Mama Carol

You got a point there, GD. What are they gonna do about it? She's just a tenant, too. We owned property, not a house, in a HOA community. It was absolutely ridiculous what they could do to the residents if they didn't abide by the rules. And some of the people in the HOA board of directors and in particular one of the officers had some power trip going on. I've dealt with a few of them through the accounting office, too. Most of the time they aren't just people who want to better their community. They are people who want to run the community.

HOAs can make their own laws apparently. In a nutshell, yes they can make you change your garbage service. When we were looking for a house we told our agents not to bother to show us houses in subdivisions with an HOA. We weren't interested.

The way I understand it, based on what I have read and the calculator I have used, IF the coverage is through an employer and the spouse (male or female) has coverage available at work, they will no longer be able to be covered by the spouse's insurance. But if they are not employed and are currently covered by the spouse's insurance, I don't believe they have to leave. Of course, the insurance company and/or employer could discontinue offering spousal coverage. But honestly, nobody knows. Not even the insurance companies, the employers or the Congress-weasels who passed the law.

YIKES!!! What was going on Friday and Saturday? Prayers for ALL the families involved.

I am still very skeptical about whether or not I will go from paying $432 a month to paying $660 a year. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. IF they go strictly by your 2014 income, I will get a subsidy that will lower my premium from $432 a month to $55 a month. Quite honestly, I'll believe it when I see it. If I don't get a subsidy, I will go from paying $432 a month to paying almost $800 a month. That's more what I'm expecting. Hubby's Medicare and Part D will both go up next year, the Part D by over 20%. Not sure yet how much the Medicare will go up but we are su

I'm in several support groups on FB and we just had a member post that they are on an antibiotic IN THE HOSPITAL for a viral infection. I'm like "really?" Either they are terribly misinformed or there is a lot of money being wasted. Or both. We had a patient call and demand an appointment one day. It was the day before Thanksgiving. We only had two doctors in town and one of those two was leaving as soon as he finished seeing his last patient. I mean literally leaving as soon as he finished seeing the last patient as in his wife and kids were there waiting for him. Anyway, I had alr

I have heard of using antibiotics for pain relief. Basically that's what Celebrex is. Wish you were able to be out and about more. I do miss my days with you and Pubby and the assorted cast of characters who came through the office.

What you have and what my husband has are very similar problems. He just simply tells them no about tests and therapy and procedures and pain meds. He knows there is nothing that can be done now and maybe not ever. He stays as active as he can and pushes himself to go and to do. We both went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago and the doctor suggested pain management. We both sat there and said emphatically "not just no but hell no". Not going down that road again. Miss you my friend!

No argument there. There's a reason my mom would not eat in a restaurant after having worked in different ones for more than 40 years.

If you like the dryer, check to make sure the vent is still venting OUT of the house and make sure the lint filter isn't clogged. Also, if it just seems to be taking a long time to dry a load and you like the dryer, get a new heating element for it. Can't help you on the gas vs electric question. I've always had electric. Wouldn't want anything else due to the price of natural gas.

Happens much more than you would like to think it does. This time it was seen.

Oh yeah. I forgot! Could NOT be the other dozen of so meds she takes.

My mom was diagnosed as being diabetic based on ONE single non-fasting blood test. She was sent to a diabetic counselor and given a diet to follow, a glucose meter and told to follow up with the doctor. She NEVER had another high blood sugar. Never. I know because I did a lot of them and the ones the doctor did I saw the results of them. I also know she went to the counselor because I took her. But what irked me so bad was she was termed diabetic based on ONE non-fasting blood sugar result. Doctor didn't ever suggest to her that another fasting blood test would be in order or to do a 3

They like to CYA. And do what the patient wants them to do. Patient comes in and says I need a prescription for Prozac because I'm depressed. Without thinking or asking about symptoms, the doctor pulls out the handy-dandy prescription pad and writes a prescription for Prozac (or Paxil or Valium or anything). Never questioning the patient about WHY they are depressed. Could it be stress at work? A spouse who works long hours? Fear about their own health? Problems with their 15 year old daughter? Nope, just write the prescription because the patient wants it. Got back pain? Let'

I'm pretty sure my MIL does that, too. My sister in law has mentioned something about it. She has to take Prescription B to counteract Prescription A which is to supplement Prescription C which is to treat her problem (that can be treated). Or worse yet, they saw an ad for it. FYI, the US is only one of two countries in the world that allow prescription drug advertising.

