Had My Decade-ly Physical Exam Today

FabGrandpa and I have not had health insurance since 2001 when I was laid off from a job in the telecommunications industry (the second time).  At that job, my health insurance went into effect on January 1 so we both had scheduled appointments on the same day. Our last insurance benefits had expired in 1996, so we figured it was about time to get a check up.  On January 10, 2001, he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, and I was diagnosed with type II diabetes. It was a memoral day.

My job lasted until April 30th, and my health insurance benefits that went along with it expired on May 31st, one day after his last radiation treatment. That coverage kept us out of the poor house and bankruptcy court, and I was so thankful that we had it.

In 2007, FabGrandpa signed up for his health care benefits through the Veterans Administration, one of his benefits from having served in the Navy back in the early 70's. But that still left me with no health care insurance. I dealt with this lack of coverage by getting my prescription drugs from Mexico, where you don't need a prescription, and only going to the doctor when absolutely necessary.  Like when I had that palpable mass and pain in my arm, and that kidney stone last summer.  All of that was paid for out of pocket, but there have been times during those years when I had to make a decision not to go to the doctor because I simply couldn't afford it. 

Among my many goals for 2010 was to establish a relationship with a doctor, and to get my health care taken care of on a more regular basis. I asked people around here who they would go to, and Dr. Lee was the name that came up most often. Today was the day for my appointment with Dr. Lee. He is a general practioner in a small town in Alabama. He is one of those guys who does all the labs, x-rays, and EKG's right there in his office. He was knowledgeable about Celiac disease, and that made me happy. And he didn't holler at me too much about my lackadasiycal attitude about my health care over the past decade. 

The exam went quite well.  I peed in the cup, they took blood for an hbA1c, kidney function, and blood chemistry; did a chest X-ray; and EKG; and took my blood pressure. We talked for a while about Celiac disease: He asked me why I thought I had it, how long I have not been eating wheat, did I feel better not eating gluten, did I want to be tested?  He said he wished more people would listen to their bodies and believe that the foods they eat could be more of a factor in their diseases. He told me that there were tests he could to determine if I have Celiac, but they are expensive, and I would have to eat gluten again for a while for them to be accurate, and if I was feeling better not eating gluten then I probably do have Celiac and he wouldn't recommend the testing. 

We are waiting for the blood test results before he writes any prescriptions for me, but he said he would probably continue me on metformin 500 mg per day, as my blood sugar this morning was 110.  He will probably add a low dosage blood pressure medication because my blood pressure was 143/91, and he was afraid that combined with my type II diabetes could cause some kidney damage. They are scheduling me for the dreaded mammogram, and will wait the results of the stool sample to decide if I really need a colonoscopy. All the things Dr. Lee did today came to a total of $186 plus whatever the lab charges for the blood tests he sent to them.  If this had been in the Atlanta area, it would have cost about $350.  But believe me when I tell you there have been lots of times in the last ten years when I didn't have that much money in my pocket.

And, while he DID reprimand me somewhat for my long wait between physical exams, he commended me for taking control of my healthcare issues. I have taken my medications, even if obtaining them from Mexico was somewhat risky. I did get an hbA1c every 3-4 months, even if I did buy them over the counter from Wal-Mart most of the time. I found out I could be gluten intolerant and deleted gluten from my life. So, even though I haven't been faithful to the medical professionals, I have been getting healthcare in ways I could afford. 


UPDATE: the doctor's office called this morning. My hbA1c was 6.1, where they want it be less than 7. Kidney function was fine, all blood chemistry was normal, not even high cholesterol! The NP who called said she was very impressed with the numbers, and again commended me for taking good care of myself, and AGAIN said she was sure that not eating gluten was helping to keep my numbers normal.  I will be taking blood pressure meds, but I expected that.

That Darn Palpable Mass!

Back during the winter when we were in Phoenix, working at the Christmas tree lot, I had that worrisome palpable mass on my arm. I went to the doctor a couple of times, and had an ultrasound done, and nothing happened. The doctor I saw said they didn't see anything wrong.

Well, my arm swells up and hurts if I use it. Try not using one of your arms for a day and see how frustrating THAT can be.

The day a couple weeks ago that I cut all the strips for the quilts I am making, I had to use my left arm to push down on the ruler and fabric to make sure it didn't move. That night, my arm hurt again, and swelled a little bit.

Then last Friday, when I was working at the entrance station, I had to "walk the line". That is where one of us goes out and walks down the line of cars, answering visitors' questions, checking ID's and passes, and handing out guides. I was holding a stack of guides in my left arm while doing this. That night, my arm was swollen and hurt like a toothache! I'm talking about a pain that a beer and two shots of tequila didn't touch! This is getting to be very bothersome.

