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Borrego Springs, CA

Monday, August 13, 2012

Finally bit the bullet and went to urgent care

I had quite the list of chores to take care of today on my first day off of the week.  Generally not very exciting, but I try to devote one day each week to chores so I have a full two days to visit things in the area.  I got a jump on chore day by doing my laundry last night after an uneventful nine and a half hours running the Pea Island VC.  So tonight’s post is about the not so exciting times in the life of a fulltimer. 

First up was getting that box of books sent off to my grandgirls.  While at the Manns Harbor post office, I also sent off a postcard to fellow blogger, Sherry, in Florida.  Next was stopping at the Lost Colony box office to buy some tickets for Thursday night’s performance.  You can bet I’ll be posting about that later this week.

Then I hopped across the street to the Gateway VC to check on my mail.  Of course, no one had gone to the post office to get the mail so I volunteered and made a trip into downtown Manteo and back to get the refuge mail.  Grr.  Driving back through Manteo again, I stopped at the Ford dealer to get an appointment for next week for a oil change and check-up on the toad.  A couple of blocks later was a stop at a fresh produce market to get some tomatoes, peaches, and lemons.

Across the sound into Nags Head, I stopped to make an appointment for an eye exam for next week at a recommended eye doctor.  It’s been three years since my last exam, and I think I’m needing a new prescription.  A short way up US 64, I pulled into the Urgent Care facility to make an appointment. 

This hip issue has been going on for several months now, and I decided it was time to have it looked into.  There are days when I can barely walk at all.  It’s been quite some time since I’ve been able to take Emma on a decent walk.  Of course, my mind was conjuring up all kinds of horrible possibilities, and couple that with my reluctance to seek medical help, I really had to talk myself into making this appointment.  It turned out the earliest appointment would be August 24th, so I bit the bullet and waited in line as a walk in patient.  Sitting and waiting for a doctor to finally talk to you is one of my least favorite things to do.

He ordered an x-ray, which thankfully could be done a few minutes later at the facility, and promptly came back to tell me the results.  It’s severe arthritis of the hip.  I asked if this would result in a hip replacement, and he recommended a medication to take before seeing an Orthopedist.  He cautioned me to give it a little time to work.  If it does work, I’ve bought myself some additional time, but eventually a new hip may be in my future.  I sure hope the meds work.  This pain has really been messing up the quality of my day to day living.

I drove another five miles down the road to get the prescription filled, and nearly passed out at the cost of this generic drug.  This was my first medical experience since qualifying for Medicare, and I do have a prescription drug policy, but there is a yearly out of pocket expense (even with the discount) that I must meet before prescriptions will only be $4 each.  I can tell you that I’m well on my way to meeting that deductible.

To add to the day’s frustration, my debit card was denied at Walgreen’s and at the grocery store that I stopped at on the way back to the rig.  When I got home, I got a call from the Wells Fargo fraud department.  Yep, they blocked both payments.  I guess I’m glad they’re on their toes since I recently had to replace my card because of those escort services in England that were charged to it, but I could have lived without their diligence today.

IMG_9724As the sun sets, I’m glad my long day of chores is over with.  Here’s to modern medicine, and to hopefully being able to kick up my heels in the very near future. 

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

40 comments:

  1. Don't know what he proscribed for you, but if it eats your stomach ask about Meloxicam. I had to ask for it. It had been recommended by a pharmacist and a good friend. It is the only thing that helps me without stomach problems. Cheap too!

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  2. I think a cocktail might be in order after a chore day like that. Here's hoping that med does the trick and you're back to kicking those heels real soon.

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  3. Whatever the prescription is for, I always go online and look up "negative side effects for xxx". That way if I notice one of those negatives I don't waste a lot of time thinking they will go away. I nearly ruined my life taking Boniva for 10 months when I had so many side effects.

    I hate the part of getting older that includes the aches and pains, and degeneration of bone and muscle. I hope the meds work for you because "replacement anything" sounds painful to me.

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  4. I sure hope that the Med works for you. You might want to consider not hanging around those escort services in the UK, they are darn expensive:)

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  5. Sure hope the medicine helps your hip. I have the same problem off and on but probably not as bad as yours. It feels worse if I sit in one place too long but so far strong Ibuprofen seems to help when it is bad.

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  6. I hope this pricey med works for you with little or no side effects. Getting older truly sucks at times, doesn't it? I still prefer it to the alternative though :)

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  7. And those escort services are hard on your hips too!

