November 15th, 2009 by KerriSparling in Better Health Network, True Stories
Tags: Diabetes, Endocrinology, Glucose Management, Honey, Lows, Obstetrics And Gynecology, Pregnancy, Type 1 Diabetes
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Yesterday was World Diabetes Day. While my best friend’s baby shower is this weekend and I’ll be busy preparing for and helping with that event, I know there are lots of events taking place to celebrate the big, blue circle (including the Big Blue Test … more on that later).
But today is just another day in diabetes management, and it happens to be another endocrinologist appointment for me and the ol’ BSparl. BSparl is getting bigger, as evidenced here: Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Six Until Me.*
November 15th, 2009 by Edwin Leap, M.D. in Better Health Network, Opinion, True Stories
Tags: Flu, Flu Shot, H1N1 Vaccine, Healthcare Workers, Mandatory, Vaccine
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To inject or not to inject, that is the question
Last week I took my wife and children for our yearly family flu vaccination. The one Elysa used to call her ‘flea shot.’ Lord knows we’ve had enough fleas; if that would work, I’d consider it. But I digress.
The same day, I went to work and found that the employee health/infection control folks were offering H1N1 vaccines. I was told that as long as I took it in the opposite arm, I could go ahead and have mine. So, possessor of two punctured arms, I went back to work and felt fine. In fact, that was four days ago and I still feel fine. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at edwinleap.com*
November 12th, 2009 by Emergiblog in Better Health Network, True Stories
Tags: Assault, Cambodia, Charity, Donate, Donut, Finance, Hospital Bill, Nursing, Orphan, Refugee
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Sam Nouv runs a little donut shop about a mile from my house.
When John was in the hospital, that’s where I bought the donuts for the nurses.
After immigrating to the U.S. from Cambodia in 1987, Sam started working at the shop and by 1990 he owned it (Update via Steve in comments: When he was 13, his parents were murdered by the Khmer Rouge. He spent several years in a displacement camp in Vietnam before finally being sent to the States as part of an entire plane load of orphans).
With the exception of a few holidays, Sam is in the store every morning at 3:30 am and works until 6:00 pm.
Seven days a week.
His wife, Lori, works with him, but she wasn’t there on that Wednesday morning in October.
Thank God. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Emergiblog*
November 12th, 2009 by Bongi in Better Health Network, True Stories
Tags: Bariatric Surgery, Bypass, Gastric, General Surgery, Small Bowel, Surgery, Surgery Residency
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I thought of not telling this story at all. Recently when it was in the news here it seemed wise to rather bury it altogether. But it is something I experienced and, after all, this blog is about my experiences, so…
Six years in a department gives you enough time to do a few things that can be legendary (like this story). This was one that most at the time thought was one. However, at the time it impacted me on a different level.
The surgery department had a fairly intensive academic session every Tuesday. The highlight was a discussion delivered by one of the registrars on some or other topic. He was required to reference the absolutely newest literature and the standard was very high. It was a big deal. Most guys spent a few months putting their talks together. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at other things amanzi*
November 10th, 2009 by DrWes in Better Health Network, True Stories
Tags: AARP, Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiology, Cost, Medicare Advantage, Medication, Part D, Prescription Cost, Tier III
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“Doc, I’ve got good news and bad news.”
“What’s that?”
“Well, I’ve lost six more pounds!”
“Wonderful! What’s the bad news?”
“Well, you know that new-fangled drug you gave me that works so well for my atrial fibrillation?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll, I’m part of that AARP Medicare Advantage Part D drug plan, and I just got the “partial” approved drug list for 2010 in the mail. My drug’s not on the list, so I called and found the drug’s been moved from a Tier II drug to a Tier III drug. That means it will cost me twice what I paid for it this year. That’s gonna be tough, doc. I can’t afford it.
But I also read that if you call this ‘800’ number and speak to them, they’ll allow me to obtain an exemption to keep the drug on Tier II for next year.” Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes*
