I live in the middle of nowhere, high up on a mountain where, if you cannot drive any longer, you are completely isolated and at the "mercy" of friends. Granted my friends are not nor should they be responsible for getting me to the doctor. There is a bus where on MOnday's and Fridays only between 10-11 wll take me to appointments
I now have added an eye doctor to the melee and also need to begin to see an ENT re: the Sjogrens. I can tell you now, I won't be going to any new doctors. In fact I have to somehow weed out some of my existing appointments. This week I will find out if I have glaucoma....that will be the determining factor in whether or not I continue to see him. I know it's important. It just may be impossible. I am also due for a dentist visit. Then every month is my infusion..And on top of that is the pain management doc.Can that be optional?? Right now it is not.
"FRiends " are giving me attitude --I know it's not their responsibility.....I am inches from giving up. I may just say "Screw all the doctors...Let the chips fall where they may. And just stay home from now on.
I live in a rural area at the end of a logging road too. We have a charity in our town that arranges rides for people to get to appointments. Is there such a charity in your area? Ours is called Champlain Agency on Aging. Yours would probably be called something similar. I find "friends" are more willing and less put upon if I greet each of their favors with one of my own that I can do: a casserole, cookies, accepting a pkg from UPS for them, watching their children for an afternoon, you get the idea. We can all contribute something and I feel less like I am using them if I am also contributing. Give it a think and I'll bet you can also think of a way to repay their kindness and they will be helpful for longer.
Depending on your insurance you may qualify for rides through an agency that provides this service through public health insurance such as DSHS or SSI/SSA . This is something that I was pleased to find out I qualified for as I do not drive due to glaucoma issues also and I live in an area that is thirty miles from my Reumy and 20 from my Derm. I was lucky to have this choice offered to me as my insurance covers this service.
The agency in my area is called Mobile Services and they do list an 800 number.
Thank you for the cogent suggestions. I will try to think of something I can offer my friends. I can't really bake much anymore...I used to bake loaves of whole grain breads. Maybe if I can purchase a used bread machine, I might be able to do that again. I used to make handcrafted greeting cards..however can no longer do that either. I will have to call my insurance company to see if they will cover anything...
As I mentioned above, I can take a bus from the Transportation Dept in our county on Monday and Friday...However the appointment slot needs to be between 10-11:00 AM in order to use the bus. If I could schedule appointments I know about three or four months in advance,, I may have a better chance at getting the bus to take me.
When my friends take me I cover the gas and often will spring for lunch as well. I do what I can...however doors keep closing....both in my abilities and in people's situations....many of my friends have now gone back to work as their kids are no longer in school.
Thanks for the advice...I will bear it in mind.