some good, some bad

I tried to take it easy this week to recuperate from the previous few weeks. Tuesday I went to the pool, and was so tired. It's amazing how missing 5 days in a row made me feel out of shape. Then again, it could be because I was so exhausted. I tried to go yesterday but whomever is running this place decided it wasn't such a good idea, as there was one obstacle after another. (The ladies changing rooms were closed, then no showers, etc). So instead I met my friend that just moved across the street on 34th and we hung out on the roof having cheese and wine. Not a bad way to enjoy the lovely weather last night. Wish every summer night was that lovely. No humidity and a nice breeze - perfect!

Wednesday I went to the chiro where they tried to sort out this tingling down my arm. My doctor even cracked my bad, which he rarely, if ever, does. That's what a mess it was. After the bad news was dropped on me - my daft insurance company has decided to NOT let me go to the chiro anymore - just like they did with my PT for my hip. We had a long talk and it seems United Health that owns Oxford now just lost a HUGE lawsuit and so they will be denying everyone and everything.

See: A Guide To Insurance Company Denials and Medical Loss Ratios

Pretty ironic when Ann Fleishauer, the Director of External Communications lets the OptumHealth website make this statement:
"About OptumHealth: As one of the nation's largest consumer health services companies,
OptumHealth makes health care easier and better for employers, health plans, public sector entities and the 61 million people with access to its services. The Company's goal is to optimize health, well-being and financial security, while lowering benefit costs and helping consumers
make informed decisions about their health through standalone or integrated services. OptumHealth is a company of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH). More information about OptumHealth can be found at www.OptumHealth.com"

(OptumHealth, which is the in-house division that deals with UnitedHealth and Oxfords coverage for PT, chiropractic, etc.)

The last thing OptumHealth (previously ACN)/ UnitedHealth seems to be doing these days is making health care easier and better. All they are doing is taking away services so that the higher ups and investors are making a lot more dosh. It's all for profit, which, when comes to health care, is NEVER a good thing.

These links explains about the lawsuit:
UnitedHealth sued for racketeering
Hospitals Sue Groups For Health Racketeering
UNH: 4,000 job cuts, $895 lawsuit payout

It's no secret that health care in this country is a mess and it needs to be changed so that everyone is covered. I don't profess to have the answers, but am paying attention to all that is going on. One thing that sounds a bit iffy to me, since it has profit orientated insurance companies involved, is the Health Care for America Now (HCAN) campaign.

Some interesting articles about all of this:
AHIP CEO busted by outraged American - with damning audio
AHIP Murder By Spreadsheet Deceive America Tour
Sure, the insurance industry wants to hear from you. Sure.
Fights Over Health Claims Spaw a New Arms Race - Insurers and Doctors Try for Upper Hand; Firms Help Both Sides
The Truth About "Healthcare for America Now"

Ok, sorry to go on about that but when you're in my situation you get worried about these nasty tactics the insurance companies do.

Other than that, Wednesday night was brilliant, saw George Michael at the Garden and he was amazing! I was dancing and afraid that would be a bad thing in the long run but thankfully my hip has not gotten too bad from it, even though it was hurting before the concert. When George is singing you just can't help to dance!

Yesterday I saw Dr. Aranoff for another post-op check up. He was very excited and surprised about how well I've been healing and in just 5 weeks! He said this procedure is always more risky with women in that area because of the thin muscle. Thankfully that seems to be okay and now I just have to see him once every month until it's completely healed. That was very good news!

Wiped out

It's been 44 weeks since my hip surgery. I thought I was doing pretty well but the last two weeks made me feel otherwise. I have been running around more in the last two weeks than I had done since having my hip surgery, and with all that running around, my right hip has not been a happy camper. It may also be a combination of that and the fact that I've been leaning more on my right side when sitting because of the fistulotomy. Either way, the hip is not happy. Because I was going to be running around so much this weekend and it had already been hurting me, I used lidocaine patches on Saturday and Sunday. I would not have made it through without. Last night when I was able to just relax my hip was so tight. Actually they both were and my legs were very achy as well. I even iced my left hip to try to calm that side down. There were also a lot of stairs involved over the weekend, much more than what is "normal" for me.

