ARGH

[bunnymcfoo]

So back in May I went to Disneyland with a bunch of girlfriends. It was great fun, but it was also very challenging, given that I hadn't been walking, like, at all before we went and we were suddenly walking 6 miles a day according to my pedometer app.

I was too ashamed and embarrassed to tell my friends that this was an issue for me though, particularly since we went down so they could all do the 10k and half marathon that weekend. Yeah, that since of shame was pretty strong and it's incredibly hard to overcome it to speak up, even knowing that my friends wouldn't care.

As a result, I've fucked up my Achilles tendon. Like, it's hurt to walk since then. I'm limping, stairs are actual hellishness, and the day after I walk "extensively" (i.e. more than 5k in a day) I wind up on the couch the next day with ice packs. There's a lump that's formed on my Achilles tendon and it hurts to touch it. According to the internet it's most likely Achilles Tendinosis, which doesn't sound like much fun but which is treated mostly with drugs and physical therapy.

So I finally get the idk, energy?, to call for a doctor's appointment. My primary care is only at the clinic on Thursday, Friday, and every other Wednesday. She's booked six to eight weeks out, but if I want I can call every one of those mornings at 8 am and there's a "very slight chance" they might be able to get me in - but only if there's a cancellation. Because I have Medicaid I can't go anywhere else - not even one of the urgent care clinics in town. I'd have to pay out of pocket, which I flat out cannot afford to do, holy shit, this is going to involve x-rays and drugs and there's simply no way I have the funds to cover that.

When I asked the very kind woman on the phone what I was meant to do in the case of an actual like, urgent issue that isn't an emergency such as strep throat or it hurting to walk, she said "Go to the ER. It's 100% covered with Medicaid." I -- I thought that the Medicaid expansion was supposed to decrease the reliance on Emergency Rooms for non-emergency issues? But apparently no, that's not the case.

When people ask me why I think the Affordable Care Act was 20% good and 80% bullshit, this is the kind of thing I'm talking about. I'm going to wind up at the ER tomorrow so that I can see a doctor about this ankle. It's in no way an emergency, but the idea of walking around in pain for the next 8 weeks makes me want to cry, so I'm going to do it. >:( I am not a happy Bunny right now.

Comments

[insipid-paragon.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I hate that you're in such pain and discomfort! Further, that it's apparently acceptable to the people with all the decision-making powers for you to continue to be in pain for two more months. I can tell you're not comfortable doing it, but when the system is broken, sometimes you have to screw it to contribute to the realization that it needs to be fixed.