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    1. Now that made me laugh out loud! Shame on you for knowing that. ;)

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  8. Sure hope those meds work; pain that stops you from doing what you want to do is the pits.

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  9. Hi Judy, The doctor said that I have bad arthritis in my hip, but I don't know it unless I don't take my Fish oil, Vit. D, and other vitamins, then it does hurt, so I keep on taking them. I also found out that if I have anything with lemon juice in it, that makes it hurt.

    I have a free supplement to my Medicare through Health Spring, so prescriptions do not cost me so much, and I get other benefits, too, like lower co-pays.

    Please look up the side effects of that medicine, I have spent many a week feeling terrible, and found out that it was a prescription medicine that caused it. These days, so many times they give you a medicine to counteract the side effects of the first one.

    Happy Tails and Trails, Penny, TX.

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  10. I know how much arthritis meds cost. I take two, but we do have decent insurance through our teacher retirement through Ohio. Praying that you get relief from the nagging pain.

    That sunset is GORGEOUS!

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  11. I hope the new meds do the trick for your hip pain. I have a couple of friends who have both had hip replacements and they both had a fairly quick recovery and an almost instant increase in quality of life, so it's something you may want to consider in the future.

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  12. I recommend fish oil as well. It does seem to help joint pain. Hope you get the better of that hip and can enjoy lots more walking.

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  13. Good luck with the meds, hopefully they will do the trick and loosen up your stiff hip joint. If not, the escort services should help.

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  14. Ha Ha escort services. I know the good and bad of having your card denied. Nice of them but really really inconvenient. I blogged about it for months last year before it got settled down. Hope it doesn't take you that long. Being in one place will help them know it's you.

    Boy do we know about those drug co pays and limit you have to meet. With David's meds we had met it the first week and sailed right through the donut hole. SIGH.....not something I recommend.

    BUT I too have severe arthritis and have found that Glucosimine condroiton and yoga have pretty much eliminated it in my hip and neck. Hope what they have given you works as well for you.

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  15. PS Anxiously awaiting the postcard. In your busy day I am honored that you made time for such a silly thing. THANK YOU so much for cheering up the bored. :-)

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  16. Judy,

    I second the gluc/etc supplement mentioned above.

    I have the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Blue RX plan and while I don't need many RXes, my Rx costs are really cheap.

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  17. sure hope the medication helps with the hip pain!..and then soon you will be dancing a jig!!

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  18. I hope the meds help you, Judy. I'm stalling back surgery, and I know it's affecting my left hip, as well. Everything is more difficult when you are by yourself, isn't it? Each week I say, "This is the week to call the surgeon." And, I don't.

    My Lizzie had arthritis and I gave her Glucosamine with MSM and it worked wonders!! It's a human OC medicine. I, too, would look up the side effects of your prescription.

    Now, you have given me courage to call the doc. Maybe tomorrow. Again, hope you are feeling better. "Gettin' old ain't for sissies!"

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  19. So sorry you are having such pain in your hip and sure hope the medication helps.

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  20. My advice is do not put off the hip replacement for too long. If the pain gets so bad, do something about it. My good friend, who is still in her 50's, has terrible arthritis in her hips, knees, shoulders and back. The doctor kept telling her she was too young for a hip replacement but it got to the point where she could hardly walk and when she did walk, she limped so bad. Finally decided to go to another doctor and he scheduled her for surgery immediately. Best thing she ever did. She can actually walk again. Still limps a little bit especially when she gets tired, but so much better off. My Dad kept putting off knee surgery and then he was too old for it. Give the meds a chance to work but don't hesitate to get something done about it when YOU think the time is right.

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  21. Jim and Sherry have both given you good advice. My spouse had hip surgery last year and his pain immediately went away. He said it was the easiest surgery he's ever had, and from the vantage of a concerned spouse, he was right. As for Glucosamine and Chondriton..take 'em. They make a difference.

    Emjay

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  22. If your credit or debit card is denied after traveling to a new area, call the customer service number on the back RIGHT AWAY. You will be able to straighten it out with very little trouble, and it will save you time and the annoyance of having to shell out cash or waste another day running the same errand.

    Carol S.

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  23. Meds until replacement. My husband did that. Seven years later, he is still walking without pain. Good luck to you.

