My week - lol

[Guest guest]

Well, it started out with my appointment to have my Remicade and see

my RA...never saw her only her assistant. I got there and was sent

to collections...My account for the MVA is in arrears but she said

that was okay as they are in the arbitration phase. She then asked

about the money " I " owe for the liens they took out against my

settlement. I told her I would never pay for those. They were

going to get paid - there was no thought otherwise - this was there

paperwork and they could pay for it or put it in with the amount

they get for the settlement...

Then she says well you owe $36 for co-pays. I said " No " I pay my co-

pay every visit. She said well no last March and July the insurance

company said that I owed co-pay for my Remicade. I said no it is

all one visit - Remicade and the Dr and always has been - well she

says that I have till the 15th to talk to my insurance co and get it

straightened out. The insurance company says it is their problem in

the way they billed the appointment. On those occassions they

billed me for 2 visits not one...Then the other $12 is a co-pay for

the doctor who saw me for my shoulder for the MVA. I told her this.

I then have my Remicade appointment but get the impression that if I

don't have the MVA account and the co-pays paid by my June visit

that they will not treat me.

I am going to my health wellness appointment at the base on Monday

and am going to ask them to find me another RA doctor here in Enid.

Going to OKC is too far any more. The drive is too difficult and my

treatment there is getting worse. They aren't concerned with their

patients but their money.

I saw the assistant to my RA and she decided I was a good candidate

for this trial they are doing there so she calls the lady in charge

and she walks in the room and immediately says I don't qualify so I

am sure it is an age thing.

Then the assistant comes back in and tells me I am terribly swollen

again and I say yes - she says how are you doing - I tell her aching

and that I didn't feel that I got any relief from the REmicade this

time and that I have been having hip and knee problems. That I have

pain down my right leg that feels as though my skiatic nerve is

pinched and that I have pain in my left knee as though someone is

tightening a rubber band around it. She takes down half the

information and then gets it wrong...I get tired of repeating

myself...

She says she will send someone in with a shot for me and the

presciptions I need and they will see me again in 2 months...

I have been complaining for 6 months now that I don't think the

remicade is working. they don't seem to be listening. She gave me

a copy of my chart and all it says on it is that my back is hurting -

some gibberish I can't read - then very clearly - the patient was

supposed to be taking 3/2.5 mg of MTX but says she was taking 4

pills...have now upped it to 6.

Dr Codding has told me to increase or decrease my MTX as to how I am

feeling. If I am feeling okay and not swollen I can reduce it or if

aching bad and swelling to increase it.

The assistant also put me back on Bextra. She asked me when I went

off them and I told her honestly I couldn't remember when or why but

that it had been stopped.

I don't remember - my memory is all but gone - sometimes I think I

am a candidate for alzheimers but then other days everything is

clear. I might just be - hope not.

I am, however, going to tell the base doctors that I would like a

new RA closer to home. That drive is very hard for me and although

I had had some good results from the Remicade that I don't feel that

I am getting any results now. That was the only reason I kept going

there...now that reason is gone.

Oh by the way...the nurse came in and gave me my prescriptions - no

lab work paperwork and no shot...just took me to the desk to make my

next appointment.

I will post about my BIL in another post - this one is too long

already.

God bless,

Althea