Still pending medical clearance

I sent off my completed (or so I thought) medical and dental documents in the second week of February.
A couple of weeks ago, I got my dental folder back, asking for clearer bitewing x-rays. So I went back to the dentist and they hooked me up with the needed x-rays, free of charge since it was sort of their fault. I sent it back to them.
Last week I got a letter from the medical clearance desk asking for a missing Hep-B antigen test, which my doctor had somehow missed. It also asked for documentation on a tetanus shot within the last five years. So I went back to the doc, got the shot (since I don't know if I've had a tetanus shot recently) and the blood test. My doc called and said that I don't have Hepatitus-B, and that she's sending the docs in the mail. As soon as I get those, I'll fax them to the medical desk.
Today I received my dental packet AGAIN... I guess that my teeth #4 and #5 are showing some decay and I need to have fillings or something. I think this is pretty lame too, since I just got fillings in January on some other teeth, so why didn't they do 4 and 5 too? Well. I guess I have to go back and pay up. I canceled my dental insurance after I got my wisdom teeth out, so it might be expensive.
But it's a process. And there is perfection in the process...

Peace

my veins are easy to find...

so it wasn't hard to draw four vials of blood for the required tests. I also had a urine test and a "woman's test," which is always super exciting! Ha.

The exciting thing is that I am done with all of my necessary doctor and dentist and therapist appointments! Now I just have to wait for the lab results and then I can mail in all my documents and get an actual official invitation to volunteer.

I have been working a lot lately to try and come up with some extra cash for the doctors appointment, which turned out to be about $340 since I don't have insurance. But this morning I came to the happy realization that past Jessica had left a wonderful gift for present Jessica: a health savings account from my old job! Woah. That was so thoughtful of past Jessica. I'll have to thank her!

Side note:
I went to a nurse practitioner in Phoenix who was incredibly helpful and considerate. She took her time to make sure she was filling out all of the necessary sections in the Peace Corps paperwork and she was pleasant and professional. I have had a lot of doctors and even nurse practitioners in the past who have been quite unpleasant and rushed. If you are looking for some good healthcare in the Phoenix area, you may want to consider her as a primary care provider. Her name is Agnes Oblas and here is her website with contact and other info: http://www.newpathshealth.com/
I would give her two thumbs up!

Peace!

still working on medical clearance...

Nothing really new to report except that it's pretty hard to find an affordable place to get theses physicals done. Urgent care turned out to be a bad idea as most of them won't do some of the necessary tests. Family physicians charge an arm and a leg and I have very short limbs and no insurance!

So I have an appointment with a nurse practitioner on Monday, but I will still need a physician's co-signature on the forms. I dropped off the forms at her office the other day so she knows exactly what I'll need. She will call me with a price estimate, but she says it will be at least 200, probably more.
The Peace Corps will reimburse up to 165, but for the rest I'm on my own.

In the meantime, I've just been working,working out, doing a lot of yoga and writing silly haikus.
Oh and I'm reading like five books right now including:
A Farewell to Arms by Hemingway
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life by Thomas Moore
Ariel by Sylvia Plath
and the Tao Te Ching (Stephen Mitchell's translation)

Here are my current favorites from the Tao:

"Things arise and she lets them come;
things disappear and she lets them go.
She has but doesn't possess,
acts but doesn't expect.
When her work is done, she forgets it.
That is why it lasts forever."

"In dwelling, live close to the ground."

"He allows things to come and go.
His heart is open as the sky."

"All things have their backs to the female
and stand facing the male.
When male and female combine,
all things achieve harmony."

wisdom teeth are gone!

So now I'm done with the dental paperwork.
Below is a poem I composed today, as the pain has left me inspired:

On the extraction of my upper wisdom teeth

my face is round—a moon
or a pumpkin
and I cannot smile

my dog is near me, on the couch
happily chewing his bone

this day,
and every day,
is the best day of his life

he is soft and stupid and yet
so enlightened

I smile, and my face aches
and I laugh because the vicodin makes
me loopy

my face is round
and I am a pumkin
and a dog
and a smile

prepping for wisdom teeth extraction tomorrow

I had my consultation with an oral surgeon yesterday and made the appointment for my wisdom teeth extraction. The surgery will cost me 500 dollars, after insurance. Yikes.

