shadowcrane91 said:I don't know... I was basically walking around with a key around my neck starting in first grade. I practically raised myself while my parents were at work... which is like, over 50% of my friend group.
So, to me, this stuff is totally normal.
But honestly, not much feels "normal" these days. For example: It seriously makes me sick when I see a 7, 8, or 9-year-old whose parents still have to tie their shoes or zip up their jackets for them.
Like, are you kidding me????
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My generation worked fine that way too, but you can't compare then to now. I know how much traffic there was back then versus how many cars are on the road today—it's a massive difference. And don't even get me started on anything else.
Look, I'm all for not raising kids to be helpless, and they definitely need to be encouraged to be more independent, but that doesn't mean letting them run around school unsupervised just because there's a risk of someone tripping in a pothole due to this kind of nonsense. If it were some unsolvable problem we just had to accept, fine, but here, it just takes a little bit of common sense and effort to organize things differently.
Besides, schools are educational institutions. They aren't babysitting services, but then again, it’s hardly reasonable to expect kids to just look after themselves, especially the little ones in elementary school.
Or maybe it’s better if some kid just picks her up at the park and starts bullying her while the parents aren't looking? Oh wait, that doesn't happen here. I was just scrolling through the Women's Empowerment Network and reading this thread where half the users were claiming they suffered verbal and psychological abuse from their peers back in the day—traumas they're still carrying around now. Most of them complain about being bullied and isolated during elementary school. Apparently, that was just "how things were" back then. Because clearly, kids today are all sunshine and rainbows and nobody bullies anyone in our schools anymore.
shadowcrane91 said:Can you point out a single place in my posts where I said I'd have a problem with religion class being during the opposite shift....????
I have zero issues with that.....
Take my first graders, for instance...... five of my kids take an elective computer lab taught by our teacher..... three of them don't stay for after-school care...... so they have a one-hour gap before computer lab and just hang out in the hallway..... and nobody's complaining.... everyone just dealt with it.
And how on earth do you know those kids went home and then came back for tech and PE??? Maybe the situation was such that for some families, it wasn't even worth the trip home.
This is just as pointless. They’re sitting there for an hour with zero supervision, just waiting around for computer class to start. 🤷
Wouldn't it be better if we just had a dedicated classroom with a teacher on staff specifically to handle this? Something like an after-school program setup, but during school hours. You’d have someone paid to sit there and focus entirely on the kids who are falling through the cracks. It doesn't need to be some massive logistical nightmare. Just give them a small classroom and one staff member to keep an eye on them. Simple.
Look, what I was getting at is that we’re talking about the local elementary school right here in our neighborhood. It only took me about fifteen minutes to get home, and my route is actually on the longer side. Nobody sat around waiting at the school after the morning session ended; we just headed straight home, grabbed a bite to eat, rested for a bit, knocked out our homework, studied, and then headed back for afternoon classes. You also kind of have to look at the schedule—you don't exactly walk into a day packed with heavy subjects if you've already got afternoon sessions lined up.
You might not be complaining about religious studies being scheduled during the opposite shift, but plenty of people are. Honestly, I don't know how they'll handle things when they run into the mess we used to deal with. Imagine having a ton of classes, only one gym, and just one PE teacher. There’s no way everyone can get into the gym during their regular shift, so you end up having to show up during the opposite block just to make it work. And look, I live in a major city; I don't even want to wrap my head around how this works in smaller towns. In those places, teachers don't have enough hours at one school, so they’re bouncing between two or three different ones. There is zero chance you can coordinate all that so it actually works for everyone without someone getting screwed over.
briskbison55 said:I mean, I think you might be missing the actual definition of what secular means.
