Kyrie, this is such a courageous, grounded piece. I'm so sorry you were let down so often by the effed up medical system. Sending love and prayers that 2024 will be so, so much better.
Trying to find the funny in a situation like this takes courage. It sounds like you have that in abundance. It also sounds like you've encountered many donkey-ish doctors, but I hope a few get your humor. The way a body can go full betrayal on its owner is absurd, after all. Doctors need to work on their jokes.
I feel they are as constrained by our weird insurance system as well, so I get it, but super frustrating and needs to change. I've heard so many stories similar to mine now. Also thank you for reading :D
Oh hi Kyrie! I’m so sorry to know what you’re going through. But I’m sure you’ll put every inch of cancer into Jane Austen’s Wastebasket while Guffawing your way through it. We’ll that was a lame way to make you laugh. But it’s so difficult to hear this! Take care and I wish you all the best with your health. Take care! Loads of good health to you ❤️
I am so sorry to hear your story. Where did we ever get the quaint idea that doctors are gods? I hope you continue looking for the funny and I hope you find it. It may be the strongest antidote at your command.
Kyrie, it was an excellent, eloquent, and yes, funny post. It’s mind-blogging how incompetent our healthcare system is given how much extra we pay compared to the rest of the world. I’m convinced our healthcare system is one big wealth extraction machine and the people who get into medicine don’t intend for it to be, but administration makes it that way.
I too had a similar, albeit much, much more mild false negative experience in recent years. I thought I had sleep apnea. Took a test in 2021, came back negative. All good. But over the past 2.5 years, my daily exhaustion, my physical aches, my headaches, my body has all gotten worse. I caught Bird Flu in 2020 and that can leave you with narcolepsy, so doctors were taking about that. Then we started thinking Long COVID or ME/CFS. A few years go by and I woke up in the middle of the night gasping for air a couple weeks ago. I checked the statistics at the NIH and found sleep study error rates are nearly 1 in 5. For how much we pay? That’s insane.
Two and a half years cutting through all the red tape only to wind up right where I started—sleep apnea—all thanks to a false negative. It’s an absolute mess and I don’t envy you for having to navigate it going forward.
I’m so sorry to hear what you’re going through. Sincerely. I’m here if you need to reach out privately and I’ll be looking forward to more updates and posts.
I went to Greece last year and medical treatment was quick, easy, and affordable. $50 to see a specialist, psychiatrist, neurologist (I was thinking CFS at the time), didn’t matter. I was also able to schedule all my appointments same-day: no wait times. Medication for sleep cost me $1.90 instead of the $88.40 it costs in America.
The whole system was simplified.
I’m not sure if this might be an option for you but it was extremely helpful for me, so I figured I’d throw it out there just in case it gets any of the wheels turning. I can’t figure out why I’ll ever pay more money for more incompetence again.
Thank you so much for your kind comment, and I'm so sorry you also got let down by the medical screening system. My partner has sleep apnea and it's no joke, so I'm glad it was (eventually) caught. I am super lucky that this year my insurance is till cheap, and covers quite a lot. But I'd def try to travel in future if I had another pressing issue I needed.
Hey there Kyrie. Thank you for sharing. I am so sorry to hear what you went through to get diagnosed and of course so sorry that you got the bastard cancer.
No matter how many times I hear it I cannot believe how fucked your health system is.
I wish you all the very best with getting that book written and published.
Thank you for writing about your experience. It's impossible to know the impact you are having by doing so. I was dx in 2019 and it is an arduous journey of the body and soul. How did the mitts work for you? And were you tested for BRCA? I'm sure you've been told, wow you're so young! I was also 33 at diagnosis and I have Lynch Syndrome (like BRCA but for colon and abdominal cancers). And gosh I hate to read about the US medical system. I am rooting for you. And I love your writing. (Also, cancer is kind of hilarious, like oooh I'm a super special cell that needs to be everywhere! No, you're boring and toxic and no one invited you to my party. Now die!)
Hey Kathleen! Thank you so much for your kind words, and also, the mitts did work when I remembered to put them in freezer night before (chemo brain is real. No sign of the BRCA gene, just bad luck it seems. Hear you on the young front, most others are in 60s or older in the infusion room. So grateful that years of research has produced more meds so there are more options. How are you faring today?
COLD mittens?? What are ya-- crazy?? Put 'em by the woodstove for 10 minutes before you put 'em on-- that's what I do 'cause I'm SMART... 💪🤓
OK, now that we've got THAT outta the way... We knew you were courageous because you publish a humor mag-- what takes guts in this somber, oh-so-serious world. But a cancer survivor who's been thru the mill?? Jeez, even the Cowardly Lion wasn't willing to go THAT far... 🦁👎
Heard an interesting homily this morning-- about vocations. How we all have them, and how they morph and change at different stages of our lives. And how they're best viewed as ADVENTURES. Which jibes with your attitude, I think, at least on some level.
Glad you spilled the traumatic beans so I can put you on my prayer list. Maybe you'll think that's funny. But you'll be on there from now on-- so I guess the joke's on you. Hang in there. 👍💪🙏😊
The lack of appointments without referrals is upsetting. It is important that you wrote about this. The post was eloquent. If it has not been edited much after posting, then it was always eloquent.
I'm glad you were seen earlish. And it was treated. My husband and I chose to laugh about his stage 4 prostate cancer. The only time I cry strangely, is in the oncologist's office. He is on hormone therapy and immediately began to have hot flashes. There was lots of fodder there. At a sibling dinner, I wasn't feeling well and laid down on the couch. He wanted to relax on the couch too and I said I would make room. He said, I'll come amd lie on top of you! I said,What's the point? You can't do anything! We laughed. His siblings were horrified. I guess they didn't find it funny. There are so many others. All the places hair disappears first for one. Our man friends said....all I have to do to get rid of nose hair is have chemo? Yes! But it ages you horribly. I'm well aware how horrific cancer can be and am not trying to downplay the seriousness of it but there are times when wringing your hands just doesn't help.
Kyrie, this is such a courageous, grounded piece. I'm so sorry you were let down so often by the effed up medical system. Sending love and prayers that 2024 will be so, so much better.
Thank you for your kind words, Amy :D
Thank you for everything you write—the humor, and about this incredibly tough situation. Sending love and support.
Thank you, Sara :)
Trying to find the funny in a situation like this takes courage. It sounds like you have that in abundance. It also sounds like you've encountered many donkey-ish doctors, but I hope a few get your humor. The way a body can go full betrayal on its owner is absurd, after all. Doctors need to work on their jokes.
I feel they are as constrained by our weird insurance system as well, so I get it, but super frustrating and needs to change. I've heard so many stories similar to mine now. Also thank you for reading :D
What a couple of years you’ve had and thanks so much for sharing what you’ve been going through. Sending love ❤️
Thank you, Julie!
Sending hugs, Kyrie. So many hugs. Healing hugs, funny hugs, loving hugs.
Appreciate the digital funny hugs, Lisa :D
Oh hi Kyrie! I’m so sorry to know what you’re going through. But I’m sure you’ll put every inch of cancer into Jane Austen’s Wastebasket while Guffawing your way through it. We’ll that was a lame way to make you laugh. But it’s so difficult to hear this! Take care and I wish you all the best with your health. Take care! Loads of good health to you ❤️
I try :D Thank you for reading, Sravani!
I am so sorry to hear your story. Where did we ever get the quaint idea that doctors are gods? I hope you continue looking for the funny and I hope you find it. It may be the strongest antidote at your command.
It's certainly helped, I think, and I will continue to try and find the funny. :D Thank you for reading, Don!
Kyrie, it was an excellent, eloquent, and yes, funny post. It’s mind-blogging how incompetent our healthcare system is given how much extra we pay compared to the rest of the world. I’m convinced our healthcare system is one big wealth extraction machine and the people who get into medicine don’t intend for it to be, but administration makes it that way.
I too had a similar, albeit much, much more mild false negative experience in recent years. I thought I had sleep apnea. Took a test in 2021, came back negative. All good. But over the past 2.5 years, my daily exhaustion, my physical aches, my headaches, my body has all gotten worse. I caught Bird Flu in 2020 and that can leave you with narcolepsy, so doctors were taking about that. Then we started thinking Long COVID or ME/CFS. A few years go by and I woke up in the middle of the night gasping for air a couple weeks ago. I checked the statistics at the NIH and found sleep study error rates are nearly 1 in 5. For how much we pay? That’s insane.
Two and a half years cutting through all the red tape only to wind up right where I started—sleep apnea—all thanks to a false negative. It’s an absolute mess and I don’t envy you for having to navigate it going forward.
I’m so sorry to hear what you’re going through. Sincerely. I’m here if you need to reach out privately and I’ll be looking forward to more updates and posts.
I went to Greece last year and medical treatment was quick, easy, and affordable. $50 to see a specialist, psychiatrist, neurologist (I was thinking CFS at the time), didn’t matter. I was also able to schedule all my appointments same-day: no wait times. Medication for sleep cost me $1.90 instead of the $88.40 it costs in America.
The whole system was simplified.
I’m not sure if this might be an option for you but it was extremely helpful for me, so I figured I’d throw it out there just in case it gets any of the wheels turning. I can’t figure out why I’ll ever pay more money for more incompetence again.
Kick ass and keep publishing.
Thank you so much for your kind comment, and I'm so sorry you also got let down by the medical screening system. My partner has sleep apnea and it's no joke, so I'm glad it was (eventually) caught. I am super lucky that this year my insurance is till cheap, and covers quite a lot. But I'd def try to travel in future if I had another pressing issue I needed.
Hey there Kyrie. Thank you for sharing. I am so sorry to hear what you went through to get diagnosed and of course so sorry that you got the bastard cancer.
No matter how many times I hear it I cannot believe how fucked your health system is.
I wish you all the very best with getting that book written and published.
Thank you, Emma ❤️
Thank you for writing about your experience. It's impossible to know the impact you are having by doing so. I was dx in 2019 and it is an arduous journey of the body and soul. How did the mitts work for you? And were you tested for BRCA? I'm sure you've been told, wow you're so young! I was also 33 at diagnosis and I have Lynch Syndrome (like BRCA but for colon and abdominal cancers). And gosh I hate to read about the US medical system. I am rooting for you. And I love your writing. (Also, cancer is kind of hilarious, like oooh I'm a super special cell that needs to be everywhere! No, you're boring and toxic and no one invited you to my party. Now die!)
Hey Kathleen! Thank you so much for your kind words, and also, the mitts did work when I remembered to put them in freezer night before (chemo brain is real. No sign of the BRCA gene, just bad luck it seems. Hear you on the young front, most others are in 60s or older in the infusion room. So grateful that years of research has produced more meds so there are more options. How are you faring today?
I just read this now. Not sure what to say or do except sent you lots of good wishes and hoping life isn't too rough right now...
Hey David! I'm doing as well as anyone could hope :D good days bad days but more good days at moment.
That's good to hear. Cancer is a bitch. Wishing you many more good days and the necessary strength and courage for the bad days. You rock! ❤️
COLD mittens?? What are ya-- crazy?? Put 'em by the woodstove for 10 minutes before you put 'em on-- that's what I do 'cause I'm SMART... 💪🤓
OK, now that we've got THAT outta the way... We knew you were courageous because you publish a humor mag-- what takes guts in this somber, oh-so-serious world. But a cancer survivor who's been thru the mill?? Jeez, even the Cowardly Lion wasn't willing to go THAT far... 🦁👎
Heard an interesting homily this morning-- about vocations. How we all have them, and how they morph and change at different stages of our lives. And how they're best viewed as ADVENTURES. Which jibes with your attitude, I think, at least on some level.
Glad you spilled the traumatic beans so I can put you on my prayer list. Maybe you'll think that's funny. But you'll be on there from now on-- so I guess the joke's on you. Hang in there. 👍💪🙏😊
Traumatic beans suck but it finally felt like time to share, since it's a part of my life now. :D Thanks for reading and your kind words, Mark.
The lack of appointments without referrals is upsetting. It is important that you wrote about this. The post was eloquent. If it has not been edited much after posting, then it was always eloquent.
I'm so sorry you've been going through this, and am sending my best possible wishes for some heartening results from your next scans. <3
Thank you for your story.
I'm glad you were seen earlish. And it was treated. My husband and I chose to laugh about his stage 4 prostate cancer. The only time I cry strangely, is in the oncologist's office. He is on hormone therapy and immediately began to have hot flashes. There was lots of fodder there. At a sibling dinner, I wasn't feeling well and laid down on the couch. He wanted to relax on the couch too and I said I would make room. He said, I'll come amd lie on top of you! I said,What's the point? You can't do anything! We laughed. His siblings were horrified. I guess they didn't find it funny. There are so many others. All the places hair disappears first for one. Our man friends said....all I have to do to get rid of nose hair is have chemo? Yes! But it ages you horribly. I'm well aware how horrific cancer can be and am not trying to downplay the seriousness of it but there are times when wringing your hands just doesn't help.