Obama fatigue

"Classic cervical impingement," Doc LaCour said this morning. " Either stenosis or a herniated disc."

Great... at least it has a name.

The pain center seems to be C5-7, but it telegraphs all manner of associated pain to my shoulder, collar bone and left arm, fingers... then the tingling--which is actually a relief.

I was lucky today. After my "don't-kill-anybody" session with my therapist, Dr. Andrea, I lucked right into a walk-in slot for an appointment with my Cajun physician's assistant.

He's a good guy, a corpsman with Third MarDiv in the late 70s, so I'm quite happy to be "home" again.

Over the last few years my back has increasingly sounded like a bowl of Rice Krispies, so I wasn't surprised that there were additional structural problems.

Don chimed in the other day about ObamaCare which all the Zombies think they want, because it's oh so "fair" or something. His point was that in many ways the VA is ObamaCare... from Gainesville we have to drive about 30 miles for a doctor's appointment, and if it's anything serious--MRIs, CT scans and the like-- you're in for at least a half a day in Dallas.

Think of it as the DMV being responsible for your medical care.

Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for my health care from the Veterans Administration; but here's the difference... if I have a problem with anything, I have back-up. I can call the VA patient advocate's office, (and in ascending order), the Chief of Medicine, and then the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the DAV and the VFW. And finally, if I need artillery support, I call my Congressman.  

There is nothing worse for a bureaucrat than a letter from a Member of Congress... the paperwork is a bitch. 

Here's the difference between what I have with "socialized medicine" and what you'll have with ObamaCare:

You won't have a blessed soul to call--nobody; just get in line with the other 300 million folks.  

And then, try convincing someone that your herniated disc C5-7 is worse the the 163 others that are funneled into the Regional BHO Triage tent located behind your local high school, that week... on a Wednesday afternoon.

I can see your stuck-the-'70s sister-in-law out there rolling her eyes, but it's the truth.

Guess what? There...is.... no... Utopia.

The reason we have the best health care in the world because of the miracle of capitalism, and nothing more.

Make no mistake, the better mouse trap in all things is the result of the profit motive. 

There is no "profit" in socialism; therefore, get in line.

There is something else that gives veterans the advantage... mindset and experience.

We can wait in line, we can get together and curse the "lifers"; we can (with some justifiable pride) say, "it don't mean nothin' I used to live in a hole."

You, on the other hand, don't want to live in a hole, hate living in a hole. We can easily come to terms with eating the "heel" of the loaf of bread... you want the crust cut off. 

You joined the "other" Army, "the one with the condos."

I'm not busting your chops, I'm trying to prepare you.

When the democrats ruin our health care system, your life will change.

Are you ready?

My 10-spot is on... "you ain't."

So what to do?

First thing---become the best consumer you can be... and the loudest. If you do not advocate for yourself, you'll drive home without an appointment because you can't take the frustration.

Lastly, We have the greatest advantage because we accept the fact that our health care is provided by the lowest bidder.

Comments

[Steve]

The first year I got into this medical racket was 1997. Was working in a south central Wisconsin hospital ER. I helped a fellow from Canada....guess what he had to have emergency surgery for!?!!??! Hemorrhoids!
Yep thats right. He came from Canada to our tourist area so he could get surgery....that he couldn't get up der.
Wasn't medically necessary. Hm, I would like to see the bureaucrat that made that diagnoses try to sit with that decision!

Steve

[TonyF]

After four spinal surgeries and a lot of pain, I feel for you!

Worst summer of my life was 2003. Had back surgery, got bit by a mosquito while walking for rehab the very next day, caught West Nile Virus, almost freakin' croaked, puked my guts out, blew out the disc between C5-C6, then had a neck fusion while I had WNV.

Since I was so sick with WNV, I never really recovered on the back deal and have had two more back surgeries. I think the last one worked!

I hope you get your problem solved and don't have to worry about having the low bidder fix you up.

Maybe they can make Hillary the Surgeon General.