Lexington? Grrr ... I'm 'Bout to Move to Louisville

So we have a known doctor shortage here in Lexington, in recent years, but listen to this ...

So the neurosurgeon's office calls me Monday and tells me they will put my case in "clinical review" and that it will be a couple of days to have an appointment scheduled.

I'm thinking "Oh, okay, I can wait a few days."

The neurosurgeon's office finally calls me back today and say they can see me for a first visit on October 15th - nearly one month since the accident.

Are you kidding me with that???

I have not seen anyone for my fractured vertebrae since the ER, I have no idea what to do or not do, the brace doesn't fit properly, I'm not sure what to do to manage pain going forward, I have no idea the treatment or healing time - nothing. 

(BTW, I have since heard that the ER physician that treated me and missed several things and the nurse told me "disappears" frequently on shift has a horrible reputation at the hospital from other employees. I was wondering because Baptist is the best in town and I'd had positive experiences with them, especially with my husband's care.)

So neurosurgeon's office advised to let my PCP manage it until then.

My PCP was shocked and was scrambling to find someone else, but not in THIS town, anyway. 

Because trying to help her out to find someone, I called the other major health group in town - they don't see motor-vehicle accident cases.

Then I called UK as a last resort because even though they win lots of awards nationally, locally, they have a horrible reputation.

They are actually 2 months out.

My PCP was scrambling trying to find another option.

I decided that I will just go to Louisville, like I started having to do for my mammograms. 

I called to see what they have and UofL can see me next Wednesday. 

Also, I went to the orthopedics doctor today -  I discovered I also have a broken wrist - so make that blunt-force trauma injury to the abdomen resulting in a fractured 11th rib, an L1 compression fracture, a fractured left wrist, and a sprained left ankle. 

However, I keep reminding myself it could've been way worse. 

Anyway, as we were leaving, someone ran a red light and Mark slammed on the brakes - us the car to the right of us both nearly plowiedinto them - so we were nearly in another accident! 

WTF, Lexington?

Get off your freaking phones and pay attention!

Actually, when speaking with my insurance company, the agent said she moved here about a year ago, but worked for this company for years, and has never seen the like of accidents in Lexington, KY - particularly near Nicholasville Road, it's scary!

Isn't that insane about the neurosurgeon wait!?!

So they were just going to leave me sitting there with a fractured vertebrae seeing no one since the ER for a month??? Who does that?

Otherwise, in other news: 

Good news: 

As I said, the other driver's insurance has taken full responsibility.

Bad News: 

We had just bought this car in June and will be underwater for a few thousand that will not be covered in valuation of the car that we will be responsible.

Bad News: 

In addition to that, we have to come up with a down payment for a new car.

Bad News: 

We will need a second loan for the replacement car.

So that's 2 payments, one for a car we don't even own anymore.

Had we GAP coverage on the loan, it would've covered it - which I'd never heard of and no one offered us - but I will get it now!

Bad News: 

If your car just needs repair, you get 30 days rental.

If it's totaled, you get 3 days - and it's non-negotiable.

All of this money out of pocket is making my head spin! 

Good news:

Mark settled his portion because his injuries weren't as severe, so we  at least have some cash flow to cover the rental, etc.

Good news: 

I have contracted an attorney for bodily injury. A good one.  

They are the most reputable in town -  and no, not one of those with commercials that dress up as Superman and act all crazy on TV -  I don't need Superman, I need a good lawyer because insurance companies are trying to save themselves money, which I get, as any business would - so it's always a good idea to have an attorney to help negotiate settlements. 

This firm comes highly recommended by several reputable people. 

Since the other insurance has already taken responsibility, it shouldn't be too long - just have to be seen by all physicians and have an expected time of healing and treatment. 

If you're praying people, keep praying or send good vibes our way - thank you, love to all who've reached out!

One thing about this town - news travels fast!

Someone from Mark's work actually saw the accident and people we had no idea even knew have reached out. 

If there's one good thing about Lexington is that when people hear of things like this, they don't avoid, they reach out and when they say "What can I do to help?" they mean it (though I usually don't take it, don't want to burden anybody).

My dentist even called to check on me, isn't that nice? LOVE her, as I've said before.

All of this to say, as my grandma used to jokingly say when things were bad, but not life-threatening "Well, I reckon I'll live, anyway" 😂- but I want to move to Louisville for nothing more than healthcare, like, yesterday!

Other Driver Deemed to Be 100% at Fault! (Yes, Their Insurance Took Full Responsibility)

 

Oh, thank the Lord, and I mean that!

I mean, we knew it was, but ya never know with insurance companies.

