[JoanB]

Was cleaning out my medicine cabinet yesterday and found an old bottle of Anbesol. I said hmmm....if you can put it in your mouth, it couldn't be that dangerous on your feet, right?

Surely somebody has thought of this before. It seems to help a bit on thinner skin like around my ankles, arches, and in-between and tops of toes but not so much on pads and heels.

Not a miracle, but if you happen to have some, why not try?

[cyclelops]

Well, that is 'repurposing'!

I don't feel my feet, but maybe I will try a unique way to use it, in my mouth!

[mrsD]

It has 20% Benzocaine in it.

This is a topical anesthetic.

If this works for you, I'd investigate Lidoderm patches. Stronger, and longer lasting. Expensive however, if you don't have insurance.

There is also alot of camphor in Anbesol. Some rubs have camphor too.

[JoanB]

I did get some lidocaine patches a few years ago but just didn't seem able to get the placement right. Maybe I should ask my doctor for lidocaine cream--I think maybe I would do better with that.

I do have pretty good insurance. I just wish everyone could have what I have.

[cyclelops]

I have pretty good insurance too. That is the scary part. I was still denied at one point. I also wonder how long we will be able to afford it. Or how long it will continue to pay for things.

We are in position for my husband to retire, if not for health insurance. (He has worked the same job 35 years) and it is going to be a real challenge to pay $1600 to $2000 per month for insurance. We have a substantial amount saved, but, with a 20% rise per year allowed for insurance premiums, it will be really rough. We can't buy insurance on the free market unless pre-existing clauses are removed. It is hard to imagine paying 30,000 to 48,000$ per year for health insurance until we qualify for 'entitlement' programs. How many people have that kind of money saved? We are close, but, it is still scary. What if costs of insurance continue to skyrocket, or they can deny me because I get expensive treatment. I will simply have to give up the treatment and take what comes. Like most of the under-developed world.

Social Sec. kicks in at 62, but medicare not until 65, if it lasts at all. Then there is the matter of buying a supplement or facing astronomical medical bills.

It will be rationing of health care by sheer expense. If you can't afford it, you won't get it.

At some point, we will have to pack it in, and call it a day. I am more of a quality versus quantity person anyway.

[JoanB]

I have pretty good insurance too. That is the scary part.

Yeah, even "good" insurance isn't that good. I had to cough up 3K out of pocket two years in a row between the cancer and the hip replacement, plus the salary I lost from not being able to work during those times. And I'm darn lucky that I could eat those costs, even if it was painful. There are a lot of families in this country that would have lost their homes over that series of hits.

You can say what you want about Canada, France, et. al. but nobody loses their home over illness in those countries.

[cyclelops]

I hear ya.

Health care is a mess.

Also, I look at my bills to see what the docs get, and they don't get anywhere what they charge from my insurance. At what point will they decide they can't bite it anymore and come after me?

To be in these big insurance groups, some docs are biting 20-30% of their costs.

Oh, it is too depressing to think about. Just too darn depressing. Gonna go stick my head in the sand and not think about it. How do Sweden, Norway, Finland, France, Germany etc. all do it?? Why will that NOT work for us?? How did we end up with one sixth of the GDP end up being health care??? Heatlh care is generally a charitable endeavor. It is not supposed to be the place to make billions.

[aussiemom]

Boy, I hear ya! I'm going to retire in Nov, I'll be 62 then. I am fortunate in that I will receive a $150 per month credit towards my insurance from the state, but the ins. will still be very expensive for one person. Before my hubby turned 65 and could officially "retire" ha ha we checked into the supplement plans. I could have kept him on my ins. from my work, but I found an Advantage plan, and it is free for him. Two weeks after his 65th b-day, he had a TIA. He had a CT scan, was $50. All else was covered, as is the meds.

I totally agree, something must be done in this country. Those of us who have cronic problems can't afford ins. on the "outside" even if they would cover us. People who are healthy, just don't understand.

Just my thoughts.

[antonina]

If you are on social security disability you don't have to wait until you're 65. If you qualify for it (SSD) in 2 years you can join Medicare.

Medicare is the most fantastic health care coverage I've ever had. The difference between it & my former teachers' coverage is stunning: no prior approvals for any tests, scans, etc. Use any doc who accepts it (however, many are opting out because of reduced reimbursement), etc.

All Americans should be able to access it.

[JoanB]

Hey, I was healthy (and covered) not too long ago, and I understood. The problem is that too many people think the world stops at the end of their own driveway.

(Maybe universal on-street parking could be the answer...learning to parallel that baby in with two inches to spare exercises motor skills)