For hundreds of targeted drugs, patients will pay a standard co-payment. They also will pay the difference in price between the brand- name medicine and the generic. The practice in Medicare mirrors similar efforts in job-based insurance.

Medicare says about 10% of insurers will use the extra charge next year.

story

Hello to old friends and new.  I’ve been absent from the blog for a few months because when God has His hand on my life like He has, everything else falls away.  Since I last posted I went thru 2 rounds of meds for clinical depression.  I am just amazed looking back at how much my life has changed.  I often feel like Neo in the Matrix when he gets uplugged from that pod the Matrix keeps them in.  Reborn.  Looking at the world with fresh eyes and finally seeing things that were right in front of me the whole time.  I’ve been getting to know myself all over again.  Alot of my insecurities have fallen away and revealed more confidence than I ever knew I possessed.  I’m not completely healed yet but I’m getting there.  The only difference now is the method I’m using to get there.  Part of my recovery has included totally changing my diet to whole, natural foods.  Organic when I can afford it but never anything with chemicals or preservatives or refined sugars.  This has almost completely obliterated my migraine headaches.  I’ve also changed the way I think about medicines and health care in general.  I’ve become alot more aware of how our minds, bodies and spirits are truly interwoven.  You cannot do something to affect one without affecting the whole.  Since I’ve started to deal with my deepest heart issues, I’m seeing directly related changes in my body.  I am completely off of all pharmaceuticals now.  I am convinced that there is a better way.  I’ve been learning more about using only prayer, therapeutic grade essential oils, nutrition and reflexology to cure what ails.  It’s more about the healing than the treatment.  God is opening my eyes to things I’ve just accepted in myself over time and showing me that life doesn’t have to be that way.  Many physical conditions are a manifestation of your level of spiritual health.  God wants to heal people and they have absolutely no idea the level of health our bodies can attain with His touch and wisdom.

Whew…. more later.

I spent a great part of Sunday on the internet tracking don information on Medicare, Medicare supplement insurance and Medicare drug plan insurance. It’s a great eay to give yourself a headache. I quit late afternoon when an insurance site I was looking at served a popup box saying if I was under the age of 64 (the online form had asked for my birthday), I needed to call an 800 number to get more information on what the monthly premium would be.

Of course, the 800 number wasn’t manned on Sundays. I called Monday and the representative I talked with said the premium for December for a plan c policy would be $419. That, I’m sure, was because I had to answer some health question which included whether or not I am on dialysis. The representative told me that he could greatly reduce the premium the first of the year because of open enrollment (Nov. 15 to Dec.31). You don’t have to answer any health questions during open enrollment.

The cost would be $172 a month. The supplemental does not include a prescription plan. That will be another $30 a month plus the cost of prescriptions. Then, of course, the “doughnut hole” goes along with the prescription plans. As I understand it, I will fall in the doughnut hole when my out-of-pocket and the insurance company’s costs for drugs reaches $2950. After that I am obligated to pay 100% until the costs total $4350 then the catastrophic rates apply ($2.40 per generic or 5% of the cost, whichever is greater).

One of the kickers yo me is that you’re still expected to pay the premiums when the insurance kicks out. Why do I suspicion that the doughnut hole legislation was proposed by a Republican Congress?

What I have to try to remember is that there is Medicare to help with the enormous costs of dialysis. Kind of like I have to remind myself that even though dialysis is bitch and screws with my life, at least I have a life because of dialysis.

After much nagging encouragement from my friend SMB at Words of Wisdom from a Smart Mouth Broad, I scheduled a long overdue appointment. 

As are many women, I am always on top of ensuring that my children and husband receive the medical attention they need.  They never miss an appointment because I am an efficient and loving caretaker.  The kids hiccup?  I’m right there with the pediatrician’s number on speed dial.  Hubby trips?  I’m there forcing him to make a doctor’s appointment and sometimes even drive him to the appointment. 

H has had ALOT of hiccups.  I’m pretty sure he has seen every pediatric specialist in the tri-state area.  He’s fine.  But his fine-ness didn’t come without a bunch of hiccups along the way.  It’s exhausting, but he’s my boy and I, of course, am the ultimate caretaker who ensures that all his needs are met.

Hubby has had quite a few hiccups over the past 2 years as well.  Like H, he’s fine, but also like H, his fine-ness has come after a multitude of tests and visits to even more specialists.

The Boy is healthy as a horse.  He had one hiccup this year and naturally I rushed to seek attention for him.  For the most part, he is my rock.  Always healthy.  Always happy.

