Myasthenia Gravis Support Group
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability. The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and...
I have not posted much in a while, just some simple drive-by-posting. This is a great group and I enjoy being a part of it. You are all a blessing to me. Thanks for your prayers, support, and encouragement.
Things are still gone fairly well for me. I have all the same symptoms, but not a severe. I did have a rough three-day weekend, but hope that it was only a quickly passing issue.
Spring is in full bloom here in North Georgia and the days are hot already. It sure makes me want to cut grass and work in the yard. But the boss will not let me because of my breathing. She is right, of course! I told her, "what she don't know won't hurt her!" She said, "what she don't know will hurt me when she finds out!" She Won!
I have been working on some financial matters for the last few days. It is amazing how fast medical bills can grow. Over the last twenty-four months, my hospital and doctor bills have totaled $361,775.12 (not including medications). That averages out to $15,074 per month. I read that Myasthenia Gravis is one of the most costly neurological diseases to treat and I believe it.
Things are still gone fairly well for me. I have all the same symptoms, but not a severe. I did have a rough three-day weekend, but hope that it was only a quickly passing issue.
Spring is in full bloom here in North Georgia and the days are hot already. It sure makes me want to cut grass and work in the yard. But the boss will not let me because of my breathing. She is right, of course! I told her, "what she don't know won't hurt her!" She said, "what she don't know will hurt me when she finds out!" She Won!
I have been working on some financial matters for the last few days. It is amazing how fast medical bills can grow. Over the last twenty-four months, my hospital and doctor bills have totaled $361,775.12 (not including medications). That averages out to $15,074 per month. I read that Myasthenia Gravis is one of the most costly neurological diseases to treat and I believe it.
I live in the richest country in the world, enjoying the most freedom, and I feel guilty about it. When people complain that their freedom is being threatened by health care reform and being forced to buy coverage, I wonder what their yardstick is for what "freedom" is. Perhaps they are more sensitive to the fluctuations in the degrees of freedom they enjoy than me. Usually this argument for "freedom" is made by people with health insurance. I don't hear it from people who don't have the coverage.
But how about living in a third world nation with no health care and having MG -- and dying of something that is treatable in the first world? That's what this disease had made me painfully aware of. In exchange for my health I got a big dose of humanity. Now will I ever get off my butt and address these inequities in a practical way?
Good for you Kerry -- you've had a hard couple of years. I feel like I know you after watching all of your videos when I was first diagnosed. ~Joe
Third World? First World?
We have been and continue to be on the dawn of the "New World"
Freedom can be defined as the ability to make choices. If that ability is taken away, one has lost freedom.
We all have the freedom to think whatever we want. That is something that can be influenced. Good bad, or indifferent.
Plenty of people argue they don't want healthcare and they don't have healthcare:
http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2009/0720/p09s01-coop.html
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/news/1004/gallery.dont_want_health_insurance/index.html
Now those people can be wrong, but it is their "choice."
http://timetraveler2.hubpages.com/hub/Think-You-Dont-Need-Health-Insurance-Think-Again
At issue here is making claims and having deep opinions without sufficient grounding in the field. I have a real problem with that. Many of us go to school for many years, study our chosen fields very hard so we can go out in the world to help make it a better place. Our wisdom didn't come without a lots of intellectual 'bumps and bruises.'
While indeed we are all entitled to our opinions, as the cliche goes, of what value is that opinion if there isn't reasoned argument supported by sufficient background in the field? In fairness to those of us who refrain from proferring advice, Wikipedia links and Google 'research,' on subjects about which we have no creds, why not consider more carefully the comments you want to make before you make them? I think we'd all be better off.
I don't know what it is like now for the man or single woman between ages 18 and 28, but pushing them down that much more by strapping some of them with an extra "manditory" bill they don't make use of, may not help. Maybe they are happy to do it regardless. That is fine too.
Just remembering.
TJ
http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary...
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010...
Now those people can be wrong, but it is their "choice."
http://timetraveler2.hubpages.com/h... "
In the end, they put the burden for their care on you and me. If you are a student of American social thought, you know that freedom for one individual only extends as far as it doesn't impinge on the rights of another. This is fundamental to our society. People who choose not to have insurance put the rest of us in position to lose our rights not to pay for their catastrophic care.
Don't make it possible then? Would that be an inhumane solution for freedom of choice at that point? Applicable to Illegal aliens etc, people that make that choice etc.
Third World countries were mentioned. Where is their catastrophic care?
"Some men see things as they are and say why - I dream things that never were and say why not."
-GB Shaw
What your not realizing is that you're making the strongest case for single-payor, here with this example and with your example of the young people being forced to purchase coverage.
His response outta nowhere:
"The UK has the best system" "I have friends there and we have discussed this."
How can this be as I am adding yet another insurance carrier for myself? J/K
What are you saying/asking?
I know our system is not the best and could be better.
Not if we don't take the first painful painful step...
Thanks Guys
Ann
there's not just one but (tens of ) thousands of government-run programs that fill peoples' needs and enhance their lives, safety and happiness. That doesn't mean every single one meets its goals. If one program fails, it certainly doesn't mean the rest fail. Look around you...your neighborhood, your village or city, your state, your interstate highway system, your green berets and your infantrypeople. Ask your friends who are on Medicare how they like it or what they think about social security. How do you feel about the cop who comes to your assistance when you get a flat? Or the folks who test your water to make sure it's potable?
I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. Governments and their programs are crucial to our survival.
Curt
There are MANY things the government(s) does/do that are harmful to all of us. MANY THINGS.
That is a long list of things and other than the things I have mentioned in this thread, this will not be the place and time for me to touch on this subject again. Views are views, and mine is not the same as yours or others for certain. I think we can agree on...
PEACE
TJ