Health care 'mandates' a must for reform to work
Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 20:16 The Right would have you believe that ‘mandates’ are just the most horrible thing since Joe Stalin when it comes to insurance. The fact that most of us are required to carry homeowners insurance to obtain a mortgage (that’s the lender calling the shots, not the government) or car insurance (that’s the state, but I don’t hear too many folks complaining that they got hit by an uninsured motorist) seems to escape them.
Mandates are what government does. The government insists that things be done according to rules that are debated and then mutually agreed upon.
Would you really want market forces to decide whether or not the meat you buy in the supermarket was safe? Get rid of government interference and mandates on clean drinking water?
If you are totally against mandates then to fly without a parachute on a lot of things that have kept you and your family safe and healthy.
If and when health insurance reform is enacted, mandates must ensure that all are a part of the program. It wouldn’t be fair for those of us who choose to have insurance to pay for those who go without until they’re very ill and can’t be denied.
Besides, if you have insurance before you get sick, you’re less likely to become seriously ill. Insurance makes it possible to have more and better preventative care.
It’s time to get real about mandates.
It’s time to get real about health care reform.
That means listening to the facts and not demagoguery.
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Okay, maven. You asked for it. My story. I'll try to keep it short, but it will be difficult. Here goes.....
In May 2007, I had, for a period of a few months, developed incredible soreness in my nose. And I had growths coming out of one nostril. I went to a doctor. He cleared out my nostril and also took a biopsy. It came back and he notified me immediately.
I had a pervasive invasion of squamous carcinoma deep into the center of my nose (Note: This was not caused by smoking.). And he informed me that the only places that could take care of it were at the hospital at UCLA in Los Angeles, California or at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona.
The health professionals in Las Vegas just did not have the expertise to deal with something like this.
I chose the expert doctor at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, AZ. Mainly because the doctor here in Las Vegas was trained by him and gave a glowing review. And, after dealing with my doctor, it turns out he is one of the foremost experts in the U.S. and the world in this type of cancer removal along with nasal re-constructions. He has even went overseas and trained doctors in places like India on his techniques. Suffice it to say, I decided I was in good hand and I went with it.
Best thing I did. Because he saved my life. But I paid a price for it.
In May 2007, I went for my operation. Two things happened. I had my nose removed. And I had cancerous lymph nodes under my jaw removed.
It was a success.
After the operation, the doctor determined there would not have to be any chemo/radio therapy done under my jaw. It was all gone. But, for my nasal cavity, it was a different story.
My doctor at the Mayo Clinic picked a very good cancer center here in Las Vegas. I underwent a double whammy bammy sammy thank yer mammy of chemo/radio therapy. I underwent a total of 33 radiotherapy treatments combined with 6 chemotherapy treatments. I finished those in October 2007. And I survived them.
After about four CAT/PET scans over the months after that, it was determined the cancer was gone.
That doctor at the Mayo Clinic did indeed save my life.
Before my operation, I had a cast made of my nose. And another doctor made a prosthetic of my nose. I would affix it with a special surgical glue. It would last for five hours. Then I would take it off, clean everything, then re-apply glue. I didn't care for it too much. Probably because it was too high maintenance, but it proved to be invaluable for me. Because I could go out in public and have some semblance of normalcy. But I'd still get weird looks. But I have enough self-confidence in myself that I ignored people that would gawk and stare. But I do remember one time when two elderly people actually stopped in the middle of a grocery store, blocked me and openly stared at me. I couldn't get around them. I politely said, to try to get past them, "Excuse me. And by the way, quit staring at me like I'm from another fucking planet." They recovered and quickly got out of my way. I probably shouldn't have done that, but it made me feel good.
Skip forward to January 2009. Because it had been just about two and a half years after removal of the cancer and it did not come back, I started my first operation for nasal re-construction. My doctor said it was important that I did not have a reoccurrence of that cancer coming back. Because it would be a waste of time to do nasal reconstruction.
Well, anyways, I just successfully completed an operation where part of the skin, tissue and bone under my jaw was removed and placed in the cavity of my nose. A blood vessel on the right side of my face was identified that travels down under my jaw that this new tissue, skin and bone was connected to. This is forming the base of my new nose; basically filling in the cavity and giving the doctor something to work with. The operation was a success. Why do we know it was a success? Because under my jaw, I shave. Whiskers grow there. Well, that tissue was removed and placed in the cavity of my nose. Guess what? Hair is growing there also. This means it worked. Sounds really dumb, but I shave there right now. My doctor said he needs that to happen. Because, at a glance, he can tell the tissue is thriving by growing hair. He told me eventually he will kill the hair there. But not now.
