Some of you know that the reason I've been scarce around here lately is because I'm dealing with my own medical "challenge."  I came back to the States a few weeks ago for what's considered a fairly minor or routine surgical procedure to repair a fairly common injury.  I've come to the conclusion that there's no such thing as "minor surgery," because the recovery so far has been much more difficult than I expected, both physically and psychologically.  But I am recovering.

But this trip to the States has been a re-introduction to the joys (snark) of the US healthcare system, not just in relation to my case (I have good insurance, which I've never actually used for anything before) but in the cases of my relatives and neighbors and friends here.  It seems like I'm surrounded by people (neighbors, relatives) who are facing huge "health challenges," some of them that are (unlike mine) life-threatening or permanently disabling.  I've stopped counting the number of healthcare horror stories.  Each of these people has not just his or her own medical condition to worry about, but also faces a maze of insurance forms and bureaucracy, sometimes shoddy medical care, negligent staff in rehab facilities, shockingly expensive prescription drugs, and overbooked doctors.  (There is, astonishingly, only one rheumatologist within 50 miles of my parents' community, which is jam-packed with retirees and, presumably, lots of arthritis patients.)

Dealing with serious medical issues is hard enough, physically and psychologically, even for someone like me, who's relatively young and healthy, with good insurance and a good prognosis -- it's been depressing and energy-sapping for me even though I expect to recover.  It is a whole order of magnitude more difficult for someone with an uncertain prognosis, someone who is coming to realize that the vigorous person she used to be is not who she is anymore.

Our healthcare system should be helping people meet those challenges, helping them face those difficulties.  Instead, our healthcare system is adding to them.

I'm angry and frustrated and wondering exactly how bad it's going to have to get before We The People rise up and demand that this change.

Anyway, Izzy, thanks for this heartbreaking diary, and for putting a face on it all for us.  And good luck to your Dad and the rest of your family.  And good luck to you.