I'm going to ignore the rest because, well, it's following that same pattern of nonsense from previous years where they just leave kids wandering the halls instead of actually looking out for them. And look, regarding the "not my business" comment... I guess it wouldn't be totally wrong to feel that way if the elective wasn't actively messing up someone else's day. My god, just take one school as an example where religion class was placed right in the middle of the school day for some reason, and now they're acting like that's how it's supposed to be! Let's try to be a little serious here, okay? 😁
I honestly don't get why I wrote something so nonsensical. If I had been working the opposite shift, and if a mandatory subject could be moved to a two-hour block during an alternate shift, then why couldn't religious studies be done the same way? Or like how kids at my school used to go to PE during the other shift. Anything is possible if you actually want it to happen. 🤷
I have no clue where you live. I’m guessing New York City, so maybe it would be a good idea to step outside the big city bubble once in a while. It isn't the center of the universe. You need to realize there are all kinds of different schools across the USA and all sorts of scheduling combinations. Look, I get it. It makes me sad too that our schools aren't standardized—from the equipment to the organization. In one school, you've got tech that even major corporations would envy, and in another, you can barely keep the heat on in the winter. But that's just how it is. If you think there's only one school where kids are sitting out on the playground or in hallways, relying on whether or not adults feel like watching them, you're wrong. Believe me, it’s happening in more than one place. Back in elementary and high school, religious studies was almost always right in the middle of the schedule. Usually, a school only has one instructor or chaplain teaching it, so unless you start cloning people, it's nearly impossible to organize it as the first or last period for everyone, especially if it meets twice a week.
I'm dying to know if the situation would change if it were a different setup—like if they offered Islamic studies that you didn't want your kid to hear, shoved right into the middle of the day, leaving your child wandering around unsupervised. Would you still be singing the same old songs about "who cares," "let them be independent," and "kids these days are too sensitive"? I bet not. I'm afraid we'd see the exact same movie: petitions being signed, referendums organized, maybe even people praying outside the school gates. 😁
What do you mean, "different location"? You can just schedule this at the school during an after-school block, just like any other elective. It could be zero period or right after the regular school day ends. We used to have electives set up exactly like that. One year, we even had a two-hour technical workshop held after hours, and nobody threw a fit about it—even though that wasn't an "elective."
I find all this drama over switching to an after-school slot or moving locations pretty funny. I haven’t noticed parents complaining when they have to drive their kids to church for religious ed, yet that’s the only version recognized for sacraments (at least in my parish). So, it’s perfectly fine for a kid to head to church in the afternoon before their First Communion or Confirmation, and it’s fine to show up for early morning mass before school starts—it's practically mandatory if you want to stay in good standing—but suddenly everyone loses it when someone suggests organizing religious ed at the school so it doesn't inconvenience anyone.
Honestly, this is such a hypocritical way to look at faith. If I'm fine with it, that's my business, but I don't care what anyone else thinks. 🙏 And then there's this idiotic excuse about how things were better back in the day because kids were more independent and needed to "toughen up." Frankly, people like this make me embarrassed to call myself a believer, because they immediately lump me in with their crowd.
edit: someone beat me to the punch and posted right as I was typing. 😁
I was told they're only good for a month. Last time I showed up, it had been almost thirty days and it wasn't valid anymore, so my sister ended up printing a new one for me. 🤷 At least she didn't just send me home; she actually asked the doctor to authorize a new one since the old one had expired.
Honestly, I think she’s just playing the "big shot" card to get people to switch over to Aetna supplemental plans since everyone’s been leaving them in droves lately.
A couple of years ago, I ended up in the hospital under Medicare coverage and everything was fully covered. I’m actually going to look into this further and let you know—I might even give my agent a call to get the straight story.
Besides, it seems pretty obvious that all insurance plans cover hospital stays. I mean, who would bother getting supplemental coverage if it didn't cover the big stuff? 🤷
edit: http://www.cdc.gov/support/faq/ What does having CDC supplemental health insurance actually mean if I end up in the hospital for surgery—like for my knee, appendix, eyes, or whatever?
Having a Deductible policy means you don't pay a dime, regardless of how much the hospital bill ends up being.
That’s what it says right there on their website. If it isn't covered, then they're basically running a scam with their advertising. Personally, I think that lady at Medicare is either lying or she just hasn't got a clue.
Who told you they don't cover hospital stays? It’s right there on their website: https://www.cdc.gov/supplemental-insurance/. As far as I can tell, they only scrapped the B-list because it wasn't profitable for them anymore.
