I probably shouldn’t leave my house this year.

This came wrapped with a Square Books sticker. It is definitely from my niece who is an Ole Miss grad and has been going to Oxford for ball games this fall.

Too many fireworks, but I was asleep by 10:30. 😊

I’m halfway through the 1st book in my Xmas box. Amazing Grace Adams is funny and quirky and sad and a little too on the nose about what perimenopausal women go through.

You can request to see your Dr, and they have to let you, but you might be treated like a troublemaker. Even my elderly mother only sees her actual Dr when she insists. Mississippi is just coasting through the doctor shortage on an abundance of nurse practitioners.

Overall I love the clinic. The infusion staff, the business office, etc, have all really helped me, especially when insurance was difficult to maneuver. I just one frustrating NP visit, and it reminded me of all of the flaws in the system where I am under the care of a specialist I never see. 6/🧵

I don’t expect everyone to remember me personally, but I do want them to look at my chart enough to understand where I’m coming from. 5/🧵

The NP introduced herself to me as if we’ve never met though I’ve seen her many times this week. She was unfamiliar with my case. She made me feel like my concerns were not heard. My Dr always seems to recall specific things about me even if it has been 2 years since last seeing me. 4/🧵

I’m mostly ok with this but would like to automatically be scheduled with the Dr at least once per year. As is, I have to request her when appointments are made four months out. 3/🧵

My insurance company is to blame for me having some visits with no Dr involved. Mississippi has lax regulations about NPs taking the place of MDs, even specialists, and there is a shortage of rheumatologists. My Dr now has more than one clinic and only sees a fraction of her patients. 2/🧵

Thanks!

Shout out to others with chronic illness struggling through this day.