Insurance companies

On Friday I heard from my PT office that they received a letter denying me future PT for my hip. It was sent to them, it's 5 days later and I still haven't received anything directly. They claim my strength is 4/5 (I'd love to know where they got that one from) and that I've "plateaued" so PT is not something I should do, it's "not medically necessary". I was a bit peeved at my PT's office as they just left a message telling me about the letter, and that I should contact them about fees for the future, and as an afterthought mentioned appealing, as if that was something I shouldn't even consider. Not quite. I'll be appealing any which way I can. I suppose I can understand how some pencil pusher in a building with no medical experience can assume that I've not been progressing because he looks at his list he's been given and doesn't take into consideration the actual person and all of their medical issues. But it's still not right or justified.

My PT said he'd submit an appeal and that I should get a note from the rheumatologist (sent her a fax and am awaiting a reply). I asked Dr. Kelly's office but was told that their letters for this do not apply (???) and they can't do anything "legal". Other ideas were mentioned but I won't even consider them except as a last resort. This is so bloody frustrating!

I've been going to the pool three times a week and since I didn't go to PT yesterday, I went home and did some with my exercise ball and weights. I will have to go to the gym for the bike and leg press. I was meant to go the pool today but was invited to an event at the New York Public Library. Very excited as I love libraries, books, anything like that really.

Other than all this stress, the weather is making me pretty achy, as well as my erratic sleep habits. I have been taking the Mobic since Saturday. One pill (7.5mg) once a day. I haven't felt any difference at all yet, but it's still early. I have an appointment next week to see my internist about the acid-reflux meds. So not happy about that but I don't have a choice, at least for the moment.

Compromising

It's so much fun going to doctors and baffling them with a multitude of issues. Well, not really. In fact it's quite dull at this point. Nevertheless this is what I did today. I brought a huge envelope containing copies of all my reports (blood tests, surgery reports, MRI results, etc). They all seemed so impressed at the office - but I've just learned it's easier to have it ready ahead of time.

After giving the Dr. Meng's assistant all the forms that they had sent me in advance and my envelope, I sat waiting for her to review all of it. She couldn't have read too much as that would have taken her a long time. But at least she was briefed in advance. When I met her she asked me all the same questions again that I had filled out, and more about different treatments I have tried, and more specific questions about certain aspects of my "aches". Then she gave me a physical.

She decided that I should try Mobic 7.5mg 1x/day with Protonix (so my acid reflux doesn't get started again) for the fibromyalgia/general body inflammation. Bit upset about this as I weaned myself off the Protonix and was quite happy not paying for it or taking it. Now I have to ring my internist to make yet another appointment so she can give me another script for that. I'll hit her up for some more Clonazapam as well since I have to go in and that seems to help me sleep occasionally when I'm having a rough patch of insomnia. Dr. Meng also wants me to take about 500mg of Tylenol in the afternoon. She thinks this will help with the pain, and says it supposedly works well with the Mobic. I'm willing to give it a shot, but I just looked up Mobic on the Internet and came across a page with comments from people taking it and their side-effects. Oh how I hate drugs. Still, if this is going to get me through rehabbing my hip, then I guess I will have to suck it up for now. She wants to see me in a month, but I am to ring her in two weeks if there's no difference.

Ice ice baby

is all I've been doing for the last two days. Not happy about this. I know the long walk didn't help yesterday but it was so nice to do it. I just can't make a habit out of it I guess.

And I realised my chiro appointment isn't until tomorrow. :-(

I have the rheumatologist today. So not looking forward to that.

I won't even mention how crap the weather is turning, I am truly a human barometer!

Wow, I'm a bit of a whinger today. Oh well. I'm entitled every now and again I suppose.

long walk home

I just walked from 52nd and Park to 85th and First.  Without limping!

Time to go ice for a long while...

Ice is Nice

Last night I slept like a baby! It was so nice. I guess that I was really exhausted from lack of sleep plus I got some things off my mind which I'm sure helped. I actually woke up in the same position as the one I fell asleep in, a rare thing indeed.

Unfortunately I must report that my hand, even with wearing the splint every night, seems to not be doing too hot. Today it's hurting a lot by the injection site and I don't think the injection is actually working anymore. However, I'm not quite ready to call in the the surgeon yet. We will see. Also my hips are a bit wonky today. At present I am icing my right hip, and will do my left as well.

So happy I have my chiro tomorrow. I really missed it last week when he was away. Those therapeutic massages really make the world of difference to my body. Thankfully the new ortho part of my insurance company covered some visits, so I am praying they keep that up because I really don't know what I would do without them.

Progressing with my website, slowly but a little bit at a time and eventually it will get done - I hope at least! :-)