Personally, my insurance company just shut down my policy without so much as a heads-up. Sure, I got some notice months ago that terms were changing, but nothing right before it expired. I wouldn't have even known it lapsed if my sister hadn't been working at the clinic and told me I had to pay out-of-pocket for my referral because my coverage was dead. Thank God I didn't need any major testing or end up in the ER.
For anyone who clearly slept through biology class back in middle school: The female cycle, ovulation windows—everything a woman needs to understand before getting intimate
By the way, here’s what I figured out from my immunologist: they cover those biologics through the hospital budget for the first year, and only after that year passes does Medicare take over the bill. They aren't exactly thrilled about it because it limits how many patients they can put on biologics—the hospital has a set budget and they can't just stretch it; they know exactly how much money goes toward what, and you have to work with what you've got. You know how it is when this kind of nonsense is involved; they watch every cent, so they're hesitant to hand things out because someone will always come looking for blood if the funds run low.
Ask about that specific drug, but honestly, I bet the issue is that people with Lupus often carry an RA diagnosis as part of the package, which is why they get the biologics.
Anyway, for stuff like this, I think you should just call Medicare directly. It's constantly a game of telephone. They're always changing things, or some doctors and nurses just don't know—or don't want to know—so you end up getting wrong information. I know plenty of people who pay for their own meds even though they’re entitled to get them via prescription. I'm one of them, actually. I kept buying ibuprofen out of pocket even though my outpatient records say I can take it as needed for pain; I'm fully entitled to get it on a script, but nobody ever told me. I just found out by accident.
edit: @Jose Brown57, I don't think they'll approve a biologic for you until every other option has proven useless. Like, if you haven't tried Methotrexate, and we know it's pretty effective at stopping joint damage, there's zero chance you'll get moved to a biologic. I stumbled upon the requirements for qualifying for biologics ages ago, but now I can't find the actual protocol online.
edit2: Okay, I found it: http://www.reumatologija.org/Preporu...reporuka022015 Treatment with at least two synthetic DMARDs over 6 months at full dosage, where one must be Methotrexate administered for at least 2 months at 20 mg/week (or a lower dose due to intolerance), or following the failure of one TNF blocker or tocilizumab.
I didn't post this right away because I had to go Google it; the name just wouldn't come to me. I read about it ages ago and knew it started with a B, but if you asked me for the actual name, I would've been clueless. 😁
Honestly, you have to do your own digging. Half the time they tell you that you aren't eligible for something simply because they don't have a clue—the rules are constantly shifting anyway. Take psoriasis, for example. They’re prescribing biologics for it now, which is how it's been for maybe a year or two, whereas before, you wouldn't have stood a chance at getting coverage.
mellowskipper3 said:I still think there's no solid proof that biologics actually work for Lupus, which is probably why they haven't made the list yet.
It really just comes down to the specific medication you're on. Most people on infusions get them at a hospital or clinic, which is a massive headache if you don't live near a major medical center—like those folks who have to drive all the way into Chicago just for treatment. To avoid that extra hassle and the travel costs, most people tend to stick with oral meds or self-injections whenever possible. Still, when I was on biologics, I was heading into the clinic every single month at first, and eventually just for the dose itself. Either way you slice it, you're looking at a monthly commitment. 😬
But there is a biologic specifically for Lupus—I posted the link earlier. It’s likely just not covered by Medicare, so that’s why you can't get it.
So, clearly it just depends on the specific drug. Most infusions are given in hospitals for that exact reason, but that’s a massive pain for anyone living far from a major medical center or people traveling into a big city like Chicago for treatment. Usually, those folks stick to oral meds they can manage themselves to avoid extra costs and complications. Though, back when I was on a biologic, I had to go in monthly for checkups at first, and then just for the dose itself. Either way, you're looking at a monthly trip. 😬
I looked it up; Endoxan comes in tablets too. I guess it depends on your dosage. If it’s a low dose, maybe you get the pills, but for higher doses, you probably have to go in so they can monitor you for side effects. Who knows.