So after seeing no less than a 13,762 specialists for H and Hubby, I’m sick to death of doctor visits and tests.  I’m sick of the stress and the fact that some of these “specialists” don’t know jack.  It’s tiresome, worrisome, and just plain stressful.

So I avoid the doctor for myself.  Total avoidance. That has been my plan.

Then SMB starts in on me.  When was the last time you had a mammogram? she asked. 

So long ago, I can’t even remember.  Okay.  I confessed.  I hadn’t been to the gyn since 2006 and my last mammogram was in 2002.  Guilty.

So with SMB’s naggingencouragement and the fact that I’ve been feeling like smidgetts for the past couple of years, I made a gyn appointment.  Naturally, the gyn ordered tests and of course the beloved mammogram.  Great.

So I decided to make an event of it.  I scheduled the tests and the mammo all in the same day.  This past Monday was my day for a special treat.  And oh what a treat it was. 

So I made it through my round of tests and then got ready for the mammogram.   I entered the tiny dressing room and changed from my blouse to a lovely gown.  Then I had to jam my blouse, bra, coat and pocketbook into one of those designer “Patient’s Belongings” plastic bags and walk out to the waiting area.  While I waited, I read an entertainment magazine from 2004 and avoided eye contact with the other ladies also wearing glamorous gowns. 

The nurse, or whatever she was, came and escorted me to yet another tiny dressing room, where I sat and waited for my turn.  I waited and waited.  I had no form of entertainment.  Not even a 4-year-old magazine.  So I just sat.  For an hour.  Finally, the technician, whom I’ll call Jackie, came and asked me if there was someone else there with my same last name.  How the bleep am I supposed to know?  I’m here and I’ve been waiting an hour!  She was so confused because another patient had my same last name.  Dear Lord.

So I waited longer.  Finally Jackie said she was ready.  I walked to the room carrying my designer “Patient’s Belongings” bag, when Jackie informed me that I should only bring my pocketbook and leave the designer bag in the dressing room.  Okay.  Whatever.  So I did. 

So I went into the cold room with Jackie.  I didn’t like her much.  She asked me a bunch of questions about my last mammogram in 2002, but I remembered nothing.  I advised her to look at the films.  She did.  She asked more questions and took a good look at my girls.  I stood there and modeled my girls for what seemed like an hour, but I suppose was just a minute.  Then the exam began.  It was fun.  Lots of smooshing and twisting and turning.  It took her 4 or so tries to get a good picture of my left girl, but for the most part it went fairly quickly.  When she finished, Jackie said goodbye and told me to leave.

Huh?  That’s it?  No “let me check to see that I got what we need?”  No “The doctor will be in to discuss with you?”  Nope.  Nothing.  So I changed and left.

The next day I received a voice message from Jackie.  She mispronounced my name, which irked me since we had such an intimate relationship less than 24 hours earlier.  Then she said that I must come back for more pictures.  She didn’t get what she needs.  Nothing to worry about, but she needs another picture.

I’m sorry.  It took me 6 years to schedule this appointment.  She kept me waiting for over an hour and then took the pictures in a minute and a half.  She seriously thinks I’m going to come back in?  Yeah right.  Not gonna happen.  At least not anytime soon.  Don’t these people realize that it takes alot for women to actually make the appointment in the first place? 

Sigh.

I hate going to the doctor.  I hate getting older.  I hate falling apart.

And now I have to go back. 

Sigh.

Oh and I won’t even go into the other joyous tests. 

Ugh.

Here is a recent article I wrote for my monthly column in Women’s Lifestyle magazine.  

The holiday season is an opportunity to reunite with family, friends and co-workers.   We also are tempted to reacquaint ourselves with foods that we normally avoid throughout the year.   Champagne, cheesecake, sugar cookies, eggnog, gravies, chutneys, pies,  etc. are all plentiful on the buffet table at holiday parties.   Some people feel that at this time of year it is acceptable to throw caution to the wind and live it up.  While it can be healthy to splurge on occasional indulgences,  with some small and simple adjustments you can keep “diet” off your New Year’s list of resolutions.    This can be accomplished with just a little pre-planning and without much sacrifice.

It’s possible to enjoy the holiday season while staying on track with your health.    Consider making a conscious effort to incorporate a few simple strategies and some slight cooking modifications into your lifestyle.   If it’s not difficult to cut a little fat and some calories from favorite holiday dishes, what would be the reason for not trying it?   Most people are concerned about gaining the “holiday five”.   Some people will gain a lot more than five pounds over the holidays.    Here are some practical tips to help make your holiday a little merrier while keeping yourself light.  