So, I was referred to a doctor in Flagstaff and made an appointment for July 21. I will be taking my ultrasound pictures with me, and hope that this new doctor will be able to figure out what is causing this to happen.

I really am not worried about it being cancer, because if it was a cancerous tumor, it would be there all the time. I think it is a cyst, that flares up when I do something to irritate it, like USING MY ARM! So, stay tuned, for the continuing saga of The Palpable Mass.

A Palpable Mass, Part II

A week or so ago, I wrote about my arm, my left arm. I told you about how it is swollen and how it hurts when I pick things up or try to open the door of the truck. I went to a doctor and they sent me to get an ultrasound done on that arm.

Yesterday, they called me to tell me that the ultrasound did not find anything. Well, the exact wording of the report, which I drove over and picked up today, is:

" We studied the area of soft tissue swelling in the left forearm and made comparison images of the right side.

I do not identify a superficial mass or fluid collection on the left side.

The deeper muscles on the left side have a little more globlular shape but no definite abnormality was identified there.

Impression: No discrete sonographic abnormality proved. Deeper forearm muscles have a slightly more globular shape on the left than on the right..."

They went on to say that I should be referred to a primary care physician so that primary care physician can refer me for an MRI. I asked them to refer me to a doctor because I do not know any doctors in the area, and they referred me to the General Practice group that is associated with their Urgent Care Facility.

They also told me that because I am a new patient, I will have to pay a higher fee, even though I have already been seen at their Urgent Care Facility. (what a ripoff, they have the record of my visit already). I made the appointment for Thursday. Then we went over to visit with our friends, Lynda and Charlie. Yeah, even though we were off today we went over there anyway.

I was telling Lynda about my medical stuff to bring her up to date, and I mentioned to her that the "doctor" I thought I saw at the Urgent Care Facility was actually a Nurse Practioner. Now, I have nothing against nurses, or nurse practioners, so if you are one or know a super one, don't go getting your panties all in a wad. It was just that "my impression" of this particular nurse practioner was that she was a ditz. That she was preoccupied with something other than "my" arm when I went in there to see her. And that she could have cared less about my arm. It was a Saturday, and it was close to quitting time when I went there. So, maybe she had other things to think about. That's just how "I" felt about it. That maybe she was not the best person for me to see.

We had met a Naturopathic Chiropractor who came to the Christmas tree lot to buy his family's Christmas tree, and chatted with him about a lot of stuff (we were not that busy). He seemed to have a lot of the same thoughts on medicine as I do, and he gave me his business card. So, while I was at Lynda's I called his office. His receptionist is also his wife, and she remembered me from the tree lot. After I told her what my problem was, we made an appointment for me to go see him tomorrow. If he can not figure out what is wrong with my arm, he will refer me to a Osteopathic doctor who is in practice with him. Right now, I feel like that is the best way for me to go. I feel sort of "led" to go in that direction. Why else would I meet this doctor and strike up a conversation with him, if he was not supposed to be in my life right at this moment. We'll see.

In the meantime, I want everyone to tell me all the horror stories about their best friend's cousin's mother-in-law who had a swollen arm, and what the problem with them was. I want all the scenarios I can get, so I can google them and maybe self diagnose my problem. Comment away, let me know what YOU think may be wrong with me.

I still think, my best guess, is that I have a fracture in the a bone in there. But no one in a medical suit listens to what I have to say.

A Palpable Mass

I have been having some trouble with my arm for about two months, ever since we were in Flagstaff. When we were there, I walked into the door between the living area and the bathroom in our trailer, and hit my left arm. I didn't have a bruise or anything, but my arm has been hurting ever since then.



It doesn't hurt when I lift it up over my head, or when I move it back and forth, or side to side, but when I try to pick something up, it hurts. Like when I try to pick up a can of soda or open the door to the truck, I have no "grip" and my arm hurts.


Then, this week, I happened to notice that it looked swollen, right below the bend in my elbow. I had FabGrandpa look at it, and said it looked swollen to him, too. And, there was a knot in there. Not a bruise, but a huge "bump" in there. My friend Lynda looked at it too, and said, "yeah, it's swollen up, Kid" (she always calls me kid, I love that about her!)


So, today, we went to the urgent care clinic in Anthem that is down the road from the Christmas tree lot. They took a look and said "yep, it's swollen". They gave me a prescription for Naproxen, and orders to get an ultrasound done at the hospital in Phoenix. I have to call on Monday and make an appointment. The diagnosis right now is:

Palpable mass in left forearm. It does looks swollen in this picture:
The doctor I saw said it was probably just a cyst or a benign tumor. After I get the ultrasound done, they will call me with the results and refer me to an orthopedic surgeon. (Ick!) So, there ya go---the suspense is palpable!