I Don't Mean to Pry...

Scene. Me at the grocery store. Produce section. I live a very exciting and exotic life.

"Are you finding everything OK?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Ma'am, I don't mean to get in your business, but...

*eyebrow raise*

"What is that thing on your arm?"

"Oh, that. I have diabetes, and it's called a continuous glucose monitor. It checks my blood sugar every 5 minutes for me."

"No shi....throat clearing...No kidding!" (He did work there after all. I don't think his manager would appreciate his swearing at customers, even in astonishment at the wonder of our world.)

"What will they think of next!!"

I don't know. A cure? But it was kind of a fun little moment, showing this guy the advancements we've made, even though we have a long way to go.

(See how I use "we" as if I have had anything to do with it? Or maybe it's the "Royal We". I could have delusions of grandeur, you never know.)

It was the complete opposite of Kerri's story, which really does make me want to punch people in the throat. Maybe if I was in the candy aisle instead of the produce section I would have received similar treatment.

There's a comedian who goes around saying something to the effect of "Alcoholism is the only disease you get blamed for having." Well, I'm pretty sure there are a lot of PWD who would disagree with that. And people with AIDS. (Ever heard of condoms?) And even people with cancer (You shouldn't have used your cell phone so much! Didn't you ever hear of sunscreen?!) More and more we are getting blamed for what happens to be a hugely complicated mix of genetics, behavior, diet, environment, and plain old luck.

The focus on prevention, while very very good, (it really IS worth a pound of cure) has had the unfortunate side effect of people believing everything can be prevented and everything can be "blamed" on something.

To paraphrase Sondheim - So what matters is the blame? Somebody to blame? Fine, if that's the thing you enjoy, placing the blame, if that's the aim, give me the blame. Just give me the cure.

Sweet Irony

So, the physical I had to go into? The one they said I had to do or else they would drop me as a patient? The one they blamed my insurance company for?

Not covered by insurance.

It isn't "I haven't met my deductible" not covered. Not covered as in "Not covered." Apparently my insurance thinks I've been in to my PCP a little too often. (Once every 3 years is way too much.) My insurance company paid my doctor $1.25. As in, the cost of a bottled water.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Of course, I'm laughing right now because my PCP hasn't charged ME to make up the 200+ dollars. Yet. If they do, I will laugh at them. It's their fault I went in, they basically forced me to make the appointment. If they had let me handle things the way I normally do, everything would be fine. Both for them and for me. They wouldn't have had to waste a doctor and his assistant's time just to make $1.25. Nope, they could have used that time to actually make money and see patients who need it.

I'll probably still have to pay it, though.