Fill up on fiber rich foods during the day and especially before a party.   Fiber will keep you feeling full and make goodies less luring when faced with temptations at the table.   Make sure to hydrate yourself with water, sparkling water or herbal tea.    Hunger is often masked as dehydration and water will help keep you from overeating.    It’s also a good idea to dilute alcoholic beverages with water or sparkling water in an effort to reduce calories, and to keep from relaxing your willpower.

Fill your plate with veggies and eat those as an appetizer.   Always eat the healthiest foods first so you won’t overeat the richer, more fattening options.    Chew each bite at least thirty times to give yourself time to recognize satiety cues, and to make sure you savor every bite.   Try to sit down and focus on your meal when eating to avoid being distracted and eating on autopilot.  

Stick to your exercise routine, muscle helps to burn calories.   It also is great for stress relief, and the holiday often increases our stress levels.   Working out will help you feel a sense of accomplishment which uplifts your mood.    When you feel better about yourself you will have more strength to avoid temptations.    Exercise also helps to increase our energy levels, and we all need more energy during the holidays.

A reduction of saturated fat and calories can pay off when January arrives.    Invest in some health conscious cookbooks or find recipes online from sites such as CookingLight.com.     Basically, there are three simple methods to revamp your recipes in making them healthier.    Use less sugar, less fat, and cut down portion sizes.    

You can reduce the amount of processed sugar in a recipe by just reducing the amount, or substituting all or part of the amount, with options such as honey, agave nectar, stevia, and barley malt.   Be careful of using artificial sweeteners because many people are very sensitive to the effects and can have allergic reactions.  

Usually in baking recipes you can reduce the fatty ingredient by at least half.   However, when reducing fat, it is important to replace it with another moist ingredient such as applesauce, olive oil, orange juice, yogurt, etc.   

Reducing your portion size can be done while still feeling satisfied.    You can add more fiber into recipes by use whole grain flours instead of white flour.   Using fruit purees, such as unsweetened applesauce, in place of oil also helps to increase fiber content.    Serve yourself a small sampling of choices when facing a wide range, you are apt to eat less when you put fewer options on your plate.

It is important to try to keep a balance during the holidays.   Keep up with or increase your exercise routine and schedule other stress free activities such as a massage, pedicure, or listening to relaxation cd’s.   Allow yourself to enjoy some indulgences here and there, but watch your portions.   Chew your food slowly and carefully so you don’t spend the holidays uncomfortably over filled.     Making some simple adjustments in your cooking and your life will make the holiday a lot healthier, and happier, for everyone.

Cheryl Heppard is a board certified health counselor and consultant, located in West Bloomfield.  She offers individual, group, and corporate wellness programs, lectures, health food store tours, and a free monthly health e-newsletter.  For more information, visit her website.  www.MichiganHealthCoach.com or call 248-592-0869

Daily Mail

Hundreds of undergraduates in London have applied to take part in a beauty contest to be named Miss University London.

The students will participate in heats in the hope of being one of only 15 who will reach the contest’s grand final in February.

However, the event has opened a split in London University’s student body. Protesters say it is misogynistic and degrading, and should be banned. Participants and organisers have fiercely defended the competition.

So people that aren’t taking part are calling for it to be banned, preventing those who are taking part (of their own free will) from being able to exercise their personal choice. This is what happens in a socialist culture of imposing morals of one group upon another.

Demonstrators picketed London’s West End nightspots Maddox and the Crystal Club during heats for the London School of Economics, School of Oriental and African Studies, Queen Mary College and Regent’s College.

Last night, entrants from University College London went on stage at the Crystal Club, while students from King’s College will do battle next Tuesday. Ruby Buckley, women’s officer at LSE students’ union, said the contest should be “eradicated for good”. She added: “We come to university to be judged on academic ability and not on external characteristics.

“LSE is an academic institution and should not have its name tarnished by an event with a single function of the objectification of women.”

Well that depends on the point of view doesn’t it. One could argue this actually promotes Universities and celebrates intelligent, attractive girls as opposed to stupid airheads.

Elly James, women’s officer at SOAS students’ union, said: “It is like a cattle market. One of the things was that the contestants had to have their waists and breasts measured. I come from quite a rural area and that’s what they do to animals.”

