Obamacare Saved My Life
I've got your attention now, don't I? I really wanted to title this piece "Fuck Cancer" but that would just piss off the people searching on Google, looking for porn.
Today's story starts almost two years ago. I had a couple of kidney stone episodes and one early morning ended up at Evanston Hospital. They did a cat scan, trying to find the stone, and ended up finding a small module in one of my lungs.
They sent a note to my primary physician telling him to check on it again in six months. In 1.5 years, I've had five C.T. Scans. Today was number six.
After scan #5, a difference was noticed. The stone increased slightly in size and is shaped differently. When my doctor received the results, it took him about a nano-second to call me with the news. He told me to set up an appointment with a pulmonary specialist. Sure, why the hell not.
I was so unconcerned about this that I cancelled the original appointment. I had other health and personal issues on my mind. Finally, I called and made an appointment for last Friday.
Here's where it gets interesting. I picked up copies of the reports and had a couple of cd's burned. But that was it. I figured he was going to tell me all was ok and come back in six months. That's not how this went down.
The questioning started and went like this....Do you smoke? No!! Did your parents smoke? Wellll...my dad smoked five packs a day and my mom smoked four. Hmmm..second hand smoke!! But I haven't lived with them for 40 years!! Yeah...second hand smoke!! Sheesh!!
Next question...You ever smoke any marijuana? Well yes sir, a little. Hmm..what's a little? Well sir, I smoked a little every day for about 20 years. Hmmm...how much every day? Sir, just enough to get high. So what's that...1 joint? 3? 5? Depends on how many people were there, sir.
Phew...I wiped the sweat off my forehead. It was like Joe Friday was interviewing me.
When I left, the report I received said deformed nodule, second-hand smoke and marijuana. I didn't feel like it was a good time to ask about medical marijuana.
The conversation continued. BTW, I promise I'll get back to the title. Really, I will.
He says he doesn't like what he's reading. It could be an infection or it could be cancer. Well that pretty much ended my listening portion of the visit. I admit to freaking out pretty good. He did say he was going to check the cd's and will return shortly. It was a real fucking long five minutes.
When he returned, he had a colleague. We went over the same stuff again but the new doctor had a few more questions...Mr. Moore, any other drug use for you. Smoking any cocaine, heroin,opium? I'm clean Mr. Doctor sir, I'm clean. I just smoked a little opium 15..20 times about 30-40 years ago. Will this go on my permanent record? Sigh!!
He also mentioned the C-word and I kind of heard what was going to be involved over the next couple of weeks.
I left there in a daze. I was zoning the rest of Friday and all the next day. I talked with a few people, got a little advice and by Sunday, I was doing better.
Let's get down to it. If a doctor mentions Cancer to you, it's shocking. I'm not sure why because stats show that 1 out of every 4 people will get some form of cancer in their lifetime. Everyone reading this knows someone who has had a battle with Cancer. My mother, the four pack a day smoker, died of lung Cancer ten years ago. I was hoping that was the 1 of 4 in my family. It still may be.
I'm going to be doing a bunch of tests in the next week or so. It started today. I've also informed all the family and friends that needed to know. Phew...that wasn't so easy. I also have another meeting with my new "drug counselors" and then they'll do a biopsy. Btw...I'm reading a brochure about the Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy and all I can say is ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?!
But after all of that we'll see what happens. I'm still optomistic. I'm not checking out yet, kids.
So let's get back to the original premise. How did Obamacare save my life?
The insurance plan I had is through the local county government. It's considered part of the Affordable Care Act. I've had it since September. Before this I would have had to go down to the local county hospital. Wait hours to see a doctor. Get a referral. Make an appointment to see a specialist, which normally takes 3-6 months.
With this insurance plan, I saw a primary physician. Got a referral. Set an appointment and saw the specialist 10 days later. Let me repeat that in capital letters...TEN FUCKING DAYS!! That's unheard of in the medical world.
For the sake of this argument, let's assume the nodule is malignant. The difference between being seen in 10 days as opposed to 6 months could be lifesaving. And there's your ah ha moment.
It's time to wrap this up before it turns into War & Peace. I know I'll get comments about the title and how I came about it. It happened last week when I did the Obamacare gallery. Have at it. I believe in freedom of speech.
I also know there will comments wishing me well and offering prayers. Go for it. I appreciate the support.
I'm sure I'll have some updates in the next couple of weeks. I'll try to keep them light but honest just like my Parkinson's stories.
FUCK!!! For a few days, I forgot all about Parkinson's!!
Sigh...what a drag it is getting old.