DOCTOR WANTED

If only it was as easy as tearing up the paper printed with words, and letting it fly up to the sky, a wish to be granted.

 

The Perfect Doctor:

[Sung to the tune of “The Perfect Nanny” ~Mary Poppins]

[Spoken]
Wanted a Doctor for an adorable woman.
If you want this choice position
Have a cheery disposition
Rosy cheeks, no warts!
No games, no sorts!

You must be kind, you must be smart,
Very wise and listen with your heart.
Take your time, lend an ear,
Know meds, have reasonable fear.
Never be cross or cruel
Never treat me like a fool.

Across the years, we’ll work as a team
Together, a healthy goal, a healthy dream.
If you won't scold and dominate me
I hope to never give you cause to hate me

I won't hide your spectacles
So you can't see
Put toads in your bed
Or pepper in your tea
Hurry, Doctor!
Many thanks
Sincerely,
Well, you know…

 

Not Just Pissed Because It Happened To Me, or, my adventures with C. diff

I'm presently taking a medication called, Vancomycin, for my second bout of C. diff. colitis in 4 months.  I've always thought of myself as "healthier than average," however, now I find myself trying to shake a potentially chronic and debilitating illness.  It only took a second time to get me online doing some serious research. 

According to the CDC, C. diff sickens about half a million people a year in the U.S. 
(Source: http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/news/20110601/fda-approves-new-drug-to-treat-c-diff)

"In recent years, many in the infectious disease community have seen an increase in the number of cases of people with C. difficile infection," Edward Cox, MD, MPH, of the FDA, says in a news release.  (Source: http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/news/20110601/fda-approves-new-drug-to-treat-c-diff)

 

In June, 2011, the FDA approved a drug called Dificid for the treatment of C. diff.

 

 "Dificid is an effective new treatment option for patients who develop Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea." (Source: http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/news/20110601/fda-approves-new-drug-to-treat-c-diff)

"The FDA says. The drug is the first antibiotic in nearly 30 years to be approved to fight the sometimes deadly C. diff-caused disease."

 

SO, WHY ISN'T THIS MEDICATION COVERED BY U.S. HEALTH INSURANCE?  (Because the insurance companies are still in charge.)

Medical treatment and hospital stays associated with C. diff cost the U.S. health care system as much as $3.8 billion a year. Also, the company says a recent survey of the incidence and severity of C. diff in U.S. hospitals found that C. diff patients had lengths of hospital stay nearly three times longer than average, with mortality rates more than four times higher than for the average person who is hospitalized. In the trials, more patients treated with Dificid were considered cured after three weeks of treatment, compared with people taking Vancomycin, the FDA says.

THE 10 DAY PRESCRIPTION COSTS $3169.98 ...IN CANADA!

Yes. I'm pissed.  Why didn't I get to take the best drug out there for what I have?  Maybe not the first time, but what about the second?  But it's not just about me.  This infection is a current U.S. healthcare problem with the drug and insurance companies holding the best treatment hostage.  How will we ever eradicate this horrible (trust me!) infection when we don't have access to the best antibiotic?  I'm pissed, but not just for me.