Right, so according to her personal opinion, it’s wrong. That’s fine, she’s free to voice her opinion, just like the participants are free to ignore her and her miserable ilk. The point is the feminists don’t want women to have such choices. Where have I heard that before? Ah yes:

“No woman should be authorized to stay at home and raise her children. Society should be totally different. Women should not have that choice, precisely because if there is such a choice, too many women will make that one.” - Simone de Beauvoir, “Sex, Society, and the Female Dilemma” Saturday Review, June 14, 1975, p.18- No Ma’am

I thought ‘women’s rights’ were about women having the ‘right’ to make their own choices and be their own person? Instead of attacking the women, the feminists attack the subject the women are interested in, whether it be ‘acting’ in pornography, being a prostitute, doing lower paid jobs for less hours and the like.

Feminism isn’t about choice, it’s about control, as are all Marxist ideologies.

One of those taking part in last night’s UCL event was geography student Zoe Chambers, a 20-year-old from Hampstead who modelled at London Fashion Week this year.

She said: “The horrible truth is everyone is objectified in a number of ways. You can tell just by looking at posters for some club nights and things like that.”

Mary Honeyball, a Labour MEP for London who sits on the European Parliament’s women’s rights committee, claimed the event stereotyped women. She said: “It does not seem right on many levels. It is dividing students, which is unfortunate, and it will exclude women who do not conform to a Nuts magazine idea of what is pretty.”

Women’s rights committee? What about the rights of men? And why doesn’t this socialist twit just mind her own bloody business. Nobody is being hurt by this event.

A spokesman for LSE said: “It is up to students what they do in their private lives.”

And that is where it should stop. Unfortunately, through never ending ‘change’ and political correctness, the state enforces its own opinion of what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ upon the people. As a consequence of this climate of social engineering, people begin to think in the same way. ‘I think, therefore you do’ is the mantra of a tyrant, not a free society. How much chaos will there be if everyone is allowed to impose their version of morality on everyone else? Where does it end?

It doesn’t, and it isn’t supposed to. The more chaos, the better, keeps the plebs distracted from the Fabian’s gameplan, which is dismantling Britain as we speak…

Mandelson admits Government has long-term plan to join the Euro

my poor baby! it’s nearly a week now and i’ve been trying a lot of things to reduce her purging. brought her to the doc last friday, and she’s taking some pro-biotics and non-lactose milk. i just bought another tin of milk for her today; she was expected to be ok by Monday.

Arielle's 'medicine'

i’m giving her water from the porridge, water from barley and thanks to Soo, i’ve got some organic barley tea for babies too. she’s so kind! the doc says she can take black tea to harden the stool. and according to Soo, Koreans usually take barley water to clean the system and stop diarrhoea.

Organic barley tea for babies

she’s lost quite a lot of weight now; i can feel her shoulder blades when i pick her up but my MIL says her face is still as round. what to do… she takes after her papa! one good thing is even with her condition, she hasn’t lost any of her zest. still running around and stuff.

hopefully all these mix with prayers, she’ll get well soon.

This information was found on WebMd.Com at http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/bipolar-disorder-manic-depression

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder was formerly called manic depression. It is a major affective disorder, or mood disorder, characterized by dramatic mood swings. Bipolar disorder is a serious condition, when mania causes sleeplessness, sometimes for days, along with hallucinations, psychosis, grandiose delusions, and/or paranoid rage.

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a complex genetic disorder. The mood swings associated with it alternate from major, or clinical, depression to mania or extreme elation. The mood swings can range from very mild to extreme, and they can happen gradually or suddenly within a timeframe of minutes to hours. When mood swings happen frequently, the process is called rapid cycling.

Along with the dramatic mood swings, patients with bipolar disorder may have disturbances in thinking. They may also have distortions of perception and impairment in social functioning.

What causes bipolar disorder?

Like with other mood disorders, what causes bipolar disorder is not known. What is known is that bipolar disorder has a genetic component and can run in families.

At what age is bipolar disorder usually diagnosed?

Bipolar disorder usually appears between ages 15 and 24 and persists throughout a lifetime. It’s rare that newly diagnosed mania is seen in children or in adults over age 65.

Severity of symptoms varies with individuals who have bipolar disorder. While some people have a few symptoms, others have many that impair their ability to work and live a normal life.

Marked by relapses and remissions, bipolar disorder has a high rate of recurrence if untreated. Patients with severe mania usually require hospitalization to keep them from risky behaviors. Those who are severely depressed also might need hospitalization to keep them from acting on suicidal thoughts.

About 90% of individuals with bipolar I disorder, which is the more serious form, have at least one psychiatric hospitalization. Two out of three will have two or more hospitalizations in their lifetime.

What are the clinical depression symptoms of bipolar disorder?