To add to this loveliness, my right hand/wrist is acting up again and really hurting. I had stopped using the splint but really have to start again as I am not even going to contemplate another surgery right now. My neck is so messed up that I'm having tingling down my right arm and hand. Thankfully I have the chiropractor on Wednesday, though I wish it was today. On Thursday I have a check up with Dr. A for the bum. I finally had the courage to look at it a couple of weeks ago as it was really hurting and I wanted to make sure it didn't look infected or anything. All I can say is it was pretty disgusting, and big. The doctor definitely did lie when he said how big and deep it would be. I checked it again yesterday and it seems like the upper part of the incision has started to or closed up a bit, which I'd like to think is a good sign. It's hard to tell though and I don't really like looking so it's good the doctor can check this week. I've been going to the pool about twice a week and it feels fine so that is a very good thing. It still hurts to sit, especially on hard chairs, and I can't wait for that to stop, along with having to take sitz baths every day. I will definitely not miss that!

BTW - Natalie Douglas was completely brilliant with her "Cafe Society" show! If you ever get a chance to see her you should.

I should slow down before I'm forced to...

but I have so much to do! Not that I'm complaining, I like being busy, but it's definitely taking it's toll on my body at present.

Monday I made it to the pool. It was definitely worth it. I felt much better exercising in the water. Afterwards I came home thinking I would rest, but then kept coming up with things to do around my flat. Yesterday I went to the Philharmonic in CP. It was a lot of fun as usual, but unfortunately the speaker on our side was not functioning properly so we missed out on the music. Still, a good night - other than all the schlepping I had to do though. My neck and back hate me right now. I am so glad I have a chiro appointment tomorrow at lunch. Tonight I will go to the pool and after really do just have to rest. The rest of the week will be very busy: tomorrow night seeing the amazing Natalie Douglas in concert at Birdland! I'm really looking forward to that. Friday my (big) nephew is coming in for the weekend so there will be a lot of running around with him. After that things seem to settle down a bit, I have a concert on the 23rd and then one on the 30th, but that's it. I'm looking forward to doing nothing for a little while!

My bum and right hip are not happy at the moment, I think it was still sore from Sunday and yesterday carrying things all over the city didn't help. Not wanting to go back to just using lidocaine patches regularly so going to see how I do without for now. May have to throw one on over the weekend though.

Will I ever learn?

Not to overdue it, that is. Other than the bum bothering me, my fibro has been (touch wood) pretty good lately. And that's when I make the mistake and think my body is just like a normal , healthy one. I did overdue it last week, I had plans every night of the week. I was planning on going to the pool on Friday but when I left work I just felt like I had no energy at all and went straight home. My friend came over that night, which was good, but I definitely needed to just stay on my couch. I thought that would do it, but Saturday - when I was hoping to have a nice lie-in - the drilling on the street began about half eight. There went my brilliant idea. I thought I'd go to the pool but just couldn't get off the couch, until I went back to bed. I tried to take a nap around noon but that didn't work out either. Eventually I met my friend and we went up to City Island. Before I left I (thankfully) remembered to put a lidocaine patch on my right hip, as it's been cranky lately. It was a good thing I did because it was not happy all day. Everyone always said how cool that place was, but I think it's pretty run down and nothing to do there, except eat. And where we ate it wasn't v. good. Perhaps we missed the happening places, but it's pretty small so I find that hard to believe. It was okay though as the weather was nice so we walked around a bit. Then we had the genius idea to go to the MET roof to listen to the Bon Jovi concert. We made it there by eight, and were able to stay up there till about 8.40 - so it was good to hear, and at the same time not deal w/ the masses of humanity down there. After we just had a leisurely cheese and wine dinner at Uva. I love that place!

I probably would have been okay if I had just rested yesterday, but I was off to a close friends house for her kids birthday party. Again I threw on a patch as the hip was still hurting. I'm happy to help but we did so much stuff and I was already feeling wiped out, so think I over did it in a bit way. Plus this weather today is not helping. One day I'll learn not to try to do everything. Then again, maybe not. The party was good though and it was great to see my friend and her kids - it had been a while.

I really need to get to the pool, it's been a week now, and I feel like the hip is hurting because I haven't been doing much exercise. That and the sitting on my right side all the time probably doesn't help. I went to the chiro on Friday and he said when he was done that I definitely needed to come in this week as I'm all knotted up. I've definitely turned myself into a pretzel lately trying to sit comfortably. Wish I had an appointment today, but it's not till Thursday. Right now I have a lido patch on my neck/right shoulder area to try to numb the pain. I hope it works because I am just miserable. Brought my suit but will see later if I think swimming will help or just going home and passing out will be better for me.

As for my recovery from the latest, it's healing, but this morning I woke up to find it had been bleeding again. The doctor said that might happen, so I'm not going to worry about it. Plus I was lifting small children yesterday and probably am still not allowed to be doing that just yet.