Jose Brown57 said:So, I’ve been through the whole Endoxan ordeal before—staying at the clinic for maybe a week or even longer, just sitting there while the infusion drags on for hours. Now I’m hearing there might be a pill version out there, though I haven't actually come across it myself. And as for Methotrexate, I already know that doesn't count as one of those biologics.
No, those are all cytostatics.
I just hope I don't end up on that and that the procedure here isn't that intense. Even people getting chemo don't usually stay in the hospital; they just get their treatment and head home. I really hope it works the same way for this, especially since the doses are lower than what chemo patients get.
Forgot to ask—is it hitting your joints? You might be able to get an RA diagnosis (which often goes hand-in-hand with Lupus, even if they don't officially label it because it's implied) and then you might actually qualify for biologics if nothing else works.
mellowskipper3 said:It really depends on which medication you're talking about. I used Enbrel, and I just gave myself shots in the stomach or thigh once a week. I think it's the same deal with Humira. But with Remicade, you definitely have to go to the clinic because it's an infusion. Some people take their meds weekly, some every two weeks, some monthly—it varies. I was on Methotrexate for years, and since it's a pill I just took myself, there was no reason to spend my time sitting in a hospital waiting room every single week.🤷
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Aha, so it's the drug itself then. The ones I'm aware of require going to the clinic for an infusion every month, so I assumed that was just the standard procedure.
It's similar with chemo drugs; it all depends on what you're prescribed. If I end up needing Endoxan, my doctor already hinted that I'll have to show up at the hospital for infusions once a month for about half a year. 🤷 I know Methotrexate and Imuran come in pill form so you don't need a hospital visit, but for Endoxan, I'm not sure if it's the dosage or if it's strictly administered in a clinical setting.
Jose Brown57, it’s entirely possible Medicare won't cover that. 😢
You really need to dig into the fine print and see what they're actually approving lately. I think they've even started covering psoriasis—so there might be a way to get coverage for Lupus too. I know for a fact that RA and those autoimmune bowel issues are covered, because I know people on biologics for those exact conditions who say they feel like new people on that kind of therapy.
Jose Brown57 said:Can anyone walk me through how biologics actually work? I’m still pretty confused about which diagnoses they’re even used for and when they become an option. All I’ve heard so far is that they’re for rheumatoid arthritis—but man, they are pricey. Apparently, you need your immunologist to file a formal request with Medicare first, and then once everything gets approved, you finally start the actual treatment... But what does that look like? Are we talking injections in the stomach or sitting there for an infusion? And how often do you actually have to show up at the clinic for it?
Biologics are basically next-gen drugs. They're pricey as hell, which is why they aren't accessible to everyone. Plus, since they're relatively new, we still don't know all the long-term side effects. Take steroids, for example—it took 10, 15, maybe 20 years to see the full impact on the body. It’ll be the same deal here. Even if they weren't so expensive, they wouldn't just hand them out to everybody.
They're used for various autoimmune issues—RA, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease... To even get approved, you usually have to jump through hoops. You have to prove you've tried all the other standard treatments first and that they just didn't work for you.
From what I know, you go in every 3-4 weeks for infusions at the hospital, pretty much like when people get chemo.
edit: Here's a slightly better breakdown of what biologics actually are: edit2: There's also a biologic for Lupus called Benlysta, though I have no clue if it's even available over here in the States. More info on it here: http://www.benlysta.com/about/
When you sent off that email to order, was that referral still valid at the time? If it was, then it stays good until you actually get your appointment, regardless of when that happens—even if it’s months down the road. If it wasn't, then yeah, you're going to need a new one.
The key is making sure the order is placed within that one-month window while the referral is active. Once that's done, it holds up until the exam is performed.
I know this is incredibly tough, especially after going through two miscarriages, but you really need to find a way to breathe. Stressing out like this isn't helping anyone, including you. I have friends all over the US who dealt with bleeding during pregnancy—some for a day, some for a week—and they all ended up having healthy babies. Honestly, it surprised me just how common spotting and hematomas actually are during pregnancy.
Just wait for the blood test results and then try to decompress as much as possible. Don't let your mind jump straight to the worst-case scenarios.