Medical Treatment as a Byzantine Ritual

 

So I have a hernia, that requires surgery and a stay at the hospital, nothing life threatening just annoying. But first I have been poked, prodded, scanned, asked a million questions and given extensive preparation instructions. Good thing it’s not an emergency or I would have died before filling out all the forms and signing documents. My advice, make a handy list of medications, people to contact, medical history, current information before anything happens cause you’re going to get asked a lot for it. The hospital is going overboard compared to years ago I had ovarian cysts removed at a private clinic, all I had to do was arrive on time and fifteen minutes after the anesthesia wore off I was out the door.

I guess they want the right info on the right person, God forbid they amputate the wrong leg or remove the liver and you die, these accidents have happened and keep me awake at night worrying. I am assured this surgeon is really good and has done this and all the testing is to make sure I’m sturdy enough to endure it.

Medical treatment requires a team to take care of this old, autistic patient. I’m getting help from an advocate and friends thank God, but there are a lot of moving parts to this I have to take care of too and the stress is tiring.

There is still the procedure, recovery, healing and hopefully insurance to cover it. I tend to be cranky when I’m in pain, well crankier than usual and adjustments are never easy. Getting old sucks and requires stamina to deal with the constant repairs to the old body.

I shall be out of touch while I recover but will give a full report later. Stay tuned.

What Walt Wrote

 

Role Playing

I find it interesting and puzzling how people confuse an actor with a role they played. Should the fan run into the actor in real life, they will identify them with the character, sometimes to an embarrassing degree. They don’t even need to be a good actor. The identity can be so strong it sticks. Should they play a villain, they are greeted as such. If they plays a good guy then a bad guy, then people have a really hard time figuring out how to react. Is it wishful fantasy or lack of critical thinking? These are probably the same people who accept everything they see on the news too.

I mean, I get it, that’s how how people see them-in a role. This is more common with TV or movie, not so much with theater because there’s a different relationship with live performance then with recorded. Rob Reiner knew he was always going to be greeted with “meathead” from his early work on “All in the Family”.

There are exceptions Henry Cavill, who played Superman, walked around Times Square where there was a huge banner announcing the film, while wearing a Superman t- shirt and no one noticed. More likely, given New Yorkers attitude, they didn’t give a shit. Neither should anyone else. Fame is fleeting and caprious.

Personally I’m impressed with someone’s fame for about 30 seconds and I never mistake an actor for their role. Being in theater, I know better.

Can you be like. . . more normal?

Neurotypical people will say “I know you have a hard time remembering to be on time, stay organized, have trouble with socializing or stay focused but can you be on time, be organized, socialize better and stay focused on work.” 

Then claim to be supportive of the disabled. Right.

 

I worked as a volunteer at a non profit art store when I was having a bad hair day and being noisy. The director e mailed me about it and I apologized with "hey just say something in the future and I'll calm down." she repiled with "If you were a child I would say something but you're an adult and should know better."

  I don't do volunteer work anymore. 

 

The Medicine Wheel part 1

MRI a Rama

I had to get an MRI, never mind the reasons why, and when I went to Oregon Imaging I figured it would be short and sweet like a CT scan. I took one look at the hulking machine and balked. “I have to lay still for twenty minutes in that?” no way.

The Magnetic Resonating Image machine is a very large, powerful magnet that spins at a frightening speed, makes a lot of whirling, beeping and grinding noises with a long tube the patient is guided through, sometimes an additional gadget is put over the torso or covering the head for brain scans. It is guaranteed to make on claustrophobic.

Who the hell designed this monstroisty?

The MRI allows for a clear non-invasive view of the body’s interior BUT being shoved into a narrow space with the sound of alien warfare going on is not conducive to easing anyone’s anxiety. Oh sure some have TV screens to watch or music to listen to as distraction and some are “open” meaning not as small and tubular but not always available due to location or insurance.

This is another case of good invention, bad design that nobody is happy with.

Modern medicine means well but it often ends up treating people like lab rats. All the soothing talk and helpfulness of the technicians—who are understanding-- can’t alleviate the stress of procedures that involve poking with needles, uncomfortable positions, and exposure to radiation or potentially toxic chemicals.

So I walked in a big circle with the health center, Nurse Practitioner and insurance people trying to find a better solution for my autistic anxiety to and end up where I started but this time I was accompanied by a medical advocate and a dose of Xanax. It ended up being uncomfortable but manageable.

Personally I want the engineers of an MRI to go through them on a weekly basis until they come up with something better.