Update - How Did He Miss This? (Pic Added)

  

Just got my test results and I have also fractured my 11th rib. 

I kept telling the doc my ribs actually hurt worse than my back and that it hurt when I breathed in, but he kept blaming seatbelt muscle pain.

I also told them the brace was killing my ribs and I specifically asked about a possible rib fracture on discharge, and was told "No" - and there is no mention if it at all in my discharge paperwork whatsoever.

HOWEVER, it's clear as day on my radiology report ... circled in red, separated out by itself, just 2 lines down from the vertebral fracture.

How do you miss that???

Me: "Are you sure? Because it sure feels like one, it's worse than the back pain." 

Doctor: "Yep, I'm sure  - there's no rib fracture, just soft tissue swelling."

Um - yes, there is, Dude - you just missed it, though it's clear as day on my radiology report - and that brace you gave me made it worse, not accommodating for this.

Bitch, I'm a medical transcriptionist, I used to type this stuff before it went to AI - and I read ALL documentation later, when others don't.  There is a fracture of the 11th rib mentioned clear as day on the radiologist's report, you just skimmed it/didn't read it properly - so cease and desist with the gaslighting, please😂

I didn't say any of that, of course, just said "Alrighty" and put the brace on, though it killed my ribs!

The reason this is important is because they don't wrap ribs anymore - that is because they've realized that any further compression on rib fractures can worsen the fracture -  thus, why the back brace was increasing my rib pain, because it wasn't allowing accomodation for that - there will have to be a custom brace made to accomodate that.

HOWEVER again - as mentioned, I'm great with physical pain, I have a high pain threshold - so I was joking and laughing with the staff, too - perhaps he didn't realize how much pain I was actually in?

I did mention several times that the ribs hurt worse than the back, especially when they put the brace on - and for him to tell me there's no fracture when it says it clear as day on the radiologist's report is just not paying attention.

This is was Baptist Health Main - and to be honest, I was surprised at how lax they were and they weren't busy. 

(The nurse did say that this particular doctor "disappeared" for hours sometimes. Yay, that's helpful lol. I did wonder.)

Everyone was super nice still though. It surprised me because we've always had excellent care. Shoudda gone to Hamburg location lol. 

Oh well, seeing my regular doc today who can tell me what I need to do about THAT, and will be seeing neurosurgeon Wednesday. 

This is proof that doctors don't half read their documentation, and it's only going to get worse with AI. 

Thus, always, always, ALWAYS read all your documentation later, folks.

________________

PS - I'm not really mad; in fact, I feel validated - I'm saving my pissed energy for dealing with auto insurance companies! 😂

However, I did nicely report this to the ER that it was missed, but very nicely. 

I Know This Is Cheesy, But ... My Hummingbird Visitor ...

 

So I have hanging basket of pink petunias on my balcony, I've had them all summer. Every day, a hummingbird comes and visits them while I'm sitting out there, just very briefly, and then flies away.

Now - anyone who knows me knows that I'm a bird lover, but I especially love hummingbirds - they fascinate me. In fact, when my mom sends me a birthday card, she always gets one with a hummingbird. 

Though I'm mostly lying down, I get up every now and then to avoid stiffness, as well as pneumonia from lying so much. 

Today, the hummingbird came by twice while sitting in my chair roughly 4 feet away from the flowers - and it literally flew over to me and hovered right in front of my face at eye level with me, like just checking me out!

Hummingbirds are skittish and don't stay long, which is why I'm never able to get a picture - so that's especially weird that it would fly directly over to me, 5 feet away, hover right in front of my face - twice.

Maybe it knows what I normally look like without the brace on and was curious what that is about lol. Maybe it was just curious in general about the lady that put the flowers up for their daily meal. 

So I just said "Well, Hello, beautiful! Thank you for visiting me."

I have no idea why - but it gave really perked me up from my worry!

And yes - I am on pain meds, but only taking them twice a day instead of 4, only when I really need them - so this was NOT a hydrocodone-induced hallucination! 😂

So those moments of worry that start to creep in about the financial impact of what's happened?

I normally just try to redirect to healing up quickly being the best way to fix that situation, as well as to focus on what I can control and what I can't, especially on a weekend when so much is closed.

So this happened in one of those moments where worry was creeping in - but this time, it was the hummingbird, rather than pain meds OR my thought redirection that inspired me! 😂

Hey, who knows, maybe there's something to that Native American belief that nature sends spiritual messengers during stressful times. Or maybe it's coincidence. 

All I can say is, this is not the first time something in nature came very close to me, when it normally doesn't, during a stressful time  - and I know I'm not alone in that.

I mean, I teared up, I had such a hopeful feeling with that. Okay, maybe THAT's the pain med effect, that part, because I haven't cried at all since this happened lol. 

