Quick access to medical care

Do you see the nurse or the doctor (or the physician's assistant)? Back in the good old days, you went to the doctor and saw the doctor. A nurse might come in and take your vitals, bandage something up, or some other task that was below the doctor's capabilities. They were doctors and didn't do the basic stuff that would take away from their schedule.

Now you may see the doctor, the nurse, the nurse practitioner, or a physician's assistant or even someone else.... Does it make a difference? Not really. They all give out prescriptions, send you for tests, and diagnose and treat you. They all talk to each other if there are any questions.

Back when I was young and athletic in the 80's and 90's, I used to go skiing with Club Med in Colorado (an awesome vacation every year for seven years). One year, I was put in a group of skiers which included several doctors, a nurse, a few others, and me. It snowed overnight so we went skiing in the back bowls to enjoy the fresh powder. This entailed a hike up over a ridge in loose snow at about 14,000 feet (gasping for breath), over the head wall singly, and reconnect as a group with the instructor last to clean up any debris (skis, poles, hats, gloves, etc) to ski down for a mile or two, take another lift back up to ski down the front side of the mountain.

All went as planned. Each of us went over the head wall and into the loose powder (and you say 'why is she telling this story' - be quiet there is a point here) and across the flats. Last came the instructor, schussing across the flats, until his ski hit a rock just under a thin layer of powder where the wind had blown off the other foot or so of snow. He did your basic rolling fall with equipment going everywhere (similarly to 'the agony of defeat'). We started back to help pick up everything and give him a lot of sass for it.

All jokes ended when we saw the blood pouring out of his face. In a rather inaccessible place in the mountains, he caught a ski pole in his face and ended up with an 'Al Pacino Scarface' injury. The doctors stood and gaped and said they hadn't seen anything like that since internship. The nurse ran to his side and started yelling for clean tissues, napkins, bandanas, anything to apply pressure and stop the bleeding. The nurse knew what to do. She fixed him up and rode the chairlift back up with him and went with him to the clinic where he got five stitches in his face. The doctors went to lunch.

So on that sunny day on a ski slope on the backside of a mountain in Colorado, the nurse was the winner.

Now when I go to see my PCP or oncologist, I often see a nurse practitioner. When I see my pain doctor, sometimes I see his physician's assistant. Its not that big a deal. Particularly with my PCP, if I have a new ailment and need a visit as soon as possible, I'll get one of the nurse practitioners. I could wait a week before seeing my PCP or see the nurse practitioner. I'm happy with the sooner visit.

Think of this as well. Do you remember going to the dentist and the dentist cleaned your teeth? Now a hygienist cleans your teeth and a dentist does fillings and other nasty things with drills and pointy things. When I go to the eye doctor a technician checks my vision and glasses prescription and the ophthalmologist checks my corneas.

All this is for quicker medical care and more use of specialized training in different parts of the medical world. I'm all for it - I want the quicker access to medical care.

Quick access to medical care

Do you see the nurse or the doctor (or the physician's assistant)? Back in the good old days, you went to the doctor and saw the doctor. A nurse might come in and take your vitals, bandage something up, or some other task that was below the doctor's capabilities. They were doctors and didn't do the basic stuff that would take away from their schedule.

Now you may see the doctor, the nurse, the nurse practitioner, or a physician's assistant or even someone else.... Does it make a difference? Not really. They all give out prescriptions, send you for tests, and diagnose and treat you. They all talk to each other if there are any questions.

Back when I was young and athletic in the 80's and 90's, I used to go skiing with Club Med in Colorado (an awesome vacation every year for seven years). One year, I was put in a group of skiers which included several doctors, a nurse, a few others, and me. It snowed overnight so we went skiing in the back bowls to enjoy the fresh powder. This entailed a hike up over a ridge in loose snow at about 14,000 feet (gasping for breath), over the head wall singly, and reconnect as a group with the instructor last to clean up any debris (skis, poles, hats, gloves, etc) to ski down for a mile or two, take another lift back up to ski down the front side of the mountain.

