Why I Finally Purchased A China Cabinet

I keep my head behind the china cabinet, just so I know where it is. Now I wish I kept my breasts there, too.

When you keep your body parts behind the china cabinet in an enormous white envelope, they're available to you at a moment's notice. Believe me, a moment's notice is all you'll ever have.

Then, when your primary doctor or specialist or an ER doc directs you to have new films made, you've got the comps in your personal possession. You pull them out from behind the china cabinet, take them with you, and the interpreting radiologist has everything needed to figure out what the heck is up with you.

Alas, I've neglected to add my previous mammograms to the MRIs of my head behind the china cabinet. I am stupidly, negligently comp-less.

If you don't keep all your important films and medical records in your personal possession, you'll end up like me---waiting.

I got a letter from my new imaging place on Saturday. My mammo showed a problem of some sort. They'll have to request my previous mammos from another imaging company. It'll take a while, the letter said, a good long while, but we'll send you another letter after we get the films and have compared the pics. Not to worry!! Oh, we've sent the radiologist's report to your doc, in case you're interested in knowing more...We'll be in touch again, soon!

They don't know me too well. I'm not looking for a pen-pal and junk mail about something this important just doesn't work for me. I had my doc on the phone at 8 am Monday morning.

"You have a nodule," he said. "Most of the time, these turn out to be benign."

He knows me well, by the way. He knows that "most of the time" odds rarely work out in my favor.

"It'll take about two weeks for them to get your previous films and compare them to the new ones. Then we'll decide what steps to take next."

"I think I'll just go to the old joint, get my films, hand-deliver them to the new radiologist, and wait for his report." Yeah, my panties were in a bundle.

"If you've got the time, that's not a bad idea."

Time? TIME? We've all got a little less of it with each passing day, and I'm sure not going to fritter away two weeks waiting for a courier to show up. I don't mind spending a bit of that precious commodity if it ends up buying me even more.

So I called the new imaging place to tell them I'd be picking up my old films and by some twist of calendar, the delivery had already happened. My case caught the courier at just the right time in his cycle. She said they would send me a letter within a couple of days about the comps.

A couple of days I can handle. I think. Then again, I may drive over there right now...

Posted by Katy on 08/02/05 at 01:53 PM

Fallible Comments...

Yeah, definitely get in the habit of asking how to get hold of your own copies/reports while you're there. After functioning as 11 years as an outpatient with a diagnosis that turns out to be impossible to make, that's one of many things I learned. There's a link from my blog to my "hmoappeals" Web site...
-----
Posted by Paul Martin on 08/03/05 at 01:49 AM
Whoa, Paul. I've just read through a large portion of your medical story (as well as your main blog). Thank you for the gift of so much information and help for people who find themselves frustrated by insurance companies, etc. I so hope your situation can somehow turn around!

Another habit to get into besides keeping copies of all your history/films: Make sure you, your spouse, your parents, your kids, and your friends always sign forms at every doc they go to specifying that their medical info CAN be given to certain other people.

If my adult children don't put our names down on their forms, and something happens to them causing them to be unable to speak for themselves, we essentially can get no information about their cases--much less have input into their care.

A year ago, I asked an on-call nurse at our regular doc's office (after hours) a question about my adult daughter's care (with her verbal permission). The nurse could not talk about Carrie because, although Carrie had signed the proper forms, the nurse did not have access to them at that time!

It's a zoo out there, and each of us needs to take appropriate steps to safeguard ourselves. Paul's site is an eye-opener!
Posted by Katy on 08/03/05 at 03:54 AM
I've been there - I wouldn't wait either - the waiting when there is a "concern" with a mammogram is consuming! I need to do a much better job getting my medical records together - especially after reading this - I'm horrible about it. Thanks for being making me aware of how necessary it is to keep up with it all - Ann
Posted by Ann on 08/03/05 at 06:08 AM
A person has to be proactive with their health care - you know that with all the stuff with your mother in law....I really hope the nodule turns out to be just a blip on the screen. I've had several lumpectomies/biopsies and the waiting and worrying is just no fun.
Posted by Hope on 08/03/05 at 09:28 AM
Ann and Hope--I'm sorry you've had to go through so much on this subject! Thanks for the kind words of encouragement.