But what is more inspirational than nature?

I know it's cheesy, but cool thing to see right now, right? 

PS - Picture

 

So this is my lower abdomen today - sexy, right? 😂

(My hips and legs are to the left, so yes, I was wearing my seatbelt correctly, hips are bruised too.)

Yeah, so clearly I don't have washboard abs anymore at 57, but the lumps there are actually swelling from the bruising and little cuts from the crash - and I have one big one on my knee - but I didn't even feel them until today!

So ... it's this impact of the seatbelt that caused the compression fracture.

Also, this brace I have to wear is super sexy as well. 😂

I told the security guard when leaving the hospital, who was wearing a tactical vest that looks similar, only my brace is heavier and comes down to my lower back -  "So now I know what it feels like to wear one of these, but I don't look as cool." 😂

Also, the insurance people asked if we had any pictures of the accident.

Sure, sure, yeah - her car flipped over and I broke stuff, so the first thing I thought of naturally was a selfie next to our totaled cars😂

(Sarcasm.)

Nah, she was a super nice lady, but she knew I broke stuff and how bad it was, so I'm pretty sure nobody was taking pictures. 

Just grateful everyone walked away, right? 

Like I said, could've been SO much worse. 

Car Accident - Car is Totalled - Phone Chargers Were in Car

 Hi all - just giving an update here because our phones died at our chargers were in the car - so if you can't reach us, don't worry, we just have to get chargers. 😂

(We had both chargers because one only intermittently works and like to have backup.)

So Mark was driving down Reynolds Road, I was the passenger. 

We had a green light and were going about 40 miles an hour, when the other driver - a young girl - tried to hurry and turn left at a flashing yellow arrow to get into Lexington Green right in front of us. 

We smashed into her, flipping her car upside down. 

.Miraculously, she was absolutely fine, can you believe it?

Poor little thing was crying, she felt so bad.

Mark is fine, other than the lovely seatbelt pain across the chest. 

Me, on the other hand -  the airbag somehow completely missed me (which was actually a good thing at first, I thought I was fine, but then my chest started spasming and EMS insisted I go to the ER. I knew it was muscle spasm rather than heart or lung issue, but they wanted to be sure.

Glad I did because as it turns out, I broke my L1 vertebrae (lower spine) in compression fracture and have a giant bruise across my lower abdomen from the seatbelt, and I also  have a sprained ankle, 

So I'm wearing a super attractive back brace, now, and will be for about 6-12 weeks - sexy! 😂

Doc wanted to keep me for 24 hours for observation for possible delayed internal injuries, but I was like "Hell, no, at that $10,000 a day hospital bill! 😂

I'm fine - I think by now I'd know if I had that, so all good.

I'm super good with pain, so I initially just had Tylenol and a muscle relaxer - but when neither touch ed the back pain, I knew something was up with my back worse than spasm - so they gave me hydrocodone.

I'm okay, I promise - but what I really want to say is this...

If none of us had been wearing seatbelts - the other drivers or us - we wouldn't be here today.

Always, always wear your seatbelt!

It's gonna be a huge bill we can't afford, but we'll make a way - but I guess I shouldn't be worried about that now, just worry about healing.

Hey, maybe my grandma's doctor was right and I need to rethink women drivers. 😂

KIDDING - one young girl does not make all women drivers bad drivers!

And no shaming her, she felt bad enough - and like none of us have turned left on a yellow arrow, right?

The weird thing is, as I mentioned about my memory earlier, I remember all of it - Mark doesn't.

Of course, the airbag completely missed me but hit Mark in the head, head on - but he's okay - he just doesn't remember it.

The other weird thing is, you know how I said I lost the ability to scream years ago?

Yep - still have that. 😂

I heard Mark say "She's pulling out, we're gonna hit! I have nowhere to go!"

(There was a median to our left.)

I just drew in my breath - which is what I do instead of scream - and said "Oh GOD!" - and WHAM.

But we're okay. 

And here's the weirdest part of all - 2 days ago, I got a chill and said to Mark "Something really bad is about to happen - but it's going to be okay, okay?"

I thought I had lost that premonition sh*t with menopaulse - apparently not.

However, what good is knowing what's coming without giving me details as to how to prevent it?

Oh well, wish us luck, or pray is that's your thing - it's gonna get rough financially. 

Lastly, I just mentioned a couple of posts ago that I probably felt the closest to Sibling B of all Mark's siblings.

Though at a Zac Brown concert, Sibling B called me immediately when Mark told him.

I told him he needed to get back to singing and dancing immediately, I was fine! 😂

He said a little prayer on the phone and told me his friends were praying.

