ambulance and emergency vehicles, it set them back quite a while. Anyway, once we got in to see the young man who goes through the results with you, I found that, as usual, my diabetes was well under control. However, my doctor came in to see me and said the government were recommending everyone over 50 should have shingles shots. However, they are $170 a shot and the government is not paying for them, not even for senior seniors. She and others are lobbying about this she told us. It turns out that our own insurance does cover the injection to the tune of $150 per person so we decided to go ahead. We then had to go to their pharmacy, get the medication (another 20 minutes or so) and then the pharmacist gave the stuff to the nurse who did it right away as there is a 20 minute window for its use, I guess it is refrigerated. I am just glad that I had the shot in my left arm as its hurting, might have stopped me bowling!!! Matt, typically, is fine. So, by the time we had finished, we had been in the clinic for 2 hours. Not how we wanted to spend the afternoon.Actually, I had noticed a lot more about shingles on TV lately and I know people who have had it. Apparently if you have ever had chicken pox you have the shingles virus in you and it can flare up at any time, particularly when you are older. I certainly have had chicken pox, when I was about 10, I got it because one of the girls in our dormitory came back to school having been at home with her mother who had shingles and we all got chicken pox from that. Matt also had chicken pox many years ago. From everything I hear, shingles is extremely painful and recently there has been a lot more of it occurring for some reason. I can’t believe the government are recommending it but not paying for it.
This morning I have another appointment with the specialist the gastroenterologist I saw a while back – he did my endoscopy. Today is just a follow up. I seem to be running around in medical circles lately.
I see our beloved mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford, is playing up again. He has been videoed drunk once more and people are again calling for his resignation. He has had all his powers taken from him, but I suppose he is still getting paid and I understand he cannot be fired. I don’t pretend to fully understand why. Just because he is elected. If he is an incompetent, drug taking, drunk, they should be able to kick him out. But it can’t be done and he won’t go. Grrrr. What an embarrassment for the city. What an embarrassment for the country.
This doesn’t sound like a bad way to use up chicken and would be a quick evening meal I think. That is assuming you have the ingredients. I found this on Cooking.com
Grands!® Fiesta Chicken Casserole
Source: Pillsbury® Grands! ®Active Time: 10 Minutes
Total Time: 55 Minutes
6 servings
Turn leftover chicken into a tasty dinner in a family-pleasing casserole featuring Grands!® biscuits.
INGREDIENTS
1 can (16.3 ounces) Pillsbury® Grands!® Homestyle refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1/2 cup Old El Paso® Thick 'n Chunky salsa
1 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup sliced ripe olives, drained (if desired)
DIRECTIONS
Cut each biscuit into eight pieces; toss with salsa to coat.
Spread in greased 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish; sprinkle with remaining ingredients.
Bake at 375 degrees F 35 to 40 minutes or until edges are deep golden brown and center biscuit pieces are no longer doughy. Let stand 15 minutes. Serve with additional salsa, if desired.
Have a great day
Good to hear your diabetes is well controlled. Interesting about the shingles injection. I was reading about it in our local newspaper this morning. Same deal as yours with the government recommending and not subsidising it - and with our current government unlikely to. It's dearer here too but I'll check with my private health insurance which I keep up although we have good government cover here for most things. It means you don't end up on public waiting lists which are sometimes lengthy. Even though the injection apparently doesn't ensure you won't get shingles it lessens the effects and, as I know people who have ended up in hospital in excruciating pain with it, we'll probably get it done for that reason.
ReplyDeleteLuckily our private insurance is as a consequence of Matt's job, he is still covered. Government is usually good for such things.
DeleteYes, excruciating pain is what I have heard too.
Hi Jo .. yes glad to read your diabetes is under control. I think they're recommending we have the shingles jab here too .. but I'm not good at complying! My mother had shingles and it is very nasty ... she had it in the 80s before the new treatments were available.
ReplyDeleteI hope your pain goes away .. but glad you were able to get bowling and thus take your mind off it ...
The Toronto mayor is a pain isn't he .. to put it mildly! Idiot.
Using left overs is a good thing .. waste not want not ... and I love chicken muck ups as we call them! Cheers Hilary
I hadn't heard there was an injection until yesterday. I would have thought you would be first on the list having seen your mother go through it. My arm is still aching today, not bad though.
DeleteMore than an idiot I think.
Yeah, I like muck ups too.
Toronto's mayor is insane. Why is he still in office?
ReplyDeleteI've had shingles before. Not fun.
I don't know why he is still in office. It's a disgrace.
DeleteNo, so I understand. Maybe you should get the injection, you can have it more than once.
Ford has made the internet better. That video of him shoving that lady down is priceless. He is, of course, insane.
ReplyDeleteAnd I've had the Chicken Pox. My mother had shingles a few years ago too. It was uncomfortable for her, but not as bad as it could have been.
You could be right Rusty. I haven't seen that video. Must look for it.
DeleteSo maybe you should get the injection. I'm glad your mom's was only uncomfortable.
Waiting 2 hours is a shame and that would have been me - wait 2 hours and walk out just as they call my name. I'm very impatient. I hate shots of any kind. Sounds like you have everything under control. Be well!
ReplyDeleteMe too, I was thinking I would do that. I don't like shots either, but would rather have one, very painless, than have shingles.
Delete