Age-based discrimination. Seriously!!!

OK, let's just look at this .....

I have Medicare and a pretty good tie-in or supplemental policy. I haven't had to fork out any co-pays, except on my medications. Most of them are a $7 co-pay and I have only one regularly used prescription, so that's nothing to speak about.

But here's the thing that has me going right at this moment. It astounds me that Medicare doesn't cover certain things that are very important to most of us as we age. They don't cover eyeglasses. How many people over 65 do you know that don't have to wear eyeglasses? They also don't cover the exam for glasses. Now, to be fair they are covering my eye exams for the problems I'm having with floaters and monitoring the viscous fluid in my eyeballs. It still seems strange that glasses aren't covered.

And hearing aids or hearing exams .... same thing. The large majority of us have hearing loss, but none of that is covered. I could certainly use one. I'm nearly deaf in my left ear. I'm not sure I could wear one, not because of vanity, 'cause I really don't care, but I can't stand something in my ears. Ear buds? Nope, I can't tolerate them for more than a few short minutes. I have to use the kind of "listening devices" that fit outside the ear.

And today was the most ridiculous blow of all. I went to the drugstore to pick up my colonoscopy prep kit (yep, the happy day is Friday). Didn't think much about it until they told me the co-pay was $68 and some change!!!!! WHAT??? The full price was $80-some-odd and obviously the insurance covered around 25% only! Now look, we are told we must have colonscopies at this age, but the prep for it isn't covered fully? Holy cow!

What sense does it make that the things we most need are not covered or minimally covered? It's not that I can not pay the $68, but just that it's ridiculous!! I understand the financial justification of the insurance companies .... since we all need these things, they are saving a ton by not covering them or pushing them into the higher co-pay groups. But still ....

It's old-age discrimination, I tell you!!

Then after I got home, I had another unhappy realization. I need to shave my legs before Friday! DAMN!!!!! Yes, people, I know "they" don't care if my legs are shaved, but I do.  This is where my vanity comes into play, not on the hearing aid. My dirty little secret is that I haven't shaved my legs since, oh, about October!! I'm just glad I thought of it today, 'cause it's gonna take me two days to shave!!

I'm back to having trouble writing here. I've started a post twice and deleted both, because after a few sentences, I just didn't know where to go next. I think it's about the eye thing from yesterday. Well, probably linked with several other things going on, but this is like the last straw, ya know?

I'm still not terribly worried about it, but the idea that my eyesight is at risk sits in there back of my mind like a flea that takes a nip every so often.

I got to work and was having some trouble getting things done for a little while after I got there. Then I spoke with a coworker and friend about business and then suddenly I was unloading. She helped me refocus, weigh my situation and put some perspective back in play. I'm still a little ill at ease about it, and I suspect I will be for a while. The thought, even a vague possibility, of losing sight is something that kinda bites your butt and clamps on for the duration. But I felt a little better. Honestly, the rest of my day was highly productive. I was still thinking of it, but I kept busy and got a tone accomplished.

And the weather was amazing today! It was around 60° and totally beautiful. I frequently walk back and forth between two buildings at work, and it was very pleasant to do so for a change. When weather is icky, it is not fun. There is a pretty steep hill with a terraced gravel walk between, and in bad weather, well, it stinks. So I was happy to be outside in the fresh air. I think that helped my mood, too.

And how was your day?

A little better today

OK, back from the big medical appointment. All is well. Or  all is reasonably well.

My retina is in place and attached. Whew.

I have a floater in the vitreous in my right eye. The vitreous has pulled away from the retina at the back of my eye, but has not torn the retina. This will give you a better explanation than I can possibly produce.

Bottom line, I have to be rechecked every 5-6 weeks until this resolves itself. The hazy spot in my vision is the floater, a piece of material that is loose and floating in the fluid inside the vitreous. Chances are the floater will shift out of my line of vision, but when is anyone's guess.

So, I'm not out of danger, exactly, but it isn't an urgent thing. I feel better. I'm a bit wrung out from the 3 hours in the car and nearly 3 hours in the doctor's office. But that's a small thing. The bigger thing is that this hangs over my head until it heals itself or a retinal tear occurs, necessitating surgery and hopes for not costing my part of my vision. But not something I can afford to lose sleep over, so I won't. Hopefully.

Later!

Hmmm.

I'm a little nervous this evening.

