| Wednesday, December 24, 2008 |
| A Serie of Unfortunate Events: The Saga |
* = Not real name.
Well, every time I thought I would have a chance to complete a post, something else would come up, so that I kept starting and stopping. I finally gave up and let the dice roll where they may!
These past 2-3 years have been a time of even more reflection on my part. I’ve been working on once-monthly dinner meetings with my friends, and it had been going well with Belle, but scheduling has been difficult with my other friends, so that’s been hit or miss. The economic downturn has also added a blight to things.
Okay, so here’s a series of events the past year and half or so…
My ex-boss Veronica's* mother died suddenly on Thanksgiving night 2007. Although she’d had several health issues (and was very noncompliant), it was still a bit of a shock.
Veronica is also facing increasing pressure at work, and given the vise employers are in and have their employees in, she’s in a very difficult position. It’s become even more crystal clear that the highers-up want to get rid of her, but naturally, they won’t be direct about it. I can’t say I’m surprised by these tactics, but it’s a very sorry state of affairs.
A college friend Jane's* father died of prostate cancer near the end of January 2008. He'd been doing well for 10 years, after a fall in August 2007, his cancer spread quickly over the next several months.
Around February/March, my aunt had a really delayed reaction (5 years) to a breast marker (a small bead used to show certain areas on radiographs). She was eventually diagnosed around April (the condition is uncommon after such a long period following placement of the marker) and put on some medications and is now doing well.
In March/April, my grandmother was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, early stage. She's been monitored with blood work every 3 months and seems to be stable for the moment. Also during the spring, she tripped on the sidewalk and smashed her face and leg. Happily, nothing was broken, but she had really severe contusions, particularly on her face.
Also in March, my boss’s father-in-law died suddenly.
In April, I dislocated my finger (and reduced it myself!). No residual effects, fortunately.
My grandfather has had a series of falls over the past few years and was lucky enough not to break anything. Then, in late spring, he fell in the street and damaged his right shoulder pretty badly. Tore some muscles and damaged the capsule. He went to rehabilitation therapy on/off (he’s very stubborn and noncompliant) and has residual pain and some limitation of motion. We got him a cane, which he used once and stopped. Then we got him a walker, which he complained was too inconvenient. He's also now been diagnosed (Sept/Oct) with early Parkinson disease.
At the end of June, my GP told me my blood work showed some mild anemia and abnormal thyroid lab results. For various reasons, I didn’t get repeat lab work done till about a month or so ago. Every time I mean to call him to find out the results, I get sidetracked with something else. However, I will be seeing him in 3 weeks, so I’ll know further then
Around midsummer, my college friend Fifi* underwent a series of crises. Her mom fell and broke her wrist and had to have surgery (she’s recovered fairly well). Her father's liver enzymes (he had a failing liver, diagnosed while we were at university) became even more elevated than his baseline. The transplant surgeon is keeping an eye on that as there are not many therapy options available. And then, one of her sisters was noted to have a suspicious nodule on a breast. From August through October, that sister underwent a series of biopsies and exams, then finally had 2 separate surgeries in September and October to further delineate the suspicious margins. She's now in the middle of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, so we're seeing how she does.
In August, my grandmother had 2 eye surgeries due to complaints of deteriorating eyesight. She also has severe osteopenia, which has led to multiple fractures in her thoracic and lumbar spine and a few in her cervical spine... which in turn has resulted in a terrible kyphosis of her spine, with pain and a little respiratory difficulty.
Also in August is when I received a letter from my friend Maggie*, in which she told me about the death of her college friend, as well as the increasing burdens Maggie and her immediate and extended family are having regarding the practice of medicine. The mightily shrinking reimbursements with ever increasing workload and paperwork are really taking their toll. I think she’s burning out.
Even when I left hospital work so many years ago, when managed care was just taking root, the system was already not so great. Without even considering the economy as it stands now, when one factors in how few people go into general care, how long it takes to complete one’s training, the time it takes to specialize, how few physicians there are in rural areas, how litigious society is, how many people are uninsured, how many hospitals have merged or closed, and how many physicians have left the field, etc, it’s a wonder that healthcare hasn’t already completely collapsed.
In November, another college friend severely dislocated one of the tendons in her right wrist. She's a dental surgeon with her own practice, so not working was not an option. She's been getting by with a brace, but it’s uncertain whether she may need surgery as well. At any rate, it's going to take a very long time for her to heal.
My mum has had 2 falls in the past 6-8 weeks, and a previous one in the spring down the stairs to our lobby. She fell on the sidewalk as well as down the subway stairs. Fortunately, 2 gentleman helped her when she fell on the subway stairs, and she was not seriously injured either time (some cuts, bruise, minor sprains).
I, who am rarely ill, fell victim 2 weeks ago to a mystery condition that affected me with a huge headache for a week and laid me low for almost 3 days with symptoms consistent with very severe allergies. I have no idea what happened but I was out sick for 2 days.
My brother’s family are well for the most part, but my niece has chronic nosebleeds. We’re keeping an eye on that… |
posted by Cheshire Cat @ 12/24/2008 04:42:00 pm   |
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| 1 teabag(s) brewed: |
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Blimey!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go and get some more garlic ;)
x
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Blimey!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go and get some more garlic ;)
x