These Days

We are back from our trip to Montana--our trip home meant three days in a rented minivan--but turns out we will have to make yet another trip there in the near future. Though we flew out and drove back, a return trip will likely mean driving there and back, six days in the car altogether. Doesn't that sound fun? 

Part of the difficulty of driving long distances centers around my knee, which I am still doing physical therapy to try to help treat. (In fact, I had PT yesterday and my knee is pretty sore today.) Even though we stop every sixty to ninety minutes to get out of the car and walk around or stretch for a few minutes, my knee gets stiff and swollen after a few hours. I wear compression stockings pretty much every day now and it helps some, but it can still be pretty uncomfortable. My knee is getting better, but it's slow going. Apparently that is the way it goes with knees. The physical therapist suggests lots more movement than I am currently getting and working throughout the full range of motion even if it's uncomfortable or even slightly painful. The worst thing to do is nothing. (There's a life lesson.)

I wrote that a few days ago.

Today I had to see the useless nurse practitioner and also write a claims appeal to the insurance company to get them to cover my surgery. Yes, that is still ongoing. They paid out a few pennies and I'm seeking to have a larger portion of the claim paid. Of course it's a fucking uphill battle. It always is with insurance companies. I spent four hours writing an appeals letter that we will fax and email to them tomorrow.  

I wrote that day before yesterday....I think. 

Got my flu shot and my brain is a bit fuzzy.  I'm tired. Could be because my iron levels are low.  Could be menopause. Could be the sciatic nerve pain I've been dealing with for a week now. Could be that I spent about five hours crafting a claims appeal letter to the insurance company.  Dave did a lot of work on it, too, as well as the important part of sending it.  He both emailed and faxed it. So now we wait. 

A very light rain is falling right. It's nice.  Something to be grateful for.