A new year.......Working on my goals

Well I started out the New Year with a list of things I want to change....mostly a new family doctor. Which by the way is no easy task. For the medical field is all about BUSINESS.....and patient comes in second! So sad.

I had my 3 month check up with the wonderful Dr Heilman. I am healing wonderful and remain Head Ache free. I do have lingering nerve pain in my scalp on the right side. So I have decided to go back on Gabapentin in a low dose. Ya this has helped where as before surgery it only increased pressure in my head, weird but I like the relief from the feeling my hair is being pulled out one strand at a time. Dr. Heilman requested me to stick with Dr. Mullins @ St Vincents as my NL. Not to use Umass. This is because he has a working relationship with Dr. Mullins and they can communicate about my progress. I am OK with this! I go for a check up on the 28th. He also supports a new PCP.

I did finally find a new PCP, went for an interview and really liked him. He wants to help me find the cause for so many Autoimmune issues and the now solid Lymph Node by my ear. Yesterday I made the switch....with my insurance.....have my first real appointment with the new dr for the 15th of January. I would like to get these things done by spring so I can get to gardening! The part I am worried about is transferring medical records, for this is up to me...I don't want to call but I guess I will have to.

It can at times feel like a full time job just to keep your health in order when you have disorders and or diseases. I really don't think it's suppose to be this way. This is what I am hoping a new PCP will address.......just tell me what I have and fix it! I want my energy back! I don't want to look 42 but feel 72.

My oldest son is going to his new dr today.....He called to tell me that he was having his Thyroid and Vitamin D checked for me! Really it's for HIM....But I am glad he is doing this. My mother also went and had her blood work done for the B and D. Her bone scan came back with Osteopenia which is pre Osteoporosis......I will bet her D level is low too.

So my mind wants to know if.......medical research has proven that more then 75% of all people in Ma could be Vitamin D deficient and that in New England we have high counts of Lyme Deer Ticks.........WHY on earth are these not just tested for when we go for an annual check up! I mean really! Would they much rather us on anti-depressants? I can almost understand not testing for Lymes but the D I can not.

Seems like the medical field has lost touch with US. It's "can I have your insurance card please". I wished they would just look at us and our charts and treat....I mean TREAT us as if we were their patient, not just a few letters and then a few numbers on a manila folder that gets shoved into an over stuffed wall of other numbers and letters..... Wouldn't it be a surprise if they asked how is your family!!

My goals for the first quarter of 2009: Start a Chiari Support group in Ma., sharing experiences with others locally. Spread Vitamin D awareness and have my whole family tested. Start a new relationship that is effective for my husband and I with a new family doctor.