Beam me up, Scotty

Life moves along. I wait for my coffee, the shower, meals. TV is boring, books keep me distracted and the internet remains too addictive. It is all a waiting game with the Big Countdown. I'm past the halfway mark and accept the fact I won't be returning to my beloved Pilates for a long time; the majority of movements require your arms so even yoga is out. Muscles are atrophying quickly and I've also accepted I'll just never have Michele Obama arms. I did sign up a personal trainer to maintain lower body strength and have started walking on flat surfaces as much as possible. There is the big buildup to the dreaded lung CT scan and unecessary anxiety rears its ugly head.

CT scans are creepy. My lung CT was done the same day media reported the gross radiographic exposure from one CT (inciting unnecessary cancers from overexposure - further research 29k/72M) and I am now on my 3rd with a 4th likely. The procedure seems benign however when you are inside the machine you are ready to say 'beam me up Scotty' - a revolving scanner rotates around you humming like a whirling dervish. One's vulnerability during ongoing diagnosis diminishes seeking the wisdom of physician's orders, however it all gets down to cost vs. benefit in both $ and health. The shoulder CT eliminated surgery, which has significant health implications especially too many days post injury (1st Dr. error in delay). The lung CT will diagnose cancer, fibrosis or bronchiolitis (the 2 former were negative, amen) and the latter did show inflammation in all lung fields. I'm consulting with a pulmonologist later and this is likely due to the auto immune issue I have, and certainly resolvable. Another amen.

Major debate exists on both the cost of CT machines, reputed to be 30 to 40% more in the US vs. Europe and Asia, and those ordered per capita. Statistics are too easy to quote and I understand there are many variables, yet I do have EXPERIENCE on the healthcare numbers game. More equipment means more tests means more $$$ for business and physicians (if they have a personal investment in scanners/business models). I have nothing against reinvested corporate profit, however when it comes at consumer expense in unnecessary tests increasing ROI that may be unnecessary thus ultimately raising insurance premiums - then I have a problem. You see...you the consumer ultimately pay regardless of how you look at regulation. Because when you are sick, and you don't know how the system works, and somebody tells you a CT scan is necessary (whether it is or not), I GUARANTEE you, you will acquiesce. I did. Our insurance premiums were just raised again for the 6th time in 5 years, with lesser coverage and I have a pre-existing diagnosis. Treasure your health, be thankful for employer sponsored healthcare if you have it, and support health care reform.