The procedure includes general anesthesia, so I will take a few days off work after to let the effects wear off and to allow my big swollen face to deflate. After that, I'll get the medical clearance out of the way... fun :)

dental clearance underway and patience like the Buddha

The bad news is that I've been a blog-slacker, but the good news is that I haven't been slacking in getting things done!

I spent a good portion of my last couple of days at the dentist's office getting my paperwork filled out. I went there on Tuesday morning for my 8:00 appointment (why did I DO that after only sleeping 3 hours?) and I didn't get in to see anyone until about 8:50.
Then I gave them my Peace Corps forms to fill out and they seemed to get really confused. They did about 18 x-rays of my teeth for the Full Mouth Set (FMS) that the Peace Corps requires. Then I waited in the waiting room for another 45 min. Then I saw the dentist, who poked around my mouth and told me I have two small cavities that require fillings, but an otherwise healthy mouth (I was relieved because I haven't seen a dentist in like 7 years...). Then they did another x-ray-- the one that goes around your head and beeps like a robot. The dentist looked at that and told me that I need to get my wisdom teeth out too. He wrote me a referral for an oral surgeon in their adjacent office (my appointment for that is next Monday). Then I waited for another hour or so (luckily I had a book to read) before I got my teeth cleaned.
Of course they told me to floss more often. I really should.
I pestered them for copies of the FMS and pestered them even more to make sure my form was completely filled out.
Then I paid 30 dollars in co-pays and made an appointment for the following day, yesterday at 13:20.

Yesterday, after a difficult workout with my trainer, I returned to the office at 13:00, only to be accused of missing my appointment, which was apparently at noon. I showed the desk lady the card that said 1:20 and she got me in right away. I got numbed up and got the fillings in what was a much quicker appointment than the previous day. My insurance covered most of the fillings, so I ended up paying 60 dollars.

Now I just have to call my insurance and beg for them to cover my wisdom teeth extraction!
Then I can get cracking on the medical forms. Eek.

And now, a word on patience:

In all the waiting and misunderstanding, I felt the ever-present pull of my ego, who wanted to be annoyed, impatient, and outraged by the incompetence of the people who worked there. However, I reminded myself to be like Buddha and chill out!
So I meditated, right there in the office, focusing on the sqaure pattern on the carpet and breathing in and out. I felt the love coming out of my being, blessing everyone around me.
As I was leaving both times, I thanked the women who collected my money and told them sincerely that I appreciated what they do. I saw the changes in their demeanors, surprised and touched by my kindness, they smiled and returned the thanks.

My purpose in life is to bless the world-- the people around me. If I can make that happen in a busy and hectic dentist's office, I can make it happen anywhere.
Note to self (and others): Remember to breath and smile. Radiate kindness and love no matter how annoyed you may feel. Then the annoyance will dissolve into peace.

lethargic winter

I haven't written any updates in a while because I've been sort of inactive. Maybe it's the winter's short days or the fact that I've been working hard to keep up with my bills lately, but this winter has left me uninspired and a little lazy.
Anyway, my dad commented that he hadn't seen any new posts lately and I was surprised to know that he checked the blog at all.
So now that I know that someone is reading it, I feel I should make a better effort to update things.

Here is the status:
The ball is still in my court as far as Peace Corps is concerned. I have to complete my medical review before I will get any more communication from them.
My former therapist filled out the paperwork, as she had promised, and sent it to me at the beginning of the month. She basically said that my brain is fine, and that I would be able to cope with any stressful situations that the Peace Corps volunteer experience might throw my way.
Now I need to go to a doctor and a dentist.
I tried to make a dentist appointment last week, but they needed my insurance information and I couldn't find my card. So I wrote to my old job, since I have continuing coverage under them, and asked for a new card. As soon as I get that, I'll make an appointment.
As for the doctor, I will go to urgent care and start on the physical exams and tests needed as soon as I get back into Phoenix. I am up in Rimrock for now, helping my dad build his awesome energy-efficient house and helping my step-mom to make hallacas (a delicious Venezuelan Christmas food).
I should be back in the city tomorrow and I'll go to the doctor on Friday or sometime this weekend.

But for now it's back to work on the house!