Anyways, just two weeks ago, stitches were removed from the corners of my newly placed tissue joining it to the cavity walls where my nose used to be. It is joining nicely. I'm a bit sore and bloated, but I'm doing fine. I need to remind you that I have been radiated in my nasal cavity about 33 times. This causes my healing times to take longer. So, it will take about 2 months for this to heal. Radiation therapy does good things, but it also destroys good cells along with the bad.
Basically, maven, I am bloated up and healing right now. I told my doctor that whatever I have to do to heal, I'll do. You tell me to stand on my head or deflower three virgins, I'll do it.
Suffice it to say, my doctor likes me and seems to laugh at my stupid jokes.
I will have about 3, 4 or maybe 5 more operations. And the last 2 or 3 of them will be out-patient surgery (I won't have to stay in the hospital). This whole process to build a new nose will take approximately a year.
My doctor asked me what I thought of what was happening. I looked at him seriously, and forgive me for my candor, but I said.....
"Doctor, I've never had a miracle happen in my life. But I really feel like I'm at the fucking start of one right now. And I probably need to go back to church regularly." (That is a direct quote.)
My point that fits in with your post is this....
I am retired military. I am covered by TriCare For Life (Standard). And they have covered all of my surgeries. I have incurred some health costs, but they are manageable.
I am not a dummy. I realize that if I didn't have this, I would be in debt for the rest of my life and would seek employment by hanging out at the overhead pedestrian bridge over Las Vegas Boulevard between MGM Grand and New York New York Casinos, pandhandling my ass off to pay my medical bills.
And if I didn't have this? And I didn't pursue treatment because I didn't have health insurance? I don't mean to sound maudlin, but.... Let's face it. I'd be dead. Period.
Why can't everyone in the U.S. be covered when something like this happens? Why must it be that people, when faced with a choice, just go ahead and decide to die when it boils down to not being covered and having no money?
We live in a country that has the longest lasting form of Government in the world (democracy). And we can't fucking help our own people when they are sick?!?!?!
This is not fair. And I thoroughly DETEST Republican Party members who show they are totally callous towards fellow human beings. And I completely HATE idiots like Mr. Rush Limbaugh for making money off of peoples' misery.
And it makes no sense there are all these idiots who come forth and slap and degrade and scream for Senator Reid's removal; a man who is doing his level best for not only Nevada but the entire nation to achieve universal and affordable and fair health care for all citizens. While at the same time, you have a slime ball like Senator fucking Ensign that continues to serve after abusing his power, engaging in an adulterous affair and very likely committing a felony to cover it up.
But then again, I know this is America. People have different views. And sometimes just being fair about things is not enough.
Sorry, maven. Kind of long, but you asked for it. I do apologize for my language though. But I have an excuse. I'm a retired Sailor. And we kind of talk funny at times, using unacceptable language as adjectives, adverbs, nouns and verbs.
Oops. Correction to my original post. Where I said I started nasal re-construction in January 2009? That was wrong. That operation was actually January 2010.
Sorry.
Sir, I stand and salute you.
You are very, very brave to tell this story.
I thought my reason for blogging was to tell my side of the story. Now, I know that my reason for blogging is so that others can tell their story, and I can 'meet' incredible people that I would never have had the distinct privilege of knowing otherwise.
All my best to you.
maven
Oh, and I get the Navy part.
My late father was a CPO.
Thanks, maven.
I have to post this caveat though.
My intention for commenting was not to ask for sympathy. Not at all. I was raised all my life to confront problems and issues. And I'm doing that. I'm not one to roll over and quit. I welcome everything that life has to offer; doesn't matter if it's good or bad. Although, I must admit that I do prefer the former over the latter though.
I also didn't wish to post my story to play this "my cancer was greater than your cancer" one-up-man-ship thing. I fully realize that ALL cancer is bad and must be addressed quickly with professional medical expertise, help and technology.
And I also don't want to post what I did to show I'm the greatest thing since holes were invented for Swiss cheese. Because I'm not. Although I do admit that I am indeed a legend in my own mind.
I just wanted to clarify that.
On your comment that your late father was a retired Chief Petty Officer. I just wanted to say may he rest in peace and may he never be forgotten for his service to this country we all love.
Also, on a lighter note, I can imagine that you have developed a "tin ear" from him. I can only judge that based upon my foul mouth and my perhaps social indisgressions of discontinuing a conversation real quick with my knowledge of socially unacceptable language.
I'm working on it, maven. Kinda hard, but sometimes I just kinda stop myself and just go quiet. Probably best thing to do at times.
The way I look at it, it could be worse. I could be a Tea Bag Party member and follow around a brown bus and spew out blather about perceived injustices that are only based on vague generalities and have no basis in fact other than they seem to be predicated on a thinly veiled closet racist way of thinking and be totally gullible to any and all forms of fearmongering.