So I just get this call from my primary care clinic......

[loveable liberal]

I'm going to see the podiatrist for my stupid feet. The appointment was made 3 weeks ago because our health care system is so great and I can get in "anytime". Anyway, the "employee" said I had to cancel my appointment because I have both Healthpartners AND Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

I then explained to the "employee" that I was laid off from the job that provided Blue Cross two years ago.

Everything is ok now. I can now have my plantar fasciitis checked now.

Is the situation idiotic or is it me?

[peace13]

1. When you do get in to see the doc...

ask about foot massage. Worked great for my friend!

[loveable liberal]

3. Turns out this Doc was hot off the press...

Brand new and she did mention that when applying the plaster that it was much like a spa treatment. She wasnt far off either. I'm getting old when the Doc's start looking like teenagers.

[peace13]

5. I hear you on that!

I'm glad you got in to see her.

[grasswire]

6. the comedienne Irma Bombeck always said she wouldn't...

...see a doctor that was younger than her cookie sheet.

[kickysnana]

2. We just finished the $2000 toe blister episode.

Auntie who had a stroke from undiagnosed diabetes and high blood pressure in June 2006* has circulation problems in the right leg the side effected by the stroke. In March of 2009 she had an emergency angioplasty and stent procedure to open the arteries of that leg. Her surgeon, one of the reasons we switched from Health East to Fairview told her when I wasn't there that because she could not walk on the leg she should just have it removed rather than fixing it.

Anyway, it has been good but sitting most of the day (she stands and transfers) she has to put her leg up for about an hour some tine late in the day, not unusual for even people my age or she gets edema. I had to go into the ER for a heart problem for about 30 hours and we had a respite aid and my sisters helping her out but she didn't want to be too much trouble so she didn't have them help her into the recliner so she could put her feet up. She ended up with a big water blister on her big toe. I didn't put her to bed so I did not catch it and the first thing the next morning she had a diabetes check up and there was that big blister. We had been caring for huge blisters on her feet and shins before they diagnosed and fixed the circulation problem. They took forever to heal but never got infected using sterile techniques to dress it until it healed but the Fairview doctor did not know this and ordered nursing serves for three weeks which included a 3 hour intake, consultation with a podiatrist who saw her again the following week and who scheduled a trip to the vascular specialist who pretty much said "I wonder why they sent you to me. Just go home and remember to put your feet up" because the blister was totally healed before his appointment came ten days after the blister was discovered. Doctor also ordered a sterile prep for washing it that was not available at our chosen pharmacy/medical equipment provider and we could either wait one week and pay for delivery or go pick it up in St Paul (at least I did not have to try to find it in Minneapolis (LOL). Total cost about $2000 if you include the follow up with the original primary care next week.

*Auntie had not been to the doctor or dentist since she was 6 years old and was quite willing to die from the stroke rather than start seeing them now but the family talked her into getting treatment, we moved to a Senior Building and she is having the time of her life.

We are not opting for this over the top treatment again but I was kind of stuck because I wasn't sure about my health right then and I had missed the blister that morning when I helped her dress and the doctor did not know us yet.

[YewNork]

4. My cousin was forced to visit his podiatrist on two separate days

The podiatrist insisted that he had to see him on two different days, one for each foot. He based this on the fact that he might need to inject
his feet with a drug and that there needed to be a time lag between the injections.

Turns out he didn't need any injections and the real reason that he was told to come over two days is that it allowed the doctor to bill
for two separate office visits. If both feet were treated on one visit, the doctor only received about 2/3 of what he would receive for
two separate visits.

[FLyellowdog]

7. I had to pay for a visit for my orthotics

where the doctor literally took a plastic bag off the shelf, opened it, and said "Here, put these in your shoes and come back if they don't help." I had to PAY for that visit. The orthotics could have been mailed to me instead (just as the replacements were a year later). Thieves!!!!

Hope your plantar faciitis gets better. Mine took almost two years to improve and now I've ruined both feet again. :cry: