August 23, 2018, 3:30 p.m. After my appointment with Dr. Prabaharan, it was only 3:11 p.m.; so I went back to the first floor to Member Services. I checked in and waited to be called. A short woman with a thick mane of curly red hair appeared and took me back to her office. As…
Author: Jacquie
I am a wife, mother, grandmother, pet co-parent, web designer, copy editor, type 2 diabetic, migraineur, and chronic pain warrior. In seeking to reverse diabetes, I have become in search of healing for myself and my family.
Appointment with New PCP
August 23, 2018, 2:45 p.m. I liked it that my appointment with my new PCP was only 2 miles away from home (instead of 10+ miles to Alameda). I did not like it that there is no wi-fi or cell phone coverage inside the Kaiser building. I checked in a half hour early, anticipating that…
The Lyrica Saga
By the end of June, I had successfully obtained all the medications I had calculated I would need for the month of July. The only change I made was to change the original order to take 2 capsules 3 times a day to taking 3 capsules 2 times a day. It’s just too hard to…
Pain Physical Therapy #5
August 10, 2018, 2:30 p.m. It was nice to see Francis again. We talked the entire time! Sometimes I think he is more of a psychotherapist than a physical therapist! But he is both. (Because I’m writing this in retrospect, three days after the session, I may not remember all or many of the details….
Individual Acupuncture Therapy #4
August 9, 2018, 1:30 p.m. It has been more than a month since my last acupuncture appointment. Paul confirmed that today is session #4. We talked while he got the treatment chair ready. I reminded him that we had gone on a 28-day cross-country road trip. He asked what was the most fun part of…
Follow-up Phone Appointment with Pain Pharmacist #4
August 8, 2018, 10 a.m. I wonder if it will be John Poon or Danny Luu or someone completely different! It was John today, and he confirmed that it was Danny who called me last week. I told John the same things that I told Danny last week, and he looked at my pharmacy record…
Unexpected call from Pain Pharmacist
August 2, 2018 I don’t always answer calls on my landline that I can see are from Kaiser because it’s usually just a notification that my refill request has been approved and shipped. But I chose to answer this call. He identified himself by name and that he was calling from Dr. Kalra’s office regarding…
Individual Acupuncture Therapy #3
June 25, 2018, 1:30 p.m. I feel a bit differently now that I know my time with Paul Simon (or any individual acupuncturist) is limited to 10 sessions. Today is session #3. This is the last acupuncture session before our road trip, and presumably #4 will be in August. So if I spread out the…
Follow-up Phone Appointment with Pain Pharmacist #3
June 14, 2018, 12:15 p.m. John called two hours early! My appointment was for 2:30 p.m. and he called at 12:15 p.m.! Good thing I was already sitting at my desk. I told him that I had not yet increased to the final dosage of 2 capsules 3 times a day, and he said that…