The clinical depression symptoms seen with bipolar disorder include:

• Decreased appetite and/or weight loss, or overeating and weight gain
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, and making decisions
• Fatigue, decreased energy, being “slowed down”
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
• Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
• Persistently sad, anxious, or “empty” moods
• Restlessness, irritability
• Thoughts of death or suicide, suicide attempts

What are the signs of mania with bipolar disorder?

The signs of mania with bipolar disorder include:

• Disconnected and racing thoughts
• Grandiose notions
• Inappropriate elation
• Inappropriate irritability
• Inappropriate social behavior
• Increased sexual desire
• Increased talking speed and/or volume
• Markedly increased energy
• Poor judgment
• Severe insomnia

My tummy muscles are a little tired today. I’ve been doing 25-30 crunches daily this week, using my stability ball. Though that probably sounds extremely easy to many folks, for me it is pretty good.

In just a few minutes I’ll be doing my first session of 30 Day Shred. Level one of course. After it arrived yesterday I watched it to get a feel for the pace and routine. It looks tough but doable. I’ll let you know how it goes!

God - I hope this gives my metabolism a boost and drives me below 214. Tomorrow is my official weekly weigh in. I track Thursday weights on Google Docs and I’m not even down one whole pound since last week.

This is not because of a lack of working out, it’s because of the “Just a Bite Syndrome.” Since Thanksgiving I have been eating healthy meals, but I realized last night I was taking an extra bite here and there of the fatty/sugary foods that I am trying to avoid. A bite of a dinner roll dipped in gravy while my planned meal finished cooking, two sugar cookies while I cleaned up the kitchen because I skipped my afternoon healthy snack and my stomach was growling, a couple of Hershey’s kisses, a handful of olives, licking the frosting off the knife… Those are just a few that I remember indulging in over the last week. I’m sure more thoughtless eating happened as well.

So. I need a firm reminder. Food is food & every little bite counts. Every smidgen, lick, sip and sneak. They all contain calories, they all add up, they all work against what I am aiming for.

Some mornings on the treadmill I must be stern with myself…

“Yes. Your calves are tired, your throat is hot, but you will not stop. Do you think marathon runners reach the end of the race by wimping out when they are sore? Do you think those muscular, fit women in Oxygen and the other magazines get into that shape by giving up when they don’t feel like doing the work? You keep moving. You are strong enough.”

This is the same with eating. It is just as important to properly fuel my body as it is to work my muscles. Tossing bits of trash in the tank is not acceptable.

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” - Johann Von Goethe

Start:226.2
Current: 214.8

Winter at Red Rock Cliffs wp

Multitasking canola: A California miracle crop?

In a trial, Diener’s canola meal - grown on once-fallow land - was fed to dairy cows on the east side of the San Joaquin Valley, where selenium does not occur naturally and has to be added to food rations.

If the USDA’s experiment is successful, officials say they will try to persuade other farmers in the region to start planting canola and other selenium-tolerant plants.

“These challenges force farmers to become smarter, and that’s where science comes in,” said Gary Banuelos of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research station in Parlier, who manages test plots at Diener’s ranch.

There is urgency to the effort because the ongoing drought and court-ordered water rationing to protect threatened fish species means farmers who have relied for decades on state and federal water deliveries via canals are being forced to turn to groundwater pumping.

I left ou the unfortunate part where they’re using canola oil as a biofuel. As a solution to using land/soil that is high in selenium and needs tons of fresh water to make productive for other crops is great news. Besides making a good supplement for cattle feed, the oil itself in high in unsaturated fats, making it healthier cooking oil.

6 green reads - Eco-themed books for the beauty buff, world traveler, new parent, more

….I will present Josh Dorfman’s “The Lazy Environmentalist: Your Guide to Easy, Stylish, Green Living” (Stewart, Tabori & Chang). [Full disclosure: I helped Josh with the editing of his book.] Following the idea that most people want to do the right thing, but don’t want to compromise the way they live, Dorfman has compiled a comprehensive guide to goods and services that respect the earth without skimping on quality. “The Lazy Environmentalist” covers every aspect of creating a comfortable, incredibly stylish green life — including clothes, furniture, cars, kids, pets (animals need green gear, too!), investing, education and gardening.

That is a frequent complaint or concern, changes in lifestyle to be greener must autumatically mean living in a grass hut and living without the creature comforts that we’ve become accustomed to. There will be changes in lifestyle, but we can still have lots of that all important STUFF.

Grey wolf leaping.

Sculptor creates treehouse-like tent. Have you ever let a gourd dry out, then drilled out a hole to use as a quickie bird house. That is what it reminds me of, a giant gourd birdhouse.