I did drive down and pick up the reports in person. It looks like I'm in the clear! I'll have to talk to my doc to be sure, but that's the way I understand the jargon. So I'm happy!!!
Posted by Katy on 08/05/05 at 09:08 PM
Have copies of EVERYTHING, not only all films, but your medical records, doctor's write-ups, recommendations, etc. It makes for a hefty file in most cases, but well worth it. And Paul is so right, get it all before you leave the office...it saves a trip back, or a phone call, or a fax...etc. etc.

Katy...glad all seems okay...miss you...
Posted by Bridget on 08/06/05 at 03:17 AM
I am so relieved to hear your good report. When I had to go back for my second (which, in the end, was clear, too), I sat in a waiting room with women who had spent a lot of time in there for some very serious stuff. It was only my second time to have a mammogram - the first having the concern that called me back - so I thought it uncomfortable to sit in a waiting room with women undressed from the waist up except for that "gown." Yet, as I listened to the women talk, and even engaged in the conversation some, I found it extremely theraputic for all of us - especially those who spent so much time there. No men; no children; no women in there just for routine. It provided an instant place for these women to find companionship in the depths of their pain without having to preface anything or give any explanations, etc. It was beautiful to watch how they cared for one another. They were kind to me and walked me through each step - the wait; the repeat-mammogram; the sonogram; the visit with the physician. They were a gift - an unexpected gift at an anxious time - and they were thankful for my outcome. As I left the building to return to my car, I walked through an area of women going through chemo and radiation treatments. I left feeling extremely blessed and thankful and grateful . . . and praying for the women who had crossed my path in life that day.
Posted by Ann on 08/07/05 at 07:43 AM

