November 7, 2012

  • Gray and Overcast Day

      November as I always seem to remember it is here:gray, chilly and damp. Denuded trees, leaves bleached of color strewn on the ground like someone's forgotten dirty underwear. Mornings were snow spits down from the sky and the windshield of my car requires scraping. So far, it is not being accompanied by a corresponding black mood for me. Today I am tired and achy a little, but I'm pretty sure that's my body's response to the falling barometric pressure warning me of the approaching storm. 

       I saw my acupuncturist this morning. It was restful and restorative and I reluctantly arose from the table and dressed. The acupuncture treatments are helping me with the rigors of Lyme treatment. Until the beginning of the year when my health insurance deductible returns and my Health Care Savings Account will be utilized to pay for medications and doctor's visits, I will go every two to three weeks. It's helpful and I mean to take advantage of it.

      My friends, Ceredwyn and Tatiana have traveled to Northern New Jersey and hooked up with the Red Cross as medical volunteers. They solicited contributions to help with the travel costs and to also purchase supplies needed in the area:water, flashlights, batteries, masks and gloves. They are working there until Saturday. Tonight they will be there with the others in the path of the Nor'easter. I hope they can stay warm, all of them. 

     

      I had my performance review at work. It was excellent, with a lot of twos for "exceeding expectation."  It's nice to be recognized.  I am hoping our company will be able to do raises this year. It would be appreciated. Since I am only working four days, any additional renumeration would be helpful.  Speaking of work, I had to get another Prior Authorization for a patient for medications yesterday. I can usually do a PA in a short amount of time. However, this one is taking longer. The patient's insurance has changed their Prior Authorization process and it is now even more difficult to pursue it. I worked until just before six thirty Tuesday night, using the phone and gathering information. I had to stop because I do not know how to arm the alarm in the building, and the pharmacy was locking up. Reluctantly, I left. I decided not to go into work today to finish it.  I feel a touch guilty, but I need the rest. Tomorrow I will finish it and, hopefull, obtain it. The more resistance an insurance company offers when a medicine is requested, the more determined I become. I realize it's part of the deal people sign up for when they utilize insurance companies, but it often seems very unfair to me. I can't advocate for patients in the same ways I used to when working in the hospital or as a Home Health Nurse, but I can put my research skills and intelligence to the best effort for getting the patient what they need.

    LoraBoraLabraDora is snoozing in the chair. It sounds lovely, so I think I will join her. Blessings abound