Like water for health.

In an area where water bills run high, vulnerable parties — like those with Crohn’s disease — are seeking assistance for their extra H2O costs. More here: BBC.com/news

The secret costs of healthcare.

“How can it be that Medicare pays $40,000, prix fixe, for the same heart operation, by the same doctor, at the same hospital, that costs patients paying privately $80,000 to $120,000?”

That is a good question. Want an answer? Check out a great piece by Dr. Bernadine Healy on just how imperative it is to eliminate runaway health costs: USNews.com/health

Still haven’t read the bill? Here it is: HR3200

If the dialogue about healthcare became productive...

...I’m pretty sure it would look like this = TEDMED2009

You all know how much I love TED already, and they’ve brought together all things medical and healthcare related with the return of TEDMED. Unfortunately it’s sold out this year. Fortunately TED post’s a majority of their talks online for free. Here’s an older one by world famous surgeon Sherwin Nuland.

Proof that hope isn’t just a fad.

No wheat? No problem.

At the advice of a nutritionist, I have begun a small experiment — one meal/day at a time — to eliminate some major items from my diet. Nothing crazy (though Clarks are notoriously bad at moderation), but hey, what could be the harm in eating less gluten and/or casein?

With that in mind, I’ve starting looking for some of the best resources for this slightly alternative diet (and so far I’ve noticed it’s not too easy, even in California) and here are a few I think are great:

TriumphDining / gluten-free restaurants and food
Karina’s kitchen / gluten-free recipes from a gluten-free goddess herself
GlutenFreeRecipes.net / gluten-free and casein-free recipes

Got more to add? Let me know.

Walking his way to health.

Great story about a young Canadian man with Crohn’s disease, Aaron Goodis. “Aaron had lost so much bone density from drugs to treat Crohn’s disease that he suffered multiple fractures to his spine and ended up in a wheelchair.”

Read about Aaron’s miraculous recovery here: How one man walked himself back to life

Book of the week: The Healing Of America

I just ordered this, so I haven’t formed my opinion just yet, but it could not be more relevant: The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care

A good friend of mine (thanks Bill!) sent me an op-ed piece by Nicolas Kristof—The Body Count at Home—in which Kristof refers to The Healing of America and exemplifies our health care system at its worse (this statement gave me goosebumps): After Al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 Americans, eight years ago on Friday, we went to war and spent hundreds of billions of dollars ensuring that this would not happen again. Yet every two months, that many people die because of our failure to provide universal insurance — and yet many members of Congress want us to do nothing?

I’ll leave you with that.

Guardian angel$.

I’ve written about this before, but it continues to remain extremely relevant as noted by this article in The New York Times on Friday: After a Diagnosis, Someone to Help Point the Way

Lesley Aldermann interviews patients and their guardian angels errr nurses who not only help advocate for their care, but explain treatment options and billing procedures. Sound too good to be true? It’s not. In fact, the Patient Advocate Foundation will help you at no cost.

Read more here: nytimes.com/health

Want the facts?

Or just want to end the name-calling? Either way, I understand and am really growing to to love this site: opencongress.org

For starters, you can read every word of the Health Care Bill aka America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. You can also find related articles, track a bill, find out what your representative and senators are up to, etc.

Check it out. The discussions are as interesting as the “hot bills.”

A laughing matter.

Heard this piece on NPR and absolutely loved it. Iva Skoch and Kairol Rosenthal two writers diagnosed with colon and thyroid cancer in their late 20s reflect upon the benefits of a laughter-filled approach to their diseases.

You can listen to the full story here: Young People Living, And Laughing, With Cancer

Tea time.

Short, sweet, and simple article about the digestive benefits of tea (for anyone) = examiner.com/tea-and-digestive-disease

Cheers from D.C.

Photo by Prakhar.

My broken wing (Part Two)

At the advice of everyone, I gave in and went to the “acute care” clinic — formerly known as the urgent care clinic. I arrive at the acute care clinic around 6pm and there is no one there—sans the front desk receptionist (FDR). Zero patients waiting. This is going to be a breeze.

FDR: What’s wrong?
Me: I’m not sure. I think I may have torn my rotator cuff. My right shoulder really hurts. I can’t even reach around to grab the insurance and ID card that I know you are about to ask me for. (I wince in pain and grab my right shoulder)
FDR: Did you hurt yourself?
Me: Uhhhh...yes. I hurt my right shoulder. (huh?)
FDR: I mean, did you hurt yourself.
Me: Yes. Shoulder. Hurt...?
FDR: Did you fall down and hurt yourself?
Me: No. I did not fall down, but I did hurt myself (obviously).
FDR: Is this a work-related injury?
Me: I don’t know. I just know my shoulder hurts. A lot. Or I wouldn’t be here.
FDR: If it is work related, we can’t see you. You have to go to the emergency room.
Me: This is obviously not an emergency, I’ve been putting my left hand into long overdue use for days now. (she does not laugh)
FDR: Well if it’s work related, we cannot see you here.
Me: Ummm, I don’t know how this happened.
FDR: Fill out this form. I’m going to need your insurance and ID card. You will probably have to wait until 8.30pm.

(to be continued)

My broken wing (Part One)

(aka “Why our healthcare system really needs reform. Seriously.”)

I tried to be tough. I did. I even bought my own sling and almost accidentally choked on my heating pad in the middle of the night. But the last time I complained about pain, I had open lung surgery within a week. And the time before that, I had a heart procedure days later. So when the misery in my shoulder reached a state I could no longer bear, I called my network of doctors to avoid an unnecessary (and very belated) trip to the emergency room.

I explained to the very nice woman (VNW) on the phone that I was a professional patient and was quite certain I needed to schedule an appointment with an orthopedist or a physical therapist.

She informed me that no one was taking on new patients at this time.
I told her that was too bad for my shoulder, eh?
She didn’t laugh.
“Hmmm, what now?” I asked.

The VNW promised she’d return my call after the weekend with a suggestion or a possible solution for what to do. I waited...and waited... I’m still waiting. (Am I dating again? Why didn’t she call?)

I decided to call a fifth time.

I explained to VNW #5 that I could no longer text with my right hand and that my most important relationship was hinging on her ability to get my shoulder looked at so I could stop taking my anger about the American healthcare system out on my boyfriend. VNW #5 assured me that while she was indeed sorry, it wasn’t looking good for me, my wing/shoulder, or my boyfriend.

(to be continued...)

Photo by OtisArchives3