If you have NOT seen a doctor in a while DO IT IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS

[underpants]

I say this because a lot of "health plans" are flipping Jan.1
If you like your current "plan" take advantage of it now.

I say this because I worked the system a bit today

--originally titled--
A small personal victory over the health insurance industry today

So I run. I also smoke, again for the last year or so. Since my fourth marathon (this one failed) I have been having some pain in my chest and my LEFT arm *YIKES*. I've been swimming and lifting some weights since Thanksgiving due mostly to the cold. Anyway, I knew I needed to get it looked at.

I went today.

End result- clean bill of health. I had a chest x-ray and an EKG done. My doctor said "your heart is a clean and pure as the day your were born". He thinks it may be either muscular or skeletal (arthritis?). Ruled out stress (none) and gas (not a problem...except for the bubbles in the pool). Not the lungs.

:shrug:

Now on Jan.1 my wife's employer (you have heard of them)related benefit is changing. From a $0 deductible to a $500 deductible. I paid a $15 co-pay and got all the tests, if I waited two weeks we would have been on the hook for an X-ray and an EKG whatever they cost.

---

Good to go. I AM quitting smoking on Jan.2.... french fries too.

[mike_c]

1. best of luck with the coffin nails, my friend....

I quit 25 years ago and have never been tempted to start again, at least not after the first six months or so. My SO has been on and off her whole life, though. Good luck to you!

[BeatleBoot]

2. The EKG is good news.

Go get a stress test. Isotopes and the treadmill thing.

They won't let you leave the hospital if something's wrong.

[JuniperLea]

3. I had my physical on Monday...

And will do the lab work and other tests tomorrow... but found out our coverage is "only" going up 8% in cost... I feel quite lucky. I usually do the "girly" doctor visits around Valentine's Day or my birthday in June... a gift to myself.

You have probably never heard of my firm (unless you are freakish about the fine print and contact info at the bottom of press releases), but at least one of our clients is on the front page daily.

I quit smoking three years ago... damn I smell good:) And I finally lost the weight I gained after quiting! AND I figure I've saved a ton of money... a pack in my area is around $5... that's ridiculous.

Good luck! I suggest using the patch... the addiction is clearly in two parts: the physical and the mental. The patch lets you work on the mental first while your body's desire for nic is satisfied. It takes a lot of thinking to get through and past the mental addiction, but you are able to recognize it for what it is, so it makes the devil easier to whip.

Good luck! You can do it!

[underpants]

4. Thanks

I really didn't mean this to be about ME glorious ME!!!

anyway

I used the patch the first time I quit- for 3 years after 20 years of Marlboro REDS. Started again when I lost my job in Sept. 2008

I do so love "going outside to have a smoke" but I will just have to get over it.

[JuniperLea]

9. Go outside anyway... take deep breaths of clean air!

Take a walk or something... a big part is finding replacement activity you like... man, I smoked those Marlboro reds for years... then got whimpy with the lights.

[geckosfeet]

5. Best of luck dumping the butts. They stink.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

6. You smoke french fries? -nt

[TicketyBoo]

8. Is that a new way

to quit?

[underpants]

10. Not when I run of course

I'd burn myself

[walldude]

7. Haven't seen a doctor in 10 years

and the way this bill is going it'll be another 10 before I see one again.

[RedCloud]

12. I saw one yesterday going into the bank. Smiling.

[ThomCat]

11. Good luck quitting smoking and giving up french fries.

:hug:

I'm sorry your insurance is changing for the worse. :(

[Exultant Democracy]

13. No stress? What is your secret I could use some of that.

[underpants]

15. .

Good food
good ....
good job (not that it pays much)
and excercise

:shrug:

I also pledged not to get stressed out about the holidays. Just relax and enjoy it. It is going to snow tonight so that will be pretty cool.

[lib2DaBone]

14. I have no health care. I am unemployed. I live in the United States of America...

[ima_sinnic]

16. it's just another uninsured day for me, like the thousands of days before it

and the thousands of days to come ...