One of the greatest things I miss about being married is having my husband there to make decisions. Take the one I'm making now. Last week I had what they think is a mini stroke. They ran the usual test and found nothing. Of course mini strokes are known for not showing up on standard MRIs or CATs. So I go to my doctor, who said it might be a migrane. Still, she wanted to send me to a specialist, a neurologist. So he test my reflexes and said they looked okay, but he wants to send me in for a transesophageal echocardiogram(TEE). It's an invasive procedure where a tube is inserted into the esophages. It may show nothing, he said. So, there's my problem. I want to just move on. I feel like doctors are looking for a way to make money now, especially with so many people putting off expensive medical procedures.

I have insurance, but the procedure comes with some risks. He was concerned also that my cholesterol was too high and my sugar level too. Then I corrected him. I'd had those test done by another doctor just three months ago and they were normal. Add in that you have to fast to have a cholesterol checked and you see my problem. The recession has made me very suspicious of doctors, mechanics, even the pet doctor. The offices of these places are now empty, not like the days pre-recession.

Anyhow, I don't know what I'm going to do. I did join ediets and I'm on a stress reduction program, but this is stressing me out too.

Thanks for listening. It helps.