Yesterday I was speaking to a friend who has MRSA (I have Community MRSA). Besides feeling frustrated with the healthcare system in general he was also angry about how our country reacts to it and the horrible news stories that gloss over it. I wrote this to him and figured I'd share it with you:

I can relate to so much that you are going through. Working in the medical field has given me an inside look at what happens. Having Community MRSA has given me a way too close look at what happens to those who slip through the cracks. Once you have it it's no longer about cures or even combating it. It's about containment. It's the same with MRSA itself. The news stories don't jockey around the health condition, it's causes and possible cures. Instead they feed off of the publics fear and insatiable desire for sensationalism. Cue the thunder, cue the lightning, a flash of truth and the rest is bullshit. And Joe Public seems to eat every word, not wanting to know if there's more out there and not interested in if it's the truth.

On September 11, 2001 I had my fill of television. What started with the OJ trial ended with the WTC. I had finally had enough. After that I sought for my news online. Carefully, using foreign news sources and becoming more globally aware. News that was kept from American homes ran front page in other countries. I peeked in on what we were watching and it was pure garbage. 'Hard hitting' news shows were soft punching propaganda. Health stories were no more than gossip. And gossip pushed down real news to third or forth story. I no longer look to our nightly news for resources... and I can understand how exasperated you are.

A few years ago one of our doctors was in the very beginning phase of a link to brain tumors and a *possible* cure. It was a theory. No tests had been run. She published a paper touting the possibility so that tests could be run. The media had a slow news day and flipped through the New England Journal of Medicine and found her paper. Imagine our surprise (and her despair) that they were saying UCLA had a possible cure for brain cancer. My office fielded hundreds of calls a day. I spoke with dying patients, begging to be a test subject. I had to tell them no trials were even set up and it would be years before she would have any. I went home crying every night... still hearing the echoes of weeping patients and loved ones whose hopes were lifted... and then dashed all because some bastard couldn't find a real news story.

MRSA is a bitch. I just got over yet another cold and a staph infection in my nose. Yeah... I felt real sexy. Every day I fear someone will bring a cold into work. A 24 hour crud for them is a week (or more) of misery for me... all the while hoping it won't go into pneumonia again. *hugs again tighter* I'm here for you.

I wish... I spent Saturday in the Emergency Room, after not being able to lie down. I couldn't put any pressure on my head without shooting pain. I kept expecting to see a rod pierced through my skull when I looked in the mirror. The doctor did the usual examination, then walked passed me and yanked my ear. I almost jumped out of my chair. I yelped in pain and looked back at him. He had a slight grin on his face. Bastard. He explained afterwards that he needed to do that so that he would know what kind of infection he was dealing with. No pain meant inner ear. Oh Dear G-d no that hurts pain meant outer. He told me this while standing a safe distance away. Smart move. Six years of medical school and he uses slapstick to diagnose me.

As I was leaving he mentions that I may have MRSA. Back the surgical scrubs up... That is the kind of thing that hospitals dread. He said not to worry, that it's the OTHER kind of MRSA. Oh great, I may have the poor cousin of a health problem. He couldn't diagnose me without cultures, so I'm going to wait to speak with my doctor before completely losing what's left of my self control.

To the person who emailed me with a suggestion: Thank you so much. That was very kind of you. :)