WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR APRIL 2018

Machka... so good to hear the update.

Betsy in NW Washington

i dunno what u guys are talking about, colonscopy's rock!!!!!!!! i had them keep me awake so i could watch.

katla - we've tried it all, aware of the pill sorter stuff, tried it all. we do better w/giving our dogs pills than us. that GOD we don't take any meds, we'd b doomed

I had my first colonoscopy at the age of 50; next one at the age of 60; then had one about 3 years ago; this one is because I have severe tenderness in my belly and bloating. Sonogram of liver and pancreas was normal - Thank you, Jesus! They did the endoscopy and put a chip down in my esophagus and I had to wear what they called a BRAVO box which has 5 buttons on it that you would punch until the light came on and punch it each time you coughed (or cleared your throat), burp, eat or drink, have indigestion, or sleep and had to wear it for 48 hours and told I could drop it off at the front desk if they were closed. Well, let me tell you something ... I got my exercise that night. First stop at the building where it was done, tried door, locked ... well, it was after 5:00pm; old lady sitting on bench just sat there. So went to the main door; locked but people standing in the lobby - lights out. Visiting hours are from 9:00am until 7:00pm. Apparently you have to find the special door and know the special handshake. So I walk over to the 'discharge door' (which only opens out). Lady sitting there behind a small desk. You would have thought I had a gun pointed at her. She turned and another lady came to the desk and she, too, looked at me as if I had lost my mind. I held up the box which was 'in a Ziploc bag (so it would not get damaged and the paperwork I had to keep up with stayed with it. The 2nd lady called 'security'. I held up the box and yelled, "I need to turn this into the SurgiCare - or leave it at the front desk (although nobody was there. The lady at the desk told me to turn at the next left, go to the green elevators and punch 2nd floor ... so I walked between the hospital and the 2nd MD's building - where I already knew it was closed; but, I did it anyway. Figured that maybe there would still be people waiting to have procedures. Got to the 2nd floor and nobody there, lights out, door locked ... so I go back to the lobby of the hospital and wait for a few moments ... don't see anybody coming in or going out the door. I finally asked the lady 'if she worked there'. Since she did, she went back to the discharge door and after a while, I walk back there. I guess her 'ride' came and she was just standing there watching for them to arrive. By this time, I figured that Louis was getting upset; so I go back to the desk and rather than ask the woman sitting there I told the security guard what I was attempting to do; so he walks me to the elevator that is 'inside' Starbucks and I would have never seen it. I push 2 and get out to an empty desk. To the left of it, there were 3 black people and they kept looking at me. I figured maybe one of them should have been at the desk; but, they were talking loudly and laughing eve harder. Turned around when I heard somebody talking in the waiting area to the right. About that time a 'surgeon' walked out a set of doors and went over to talk to the 2 men about whoever he had just operated on. So I take a strategic stance so that he'd have to walk through me or specifically around me. He asked if he could help me ... I tell him what I had done and he said, walk with me ... we walk through the door and we're in the recovery room (little booths separated by sheets. I am just 'floored' at that point. He turns and tells me 'come on'. I go through a 2nd set of door and there is a receptionist and a nurse and he told her to take the box so it would go up to the Gastroenterology Department. I told her that the hospital's GastroMDs were not the ones who performed the procedure, that I had had it done by a MD that had his own office. She told me that it would go there anyway. At that point, I don't even remember 'how I got out of there'. I 'think' she walked me back through the 'recovery room'. So, then I had to go back out the 'discharge door' (which opens 'out' only). I get to the car and Louis says he was beginning to think they had committed me. I laughed and told him what all I had to do. I swear I must have walked nearly 2 miles inside the hospital. If you come to visit someone between 5:00 and 7:00pm - you must have to come to a different area. How would they know you even had the right to be there or that you did not have a bomb or gun with you. You can't walk past the main counter without being stopped (unless you look like you're 'on a mission'. I've done that before.

I don't want to go back there, now I know how the mean-spirited MD sent me off to another hospital. She could do it without anybody 'knowing' it. Usually, if I have had to go to the hospital, I always ask to be taken to the "North Campus" - if it is 'life threatening' I guess they would end up sending me back to the main hospital through the ER. I need to ask my Neurologist 'if' he even comes to the North Campus. I know he doesn't go to Phoebe Americus, they have their own MDs (most 'contract' MDs). I know when Louis has had to go to his Urologist, they have told him NOT to go to the hospital's ER; but, to instead call them and the MD 'on call' will meet them at their office. Going to the ER would mean that any MD he saw would NOT be a Urologist and they don't need to be working on his privates. That's scary.

I'm just very tire of being poked and prodded. I'm like Pip in that connection, I want to them find out what is going on and why - then I can own it and figure out what I need to do next.

Well, I'm so tired of listening to the news and I will read my book. Have a great 13th. So far nothing has happened, I was in the 13th mode yesterday.

Lenora