(gasp..sputter..breathe) Please excuse the mess as I melt down and scream and maybe spit a little. It's not pretty around here today, but it's real. If you're not into that.......I don't really blame you. I'm officially losing it here. I cried on the phone a little bit hysterically today. Okay, more than a bit.
It's about the ice again. You didn't really think we were done discussing ice did you? hahhahahhahhahahahahahahahahahahha you crack me up! You're even funnier than I thought you were, and you know how I love you.
It's been 3 weeks since I dropped the papers off at the doctor's office. I just need him to write "The kid eats non-food stuff. Give him ice." It's not hard. I'll even write it for him.
#3 has a history of eating hard non-digestible objects when he gets nervous and should be allowed to always have ice on hand to chew as needed.Then the doctor could sign it. I could give it to the school. The temporary ice arrangement would be made permanent and we could all go home happy. But it doesn't work that way in real life.
In real life I dropped the form off at the doctor's office with a friendly little note explaining what I needed and thanked him for his help and paid the $15 paperwork fee. Could they fax it to me? They could? That would be aces!
The nurse called me back. After hours. I missed the call. She didn't leave a number so when I called back IMMEDIATELY I got the answering service. I left a message. Can I just take a moment to say that I like the nurse, but she has a made up name I don't know how to say and she doesn't have a name tag that I've ever seen so I just call and say "I need to speak with Dr B's nurse Anf(mumble)nette." Somehow they always know who I mean, but she's never there. I get her answering machine. Beep. 7 times in 3 weeks. Beep.
Today I got hold of her. They can't just write the order. He hasn't been to the doctor since May. ( I thought this was progress. It seems to be a problem. Silly me.) Can I have the psychologist he's been regularly seeing fax her paperwork through to the doctor and he'll write the letter.........for ice............I just want to point that out again.............for ice...........
He hasn't seen the shrink since May either when she declared that he would be fine until school started as he had made such progress. We agreed. Apparently that was dumb, because now she doesn't feel comfortable calling the doctor to tell him to write the letter to tell the school to give my boy ice.
The doctor has to see him first. We have to go in on Monday to see the doctor so that he can say "yes he still chews stuff" (which the school already knows!!!!!!!!!!!) so that we can get him ice.
it's just ice.
So I sat on the phone in the car, in front of my children, talking to the nurse and sobbed incoherently
heatelegosdoyourememberthatheatelegosandhewasinthehospitalandtheywantedtocuthimopenandtheythreatenedtocuthimopenbuttheydecidednotto (deep breath) andalllhereallyneedaisjustacupoficebecauseit'sjustacupoficeit'sfrozenwaterandIdon'tunderstandtheproblemwithsayingheneedsice (and the spit started flying here...dang I'm hot)
"Ma'am. I understand all of that, but Dr B just can't take the responsibility of prescribing a treatment for a patient he hasn't seen since May. The legal liability of that would just be horrendous."
what? legal what? are you freaking kidding me? I NEED THIS DUMB PAPER IN MY HAND BY LUNCHTIME ON TUESDAY AND YOU'RE CALLING ME TODAY AFTER YOU'VE HAD THREE WEEKS?!?! AND YOU'RE WORRIED I'M GOING TO SUE YOU IF HE HAS SOME KIND OF ICE ACCIDENT? WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
We have an appointment Monday. Two actually. One to realize that my kid needs ice and one to decide what kind of valium cocktail to serve to his mother.
I'm pretty sure at this point that it would be easier to score drugs for my kid than to get him a legal cup of ice.
15 comments:
OH my gosh... I AM SO SORRY about this. Our healthcare system has gone absolutely haywire... and so have our schools.
Prayers, sweet mama.
Oh my goodness. That is seriously nuts! I taught 3rd grade, and if I had a child eating random items, I would have hauled my butt down to the teachers lounge and get the kid some ice!
I don't understand the disconnect here...
Also, if the doctor is concerned about being sued for an ice accident...wouldn't the school be worried about #3 choking on something even though they knew exactly what to do to prevent it and being sued by you??
Ugh. I will keep you and your family in my prayers!
What a travesty. There are times when I think our world doesn't really suck...and then a story like this smacks me upside the head to remind me that, yes, in a lot of ways, it still does.
By the way, you are now officially known as "aka The Font Queen".
How is this even possible in a normal universe???? Oh wait, I forgot... everyone has gone INSANE!!!!!
I commend you for not doing anything rash.
I don't know if I could take it.
You are my hero for not taking them all out.
Bad words. Very bad words.
...and Common Sense has just officially left the building!
For Pete's sakes.
I'm going to adoration now. I'll put in a word for you guys.
Hang in there, sweetie.
My prediction is that his doctor will tell you 'ice is not a cure for his problem and could actually cause harm to his teeth, instead we have several drugs that will fix his problems'. I hope it goes well and you finally get your note... maybe you could just forge it? -Loretta
Oddly enough, students have nearly unlimited access to prophylactic devices in most public schools without anyone's consent. Sounds like you might have to seek a legislative mandate on the ice, though.
Seems to me that you should give the schools and the doctor exactly what they are afraid of: a lawsuit.
Jen in OK
more and more and more bad words
Guess you are going to find out how PATIENT YOU can be awaiting ICE!!!
more and more and more bad words
I better go to confesssion.
♥ Love you Mom ♥
My doctor prescribes heavy-duty hormone medication to me...through the mail...based on my request over the phone...without examining me. Things that require insurance companies to get involved. All the time. I know people who receive prescriptions for injectibles from doctors in another state, like it's nothing. This doctor is a wackjob. (You could also mention to him that next time he takes three weeks to respond to something and runs up against a deadline essential to your kid's health, you will have no choice but to report his negligence to the licensing board...but that's up to you.)
IT'S ICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My goodness, I cant believe the crap you are going through for ice!!! These folks have too much time on their hands!
What the . . .? It's freakin' ice! This is just plain nuts.
How unbelievably horrible. And for a simple, common sense, albeit temporary solution to a complex problem.
And what if #3 chews enough pencil erasers and metal eraser holders to land him in the lego situation? Because he couldn't have ice? Definately find your lawer..... definately keep advocating for him ......... and know that you are not alone in your struggle.... Will remember you at adoration tomorrow afternoon.
I invite you and everyone here to remember the DAILY struggles that the disabled face. We could all stand learn to advocate more for the less powerful among us.
Hugs and Prayers
Sara M
I want to get a bar license in your state and sue the Dr., the school, and the nurse for malpractice.
Just because well... it is about ice.
btw- I miss your posts at my blog. Which means I guess I have to start posting again, which is hard. But I am unemployed... so it should be easier.
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