General

I went to the chiropractor again yesterday, and while I DO feel better in my neck and shoulders, and DO agree that the visits to him did me some good, I STILL have that pesky lump and pain in my left arm. Granted, it does not seem to be as big as it was or hurt as much as it did before, but that could also be because I am not using that arm as much, and because Lynda, Charlie, and FabGrandpa are not letting my drag trees around anymore.

So, today after breakfast we went over to the lab where I got the ultrasound done, and requested a copy of my ultrasound pictures. I am posting them here so that you can see what I am talking about. The problem is in my left arm, and the report from the radiologist said that “the left arm was more globular than the right arm.” But to me, there does not seem to be ANY glob of any type in the right arm. What do you think?

A week or so ago, I wrote about my arm, my left arm. I told you about how it is swollen and how it hurts when I pick things up or try to open the door of the truck. I went to a doctor and they sent me to get an ultrasound done on that arm.

Yesterday, they called me to tell me that the ultrasound did not find anything. Well, the exact wording of the report, which I drove over and picked up today, is:

” We studied the area of soft tissue swelling in the left forearm and made comparison images of the right side.

I do not identify a superficial mass or fluid collection on the left side.

The deeper muscles on the left side have a little more globlular shape but no definite abnormality was identified there.

Impression: No discrete sonographic abnormality proved. Deeper forearm muscles have a slightly more globular shape on the left than on the right…”

They went on to say that I should be referred to a primary care physician so that primary care physician can refer me for an MRI. I asked them to refer me to a doctor because I do not know any doctors in the area, and they referred me to the General Practice group that is associated with their Urgent Care Facility.

They also told me that because I am a new patient, I will have to pay a higher fee, even though I have already been seen at their Urgent Care Facility. (what a ripoff, they have the record of my visit already). I made the appointment for Thursday. Then we went over to visit with our friends, Lynda and Charlie. Yeah, even though we were off today we went over there anyway.

I was telling Lynda about my medical stuff to bring her up to date, and I mentioned to her that the “doctor” I thought I saw at the Urgent Care Facility was actually a Nurse Practioner. Now, I have nothing against nurses, or nurse practioners, so if you are one or know a super one, don’t go getting your panties all in a wad. It was just that “my impression” of this particular nurse practioner was that she was a ditz. That she was preoccupied with something other than “my” arm when I went in there to see her. And that she could have cared less about my arm. It was a Saturday, and it was close to quitting time when I went there. So, maybe she had other things to think about. That’s just how “I” felt about it. That maybe she was not the best person for me to see.

We had met a Naturopathic Chiropractor who came to the Christmas tree lot to buy his family’s Christmas tree, and chatted with him about a lot of stuff (we were not that busy). He seemed to have a lot of the same thoughts on medicine as I do, and he gave me his business card. So, while I was at Lynda’s I called his office. His receptionist is also his wife, and she remembered me from the tree lot. After I told her what my problem was, we made an appointment for me to go see him tomorrow. If he can not figure out what is wrong with my arm, he will refer me to a Osteopathic doctor who is in practice with him. Right now, I feel like that is the best way for me to go. I feel sort of “led” to go in that direction. Why else would I meet this doctor and strike up a conversation with him, if he was not supposed to be in my life right at this moment. We’ll see.

In the meantime, I want everyone to tell me all the horror stories about their best friend’s cousin’s mother-in-law who had a swollen arm, and what the problem with them was. I want all the scenarios I can get, so I can google them and maybe self diagnose my problem. Comment away, let me know what YOU think may be wrong with me.

I still think, my best guess, is that I have a fracture in the a bone in there. But no one in a medical suit listens to what I have to say.

It’s that time again, Cash Monday. This week we did pretty good. We went out to breakfast three times, once at Cracker Barrel and twice at Denney’s across the street from the Christmas tree lot. We picked up lunch at McDonald’s once (I had mine with no bun, of course). We drove across town looking for a particular store that sells Bio-Kleen dishwashing detergent because it is the only one that does not wreak havoc on my hands. (after we got there we found out they don’t carry it in the store after all, but we got some really good stuffed olives instead)

This week, we have an appointment to get some work done on the truck. We got one of those superchips two years ago, which really does boost the horsepower on our Ford F-250. Now we are going to get a custom exhaust done, and that will improve the performance of the engine, too.

When we were in Pennsylvania in 2007, FabGrandpa had talked to a mechanic there who quoted a price of over $1300. We were pleasantly surprised when the guy here in Phoenix told us it would be only $890 and that includes heat gauges! So, that little job will take place tomorrow.

The same day, I am going to the radiology place to get the ultrasound done on my arm. They quoted me a price of $100, which will come out of my pocket since I have no health insurance. (we call it self insured. what else can you do?) We also have to pay for the service done on our refrigerator last week over at the RV dealership(more on that later). That will be $120 or so. We haven’t paid them yet because we still have some things that need doing under warranty. We have to take the trailer back over there on Wednesday to finish that up.

So, while we are doing great on our spending money budget, we seem to be breaking the bank in other areas. This week’s bottom line is: we have a total of $14.11 left in our pockets. That puts us under budget for the entire period by $100.05. That should pay for my ultrasound. Whoo hoo!

One of my blog friends posted this:

Click here please

If you are in Florida or on the east coast, take a minute to read it. If you happen to see her brother, let her know. I don’t know them but I know how I would feel if someone I knew was missing. Thanks for the minute.

OK, so I have a thing for lunch counters. This one is in a Mexican joint in Phoenix. I liked the counter better than I liked the food there, though.

This was my desert today. Sometimes simple is just better…

When life gives you lemons…..