Alonwye

telynor @ 4:03am: The Daily Random Harper
( Notes from today )

kitrona @ 5:46am: Doctor update!
I called the insurance company and the transfer went through. I called the clinic to make an appointment. Dr. S is no longer with them, she's in Illinois. I called the insurance back as I was looking up other doctors on their website. I picked a doctor, but figured out that she was 45 minutes away instead of 15 to 20. Nope. I picked another doctor, this one an osteopath. Insurance was switched, I called the clinic for an appointment. The earliest they had was the 29th. I had no choice, so I booked it, then explained that I kind of really needed to get on my meds, so they transferred me to Dr. C's nurse, who got me in today.

The appointment went well; she apologized for the wait, which really confuses me. Who doesn't expect a wait at a doctor's office? I mean, really, you're holding someone to a time schedule when they're trying to work up the courage to ask about something and sometimes it takes the whole appointment? Geez, people, the world does not revolve around you and it will not kill you to wait to see a doctor. If it does, you should have gone to the ER, so it's your own damn fault. :P

I was very impressed, though. She sat down, asked lots of questions, DIDN'T ONCE MENTION MY WEIGHT, and she has the best sense of humor of any doctor I've ever been to. After the pap, she mentioned that there could be some spotting, as my cervix didn't like that, and she actually laughed at my silly joke about having a grumpy cervix. :)

Also? ZOMG, they have tablet computers! WHY HAVE NONE OF MY OTHER DOCTORS FIGURED OUT HOW MUCH EASIER THIS IS?? Less paper, easier to look things up, hell, she looked up EDS online when I mentioned it! Plus, dude. Those things are so cool. :)

Then I went to Target for my Cymbalta and got an awesome votive candle... Yankee Candles Home for the Holidays. It's piney and... some other stuff I can't identify, but it smells good and cheers me up. :) They had one called Santa's Treats but it was way too sweet for me. Also, in their dollar bins, they have fingerless gloves and toddler mittens for $1 a pair! I had gotten one of each on Saturday but I got some more today because... well, they're a dollar, they're going to get lost and/or hard wear, and they're not exactly heirloom quality, so having extras seemed like a good idea. The fingerless gloves (bound on the raw edges, oh yeah!) also have cuffs that extend well onto the forearm.

Short version: wrestled with insurance and figuring out what doctor was at the location I wanted, figured it out, got appointment for today, walked out having had a pap smear (it had been way too long) and with a script for Cymbalta and a referral to a pain clinic.

Really short version: SCORE! THIS DOCTOR ROCKS!

Tomorrow: Call the infusion center, call the insurance to find a pain clinic.

As Ben's favorite book says, You're looking at one happy pigeon right now! Happy happy happy!

Also, my cat snores. It's annoying.

weibchenwolf @ 5:30pm: Crouching Livejournal Hidden Twitters
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telynor @ 4:02am: The Daily Random Harper
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softlywhispered @ 6:59pm: Hey Santa Baby!
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kitrona @ 12:17pm: Quest for a competent PCP
I must have a WIS buff today, because this encounter was complicated but I got through.

First thing I did today was call the insurance company to see if the transfer went through. The first lady gave me the usual line about how it takes 30-45 days to go through. I told her they put in an expedited request, and she said she didn't see anything, and I said ok, and then was quiet. She was confused and asked if there was anything else she could do to help me, preparatory to getting me off the phone, and I told her, "Yes, you can put in another expedited request for me." She wasn't expecting that, and she transferred me to the woman who helped me on Friday. The transfer had gone through, yay!

The next call was to the clinic where the doctor works. Or rather, worked; she left the practice. Great. So I called the insurance company back and switched doctors, which was a confusing and long process, complicated by the fact that the clinic has several locations and I wanted the one closest to me. But eventually we got it all figured out and I ended up with an osteopath. Unexpected bonus!

So I called the clinic back to switch doctors. Originally they didn't have an opening until Dec. 29, but because I need medications right now, they transferred me to Dr. S's nurse, who got me in for today, yay!

We shall see how I fare at this next encounter. Maybe the DM of the universe is sympathetic. :P

I typed up a list of all my doctors with their phone numbers, my meds, my diagnoses, and the reasons for my appointment today. I feel very organized; I wonder what I forgot. :P

telynor @ 12:38pm: Stories About My Father
This is a reposting of something I posted on this day in 2003.

Stories about my father
( Today would have been his 76th birthday )

telynor @ 4:01am: The Daily Random Harper
( Notes from today )

forg @ 2:00pm: More updates
Emily is babbling happily away "dada" and then the last few days it's been "mum mum mum" which is very cute and then yesterday and today both Daniel and I heard her say "pop" which we have been teaching Alexander to say and we say alot when we pop the bubbles so she could have picked it up.

She won second place in our local area of those who entered the photo competition. ie you pay they take photos, they charge more to buy the photos etc etc.




She is crawling lots of places and if I leave her she tries to crawl after me.

She didn't sleep through last night, she did 10:30 and 4:30 but went back to sleep and slept til about 6:30 though I tossed and turned for ages to try and go back to sleep.

