So trivial, yet it really ticks you off.

[LizzieMaine]

If I could speak German, I'd be on a plane to Berlin right now.

 

[Fading Fast]

Better stopping free market-economy, launching social market-economy, there, before it's too late...

I am not looking to fight free market vs. socialized medicine (am really, really am not doing that), but what we have currently in this country is a mishmash of the two systems. I can point to parts that are socialized and work pretty well and parts that are socialized and have failed miserably. I can do the same for the free market parts. And I'm not talking theory - I'm talking real life experiences that have happened to my family or me.

The free-market advocates blame all the present problems on the socialize parts and vice versa. Again, I'm not arguing one is superior to the other as that seems to violate the politics guidelines for the forum, but I am actively saying that what we have in the USA today is a badly blended version of the two systems that allows everyone to pick out the anecdote or example that supports their ideology.

 

[Fading Fast]

Waking up at 4 am with a violent clenching pain in my side ticks me off, especially when I'm still buried under bills for the stupid appendecomy I had earlier this year. Ended up going to work at 6am because I couldn't get back to sleep, but the pain got so severe I had to bag the rest of the day and go to the emergency room -- which I almost didn't make, after the brakes started locking up again on the Subaru. Spent pretty much the whole day in the ER writhing in pain, swearing like I had a demon, and frightening the janitors. Four x-rays and a cat scan later they tell me I have a 4mm kidney stone that I can look forward to passing over the next few days.

The first thing they did when they got me processed was give me a shot of morphine, that's how bad it hurt. And then a second and a third one because it kept on hurting. I was starting to hum "St. James Infirmary Blues" before they finally switched me to something else.

I can see, though, how people get addicted to opioids.

Kidney stones are hereditary in my family -- my mother has them often -- so it's just another thing to look forward to with the approach of my dotage. Whee.

If I'm understand this - you just went through this yesterday?

My sympathies go out to you. I had my first kidney stone experience (3mm) a month and a half ago and I, too, went to the emergency room (I thought something was exploding inside me). After a few hours of lying on a gurney in insane pain, they did a cat scan - no x-rays at all - told me I was passing one stone and had one more in my kidney and said I could go home when I felt like it.

I stumbled home - as I knew the meter was ticking and my Obamacare coverage has a massive deductible. I passed the first one a few days later in the most incredibly intensely painful experience of my life (like you, I too have crippling migraines and this put them to shame). At the peak of the half day of pain of passing it, my girlfriend said I went white - all color drained - and looked like I was going to pass out.

I did a follow up visit with a kidney specialist (also covered by my insurance, but so what, I'm thousands of dollars away from meeting my deductible) and the two things I took out of it is to always hydrate and have plenty of citrus (lemons, oranges, etc.) - maybe that will help you or me or neither of us, but that's what he said.

Like you, I too have no idea what I really owe as even having gone physically over to the hospital's business office days later, I could not get a straight answer out of them as to what the bills - which come in every few days (doctor, EKG, doctor again, cat scan, pharmacy, doctor again) -will be. Free market, Obamacare, socialized medicine - whatever, our system is a blend of all of it and it's all horribly broken as proven by the fact that you can't even get an accurate bill (or estimate of the bill) days after you've had the event.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Yep, all happened yesterday. I thought it was just cramps at first, but cramps never made me roll around on the floor hunched in a fetal position screaming "HELP ME!" I'm afraid the cat was a bit traumatized by witnessing this.

I woke up this morning with nausea and a blinding headache, which I imagine was a reaction to all the drugs they pumped into me yesterday, but I'm reasonably functional now. The kids have made arrangements to cover for me at work today and tomorrow to give me some recovery time, but I've still got to sort out my Subaru, which remains in the parking lot at the hospital and I don't dare to try and drive it home with the brakes as they are, so I'll have to get it towed. And I've got two writing assignments due this weekend, and next week is the busiest week of the year at the theatre, so here's hoping there aren't any more little surprises lurking within the old renal system.

I'm trying to rehydrate myself by drinking gallons of Gatorade, which I'm quickly getting tired of. And solid food is still off the approved list until things settle down a bit. Chicken broth I'm also already tired of. Bah.

 

[tonyb]

...
Commercial airliners aren't perfectly, absolutely, unfailingly safe either. And when they crash it almost results in much loss of life. ...

Oops. It should read "almost always." I would correct it in the post I pulled this from, but for some reason unknown to me the edit and delete features disappear about an hour after posting.

 

[Trenchfriend]

@LizzieMaine

Lizzie, don't trust your Amalgam-fillings. I would get rid of this toxic waste.

 

[Fading Fast]

Yep, all happened yesterday. I thought it was just cramps at first, but cramps never made me roll around on the floor hunched in a fetal position screaming "HELP ME!" I'm afraid the cat was a bit traumatized by witnessing this.

I woke up this morning with nausea and a blinding headache, which I imagine was a reaction to all the drugs they pumped into me yesterday, but I'm reasonably functional now. The kids have made arrangements to cover for me at work today and tomorrow to give me some recovery time, but I've still got to sort out my Subaru, which remains in the parking lot at the hospital and I don't dare to try and drive it home with the brakes as they are, so I'll have to get it towed. And I've got two writing assignments due this weekend, and next week is the busiest week of the year at the theatre, so here's hoping there aren't any more little surprises lurking within the old renal system.

I'm trying to rehydrate myself by drinking gallons of Gatorade, which I'm quickly getting tired of. And solid food is still off the approved list until things settle down a bit. Chicken broth I'm also already tired of. Bah.

I am really sorry you're going through it - it is brutal. I too had the blinding headache and dizziness which, we think, was from the morphine. I threw-up as well from it late in the day they gave it to me. The good news is - if you passed it (do you know if you did?) - then it all feels better very quickly. By day two, I was almost back to normal (but then went through it all over again a week later when the second one passed - but they would have told you from the cat scan if you have another one).