Long week

I can't believe it's only Wednesday morning! I've been so busy lately I can't keep my head on straight. I didn't sleep on Sunday night, and Monday I was out. My hips are definitely reacting so I probably should slow down a bit, or at least wear flats for a while. But that's not going to happen anytime soon. Last night I had the theatre, and I walked over to 9th and 52 from my office which is on Mad and 52nd. Then I walked up to the Rose Theatre. Probably more than I should have done in heels, but it was the easiest way. Tonight I am seeing an old college friend who is in town for just a couple of days, Thursday there's a work do, Saturday I have plans and Sunday I have a party on LI. Next week so far there's the NY Phil in CP on Tuesday (praying for good weather) and Thursday going to see Natalie Douglas at Birdland! (If you don't know her, you should - She has an incredible voice and is extremely talented!)

So, last night I saw "The Bacchae" at Lincoln Center. Alan Cumming played Dionysius and was beyond amazing! He was absolutely perfect for the role. Everything about the play was brilliant, from the Bacchae (amazing singers and dancers all dressed in red floor length non-matching gowns) to the stage set. Even Alan Cumming's gold kilt just worked perfectly! The show was a mixture of acting, singing, dancing, art, and special effects (which usually are ludicrous on stage but these were perfectly matched with what was going on). I truly can't go on about it enough. Kudos to Lincoln Center for bringing this over for their festival from Scotland. This is was modern theatre should be about - even using a tragedy written by the ancient Greek playwright Euipides. It premiered posthumously at the Dionysia in 403BC, so it's a bit old. Even with my hips hurting during the 1 hour and 50 minutes if sitting I was too distracted to not think about them!

And the best news of all - last night I arrived home to discover my scanner had finally been delivered! Of course I had to take it out and hook it up, but I was too tired to start playing with it and if I did I am sure I'd never have gone to sleep. Now I just have to find the time to learn how to use it! :-)

42 week update

The hip has been a little unhappy lately from all the pressure I've been putting on it from sitting funny. However, it's no where as bad as I might expect it to be. The last few days were more achy than it has been, but I started taking the Mobic again today so hopefully it will help. (Yes, I'm daft and left all of my drugs in the city whilst I went to the island for the long weekend). The bum has been improving, thank G-d! Did a lot of running around this weekend. Thursday night we went to a party at Tavern on the Green, and then on Friday to my brothers for a block party and Saturday the wineries out on the North Fork. Busy but fun. Got to do some driving which I haven't done for a while and that was v. nice. I still don't miss owning a car though - petrol is so expensive!

I went swimming after work on Thursday and it went well. I did walking and leg exercises for about half an hour. At that point the bum did start burning a bit, but at least it was at the end of my workout. The pool was manic - there was this git wearing a wet suit (in a basement, indoor pool - how ridiculous) trying to become the fourth in my lane. I'm happy to share with up to two more people, as you have to it gets crowded, but the lanes are not big enough for four, so we had to toss him back out. He showed up yesterday again in the wet suit but thankfully I was getting ready to leave so didn't have to deal. It was nice and empty when I arrived yesterday, but by the time I left quite crowded. I guess more people had returned to the city by then. I even did a few laps but then the hip disagreed so I stuck to the normal routine.

I'm excited about seeing "The Bacchae" tomorrow night. The reviews have been good and I really enjoy watching Alan Cumming. After last weeks debacle with Sam Shepard's play, I need something good to wash that bad taste out of my mouth. At least it was only 70 minutes long! My bum wasn't too bad and tomorrows play isn't too long either so that is good. There are so many plays that I want to see this coming season I don't know what I'm going to do! It's not a bad problem though.

Post-op

I had my post-op for the fistulotomy today and thankfully the doctor said it looks well and is healing well. What a relief! He said he was sorry he couldn't do anything for the pain, but it's such a sensitive area that that is what happens. Great news is that he said I could go swimming. He said it might burn at first, but heck, it's already doing that, so why not? Just wanted to add a fabulous tip I picked up from some reading on the internet. After you do your sitz bath or shower, use the hair dryer on cold and low to make sure that area is dry. I started doing this the second or third say after surgery and it made the wound actually feel good by stopping the stabbing, burning pain - if only when the dryer was on, plus kept the wound dry. As we well know a moist wound doesn't heal very quickly. Wish I could remember where I got this tip so I could thank the person!)

Very excited to go see "Kicking a Dead Horse" tonight. It's the new Sam Shepard at the Public Theatre with Stephen Rea. Thankfully it's only 70 minutes long so I am hoping my bum can handle that. Going to dinner at Five Points first. Can't remember if I've been there or not, so it shall be a surprise!

My hip is still achy, but now that I can get back to doing some PT I am hoping that will help. And I am finally remembering to take the Mobic again.