Daniel got up with them about 6:30 but they were soon in my room clambering all over me which is what happens to him if he tries to stay in bed.

I am slowly unpacking my books and putting them back on the shelf thinking must read that, oh I love that book, must read that, I also have a pile of books from the library, one is due back this week I think but I need to read the book before it before I can read it, the rest are due next year (NEXT YEAR!)

kitrona @ 3:45am: ALSO!!!
If anyone wants a holiday card from me, please comment with your address. Comments are screened.

weibchenwolf @ 5:30pm: Crouching Livejournal Hidden Twitters
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telynor @ 4:02am: The Daily Random Harper
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forg @ 1:56pm: Slept through the night!
Hrm not much more to say beyond that...

htnatch @ 5:23am: Can't think. Brain dumb. Inspriation won't come.

I think my brain is dying and taking any ambition I might have had left with it.

kitrona @ 1:06am: Health and doctor stuff
UGH. I have had it with my primary care physician (PCP). Not only did he not refill my Cymbalta (antidepressant what? Not supposed to go off them cold turkey? I'm almost tempted to sue him for suicidal thoughts or something, except A. they're more homicidal thoughts and B. stupid conscience about lying), I honestly don't think the staff actually asked him. Mar called for the refill and they told him to call back in 15 minutes. He did, and they said the doctor said no, and when Mar asked to speak to him, he had conveniently just left.

But the thing that's really got me is my Orencia. 4 weeks ago, the infusion center called the doctor to get a reauthorization, because the first Rx had run out. THEY STILL HAVE NOT FAXED BACK THE AUTHORIZATION NUMBER. IN FOUR FUCKING WEEKS.

This means that I am in much more pain than I should be, combined with more pain (as well as withdrawal symptoms like brain zaps, sensory lag, and dizziness) from lack of Cymbalta (OH HAY LOOK AT THAT ANOTHER CASE WHERE THEY DROPPED THE BALL) and extra pain because it's REALLY FREAKING COLD DID I MENTION THAT IT'S BEEN SNOWING?!? So I am not in a good mood, and I'm just bitchy enough that I'm going to do something about it.

Which I did. I called the insurance company today and switched PCPs. I'm supposed to call back on Monday to make sure it went through. By the way, everything good you've ever heard about Anthem's customer service? ALL TRUE. The rep on the phone said it could take up to 45 days for the change to go through, and I explained the situation and why I needed it to go through sooner. She stayed calm (even though I was on the verge of tears) and said it would just take another minute for her to fill out a form. She did, and theoretically it's already through, she just told me to call back to be on the safe side.

I went with a female doctor this time. She's in a large clinic, which is awesome because they have a lot of testing equipment and facilities on-site, plus she's affiliated with the hospital I prefer. I also got a peesychiatrist, also female, also affiliated with the same hospital. I see her in two weeks; we'll see how that goes, but I like her scheduling lady already.

Meanwhile, I highly advise anyone who values their limbs to not get between me and my vicodin. :P It doesn't take away all the pain (which should tell anyone who's been on it how strong the pain is) but it takes the edge off, which is enough for me to get to sleep or manage to talk to someone without chewing their head off. That's about the best I can expect right now.

Note to self: ask Dr. S about going to a pain management clinic/doctor/whatever.

Anyone who's been to a pain management clinic, what are they like? Are they helpful for chronic pain?

weibchenwolf @ 5:30pm: Crouching Livejournal Hidden Twitters
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telynor @ 4:02am: The Daily Random Harper
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bloolark @ 9:31am: So, we got this new cat.
And I have to say, he's really weird. A strange breed, indeed. (See the rhyming? Aren't I funny?)

See, he's got these REALLY long ears, and I keep finding these perfectly round poops in the litter box. And for whatever reason, the other cats don't want to eat his food.

( The Weird Cat behind here. )

telynor @ 4:02am: The Daily Random Harper
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weibchenwolf @ 5:30pm: Crouching Livejournal Hidden Twitters
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telynor @ 4:02am: The Daily Random Harper
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weibchenwolf @ 5:30pm: Crouching Livejournal Hidden Twitters
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weibchenwolf @ 5:30pm: Crouching Livejournal Hidden Twitters
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telynor @ 4:02am: The Daily Random Harper
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bloolark @ 1:04pm: News of the house!
I know you guys like my news so much. And by 'like' I mean 'may not necessarily care about', but hey, it's my journal. :)

* House update: We have functional appliances. All of them! We've also had a few quotes on the floor upstairs but haven't decided on who is doing it yet. We ALSO have a contractor who has already started on the basement and says that by mid to end of January, we should have a functional bird room.

This is what babycaw has to say about that: "Hello! Oh My God!" Granted, that's mostly what he says all of the time, so that's nothing new.

* Pet update: Noire would like you to know that it is cold here and I have not yet unearthed any of her jackets. However, after a diving expedition, I've found one, which is a start. She sat outside and trembled yesterday. I also just found some envelopes, dog chewies, and her balls, so she'll be a happy doglet. Happier, at least. I have not found her Fido Fleeces, which would probably make her happiest.

* No, I have not yet found the camera. GAH. We really need to do a sorting of the boxes and actually find stuff. This current method sucks.