One of the offices where I worked had an open door policy to drug reps. They were welcome to come in, leave samples in the sample room and leave. The doctors never, that I know of, talked to any of them. Another office they had pretty much the same policy except there was one who was always welcome because he brought specific samples that the doctors gave to patients. He also brought Hardees cinnamon raisin biscuits in the morning and pizza at lunch for the staff. He wasn't pushy and usually just dropped off the samples and the food. Another office they would see some of the reps IF they

Insurance companies have been very slow to come around to the idea of paying for preventive care. They will pay for all kinds of meds to treat a condition but they more often than not will deny a claim or a pre-certification for something that would go a long way toward preventing a condition from happening. My friend who is in a nursing home, at the age of 56, was advised about 5 years ago to have gastric bypass surgery. The insurance company refused to pay for it. Now, she is bedridden, treated for urinary tract infection after urinary tract information, is facing life-threatening sur

My problem with medications is that they often do more harm than good. Me, I should not take anything that might cause liver problems. That leaves out probably 90% of the medications out there. I have to be really SURE that I won't end up in worse shape before I take anything. Having a cholesterol level 12 points high doesn't justify medications FOR ME. For some people, maybe. But not until other measures are explored. My husband was in pain management for a year. Now, I hesitate to take a pain pill even when my knee is hurting to the point of me being in tears. I don't want to end

Most dentists recommend two cleanings a year. I was told when I broke a tooth that I needed a root canal and a crown. I asked the dentist, who had always been honest with me, why exactly I needed either. He kind of stumbled a bit but he said that honestly I didn't if I didn't want to get them. He said there was enough of the tooth left that if it wasn't bothering me, I could leave it without a problem but if I wanted him to pull it he would. I made an appointment the following January to get it pulled but got sick and cancelled the appointment. I broke that tooth in July 2004. I st

That's right, you can't go off total cholesterol only. My HDL is so high I have a negative risk for heart disease in spite of the fact that I have a marginally elevated cholesterol. But my doctor wasn't looking at that. She only looked at the cholesterol. She left out the HDL and the LDL. She looked at the A1C and not the glucose. And the elevated alphafetoprotein went right over her head. Never once asked me if there was anything else going on that would explain a slightly high A1C or cholesterol. Like maybe the high liver enzymes. Just insisted I get on meds IMMEDIATELY. Actually,

I hear you. I have a dear, old friend who actually is 2 years younger than I am but who is in a nursing home. Other than morbid obesity, she has a number of health problems brought on by obesity and inactivity. She is on meds for her blood sugar because, hey, it's easier than watching what you put in your mouth. She is on meds for cholesterol for the same reason--it's easier than watching what you eat. She has been bedridden for the last six months or so and since going in the nursing home around the first part of May has LOST weight! Guess they watch what she eats. My mother in la

Patients, doctors and insurers are all equally at fault. Party lines have nothing to do with it.

But only after 90 days and the employee has to pay for it completely. For a long time, WH made it available on the first day you were employed. And they paid a portion of it for the employee. How many people can afford health insurance while making minimum wage? WHAT??? Employers LIE to their employees about why they do things? I'm shocked!! We totally believed all we were told by my husband's former employers. NOT. We KNEW they let him go because they hired a younger guy and paid him less. We KNEW that. We were told that off the record by my husband's supervisor AND the

That right there is why health care costs are so outrageous. People are prescribed MEDICATIONS. Try prevention. Try diet and lifestyle changes. Try exercise. Medications can make you sick! In a lot of cases, they are worse than what you're treating. I had a slightly high cholesterol back in June 2012. When I say slightly high, I mean slightly high. It was 212 with normal being 200 or under. My doctor wanted me on medication for it. Medication for cholesterol is processed through the liver, which most medications are. I have liver disease. Did I really need to be put on a medica

In years past, some employers offered reduced benefits to part-time employees. I believe Wellstar did in their early days. I'm pretty sure Walmart and Waffle House *used* to. Waffle House used to offer health insurance from your first day of employment. That has obviously changed. Things will not be the same. On that you can depend.