Four Letter Word

Nathan is once again one sick dude. He first got sick in January for 2 months, when the doctors tried to diagnose him with asthma. This was not good, as the Air Force doesn't look too kindly on asthmatics. They kept giving him things for colds and congestion and asthma, and he didn't improve one bit. They finally tried an antibiotic. (Which I will maintain until my dying day they should have tried before even mentioning the career-ending word "asthma.") At this point, he got better, and I thought all was well. How wrong I was!

Maybe a month or two later, he got sick again. They told him he a cold, gave him some throat lozenges, and he suffered for 2 weeks until he improved. I came down with the same symptoms towards the end of his illness, but I actually have access to better medical care than him for the time being due to where we are living and the medical facilities that are available. I was diagnosed with some bacteria, given Amoxocillin, and got better within 24 hours. So I figured once again, the doctors Nathan sees appear to be gun-shy of the tried-and-true antibiotic, causing him to suffer needlessly.

Now, just a little bit after that, he is sick again. He went to the doctor right away this time (unusual for Nathan), and they diagnoses him with pharyngitis and gave him....an antibiotic!!! After the previous two experiences, I didn't think that was possible! So I had high hopes that he would feel better within a day or two. Well, 1 1/2 weeks have gone by, and he is sicker than ever. Which has me revisiting a theory from the first time he got sick--that four letter word known as MOLD.

Mold is rampant around here. I know a couple of people who have been moved into newer housing after mold was found in their homes, and I know a few more who had to live in hotels while the mold was remediated in theirs. The environment here is damp and warm, and the housing that most of us live in is ancient. It's a perfect breeding ground for the stuff. The management company is currently in the process of tearing down the old housing, but due to lead paint and asbestos (did I mention these houses are old?), it is a complicated process that takes time. In the meantime, they have us living in these mold-traps.

Back in January, I did request a mold test. Some guy came in with a meter that reads (I think) moisture behind the walls. He tested every room high and low and said this is one of the cleanest homes he had seen, and I was relieved. Well, come to find out, this is this the management's guy, so it is definitely in their best monetary interest to find no mold. And I talked to a friend who experienced exactly what Nathan is right now. She said they told her the exact same thing when she had a mold test done, and she didn't believe them. So she opened up a wall somehow and found...you guessed it! Mold! So they were moved into the newer housing and her family is now healthy.

This leads me to be very suspicious and I'm currently wondering what I can do about it. I will be giving Ashley a call to see how on earth she opened up a wall and didn't get in trouble for it. If I requested a move to newer housing, the office actually has to move us, but it will cost us $500. Which we desperately need for other things. If they do find mold, they waive that fee. If it comes to it, we may have to pony up the cash--Nathan can't live another 9 months like this. It is just so frustrating.

And because I can't help myself, I'm going to throw a little politics into this as well. Nathan's main form of health care at the DLI is a small clinic that mainly prescribes 800 mg strength ibuprofen and sends you out the door. They are not equipped to handle many of the most basic situations. Everyone here who has ever been to this clinic leaves frustrated, and many resort to cheating the system. The clinic is closed on weekends, so if you need care, you can go to the 24-hour civilian clinic Doctors on Duty. Even though it is still a clinic, they are better at actually giving you medical care. It's where I had to go when I was sick with that random bacteria, and I was quite impressed. The problem is, this route is filled with bureaucracy and red tape. Imagine that--bureaucracy and red tape within a government organization. ;)

This, my friends, is government health care. Am I grateful to have coverage? You betcha! However, I actually preferred the coverage I had when working as a teacher. Sure, it required a whole $20 co-pay (we pay nothing now), but the level of care you got was worth it. It is sad that the care the government gives is so poor that our military members have to resort to waiting 'til the weekend to see a civilian doctor. You really do get what you pay for!