A rave for good insurance.

I know that a lot is broken in the US health care system. That said, when you have insurance, and good insurance, it is an amazing, and efficient, and wonderful place to be injured. It makes me sad for those who don't have access to care, and who are injured, and incredibly grateful for the ability to walk (or hobble) into my Dr's offices, and have swift and world class care in an incredibly efficient manner.

I got home from the beach Monday afternoon. Entertained. Woke up Tuesday and was in to my Primary Dr Tuesday afternoon. Was sent directly to X-ray, with no wait. My films were sent immediately to my Dr, and I had my results by 9 am the next morning. I was directed to my Orthopedist (in the same building), with a tip from my Dr to not call, but to directly hobble in, face to face, and plead my sad case. When I first limped in, I was told that the first available appointment was June 7th. I got teary. I gave the "husband out of town three kids 5 and under and I can barely walk.....is there anything you can do for me"? sales pitch. Being a woman and a mother, she took pity on me, and got me in on May 31st. On May 31st I saw my Dr, was immediately given crutches in the office (covered by insurance), and they handled my pre cert for my MRI. By 9 am the very next day I was cleared by insurance, and the MRI place was calling me to set up my appointment......THAT AFTERNOON. Jeannie came to my rescue (AGAIN, Jeannie I love you). So from Tuesday morning till Friday night I had a primary appointment, x rays, a specialist appointment, and an MRI, all without a dime out of pocket. My paltry ($10 and $15) co pays were all handled via my Flex card, coming directly out of our HSA, which is loaded up with pre tax dollars. The system is broken in general, but man when you have good insurance, the system works very, very well.

Never having had an MRI before I was a bit nervous. I'm not claustrophobic, but I do have issues with anxiety at times. Knowing that, I popped a little bit of delicious pharmaceutical calm before my appointment......went in (it was a closed machine....I was in the tube) popped in some ear phones, got my feet taped down into a funny position to open up my hips for the images........was inserted into the tube (like reverse birth without the squishyness)..........listened to the clanging and banging, and fell into a funny dream about giraffes. It was actually quite relaxing, compared to caring for kids all day! The 25 minutes flew by as I caught my nap....and it was over.

Me being me I tried to sweet talk the super nice tech into some insider info. She said that there was a ton of fluid in there, but she wasn't able to give me a specific diagnosis other than that as the Dr had to see the films. She said that she didn't see any fractures, but again, that was for the Dr to review.

Immediately texted my Uncle, he said that fluid indicated inflammation, which indicated a tear of some sort. What sort, and what the severity was, was impossible to tell without access to the film. I can say that with wayyyy more rest than I've been having lately yesterday, and the crutches, and a return to religious ice and ibuprofen.....I feel, or at least THINK that I feel, slightly better today. This is a first since the injury. I don't know if it is in my head or simple wishful thinking.......but I didn't scream at all today. I also got a lot of sleep and had a pretty restful day today. I'm hitting the sack early, and going to take the kids to kids zone so I can sauna and whirlpool it up tomorrow early, and head out to the baby shower tomorrow by 11.

I'm back in with my Orthopaedist next Thursday afternoon. I can admit that I will be calling on Monday afternoon to see if the Dr has had a chance to review my films yet, just because that is who I am. You can't get it you don't ask, and I don't mind being a kindly persistent patient and self advocate when it comes to my own health and my own need to know. I will continue to ice, and ibuprofen, and ...... well, Melissa, you may have saved my life with some *real* pain help AND with the surprise of Matt taking the bigs for me tonight. Jake and I are hanging and I am feeling better both mentally and physically at the moment. We are headed in the right direction. For the first time since I heard "stress fracture" I am letting a little ray of hope that maybe, just maybe, I may still be in the marathon game. I know my body, and even if I do NOTHING until July, I know that I can ramp up slowly but be back to where I need to be by October 7. My time goals may be totally readjusted, but hell, days ago I was contemplating a year off, if suddenly a 4+ marathon in October is my worst case scenario.......that is winning....shit, that is winning big time. So. I suddenly have a little bit of hope. I'm hoping for a muscle tear. Maybe not a terrible one. Or something. I'm hoping being a good patient will help. I'm hoping devoting myself to healing like I devote myself to training may just work some wonders. Of course, I could find out I tore a tendon and am well out of the game......but at least I have a little hope. Hope is good.