Next on the morning agenda is battling for an appointment with the RA doc’s office. The bulldogs at the front desk (which I do understand why they have to be tough, but really…) called to inform me my appointment for a medication prescription was cancelled as the doctor will be out of the office. They said the doctor would come in early to see me at 9:30 am that day, which wouldn’t work for me as I’d have to leave work. At this point in the year it is really impossible to leave work unless you are missing a limb. I pushed back. Told nothing else was available. I pushed back. Again, nothing. I pushed back. I am a bulldog too, when I have to be. A 2:30 on this upcoming Monday suddenly opened up. As I have to be at work until 3:30 this Monday, I pushed back again and just asked her to talk to the doctor. She said it wouldn’t matter. I asked again for her to talk to the doctor. She again said it wouldn’t matter. I said well, as a patient I am requesting you explain this to my doctor. Cordial phone call ending, Phone re-rings in about two minutes offering me a 3:30 on 9/13. Amazing. What a shame the system is what it is! My doc goes on vacation and all the appointments get shuffled around, causing Medical Appointment Football.
Sad part is, I have to go for an appointment, complete with $45 copay (or is it$65 now? Not sure…) for a piece of paper to stay functional. Without the piece of paper, I will be in pain and literally SUFFERING NEEDLESSLY and not be working well, eventually having to miss work due to it. It is almost like the system wants me to lose function. It doesn’t make sense and I will be a bulldog about it so that I can work every day and walk every day. It is my right as a patient with a chronic painful disease to manage it the way I feel it is most effective. My RA doc is great because she at least will provide said piece of paper, which lasts me two months. Pain clinics are first a week, then two weeks, then maaaaybe a month, and then no longer than a month at a time. Imagine trying to fit all those appointments into a schedule. Oh, and having to pee in a cup each time, potentially at one’s own expense, to prove that you aren’t selling the drugs on the streets. The system sucks. It is hard enough to lose function and mobility to pain let alone have this stress on top of it.
So as sit here, waiting for my morning pain med dose to bring down pain levels enough in my legs to let me walk without wincing, I reflect. Sigh.
One amazing thing happened last night. As I picked up Kizzy from his play stand to put him back in his house for his dinner, and of course gave him a squishy macaw hug, he balked and seemed aggravated -- not like him. I thought it strange, and left him to his supper. When I returned, he had dropped the most amazing tail feather ever -- 23.5” long, over 2” wide at the base, gorgeous coloring without defects and minimal wear and tear. It must have been sensitive when I huggled him. I literally gasped and thanked him for such an extraordinary gift. It is massive and beautiful in ways that art can never be. I love my macaw-son! What a gift! Maybe it is the new food...well worth the extra cost if it helps keep him so healthy!
Onward to a day full of pushing back against the domestic chaos that has gotten the upper hand this week. Sigh. C’mon pain meds, c’mon...waiting…!
A quick art link today to a page of art quilts about birds. Parrots ALWAYS make things better and there are some beauties on here! Cheers!