from the vicodin I took to ward off the headache I had for the past two days of crying. Although, just like the night before I got very little sleep.

I awakened with a sore throat and joked at the hospital that my Yugoslavia (uvula) was swollen (it was).

The doctor was repeating the test today to see if there was any improvement. Giving false hope to our family that any improvement would be a good thing. She could not have come back from this stroke. If she did she would have been on a ventilator and she did not want that. We had come to terms with what we were going to have to do at some point that day. Now we just had to let the rest of the family know so they could say their goodbyes.

The doctors came out to confirm what we had already known. She was not getting any blood to her brain. They then asked that my Dad, my sister and myself meet with them to discuss what would happen next.

When we went with them we were presented with a representative from the Gift of Life program asking if we would consider donating Mom’s liver to help save the lives of others. Mom being a recipient of a kidney (from her nephew – a living donor) she was always an advocate for organ donation. We did not have to think too long before all agreeing that mom would have wanted to help someone else and the only reason her DNR contradicted her driver’s license was because she most likely thought none of her parts would be good enough for anyone to use. We agreed to allow the liver donation. We did not know that this gift would prolong her agony and ours. We were promised it would be over by midnight they just had to confirm death and find a recipient. It drug on and on (and would have been longer and worse if we would have allowed them to take all the tissue they wanted – the gift of life is an amazing thing but allowing this to happen to your own loved one is another thing).

Mom was officially pronounced brain dead at 11:04pm, but they had to keep her on the ventilator until they found a recipient. By 3am we finally had to make them stop we just could not prolong the inevitable any longer. Nor could my sister and I stand to see our dad go through anymore of this emotional torture. We asked that they stop looking and remove the ventilator. Mom was finally at peace at 3:40am surrounded by those who loved her; my sister, my dad, our pastor and me.

We were at peace as well. Knowing her suffering was over then we could have closure. Not knowing when or where they would take her liver was too much to bear.

Dr. Chon stopped by tell us that organ donation was a very good thing to do and also try to explain to us why Mom died. He thinks it started as a very bad sinus infection, which would have caused the headache and vomiting. Being immunosurpressed it spread quickly. The stress of the infection then caused her blood pressure to rise therefore causing the stroke. Although we will never know a definitive answer this wraps up the last 72+ hours somewhat.

Mom in Hospital Day 2

Add comment December 27th, 2008

Dad and I went in to see Mom and the infectious doctor (I know that sounds like the doctor is infectious, she was a doctor of infectious diseases) came in and told us she had bacteria in her blood (pneumococcus) and the treatment would be the antibiotics she was on even if was meningitis so she was getting the right course of treatment for now. She also looked at Mom’s eyes. (I did not know this until later but Mom’s pupils were fixed and dilated since the day before. My sister knew that there were no reflexes and she had fixed pupils, but I was unaware. Dad and I still had some hope, being a nurse she was already preparing herself and her kids for the inevitable.)

The doctor finally came out sometime that evening to tell us all the test results (Mom’s brothers and sisters had all come back by then). It was not good news. Mom was not getting blood to her brain stem at all. He would not call her brain dead just yet said he had to repeat the test the next day. But the situation was dire. We told him she would insist on a DNR order should anything happen over night. My sister and I stepped out to see the test results for ourselves. It was scary to see only two small blood vessels supplying blood to a small portion of her brain and none at all to her brain stem.

So our prayers turned from “please help her through this” to “please give her peace”.

Once again we left to go home to sleep and take care of ourselves. I am so thankful Beth was there by my side every minute.

Mom Rushed to Emergency Room

Add comment December 26th, 2008

Today (26th) is when it all goes horribly, horribly wrong. I got up after sleeping in to go run a few errands and then off for another leg ultrasound to see how or if my veins working. Before I head out I got a call from Pastor Charles telling me that Dad had Mom at the hospital emergency room. That she had gone in with a really bad headache and they were testing her for a stroke and/or something else (I cannot recall what he said, just that it did not seem urgent at the time I spoke to him – mind you Mom has been through an awful lot including mild strokes, heart attack, increased inner cranial pressure, and numerous infections and has always bounced back).

It was not until I called my sister and then actually talked to my Dad that I knew something was horribly wrong. Dad told me to go on to my test, but I could tell by his voice that I should not. So I rescheduled and headed right to the hospital and I am glad I did as I would never have forgiven myself if I had continued with my normal day.

By the time I had gotten to the hospital Mom had already been taken to a room in the ICU and was placed on a ventilator to protect her airway. They said it was because her breathing had slowed in the ER after she was given pain medication. I don’t know if my sister got there while she was still coherent enough to talk to her or not. Seems she went down hill pretty fast once she had gotten to the emergency room.

The doctors had no real idea what was going on. They said it could be meningitis, a stroke or the return of the inner cranial pressure. They would not know until she had an MRI as the cat scans weren’t showing any signs of a stroke, especially if it was indeed a brain stem stroke.

She apparently coded once she was down in the MRI room as the rushed her back and called a code a code blue (did not know they still used that term) in CC (critical care). Upon hearing that I broke down. My cousin was hugging me telling me “we don’t know it is her” over and over, but I knew. I just knew it was Mom.

