Yesterday’s agenda was medical, an appointment with my surgeon and then PT. I have the commute across the Bronx down pat, I got to the sign-in desk exactly on time. I am stupidly proud of my punctuality and commuting skills. I keep telling you that I’m an idiot, why won’t you listen?
Good news from the surgeon, my surgery is scheduled. I’m having multiple hernias repaired. The one you have probably noticed is the lump on my abdomen. I didn’t even know that two of the hernias are inguinal. That’s the kind men most often get. I had mine repaired in the 90s. Apparently they tore again. More good news, it’s outpatient surgery. I know inguinal hernias are but I have a huge hole in my abdomen, I thought that would be more difficult. Apparently it’s not. It’s all very cool. It’s even called robotic surgery. I signed a waver so they can use the video of the surgery for teaching. I told the surgeon that I’d love to watch. He said he’d send me stills. I’m going to see my guts. Little things can excite me.
My next stop was PT. Each visit is different. I don’t know if there’s a plan or if each PT just does the things he or she knows best. What is consistent is the workout at the end. I use the stationary bike; each time they increase both the resistance and the time I ride. That is the equivalent of riding faster and further. The first time I went 1.9 miles in 10 minutes, that’s 11.4 MPH. This time I went 7.2 miles in 20 minutes. That’s over 21 MPH. Should I get a bike? I would have to learn to ride one first.
Today I got a call from my surgeon’s nurse, the one that does the scheduling. I was afraid I’d have to wait months for the surgery, instead it’s on May 9! There was a cancelation. Then she called again, my insurance had not been renewed. This is exactly what happened last time I had surgery. It took me a while but I overcame my anxiety and called Health First. It was nothing I did. They have some sort of glitch in their system. My insurance rolls over the first of every month and it doesn’t do so smoothly. If someone checks on the first it says I’m not insured. They have expedited my reenrollment so it takes effect today. My insurance comes through Medicaid but it’s privately administered. When people are afraid of the government running health insurance I wish they realized what a poor job private companies do. It’s difficult, no matter who administers it, there will be glitches.
There were glitches and I haven’t heard back from the surgeon but hopefully that means it went through when she called back. If not I’ll have to wait for my surgery, but I’ll get it. Will anybody recognize me without glasses and a lump on my belly?
Wise Madness 