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Personal blog of christian writer & fallible mom Katy McKenna Raymond in Kansas City, Missouri Katy is represented by Greg Johnson at WordServe Literary Read more Katy at LateBoomer.net Follow Katy on Twitter Follow Katy on Facebook 123 Recent Posts Try Becoming Brenda Starr Off Beat Scattered That’s It So I’ve Finally Signed With An Agent. Now What? The Spoon Sciatica Sweetheart A Woman’s Train of Thought Has No Caboose However much we own, we are all still living on borrowed time After all, when restaurants shrink portions, they don’t shrink prices. As with everything in life, balance is key. Slow down, you move too fast… Yeah, I know. I have issues. Search Advanced Search Syndicate Login E me at katy @ ngenius.com	Why I Finally Purchased A China Cabinet I keep my head behind the china cabinet, just so I know where it is. Now I wish I kept my breasts there, too. When you keep your body parts behind the china cabinet in an enormous white envelope, they're available to you at a moment's notice. Believe me, a moment's notice is all you'll ever have. Then, when your primary doctor or specialist or an ER doc directs you to have new films made, you've got the comps in your personal possession. You pull them out from behind the china cabinet, take them with you, and the interpreting radiologist has everything needed to figure out what the heck is up with you. Alas, I've neglected to add my previous mammograms to the MRIs of my head behind the china cabinet. I am stupidly, negligently comp-less. If you don't keep all your important films and medical records in your personal possession, you'll end up like me---waiting. I got a letter from my new imaging place on Saturday. My mammo showed a problem of some sort. They'll have to request my previous mammos from another imaging company. It'll take a while, the letter said, a good long while, but we'll send you another letter after we get the films and have compared the pics. Not to worry!! Oh, we've sent the radiologist's report to your doc, in case you're interested in knowing more...We'll be in touch again, soon! They don't know me too well. I'm not looking for a pen-pal and junk mail about something this important just doesn't work for me. I had my doc on the phone at 8 am Monday morning. "You have a nodule," he said. "Most of the time, these turn out to be benign." He knows me well, by the way. He knows that "most of the time" odds rarely work out in my favor. "It'll take about two weeks for them to get your previous films and compare them to the new ones. Then we'll decide what steps to take next." "I think I'll just go to the old joint, get my films, hand-deliver them to the new radiologist, and wait for his report." Yeah, my panties were in a bundle. "If you've got the time, that's not a bad idea." Time? TIME? We've all got a little less of it with each passing day, and I'm sure not going to fritter away two weeks waiting for a courier to show up. I don't mind spending a bit of that precious commodity if it ends up buying me even more. So I called the new imaging place to tell them I'd be picking up my old films and by some twist of calendar, the delivery had already happened. My case caught the courier at just the right time in his cycle. She said they would send me a letter within a couple of days about the comps. A couple of days I can handle. I think. Then again, I may drive over there right now... Posted by Katy on 08/02/05 at 01:53 PM Fallible Comments... Yeah, definitely get in the habit of asking how to get hold of your own copies/reports while you're there. After functioning as 11 years as an outpatient with a diagnosis that turns out to be impossible to make, that's one of many things I learned. There's a link from my blog to my "hmoappeals" Web site... ----- Posted by Paul Martin on 08/03/05 at 01:49 AM Whoa, Paul. I've just read through a large portion of your medical story (as well as your main blog). Thank you for the gift of so much information and help for people who find themselves frustrated by insurance companies, etc. I so hope your situation can somehow turn around! Another habit to get into besides keeping copies of all your history/films: Make sure you, your spouse, your parents, your kids, and your friends always sign forms at every doc they go to specifying that their medical info CAN be given to certain other people. If my adult children don't put our names down on their forms, and something happens to them causing them to be unable to speak for themselves, we essentially can get no information about their cases--much less have input into their care. A year ago, I asked an on-call nurse at our regular doc's office (after hours) a question about my adult daughter's care (with her verbal permission). The nurse could not talk about Carrie because, although Carrie had signed the proper forms, the nurse did not have access to them at that time! It's a zoo out there, and each of us needs to take appropriate steps to safeguard ourselves. Paul's site is an eye-opener! Posted by Katy on 08/03/05 at 03:54 AM I've been there - I wouldn't wait either - the waiting when there is a "concern" with a mammogram is consuming! I need to do a much better job getting my medical records together - especially after reading this - I'm horrible about it. Thanks for being making me aware of how necessary it is to keep up with it all - Ann Posted by Ann on 08/03/05 at 06:08 AM A person has to be proactive with their health care - you know that with all the stuff with your mother in law....I really hope the nodule turns out to be just a blip on the screen. I've had several lumpectomies/biopsies and the waiting and worrying is just no fun. Posted by Hope on 08/03/05 at 09:28 AM Ann and Hope--I'm sorry you've had to go through so much on this subject! Thanks for the kind words of encouragement. I did drive down and pick up the reports in person. It looks like I'm in the clear! I'll have to talk to my doc to be sure, but that's the way I understand the jargon. So I'm happy!!! Posted by Katy on 08/05/05 at 09:08 PM Have copies of EVERYTHING, not only all films, but your medical records, doctor's write-ups, recommendations, etc. It makes for a hefty file in most cases, but well worth it. And Paul is so right, get it all before you leave the office...it saves a trip back, or a phone call, or a fax...etc. etc. Katy...glad all seems okay...miss you... Posted by Bridget on 08/06/05 at 03:17 AM I am so relieved to hear your good report. When I had to go back for my second (which, in the end, was clear, too), I sat in a waiting room with women who had spent a lot of time in there for some very serious stuff. It was only my second time to have a mammogram - the first having the concern that called me back - so I thought it uncomfortable to sit in a waiting room with women undressed from the waist up except for that "gown." Yet, as I listened to the women talk, and even engaged in the conversation some, I found it extremely theraputic for all of us - especially those who spent so much time there. No men; no children; no women in there just for routine. It provided an instant place for these women to find companionship in the depths of their pain without having to preface anything or give any explanations, etc. It was beautiful to watch how they cared for one another. They were kind to me and walked me through each step - the wait; the repeat-mammogram; the sonogram; the visit with the physician. They were a gift - an unexpected gift at an anxious time - and they were thankful for my outcome. As I left the building to return to my car, I walked through an area of women going through chemo and radiation treatments. I left feeling extremely blessed and thankful and grateful . . . and praying for the women who had crossed my path in life that day. Posted by Ann on 08/07/05 at 07:43 AM Page 1 of 1 pages Commenting is not available in this weblog entry. Next entry: Fear Factor Previous entry: Do You Remember Where You Were When...? << Back to main


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Why I Finally Purchased A China Cabinet

Personal blog of christian
writer & fallible mom
Katy McKenna Raymond
in Kansas City, Missouri