I'm tired of all the politicians practicing medicine too. (not making a political statement, other than the fact that I hate all politicians. They all lie, and they're only politicians for the money)

My insurance got dropped. Lost my doctor(s). And the new insurance deductible is so high, I don't know how they call it insurance. I'm in the middle of what is probably the worst ever flare that I've had. (can't walk without either a walker or a cane...about to ditch the cane for some forearm crutches to see if that would be easier. I can't drive my car that I just bought, so I probably wasted $19k on the car, and I'm quite peeved at the entire world right now)

oh, and I tore my left rotator cuff. yay me. (did a small dosepack of steroids for the pain. Steroids ended yesterday, and now my arm really really hurts again. Washing my hair just now was not fun)


anyone here know anything about hand controls for driving a car? Do I need lessons? a special license?

((((Erin))))

Sorry that you are going through a rough patch and that your insurance got canceled, and that you lost your doctor too.
Gee this new medical thing doesn't seem to be very good for a lot of people. I sure hope that they work the bugs out of it, so that those who really need coverage get it.

With love, Erika

I wish I could get cheaper insurance than what I ended up getting (new one doesn't cover the same stuff I had, but makes me pay for maternity stuff. I'm never having a kid. I don't need that) but I'm not touching that website with ten foot long keyboard to see what they have to offer. They have no security set up on it. (why?) No way I'm entering my info into their system.

I was probably in the first wave of insurance droppings, before it started to hit the news (it was probably late August)

Right now, I'm more bummed out by the stupid flare bugging me, and not being able to drive my car. I need to find out how to get hand controls installed, and if I need lessons and a special license to drive with the hand controls. I want to be able to drive my car. I'm going bleeping nuts trapped inside my house. I never go anywhere. It's no wonder all my muscles are getting deconditioned. Which I think has something to do with the fact that I'm having serious issues with the walking, and my balance.

Just wish the weird sensations, the weird walking and the feeling sick and tired all the time would go away and I could be normal again. That's not going to happen tho.

Has me wondering why I always seem to be having a big flare over holidays. I love Christmas, but the more I want to do anything for Christmas, the worse I feel MS-wise.

I can't even get my trees out of the closet. (I have 3) I'd love to do my designer tree (I have a huge collection of patriotic ornaments I've been collecting) but it's too much work to put all the ornaments up. So, I've got my two lazy trees. The ones that are pre-lit and I don't bother putting ornaments on them. I just can't get the lazy trees out of the closet either.

My dad told me what he's getting me for Christmas last night. Told me I could go ahead and order it myself whenever I want to, and I could have it before Christmas. (it's a gadget) So, at least that part of Christmas is going to be exciting. My dad is trying to keep me from being bored out of my mind from being sick all the time.

You have a Wonderful supportive Pop, Erin.

Arrgghhh…the knee surgeon's pcp's nurse called today. Said that the tests showed I had/have a UTI and I need to go on ABs asap and have a urine culture done next Friday-which is when our Christgiving is in full swing.
I wonder if the spirits are telling me to delay this surgery…with the spasms, and now this, I feel a bit of trepidation now that I didn't feel before. The reisk of infection with knee replacement is huge, and DH and I are subconsciously worried.

I have almost chronic UTIs…is this normal in a person with MS who is fastidious with hygiene?

Yes Debbie UTIs are almost normal with peeps who retain urine
...us MSers. I actually wash myself with soap and water every
time I go potty and squeese my bladder and yet, at least, twice
per year, I'll get a UTI.

Skip the operation until after the holidays and get yourself well.

Debbie,

You need to slow down, one step at a time girl! Go easy on the housework, the kids are not going to notice dust! Let your DH finish the cleaning after he finishes the floor.

Make sure you are infection free and not stressed before going into surgery, you don't want to do something like I did and push yourself too hard before surgery and having a relapse!

I am kicking myself with the walking problems I'm having. I'm praying they are temporary.

Please take it easy and enjoy the holidays and put off your surgery if you can.

yep. My dad is the coolest. I need to get him something really cool for Christmas. I just can't think of anything that I can surprise him with on Christmas. The gift he's getting me is, you guessed it, a new iPad. (the iPad Air) and we talked about it last night. He's going to take my iPad3, my mom gets his iPad2 (yay! mom gets her first iPad!).

I hadn't even thought seriously of getting the new iPad. I think my dad just likes to buy gadgets. I also think he wanted to do the iPad shuffle so that my mom would finally get one. She's been asking for one.

My dad deserves a really good present this year. I just don't know what to get him. I also don't know what to get my mom. Maybe new covers for the iPads that are getting passed down?

My dad is great, he's been super helpful with helping me with a lot of stuff with this MS. He also told me today that he'd get me hand controls for my car. So I'll be able to drive. Which means I'll be learning to drive hand controls in the winter. This is probably a good thing. They can teach me how to drive on snow...something I can't do with a normal automatic car anyways. I've only ever had stick shift cars. I don't know how an automatic car handles on snow. I'm used to being able to down shift.

My dad damaged my new car this morning. He scraped the mirror off of a parked car this morning, and put a huge scratch down the passenger side of my car.

I didn't know about it till later this afternoon. My parents were out earlier today, and that's when it happened. Apparently my dad called my insurance agent (same as his) and reported it. The owner of the other car was nowhere nearby. My dad would have just left, but they were stopping at a store right in front of where he damaged the car. My mom went inside to pick up something she'd ordered, and while she was in there, she confessed. (that's how my dad put it)

So, my dad had to leave insurance information. Hopefully not MY name, because it was my dad that did it. I was home sleeping because I had insomnia till 8am.

I found out about it when I got an email from the insurance company telling me they'd gotten a call about "my" accident. I was like "what accident?". I was about to call the insurance company when my parents came home and dad had to confess to me that he'd damaged my car. (that I can't drive)

I think my dad is going to try to not have it fixed. Hah! He's gonna get it fixed. Then he's getting me hand controls for the car, and I'm taking the keys away from him.

Erin,
Accidents happen...sometimes all too easily. That's why we have insurance.
I'm sure that your Dad didn't do it intentionally. Its not as though he was speeding recklessly down the highway saying, "Lets see what this baby will do."

It might be better to extend some undersatanding and forgiveness in his direction. Even if it is only to ask him if he is OK.

Scratches in sheet metal can be repaired and remember, cars have no feelings.
Damage done to relationships, are not so easily repaired...the scrapes and dents seem to go deeper than outward appearances.

With love, Erika