Medical but not Political

I have Shingles, again.

The last time, about 7 years ago, Laura and I were driving back from Baton Rouge.  Internal pain galore, nothing external.  So when I went to the emergency room in Brenham, I suggested internal diagnoses; kidney stones, gall bladder attack, etc.  I should have kept my ideas to myself.  I spent the next two weeks seeing surgeons, nuclear x=ray machines, and other doctors.  One did ask what those spots on my midsection were and I said "spider bite, I guess" ... because I was just guessing.  Finally a nurse friend said, "have you considered Shingles?"  I had no, zip, zero knowledge of Shingles and so I had not.  I went to my Family Practice clinic and asked the nurse to look at my "rash" and see what she thought.  She instantly thought "Shingles" but it was too late for any radical medicine and I did survive.

I had wonderful medical care in Navasota.  Dr. Selva is probably the finest internist I've ever met.  And Shingles did not present during those five years.

Tyler, new clinic, very nice and the Doctor's kids go to All Saints.  However, it seems to be a place for the retired rich, those with "supplementals" ... I don't have supplementals.  Every visit so far has resulted in the need for more tests, more tests and more tests.  Every exit has seen me write a check only to receive a further bill in the mail.  I was so spoiled in Navasota.

So today, suffering an ugly rash and some other symptoms and not wanting to self diagnose (ever again), I went to Urgent Care in Tyler.  I had forgotten what good care I got from them three years ago when I totaled my car on Christmas morning and had a nasty pair of piercings and swelling on my right hand, the only injury from a near death roll over !!!  It is the best place!  They listen.  You see a doctor within minutes. He knows what he's talking about and is even nice.  Medicare covers it.  I wish they could prescribe my blood pressure medicine and I would never go anywhere else.

So, I have Shingles again.  It seems to be a lighter case.  The prescriptions cost $45.  Glad its not fleas or bedbugs.  The exterminator would have been more!