Spatter

My New Left Foot

A while back I wrote a post about starting Tui Na sessions.  To briefly recap: Tui Na "uses a variety of hand techniques and passive and active stretching to restore correct anatomical musculo-skeletal relationships, neuro-muscular patterns, and to increase the circulation of Qi and blood to remove biochemical irritants". 

Up to now, I've had fairly general work done.  The therapist and I agreed to hold off working on my problematic left foot until after my trip to Wyoming.  Well, now I'm back and we began today. 

For an hour and a half the therapist worked at releasing the energy flow of my tendons, ligaments, and muscles.  Surprisingly, it hurt more on the top of the foot than the bottom...where the pain shows itself.  I guess that's because that's where the nerves and energy channels are.  When she was finished and I walked around a bit, I felt like I had a new foot.  When I stepped on it, it flattened down and out...it was able to now...so much more flexible feeling than before.  I had never noticed it hadn't been until now, when I could feel the difference.   More sessions to follow. 

Tui Na

This week I had my second Tui Na treatment at the Blue Ridge Center For Chinese Medicine here in Floyd County.

I'm going to address, once and for all, pain at the ball of my left foot...pain that at one time kept me from walking or wearing normal shoes, but now just rears its ugly head at the most inopportune times.  Over the years I've had all sorts of doctors give me all sorts of treatments including one doctor who wanted to remove my sesamoid bones without even knowing for sure that they were the problem!  I finally found a podiatrist that seemed to literally put his finger on it.  He's given me a steroid shot when the pain starts coming...turns out a shot about once a year keeps things in a pretty good place.  The only thing is, the potential for pain is always lurking around. 

I decided I wanted to try this to address the cause and not the symptom. And while I was at it, we...the practitioner and I...discussed all my other "aches and pains" and she's integrating all the information as she treats me. 

I'm a long time recipient of deep, therapeutic massages and even rolfing.  They feel great and they do wonders, but the foot was always off limits since palpitating it always awakened the pain. 

Tui Na uses rhythmic compression too, but its focus is along energy channels more than muscles. It doesn't just work the muscles, or even the bones and joints.  It works the energy of the body at a deeper level.  

My first treatment two weeks ago felt good, but this treatment felt wonderful.  By the time it was over I had gone into a meditative state and got up feeling buzzed.  Things are feeling pretty darn good...just in time for the start of my travels.  In anticipation of need, I've made another appointment for just after my return. 

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

For those who shudder at the thought of a public health care option...who want no part of government running their health care...please sign up to give up your medicare coverage. 

Sign Up 

Not interested?  I didn't think so.  For the life of me, I don't understand the fear out there.

Bad News, Good News

Bad news: I have sniffles two weeks before my big trip.  Good news:  it's two weeks before my big trip and not one! I've been feeling like I might be getting something for a few days and have taken some Emergen-C and Cold-Eze...guess now I'll start pumping it in.  Wondering if exerting myself on my daily walk will help or hurt the cause...

Good News, Good Report

I got good news yesterday.  My costly ultrasound showed better results than the first ultrasound had.  I'm back in the "borderline" range...in other words, almost normal.  This most likely means that there was some technique and/or reading discrepancy between the two.  Course of action now:  skip the biopsy and get another ultrasound in three months or so.  Funny, but that was my original plan all along! 

On the financial front, the Winston-Salem doctor is writing an appeal to my insurance provider.  Hopefully, this will have as good an ending....but I've reconciled myself to paying it just in case it doesn't.

I'm Going To Pay

Yesterday I went back down to Winston-Salem to have my prescribed ultra sound done.  You'll recall that my doctor there couldn't complete the endometrial biopsy and wanted to make verify the findings of my original ultra sound before having me go through the procedure under anesthesia.

The doctor scheduled it through the hospital she's affiliated with...the one next door.  I just assumed that since she was in my network, the hospital was too.  I didn't verify the fact at check in because...well quite frankly...I had to go to the bathroom so bad all I wanted was to get back there and get the procedure over with.  Big mistake.  It turns out the hospital is not in my plan and I'm going to have to pay for the whole she-bang. 

