Surgery--Again

You should be easily able to use that Turbo Tax Freedom site to file BBB's tax returns for her, or just check out whether she even needs to file a return, Butrflynet. She might not have to file if her gross income, including her SS, is below a certain amount.
http://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Taxes-101/When-Does-a-Senior-Citizen-on-Social-Security-Stop-Filing-Taxes-/INF14328.html

There really is no need for her to file for an extension, this site is really easy to use, it enables you to do the returns quickly, and it e-files them for you, if you need to file a return. And it might help to reassure BBB that she's not even required to file a tax return given her income.

I'm glad the info was helpful to you.

Vonny, How are you holding up?

Oops - was just about to say 'sw.... of you to ask', then I remembered! NOT the dreaded S word!

Seriously though, not too bad. A week tomorrow it will all be over with - the first stage anyway. But I do find that I've been very cranky for the past day or two. Is that usual before surgery, do you think? Not at all like me. But I've been very short-tempered with all and sundry.

In the past, every time I've had operations they've been pretty urgent and there's been no time to think or prepare - this time it has been two months of waiting and wondering. Guess I am a bit scared still!

That's both normal and expected. Have you asked your doctor about mild sedation to ease your worries?

lonny, I'm always cranky and short=tempered (especially the latter), so I'm the wrong one to ask if you're behaving that way because of the impending surgery. Maybe you're talking to me too much.

Actually, I think your behavior and feelings are quite normal. Knowing and waiting, waiting, waiting are a challenge. They take a toll.

I'm glad you found a2k. An excellent diversion.

[Possible substitutes for "sweet" in this context: thoughtful, kind, magnificent.]

Hello thoughtful, kind, magnificent Roberta! I don't think you are at all cranky or short-tempered - just a very nice person - so there!!! Anyone who loves animals as much as you do CAN'T be at all bad! I bet you show a totally soft and gentle side when faced with an animal who needs you!

But you're right that the waiting has been a challenge - a challenge I haven't stood up to very well, I'm afraid! But A2K has proved an excellent diversion - participating in the games threads, and on discussion/chat threads, has been invaluable - really helped massively in helping me cope over recent months.

Anyway, enough about me. How are things going for you?

Thank you Miller - I had, of course, considered sedatives, but prefer to stay in control of my mind and thoughts - something, I fear, that sedatives block? A kind thought though, thank you.

vonny, A person can be cranky, short-tempered, and nice. The three are not mutually exclusive. Honest and truly, I have no patience. None. Except for two things. Animals and slow old people (I've become one of the latter).

Speaking of no patience, you are sorely testing the little patience I have with your insistence that you haven't stood up to the challenge of the wait. Have you run screaming into the night? Have you hidden yourself under the bed and refused to come out? Have you turned to drink? Are you overeating? Undereating? Cut yourself some slack.

Things are eh minus with me. Not sleeping right. I think my thyroid is off. I'm going to try again to get an appointment with the endocrinology department. If I can't, I'm going to call the doc, who gave me a card with a number on it.

No work at the moment. I like not working, but I need money.

I petted two dogs today. Lifted my spirits enormously.

Hang in, kid. We're here for you. I would not have gotten through everything I got through without the people of a2k.

that pretty much covers my real-life experience of Roberta

Same here.

What they said!

No good, Roberta, nobody agrees with you! Too many posts agreeing with all the nice things I said about you!!! I've even read the thread where you 'kvetch' (is that right?) and you still come through as rather lovely!

Cut myself some slack? Roberta, I'm British! I wasn't brought up to cut myself any slack. To the contrary in fact. But enough about me - I'm boring - and this is your thread. So on to you -

don't like the sound of your not sleeping well. How long did the hospital say before they thought the endocrinology department would be up and running again? A dodgy thyroid can cause a lot of problems - I hope the doctor will be helpful. You will call him soon, won't you?

