@dlowan,
dlowan wrote:
That sounds like a cross between Kafkaesque and Orwellian.
It's suckian.
BTW, I like this avatar better than the last. It's more "you."
Back from Bellevue. Saw both therapists. Got a lot out of my system. Drew four pictures today--a new record for me. One of them actually made me out of breath! Also a first.
Talked to the social worker about the meshugina dental issue with Medicaid. The next time I see the dentist, I have to ask her for a copy of the Medicaid/teeth reference sheet. I'll give it to the social worker.
Gonna do some serious lumping. I mean serious. I'm exhausted.
@Roberta,
Lump away, Robbie. You deserve it.
Back from Bellevue. Saw the asthma doc.
The first thing I said to her when I saw her was what a wonderful, brilliant, and astute doctor she is.
The med she gave me to keep me from choking helped. It will help even more now that I received new instructions for taking it.
She suspected that I was aspirating and that my breathing problems weren't just from asthma. Right again. Yes, I am (or was) aspirating, and yes my breathing is affected by my throat.
Tomorrow I start my participation in the study to find ways to help people who've had radiation on their throat swallow better.
She told me she didn't have to see me again for three months. I graduated from once a month. Then she came running out to tell me that she'll be gone in three months. I gotta break in a new doctor. Sigh.
BTW, It's such a beautiful day that I decided to walk a couple of blocks to the hospital. I got out of the cab early. There was a time when I couldn't walk two blocks (ask Deb and Thomas). Today I walked the distance. I was breathing hard but not panting.
@Roberta,
Quote: Today I walked the distance. I was breathing hard but not panting.
We heal in small increments , good going
@Roberta,
Good news re walking two blocks.
Just read about your medicaid coverage (or lack thereof) on your back teeth. Unbelievable!
Thanks, you guys, for all positive words and encouragement. Now that I'm breathing a little better, maybe my legs will get better. Feeling it tonight.
Yes, JPB, the tooth/Medicaid thing borders on incredible. I spoke with the social worker about it last week. I also wrote to the lawyer about it. There has to be a way to get my back teeth fixed without selling my grandmother's engagement ring to pay for dental work.
@Roberta,
Have you looked into NYU's dental clinic? I believe they have a sliding rate scale.
http://www.nyu.edu/dental/patientinfo/info.html
@tsarstepan,
tsar, That's where I'm going. They do have a sliding rate scale. A root canal is $600.
@Roberta,
That price is making my mouth hurt.
Tomorrow (Friday) I'll be getting my first swallow training session. I'm also gonna be given some kind of electrical device to stick on my neck. I'll report in.
Also gonna see two therapists. Am I any saner than I was when I started seeing two therapists a week? Mebbe a bissel.
@Roberta,
(((Boida))) - let us know how you go goil - thinking of you and hope that this next treatment is gonna help
x
Back from Bellevue. I saw the swallow throat person first. Got my first lesson and a machine with electrodes and other fancy stuff. I gotta tape electrodes to my neck. We adjusted the pulsing. It tickled. Tried not to laugh.
I also have to practice special swallows. I got a lesson. I will ultimately be doing the special swallows to the pulses. I ain't that coordinated, but I'll give it a try.
I'm hoping that this will help--me and everybody else who's dealing with the problem.
Both therapies went well. I think they're actually helping me. Stranger things have been known to happen.
@Roberta,
Sounds intriguing. Kinda like a metronome for swallowing.
A bissele help from the therapists? that sounds good.
@ehBeth,
The pulses aren't just for timing. They do something to the muscles. The special swallows are also for muscles. Some people work to develop their abs or their pecs or their arms. I always did march to my own drummer. I'm gonna have throat muscles to die for.
