Nice meeting some teammates on call!

Had a great visit with some of the National Team on the weekly conference call last night. I get more excited about this event every day. We have a really great group. It was on the call when someone mentioned Remicade that I realized I am WAY late for my infusion...DANG IT!!! This summer has been so busy and flown by so fast that I literally forgot about it and for some reason my Dr. office which is usually great about keeping me on track if I faulter...hasn't called me either. So I'll be making that appointment asap. I'm sure that not having it is the reason that I've been so tired and sore lately. Part of the reason it isn't done now is that I started a new plan year and apparently my insurance company has decided that people with Reumitoid Arthritis should take Humira instead of Remicade and thus that Remicade won't be fully covered any longer. I need to get them to understand that A) I don't have RA!!!! that isn't the only use for Remicade and B) there is medical evidence that suggests that switching BACK to Remicade after being off it for a period often renders it INEFFECTIVE C) there is NO medical reason for my switching a treatment that has helped me for years - ONLY a financial reason. D) if i try Humira and it DOESN"T work, there is a significant risk that REMICADE will no longer work either and THUS, my years of wellness could be seriously jeopardized by our CURRENT healthcare system. Now I don't want to get political here...my point is that ALREADY insurance and MONEY affects our healthcare...we need solutions and I'm not saying the government is the solution I'm just saying that anyone who thinks that insurance companies don't already make decisions about treatment - even at the anquish of physcians is crazy. It's always the bottom line. We need reform - not partisan reform...REFORM.

Anyway, after the call I went to the gym to run my 3 miles. It was really frustrating! First, I had no hair twisties in my locker...how in the world did that happen???!!!! I'll have to post a picture of my hair...lets just say if you can't tell from other photos - it's long and really thick and heavy. Running with it down instantly put a damper on the whole thing. It was super warm (90 degrees) and as noted above I've been feeling a little generally sluggish anyway. So I really took it easy and just got in the miles and called it done. I even walked part. I guess this is where we have to use our brain and not our heart. I really wanted to run...after the call I was even more amped up than ever for the training. It just wasn't to be. So I'm off now to fight with the insurance and stock my locker with twisties!!!

Good day to all!
jd