Petting dogs - spirits lifted? You and me both. My husband says the only time I ever really 'light up' is when I see an animal! Hey, I won't deny it. Love animals sooooo much. I met a Chorkie today - a Chihuahua/Yorkie X, absolutely adorable little thing with the most amazing eyes. That gave me a huge boost - owner even let me hold it for a few minutes. Mmmm - heaven!!! Then home to my own yellow Lab - adorable, if the greediest dog I've ever met. Not a bad day, all in all!

Thank you for that - it really heartens me enormously!

vonny, First and foremost, is today the day? How are you? Where are you? How did it go? Please check in.

Second, everybody agrees with me. I don't know why you insist that positive qualities and negative qualities can't blend to make an extremely lovable gigantic pain in the ass.

Third, sorry about the slack remark. I forgot about that stiff upper lip British approach to tsuris. (Troubles, problems, aggravation)

*********************

I spent an hour on hold this morning trying to make appointments at Bellevue. Finally reached a human. Got one appointment--with internal medicine. Still can't get an appointment with endocrinology or neurology. I'll keep trying.

I think at least one additional tooth is about to give way. A doctor at Bellevue told me that the NYU School of Dentistry treats people for free. I had my doubts. I called. I was right. No free ride.

I checked dental coverage for Medicare. Nope.

I checked free dental coverage in NYC. Nope. It looks like I'll be toothless. Sigh.

I'm now gonna send out a plea for work. Then I'm going back to sleep. This crack of dawn business is from hunger.

Vonny, Please let us know how you are!!!

I think that Thursday is the big day for Vonny and her skin cancer to part company.

Roberta, what do you think about calling a dentist office to speak to their insurance staff to see what info they might know for you? They probably have to find resources when their patients have financial difficulties and may know something we all have not thought of.

Hi Roberta, Butrflynet is right, my operation is on Thursday 25th April. I check in at 08.45am and expect to be back home the same evening. If my calculations are right, then you're about 6 or 7 hours behind us, so by the time you lunch it will probably all be over and I'll be back here safe and sound - and 'kvetching' for England!


Oh, I'm sure they can, Roberta! It's just that, so far, I haven't seen any negative qualities in you - sorry!

Tsuris - I like that - another new word, hurrah! Yes - only too true - brought up to keep the old upper lip as rigid as possible! But I'm working on loosening it up - not easy after rather a lot of years with it totally locked in position!

How awful that you can't access free dentistry. I was convinced that teaching hospitals all over the world offered free dental treatment - really bad that you can't find one that does. What on earth do people do if they need root canal treatment or some other emergency? Poor you - are you suffering much with the tooth problem?

Humans answering phones is getting rare over here too. Not so much in hospitals, but at the doctors' surgeries there is usually a long and complicated series of robotic checks to be gone through (at a premium phone charge rate) before one finally reaches one's destination of choice. Anyway, worth it if you managed to get an appointment with internal medicine. Shame about the endocrinology/neurology though. Better luck next time.

Dammit! give the woman free teeth stuff and some more work!!!!

Some of my best friends are extremely lovable gigantic pain in the asses.
Wouldn't have it any other way. Life is ever so much more interesting.

Butrfly, I tried calling dentists a while back. I can try again. Sigh. Between the bad throat and bad teeth, it's amazing that anyone can understand what I'm saying. Thanks for the suggestion.

vonny, Sorry I got the day wrong. At least I got the week right. If you haven't seen any negative qualities, you're not paying attention. Teeth problems. Lots of general pain. And every now and then something falls out.

Deb, The free teeth stuff ain't gonna happen. The work already happened. A proofreading job will arrive tomorrow and an editing job next week. I wouldn't have minded having the rest of this week off. Be careful what you wish for . . . . Glad for the work.

I got an e-mail from a doc I know at Bellevue. They're putting together a committee of patients to review a new website. I'm invited to join. I'm thinking about it. Lauging a little. Be careful what you wish for . . . .

mismi, Someone who's paying attention and knows a pain in the ass when she sees one. I agree that difficult people can be interesting--and gigantic pains in the ass.

better than a pain in the gigantic ass eh