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  24. Arthritis is the pits. Hope the meds help and you can do more walking. We understand about the fraud department. We have dealt with that recently, when we left the US for Canada. Didn't know we should tell them. It is embarrassing to have your card denied, isn't it?

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  25. About a month before your hip surgery, meet with the physical therapist, get your exercises and start doing them before surgery. Hip replacements are great. My pelvis is held together with 3 plates and 8 screws, compliments of a drunk driver and 5 years after the wreck I had to have my right hip replaced. I was 58, It is amazing the amount of pain that went away. Do yourself a favor and don't deny yourself this surgery. If I had known how much pain would be alleviated by getting an artificial hip, I would have done it 6 months after the wreck. I have more mobility on my right side than I do my left with is the OEM model.
    Be careful on the road.
    Rex

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  26. Glad to hear you finally sought attention Ms. Judy!!! Hope those pricey pills do the trick for a while at least.

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  27. Beautiful sunset photo! If the meds work great, if not, then replace the parts and you'll be chugging down the road just like an old car with a brand new transmission!

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  28. What a busy day. Hope those expensive meds work and you are feeling better quickly!!

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  29. Good luck with the hip. Hope the med's work for you. The replacement will mean lots of down time and therapy. I know the frustration of the debit card. Mine got hacked by some fool down in Alabama last year. Carol was the one that caught the malicious charge as she checks the bank acct. online every morning.

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  30. I also recommend Glucosamine/chondroitin (or however it's spelled) but I also recommend replacement. I did my knees and my quality of life improved dramatically. Also ask about the shots they can put directly into the joint for amazing relief. Those let me go to London and ride the Underground before doing the replacements. You can't get them very often, though.

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  31. The longer you wait on the hip replacement the longer it will last and the better ones they will have. Hope the med works. I know what yo mean about the cost. I went to get a med and we haven't met our deductible yet, crazy expensive.

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  32. My nickel's worth would be to give the meds a good chance to work. As long as there is relief and no side effects you are buying more time before having to go thru the surgery, and PT it would take to get you up and dancing again. Technology gets better and better all the time so the more time you can buy before needing a surgery the better. But, my advice and the nickel won't buy you a cup of coffee. Your body will tell you what to do-just don't ignore it.

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  33. Well if you hadn't used the escort services so much you wouldn't have bad hips! All meds have some side effects. some more than others. Just take note if you see or feel any changes after you start these meds. (changes that are bad or painful) Lay off the escort services until you feel better.
    Good luck with your meds. Hope you feel better soon!

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  34. We know all about credit card/bank card being denied. We called the bank right away from the store and was forwarded to the fraud dept. They suggested that in the future that we contact them when we are in a new area or will be traveling thru many states. Glad that they are watching out for us!

    We have friends in Tucson that had their Wells Fargo bank call and ask if they were closing out their account - which they weren't. Turns out someone was trying to close out their account and transfer both their checking and savings account to another bank. Thankfully the bank caught it as they were in the process of doing it. They were very thankful the bank called them!

    As far as a hip replacement goes at some point - we both agree with what the others have said. They have made great strides in that field. The insurance company may require taking the meds, etc. before they approve the replacement.

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  35. My father in-law used to say that whomever said the older years were golden certainly wasn't old(er)! To add to the confusion; when I asked my vet wether to give my dog (I know, I know, you're not a dog..) glucosamine he said ; " the only good that will do will be to increase the manifacturers profit!" A large trial apparently showed that neither chondroitin, glucosamine, nor the combination, was more efficacious than a placebo for the treatment of pain in arthritis!
    I still tried it on my dog Sadie,.. you never know.., and didn't see any improvenment at all in 6 months.
    Now take tart cherry juice on the other hand....! :)

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  36. Happy to hear you went to see about your hip. I have had both knees done and have been told the hips are less painful, and rehab is a lot faster. Good luck with the meds.

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  37. So sorry to hear about ur hip troubles Judy...I have rheumatoid arthritis myself and found 1200 mg. of fish oil daily to be heaven sent. It wo't work forever but worth a try...have to take it for about 3 weeks to see a difference. Hope the new meds work for u, please take with food, they can do a number on ur stomach. Will keep u in our prayers.

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  38. I agree with everyone, try the meds, watch for side effects and report them ASAP, there are several good drugs out there, if one doesn't work try another. We also had an experience with Wells Fargo denying our card last winter, sure glad they are busy checking with everyone having so many denials. Good luck on new meds.

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