OH, Melinda, I wasn't meaning for you to bail totally on Megan.  I know
she needs you right now and your help, but you also do have to be kind
to yourself in order to truly be there for Megan and everyone else you
are always so willing to help.   Just please be kind to yourself too!!!

I hear you about the poor healthcare for so many.  I have to say that
while I was in the hospital for a that month (january) right after my
stroke, I saw some very strong examples of both what good medicine can
look like and what very poor medicine can look like.  It truly can be
horrifying.   The other thing I truly find disturbing in the medical
profession is the doctors/health care providers who listen for about 2
seconds to someone and then decide they are just depressed, it's all in
their head, they are over reacting, they are faking it, etc.    That
still goes on far too much and it seems as if when ever a doctor doesn't
have a clear cut picture of something or can't figure out what the
problem is, then they just label the patient as depressed or tell them
it's all in their head or some other nonsense.   I hate that.   I'd
rather see a doctor admit they just plain don't know that to start
throwing labels at people.   To me they are just plain being lazy when
they start doing that.     Ugggh----sorry about the little rant, but I
have seen way to many people at the hands of health care professionals
like that.

In any case, Melinda, you know you are always in our hearts and prayers
and I know you will sort this all out and get Megan to a better spot.  I
guess I just worry about you too and pray that you take care of youself
some as well.

Blessings to you dear friend!

Donna G.
.
.
.
ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we call
them FRIENDS......

seriously, do report this clinic to everyone under the sun.  Taht is part of
making sure this doesn't happen to anyone else.  I've spent too much times
around the health care systems to beleive there was anything they did right,
esp. knowing a large percentage of the pop. is allergic to iodine and they
should *always* be on the lookout for reactions to it.  There are options
other than iodine, of course, but Megan may be too traumatized by this to
even consider an epidural again.

I won't bother to echo you on the current health care delivery system - we
agree on enough social issues that it'll suffice to say I'm with you.  We're
blessed in this part of Michigan to have a really good sliding scale clinic
system.  It was started decades back, when there was more money for such
things, because this part of the state has been economically depressed ever
since the original timber stands gave out.  It's staffed mostly with recent
grads working here to help pay off their med school loans, but more doctors
are joining it later in life because they want to HELP.  It's reassuring.

Meanwhile, don't forget to call on your extensive support system of folks who
love you out there to help with all Megan is going through.  Naturally you
want to make everything right yourself as her mom, but you need to heal also.
Take care of yourself as well as Megan - you can do more when you are
healthier.  And I know you both have many people who love you and who want
the chance to help you all get through this.

and of course you will both be in my prayers.