Abundant blessings: when it rains, it pours

A few weeks ago, I was really sick. My pulmonologist dumped me as a patient, and I was now on a new quest searching for medical treatment. I visited a new hospital and was assigned new doctors. I was given business cards and told I could follow up with them. I chose the doctor who seemed to be the best. He was the chief pulmonologist at the hospital.

Due to the coronavirus, the new pulmonologist canceled all his appointments. He was doing only telemedicine calls. The process of getting a telemedicine appointment scheduled was a little chaotic since the doctor's office was closed. It took many phone calls, but eventually I was able to get an appointment.

During my virtual visit, the doctor asked about my ventilator settings. He actually knew what the numbers meant and had me change my settings to help with my breathing. Wow! No one has ever changed my vent settings since they were originally put in place by a pulmonologist in 2017.

Moreover, the doctor wanted to place me on an oral drug, but the drug is contraindicated if you have Mito. Before I knew it was contraindicated for Mito patients, I had taken the med in 2017. The drug made me very sick. Since then, I have been firm about never taking the drug again. I have had long battles with physicians over using this drug. (This was also one point of contention with my former pulmonologist.) But with my new pulmonologist, his medical assistant informed the doctor that the hospital pharmacist said the drug was contraindicated for people with Mito. The physician took note of it and decided not to prescribe it to me. Again, I was stunned! I did not have to argue my case about not wanting to take a highly toxic drug.

Since I am not feeling well, the pulmonologist also gave me to option of going back into the hospital or getting IV antibiotics at home. I asked to be treated at home. The doctor ordered IV antibiotics and said he would reassess me in a week to see how I was feeling. If I was still feeling poorly, I may need to come back into the hospital. I was shocked! My old pulmonologist refused to prescribe IV antibiotics. If I needed them, I had to see an infectious disease doctor or go to the hospital. But this new doctor was now prescribing me the meds I need!

Less than an hour after my telemedicine appointment ended, the infusion company called me. They had received the new IV antibiotic order. The representative said she could get it sent out via UPS and have it to me the next day. I was stunned and amazed. The infusion company has multiple locations. The main location is great. They are prompt and can get things done in an instant. But I usually deal with one of their satellite locations since I live closer to the satellite facility than I do to the main campus. The satellite location is disorganized. They also have a rule the first several deliveries of the medicine must be hand delivered. In the past, the deliveries often arrive between 10:30 p.m. and midnight. However, for some unknown reason, this time I was not dealing with the satellite location, but I was actually speaking to the main location! They do not have the rules about hand delivering the medicine. So, this means I will get my antibiotics in a timely fashion via UPS and will not have to wait up all night waiting for the delivery! Hallelujah!

"Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!" (Psalm 150)