Changing Course

Rant to follow.  If you'd rather skip, go until you see "Nutritionist".

I've been trying really hard to ditch the Atlanta Clinic.  After the second fast request I was very interested to see what the plan would be.  I don't know why I thought I would get a plan as every request for insight into the steps thus far have been ignored.  They were much less detailed about this cycle, more or less saying repeat what you did before.  So, a glutton for punishment, I asked again for how they make their decisions for when to fast, how quickly to come out of it, etc.  In very snarky terms I was told that no specifics could be given as I was out of state and that I was overdue for a follow-up visit at their clinic.  HA!  As if I would waste miles or money on them now.

I avoided replying to that comment (a page out of their own book) and instead focused on the ongoing insurance money saga.  For some reason the insurance company sent them my reimbursement check.  I thought, mistakenly, that it would be easier to have the clinic cash the check once it arrived and then pay me as the insurance company considers the matter closed.  First they claimed to never have received the check.  Then they found it, magically, but said it was impossible for them to cash it as my balance was paid in full and they didn't want to claim it as income.  Next they decided that maybe they could cash it if that was okay with me.  I said yes please to that.  They agreed to cash the check but then said a delay of two weeks would be necessary before writing me my check.  You know, just to make sure the check from the crazy huge national company didn't bounce.  I still think this is absurd but kept all comments to myself and waited two weeks.  I wrote on the 15th day to say I had yet to receive the requested confirmation of the check being mailed and they responded that due to past issues with insurance companies they would need to hold it for a total of three weeks.  I kinda lost it but sent a restrained email.  I researched the regulations from the Federal Reserve and put them in the email stating that further delay was completely unwarranted and to please send a check for amount X to to address Y as soon as possible.  They email shouted back (choice sentences in bold) that I agreed to their wait and the amount was not X but half of that.  A lot of other bother about them being put upon by this whole insurance mess.

Apparently the annoying insurance company processed my claim and split it into three claims for unknown reasons.  Two of the split claims were allotted reimbursement funds.  Two checks.  Atlanta only claimed to have received one check.  So, again, I sent them all the relevant information (check number, mail date, amount) and I have yet to hear back.  Guh!  Don't they see that if they just send me my check for the entire amount I will never speak to them again?!?!  I spent the better part of that morning and afternoon ranting internally about how to crush them.  For reals.  I contemplated what regulatory body I could alert to certain practices that I know violated federal policies.  Then I realized that there was no way I was going to put that much effort into them for what would likely amount to nothing.  If they cared about federal policies they would abide by them.  And some patients are getting relief.  So good riddance.  As soon as I get my money anyway...


Nutritionist

Despite insurance being silly I've decided to see the nutritionist again out of pocket.  I get to eat whole grains now, provided they've been soaked and cooked for six hours or more.  Kind of like eating them pre-digested.  Congee is my new best friend.  Throw in some coconut aminos or miso paste and Bob's your uncle.  Delish.  And before you get going about Bob, it's a saying, not a statement about my uncle(s).  Cyclic fasting is going to be part of the plan as it is the only time I have complete relief of symptoms and sleep better.  I'm not thrilled with this but I can see the logic.  Will be starting my third fast today.

My computer has been acting up lately and I'm worried it is going to die soon.  It is, afterall, over six years old.  Pretty much the end of a computer's lifespan these days.  I conducted two backups yesterday on to two external hard drives.  And I found that not all of my pictures were where I thought they were.  Not sure how to get things off my phone and into a folder.  I researched a bit new computers and while chatting up Apple sales people realized some interesting things about my phone.  They work the cost of the phone into your monthly payments for the duration of your two year contract.  When your contract is up you can move to a new plan, upgrade your phone, or switch carriers.  The hitch is that they don't tell you that even though you've paid for the phone, they don't drop your bill to be what your plan really is.  You just keep paying the same amount until you join a new contract.  Luckily it has only been a few months since my contract was up so I haven't wasted oodles of money - yet.  Now I need to decide what to do about a computer and a phone.  And soonish.

Now that I'm more upright and mobile I'll need to slowly work in some exercise to build stamina.  My strained leg muscle that has been complaining since Feb of last year was getting pretty loud before I left work.  I didn't do anything about it because I wanted to see if the rest would make it happy once again.  Well it appears that all the rest in the world isn't going to change a thing.  I think it is actually worse for the wear.  I started seeing a physiatrist and he agrees it is likely not a bone thing and probably a muscle / tendon thing.  I got an MRI yesterday and hopefully that will shed some light on the issue.  Follow up is next week and so here's hoping that he's got an easy answer!

I found some specialty grocery stores in Everett that cater to my weird food issues and was pleased to see the prices are much better than Seattle.  Sadly, the 50-odd mile round trip makes the casual stop-in not really cost effective.  One of them offers fun, cheap classes and I signed up for one to make kombucha.  My favorite brand is Communitea but the process is the same.

I'm kitty sitting for some friends this week.  I stop by once a day and I learned very quickly that I have lost all kitty immunity I once had from living with Sugar.  My eyes start itching within a few minutes and I can even feel that my breathing is different.  Not pleasant.  I'm not ready to take on a cat again and I really don't want to take allergy shots every week.  For now, it means that my visits are shorter and I spend more time outside of the house watering plants than inside playing with the kitties.  I feel a bit guilty but at least there are two kitties so they keep each other company.  And I just have to remember to wash my hands profusely after giving them attention.  First world problems, I know.