When speaking to my insurance provider, I asked how my in-network doctor was supposed to practice medicine on me if the facility she works out of isn't covered.  It doesn't make sense, but that's the way it is. My doctor did say she'd write a letter to the insurer and plead my case.  We'll see what comes of that, but I'm not holding my breath.  Instead, I'm trying to guess what an ultra sound costs and trying to rationalize that had I been paying the premiums for the super-duper plan I used to have, I'd probably have paid for it and then some.  Of course, that thought is immediately followed by the thought that I should have had it done in Florida. 

I go back to the doctor tomorrow to find out the results.  If they indicate that the biopsy needs to be done, I guess I'll be asking if it can wait.  If it can't, I guess I'll ask for a referral to another OB/GYN in my plan up here...if I can find one.  If it can't wait and there isn't another doctor, then a trip to Florida may be in the cards.

More To Come

Yesterday's consultation turned out to be the real deal.  The doctor in Winston-Salem decided to do the endometrial biopsy I had hoped would not be necessary.  She told me that despite the fact that I was asymptomatic, there was sufficient reason to be suspicious. Perhaps it was better this way...there was no chance for my anxiety to build. 

I had, by this time, already determined that I liked everyone at the facility I encountered:  the receptionist, the business clerk, the nurses' aids, the nurse practioner, and most importantly, the doctor.  I was as mentally and emotionally comfortable as possible.

So...I was given four Motrin and  then got some localized numbing and we were under way. It was all very uncomfortable, but tolerable.  There wasn't even an "ouch" moment.  Afterward I found out why.  Without getting into a biology lesson and too graphic for this venue, I'll just say she was unable to take tissue from where she thought she needed to.  So...first she's having me come back for a second ultra sound to see if the results are the same as the first or if the first one was skewed for some reason.  If this ultra sound looks normal, then that's it...end of game.  If it looks the same, then I go in for an outpatient procedure so the biopsy can be completed.  I'd be under anesthesia for that. She says the procedure will be too painful otherwise.  Then, we see what those results show and proceed from there.

Meanwhile my poision ivy is spreading and getting more annoying instead of less despite the shot I got last Friday.  Guess I'll be calling that doctor back to see if he's got another idea since the shot and the Benedryl I'm taking don't seem to be helping.  I didn't expect the shot to miraculously make the rash disappear, but I did expect that the shot would  calm it and too, prevent it all from popping out in other places.

I'm glad it's a rainy sort of day here...perfect for catching up on blogs and Flickr and various other tasks that need doing. 

Today's The Day

Today's the day we head to Winston-Salem to see the OB/GYN about the findings of the ultra sound several weeks ago.  If you recall, my doctor down in Florida wanted to do an endometrial biopsy but between my anxiety and it being so close in time to my travel date, I didn't have it done. 

This doctor I'm seeing happens to be an OB/GYN-Oncologist.  I found her by chance...she was about the only OB/GYN in driving distance who was in my insurance plan.  Turns out her practice is highly thought of by a friend who's a respected pathologist in the Winston-Salem area.  So I feel like I'll be in good care. 

This will just be a consultation.  If she concurs the biopsy is called for, I'll be making another trip. 

     

Got The Itch

Well, I didn't even have to wait until I picked blackberries...I got poison ivy just cleaning up our road.  At first I thought it was going to stay localized on my right forearm, but now, two days later it's emerged on my neck and other arm some.  My entire back itches, though so far no rash there. Ugh.  Pass me a Benedryl...

Thanks For The Well Wishes

Just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone for all the well-wishes sent my way regarding my recent health issues.  The colonoscopy went well and while the official lab reports won't be back for several days, the doctor told me all looked fine. 

As for the endometrial biopsy, I'm still working on getting things resolved.  Looks like my decision to pursue it while up in Virginia turns out to have a medical rationale now too.  You see, my colonoscopy's post procedure directive says I shouldn't take Motrin or Advil for ten days.  Since the OB/GYN office said I needed to take one of them an hour before their procedure, I can't do the procedure as originally planned anyway.  Now I'm trying to get that office to fax up the ultra sound report and doctor's referral.  Sounds like a simple enough thing to do...not.  Long story...will spare you.