All mom’s brothers and sisters had gotten to the hospital by now so we had the waiting room full and the hallway. Crying nervous people all around.

A doctor came out and told us all that she did have an MI before they could do the MRI that they got her back quickly and did not think that it would cause any brain damage (at least not any more than she already had by that time). They still needed to do the MRI and scheduled it for the next day (Saturday). There was no change; they were starting IV antibiotics in case it was meningitis or another infection. They could not do a lumbar puncture since she was on blood thinners (Plavix, I won’t even get started on Plavix – yet), as she could bleed into her brain and make things worse. So they could not actually test for the inner cranial pressure or meningitis for a few weeks.

We went home after being reassured they would call if there was any change.

Get Off Your Butt And Fight Alzheimers

Add comment August 20th, 2008

The Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s Memory Walk is coming up soon. It is a 2 to 3 mile walk for people of all ages to fight against this horrible disease. This is a cause, which has unfortunately touched the lives of my family. My grandmother, my dad’s mom, was diagnosed several years ago.

Alzheimer’s not only takes away the memories of those who suffer from the disease it also takes away the happy memories of their families too. My grandmother is suffering the ravaging effects of this disease and it has drastically changed how I remember her. I try to remember the happy times of visiting her and the smell of blueberry pancakes in the morning. Remember her as she was then not how she is now. She no longer recognizes me, but to be honest I no longer recognize her either. What I see now is not my grandmother, my Nanny Huff (that’s what we called her growing up), it is a stranger.

These walks are happening in over 600 locations this Fall. One should certainly be able to find one to join. Start a team, raise some money and MOVE us closer to a cure. If you can’t participate in the walk then please donate some money to help fight this disease.

My Head Is Going To Explode

Add comment July 28th, 2008

My head is killing me. I have had a headache for the last three weeks. But today actually feels more like a migraine than a normal old headache. I bought a new pillow today to see if that is some of the problem.

The pain starts at the base of my skull and wraps around to the front. So I thought it might be a bit of a stiff neck, we’ll see. Today though I woke up and the front of my head was killing me worse than usual. It would not go away. Prescription Motrin didn’t even dull the pain. My eyes even hurt, well here’s hoping I get some sleep and that it helps.

Sick Holiday

Add comment July 4th, 2008

Well July 4th is here and while it is very nice to have a long weekend it isn’t doing me any good. I am both physically sick and emotionally drained. I won’t be doing the picnic with the family (might not be so bad since it looks like rain any way).

 I probably would feel up to going even if I did not have an actual illness. I intend to spend the rest of the day in bed hiding under the covers. On the bright side it is a paid holiday.

Hope everyone else out there is enjoying their long weekend and getting to see fireworks. Happy Birthday USA.

Online Drugs Easy As 1, 2, 3

Add comment May 11th, 2008

Are you looking for the convenience and privacy of an online pharmacy for your prescription medications? You are not alone. Many people are turning to the internet to fill prescriptions for many conditions like erectile dysfunction (ED), genital herpes, birth control, and acne medications as these can be embarrassing conditions, which need treatment and for some they just cannot face the pharmacists. Another reason to use an online pharmacy for your prescription drugs is for the convenience. Who likes driving all the way to the pharmacy only to have to wait around for the prescription to be filled? Not me.

At eDrugstore.MD your online prescriptions filled privately and securely. In most cases you’ll even get your prescriptions cheaper than from your local drugstore. If, like me, you are all about the savings then you like this; new customers can play one of their online games for a chance to get $20 off their medications and if that wasn’t enough you can save even more with their refill discount. Every time you refill a prescription with them you’ll $20 off the retail price.

So if you are looking for a safe secure place to buy your medications you may want to further research eDrugstore.MD. I think you’ll find a safe, secure place to buy your drugs at a reduced price over a standard pharmacy.

It Has to Be Me

Add comment April 1st, 2008

I know it has got to be me. I know I am a bit of a bitch most of the time, but come on. I called my doctor’s office again for an easy task. One they have performed on many occasions. I just needed a new referal for my allergy doctors so my insurance would continue to pay for it.

Well the woman that picked up the phone was extremely rude [like the other day when I called for an appointment]. I swear there is only one nice person in that entire office. From now on when I call in I am automatically just going to ask for her. I don’t know what I will do if she ever leaves or retires. Guess I will look for a new doctors office.

Instead of the normal easy phone call I am given the third degree. Okay it was not the third degree but I was asked for all this information [provider id, fax number, my insurance number] that I am not normally asked for. In fact it is all stuff they should have in my file after two years of them doing this for me. When I finally had enough and asked for the nice nurse by name there was a long pause and Nasty McGee came back on the phone and said she had everything she needed in my file [duh] and would fax it to them for me. Couldn’t she just have done that in the first place?

But as I have said earlier it must be me. Even over the phone they see how easy it is to piss me off and try their hardest. I thought I had read some where that more and more hospitals and doctors offices were taking the whole customer service values to heart. Guess it hasn’t reached this little rinky dink office yet. When it does I know a few nurses who need some seminars.