He is so great, right?

My husband cried after he called, so touched.

I teared up, but that's another PTSD issue - I literally can't cry until it's safe, isn't that weird?

Anyway, again, if you can't reach us, it's just because our phones are out of charge, but we're okay - don't worry!

Love you all! 

Trump Jr. Gets Married in The Bahamas - Courtesy of Umar Kremlev, Russian Oligarch Close to Putin (UPDATED)

I had a PS post to the last one, but I figured enough was said about some personal things I'm working on about myself, and then I decided - enough going up my own arse and expecting people to follow 😂

Anyway, in case your news isn't telling you, independent investigative reporting journalism group, ProPublica  - to which I have been subscribed for the last 8 years - investigated Trump Jr's wedding in the Bahamas in May, uncovering the fact that it was paid for by a Russian oligarch named Umar Kremlev, with close ties to Putin.

But pay no attention to the man behind the curtain folks, nothing to see, here  - there were no Trump ties to Russia, remember? 😉

Then again, his followers don't care - and some of them actually admire Putin.

Um ... Putin is NOT cool. 

He's former KGB for the Communist Soviet Union and still runs his country like that - including murdering any opposition with nerve agents (Nalvany, the Skripals) and invading smaller countries to seize resources rather than pay-to-play trade, like this is the Middle Ages.

The only difference between the Soviet Union then and Russia now is what happens when capitalism runs amuck without checks and balances -  but only for a select few Putin-approved political cronies - whom we call oligarchs.

(Oligarchy - small group ruling over the people. )

An oligarchy has always existed in Communist Russia -  it's what actually always happens in Communism in practice versus theory - it's just out in the open now. 

And you may not realize it, but us attacking countries like Venezuela and seizing of their oil, and about to do likewise in Iran, is essentially the same thing Russia did with the Ukraine and Crimea.

(This is one of the many reasons why I said that despite all of Trump and the modern Republican Party's anti-socialist rhetoric, methinks the smeller is the feller. Just because somebody doesn't paint themselves up as a socialist or communist dictator and points the fingers at others in deflection/distraction attempt, doesn't mean he isn't one.)

Of course they accomplish it by claiming these countries have horrible leaders or WMD or biological warfare - that's how they've always justified it since the 1970s.

And even if true that their leader is a criminal, who another country elects is none of our business unless they come at us?

If they want to elect a total psychopath, that's their business - I mean, have we? 😂

As for WMD, again, I need proof of those in Iran - and hell, Republican Saint Reagan gave them the capabilities for that in the first place!

Also, if it's really about WMD, how come nobody ever goes after China or Russia, or even North Korea, whom we know for a fact have these capabilities, hmm?

Answer: Both because there's a chance we'd get our asses kicked if we went after China or Russia (and North Korea's because China would help)  - AND - because it's not really about WMD or atrocities committed against their own people or faith -  and it hasn't been for the last 50 years.

It's about what it's always been about for the last 50 years - OIL - not wanting to pay for it or crushing any opposition to our rights to it.

And yet the same people who believe a plethora of wild, baseless, conspiracy theories without a shred of evidence, still keep turning a blind eye to Trump and falling for the same propaganda as gospel without question😂

Trump was right when he said he could literally shoot someone on 5th avenue and not lose followers.

Gas prices and inflation are out of control due to a war he had no plan for, underestimated the ease of, and now, we're rapidly running out of ammo for - and MAGA still doesn't care - Trump said we needed to do it, do it.

Ties to Epstein came the closest to toppling Trump, and yet his followers bought the distraction tactics there, too (cough, cough - big public ICE immigration crackdowns, the Iran War?).

I swear to goodness, someone could have a proven unaltered, non-AI video of him with a 12-year-old girl and credible witnesses, and they'd still say it was fake news or it's okay, he's God's chosen envoy, he can do what he likes. 

And THAT, Ladies and Gentlemen, is when you know that a group and its leader have reached cult-mentality status. 

We joke a lot about that, but seriously - if your blind belief in a leader is so strong that it overshadows your intellect, causing you to turn a blind eye to things that if others did, you'd lost your sh*t - OR  - causes you to doubt your own eyes and ears in favor of what that leader tells you - what would YOU call it?

Well, at first, I'd call it a dysfunctional family, group, or systemic mindset.

Throw in ignoring actual criminal and/or deviant behavior, that's the next step up to the most severe form of a group/systemic dysfunction - cult mentality.

__________________________

PS - as of yesterday, there is a call in Congress to investigate this situation.

I'm sure it will likely turn out as the investigations before regarding Trump and Russia, people will turn a blind eye once again or make excuses.