I've been having a minor problem with one of my eyes. Hard to explain, but I've had a small area in my vision that is a bit hazy. Since I know I have the beginnings of cataracts, and this is similar to what I described to the doctor, I wasn't too worried. I've had this for a while, and it comes and goes. Recently, the hazy spot has been consistent. It's as if I have something in my eye causing a fogginess in a tiny area or a little smudge on my glasses.  It's not bad, but it sometimes interferes with reading, particularly in the evening when my eyes are a little tired, anyway.

I haven't worried. It isn't new, just more persistent. Today I mentioned it to my boss, a nurse. Without a hesitation, she said to call the eye doctor. I kinda did the "uh, well, OK, I will" response, and she said, "No, when you go back to your office, make the call." Hmmm.

I called the doctor's office, explained the situation and was asked if I could come in tomorrow at 10:00. I asked if it could be Thursday so I could arrange someone to come with me (at least that eye will be dilated), and she said "We'd really like you to come tomorrow."

Damn.

When I made the first appointment with this doctor, it was a three month wait. When I scheduled the second one, it was six months down the road, and we still had some negotiating to find a workable time because her schedule was already about half filled. And now she wants to see me tomorrow?

Not liking this. I'm not terribly concerned, but definitely not happy about this whole thing.

I'm hoping it is just a precaution and it is not something serious. But in the meantime, keep me in your prayers. And yes, I have a friend who is driving me down and back. 

I'll let ya know.

Best laid plans ....

.... and all that jazz.

When I saw the weather forecast for the weekend, I was excited, because it was nice, mid-fifties all weekend. My plan was to clean house yesterday (I did), then today I would brush and trim the dogs, followed with a bath for each. I need mild weather for that, because I do it on the deck to minimize the loose hairs in the carpet.

Buuuuuutt........

While the temp is 53° out there, perfect for working on The Kids, the wind is blowing. The weather station says it is blowing around 11-15 mph (depending on which site you look at) and gusting between 23-28 mph. Translate that into wind chill, and it is too much. I could dress OK with a windbreaker suit I have, but my hands would freeze.

And tomorrow? Temps in the upper 40s or low 50s, windy and with a ix of rain and snow showers. Ick! I'll be at work, so it isn't a big deal, except it will be dreary, and I don't do dreary.


Anyway, now I have to replan my day.........



Rats.

Now I guess I'm doomed to sit in the house today and read.

Darn, life is really tough.

Communication these days

Do people communicate any more?

In our fast paced world with email, blogs, social networks, texting, tweets, and all kinds of instant communications, I've noticed a loss in real communication.  When I say "real communication" I mean talking on the phone, writing letters or even emails with substance to them (not "forwards" or jokes), and sometimes even the personal, face to face conversations. It seems that many of us don't slow down enough to enjoy each other.

I've noticed that sometimes, when I'm talking to someone, they seems to be drifting away after a few minutes, and to be honest, I find myself doing that, too. And I find myself sending a text rather than making a call to convey a message. That's fine when that is the only reason for the contact, but I've been thinking that if I would just make the call and take five minutes to connect and actually talk, it would make myself and hopefully the other person slow down a moment and have that connection that is so important to we humans. Yet the next time I do the same thing!

In the process of this, it seems that I'm losing some people.

Now, to be honest, I often feel talking on the phone almost a chore. I used to love to talk for long periods. Several jobs in the course of my life required me to be on the phone a lot, and it became a burden. Now there are friends and family members that I don't talk with nearly as much as I would like. The trouble is, I call them and they are busy or vice versa. We are just too, too busy!

So how is your communication?

PS - I want to add this thought: I'm actually very glad to have the ability to text with my grandchildren. It has allowed us to keep i touch in their way, and when we get together, it doesn't feel as distant. I guess because I relate to them in a way they like, it has lowered some potential blocks. They actually text better than they talk on the phone!! OK, OK, there are some advantages!

Goggle

This is too funny. Someone googled  "pouytfffytcdtytcf" and it brought them to my blog! To be specific, it came to this post, in which I mentioned "puffy" clouds!! I wonder what the heck that person was actually looking for?

Google over-kill???

And now about this .... in the past 2-3 weeks I've had several hits from people googling "Johnny Carson and Ed Ames."  It takes them here. I wonder what the fascination all the sudden is with that?

Google is funny and strangely efficient!