Throwing this in here between meme posts

[domino43]

Alright. Let's catch up on the last two appointments. The one before last, I told the Dr. how my left knee, which used to be my good knee, has had a swollen spot and I can't straighten it for the last couple months. He put me on an intensive 11 day course of Prednisone to see if it helped. He only wanted to do a short burst because it can wreak havoc on the body when used long term and I was already on it for about a year. In fact, my left knee troubles didn't start until AFTER I got off it. It was originally just intermittent pain every couple weeks for a couple days. Then a few months ago it swelled up to the point I can't straighten it. It's really kind of hard to even walk around the house when you can't straighten your leg at all.

So, anyway, he put me on 5mg of Prednisone for 5 days and then 2.5 for 6 days. I went back two weeks later, the day after my b-day, so he could see how it did. Well, it helped a little bit, but not a whole lot. So he referred me to an Orthopedic Dr. that they work with in the same network at a different hospital. When I got home, I called to make an appointment. Unfortunately, even though they're in the same network and I receive Charity Care, which writes my bills off since I have no income and no insurance, he's a specialist, so they're still going to charge me for the first appointment. Although, he recently halved what he charges, so it's only going to be $75, unlike all the other specialists I need to see. I have $50 set back that I've been slowly saving up for next year's LJ payment (that includes all the icon add-ons). Well, this is a little more important. So I had to get another $25, and that means kind of skimping on food and stuff for the next 2 months, but I have my SSI hearing next month and this can only help me, so... I have an appointment with him on Nov. 8th.

Also, while I was at the last Dr. appointment, I had to get my annual Flu shot. Yippee! /sarcasm AND, when I went to do my blood draw, the phlebotomist couldn't get to the vein in my right arm, so she had to use my left arm. Again. So, I have a bruise on my right and left arm from needles. And a small lump that's almost gone (finally) from the flu shot. I feel like a pin cushion.

I'll let everyone know what the Orthopedic Dr. says after my appointment.


And, if you read that up there, you may have noticed that I said I have my new hearing date. The day before Thanksgiving. Which is pretty close. And that also means that unless the judge decides that day, I'll have to wait until probably the middle of December for a decision. But, you know what? That's fine. I just want to get this over with. I don't even care so much about the money, though it would be nice, I just want medical insurance.

I was going to talk about something else, but I lost my train of thought. If I think of it and deem it important enough, I'll post again.