All went as planned. Each of us went over the head wall and into the loose powder (and you say 'why is she telling this story' - be quiet there is a point here) and across the flats. Last came the instructor, schussing across the flats, until his ski hit a rock just under a thin layer of powder where the wind had blown off the other foot or so of snow. He did your basic rolling fall with equipment going everywhere (similarly to 'the agony of defeat'). We started back to help pick up everything and give him a lot of sass for it.

All jokes ended when we saw the blood pouring out of his face. In a rather inaccessible place in the mountains, he caught a ski pole in his face and ended up with an 'Al Pacino Scarface' injury. The doctors stood and gaped and said they hadn't seen anything like that since internship. The nurse ran to his side and started yelling for clean tissues, napkins, bandanas, anything to apply pressure and stop the bleeding. The nurse knew what to do. She fixed him up and rode the chairlift back up with him and went with him to the clinic where he got five stitches in his face. The doctors went to lunch.

So on that sunny day on a ski slope on the backside of a mountain in Colorado, the nurse was the winner.

Now when I go to see my PCP or oncologist, I often see a nurse practitioner. When I see my pain doctor, sometimes I see his physician's assistant. Its not that big a deal. Particularly with my PCP, if I have a new ailment and need a visit as soon as possible, I'll get one of the nurse practitioners. I could wait a week before seeing my PCP or see the nurse practitioner. I'm happy with the sooner visit.

Think of this as well. Do you remember going to the dentist and the dentist cleaned your teeth? Now a hygienist cleans your teeth and a dentist does fillings and other nasty things with drills and pointy things. When I go to the eye doctor a technician checks my vision and glasses prescription and the ophthalmologist checks my corneas.

All this is for quicker medical care and more use of specialized training in different parts of the medical world. I'm all for it - I want the quicker access to medical care.

Fibromyalgia and pain

These days  my fibromyalgia has been better under control. I can also often tell the difference between fibro pain, RA pain, and I stubbed my toe pain. This is thanks to Lyrica with its weight gain side effect (and ice cream after dinner last night).

However, this is not always the case. Fibro has this lovely habit of, for absolutely no reason whatsoever - or maybe I breathed, all of a sudden I am experiencing bone deep pain in my body.

Yesterday I was at the dentist getting my teeth cleaned and all of a sudden I experienced pain down the right side of my back - probably a solid 9 on that stupid scale. It went from my collar bone down to my waist - an excruciating, teeth grinding pain that lasted about 30 seconds.The hygienist became concerned with my facial expression. She stopped working and asked if there was anything she could do - glass of water, sit up the chair, etc. I thanked her and said no. Her reply was 'its just letting you know its still there?' My reply was yes.

That is what fibromyalgia does, among other things. Sometimes it flares up like that in a body part - usually my back or leg or arm - sometimes at a joint and sometimes not. And there is absolutely nothing anyone can do. Unless someone invents the miracle drug that will relieve a 30 second bout of pain anytime soon.

But it is better than before which is a good thing.

My day in the arctic chill

This morning it is a tropical -4F. A lovely morning indeed. I do not need to go to work. I get to stay mostly at home. But I am going to get a crown at the dentist this morning. Which is better? Going to the dentist when its below zero or staying home under a warm pile of blankets. Of course, I have to go out. Damn. I do not do well in cold weather.

I did fall earlier this week on the ice. Today I will wear my really fancy clothes. I have a giant puffy down parka that is rated to 50 below. Then I will strap on my winter hiking boots which are rated to 35 below. When I am done getting my teeth drilled, I get to go pick up a free sewing machine for some new crafts. I hope it isn't heavy because it is being left out for me and there won't be anyone to help me with it.

Finally, I will go purchase an old collapsible sewing table for my new-to-me sewing machine. This table is apparently about 30 lbs. I will leave it in the car until my husband gets home. Then it will be heavy and really cold. 

I posted on Facebook about feeling dizzy (and asked my mother not to read it but she did and commented on it) and the consensus is I should call my doctor about dizziness. I don't really want to but I will. This may mean another trip out into the arctic air again.

I really just want to stay home and play with my sewing machine. I have an idea for new crafts  using a combination of fleece pieces and yarn to crochet the fleece together with the yarn to make infinity scarves. And I can make mittens from fleece and can embroider those with flowers and things to make people think of summer.

That's what I'll do today - think of summer.