The effects of the morphine, for me, faded but took about three days to fully wear off. Hence, if you passed the stone, my guess, you'll be feeling a lot better tomorrow. My fingers are crossed for you - hopefully, the worst is behind you.

 

[Trenchfriend]

@LizzieMaine

Did they made an "electroencephalogramm"?

 

[MisterCairo]

If I could speak German, I'd be on a plane to Berlin right now.

You speak English, so there're parts of Canada you could move to...

 

[ChiTownScion]

I'm trying to rehydrate myself by drinking gallons of Gatorade, which I'm quickly getting tired of. And solid food is still off the approved list until things settle down a bit. Chicken broth I'm also already tired of. Bah.

Broth usually has a lot of salt. Not all that great for rehydration.

But as to those medical bills: they're always inflated as to what you're supposed to owe. Call the provider and try to Presbyterian* them down to an affordable amount to be paid after insurance coverage.

* Apologies to any other ethnic group that thinks that they can out-haggle the next guy, but the Scots wrote the book on squeezing a penny for all that it's worth. A tip 'o the Glengarry to 'em.

 

[LizzieMaine]

You speak English, so there're parts of Canada you could move to...

I had surgery in Montreal in 2004, and it cost me half of what it would have in the States. And the only French I know is "poutine pour le petit déjeuner."

 

[ChiTownScion]

If I could speak German, I'd be on a plane to Berlin right now.

You'd be surprised how many there speak English better than many Americans. Learning the basic phrases ( Guten tag, Bitte, Danke, etc.) will open a lot of doors.

I'd heard all of the stories about how awful Paris is for Americans. In my experience, it's nonsense. The simple act of extending a "Bonjour, Madame/ Monsieur/ Mademoiselle!" upon entering a shop creates good will. They know you're American and that your French is deplorable, but they see that you're sincere in respecting their culture and reply accordingly.

 

[Trenchfriend]

@LizzieMaine
Equally, if the Amalgam or other things. I hope, you're not toxicated with any heavy metal. Should be tested, in the first place, I think. Before someone starts to think about Fybromyalgia and so on.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I am really sorry you're going through it - it is brutal. I too had the blinding headache and dizziness which, we think, was from the morphine. I threw-up as well from it late in the day they gave it to me. The good news is - if you passed it (do you know if you did?) - then it all feels better very quickly. By day two, I was almost back to normal (but then went through it all over again a week later when the second one passed - but they would have told you from the cat scan if you have another one).

The effects of the morphine, for me, faded but took about three days to fully wear off. Hence, if you passed the stone, my guess, you'll be feeling a lot better tomorrow. My fingers are crossed for you - hopefully, the worst is behind you.

Thanx for the kind thoughts. I think I've passed it out of the kidney because the worst of the blinding pain is gone. But I haven't seen it come thru the rest of the way yet. The doctor said that will be comparatively less painful, but I don't know if that means comparative as in it hurts less to jam your hand in a car door than it does to drop a window sash on it.

I'm functional enough at the moment on a couple of Excedrin to go into work and clean up some loose ends before taking the rest of the day off, but I'm still feeling drained and weak. It doesn't help that it's hot out today and stultifyingly humid.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Maybe, old-fashion malt-beer could be good for you? I think, it's better, than the modern isotonic stuff, gurgleing out of the backdoor from chemical factory.

 

[Fading Fast]

Thanx for the kind thoughts. I think I've passed it out of the kidney because the worst of the blinding pain is gone. But I haven't seen it come thru the rest of the way yet. The doctor said that will be comparatively less painful, but I don't know if that means comparative as in it hurts less to jam your hand in a car door than it does to drop a window sash on it.

I'm functional enough at the moment on a couple of Excedrin to go into work and clean up some loose ends before taking the rest of the day off, but I'm still feeling drained and weak. It doesn't help that it's hot out today and stultifyingly humid.

The not knowing where "it" (the little millimeter ba***rd) is in the process is maddening. Hopefully, you are over the hump and, if you proceed like I did, will feel much better quickly (and if they didn't mention a second one, you shouldn't have to go through it again a week later as I did).

Two thought, both of which I know you are smart and already know, but it can help still help to hear the experiences others have had.

1) As Chitownscion noted - and in particular if you aren't already getting a "discounted insurance" price - bargain. The one benefit I got in this from my very high premium / stupidly huge deductible Obamacare policy is that the hospital billed me at my insurer's rate. Hence, the doctor who spent five minutes (at most) with me in the emergency room explaining the cat scan results billed $418, but the "insurance managed rate" reduced it to $118. So, the $118 was what I had to pay out of pocket as I only reach my deductible when I've spent the equivalent of buying a new car (each year) on medical care. I have found that some doctors / labs will reduce your rate - if it isn't already reduced by an insurance managed" rate - just for asking. My eye doctor does it - when I tell him my insurance doesn't cover him, he gives me the "insurance company rate" for an eye exam, which is 70% (yup, not a typo) off his "regular" rate.

2) There are a bunch of things you can do to reduce your odds of getting another one - hydrate daily, have fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice, avoid certain foods in large quantities, etc. I don't know if it will work for you, or for me, but if there's a chance I don't have to revisit hell, I'm going to try.

As said, hopefully, you'll start to feel better quickly - my girlfriend and I - who are only too familiar with what you are going through - are sending good wishes your way.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I'd heard all of the stories about how awful Paris is for Americans. In my experience, it's nonsense. The simple act of extending a "Bonjour, Madame/ Monsieur/ Mademoiselle!" upon entering a shop creates good will. They know you're American and that your French is deplorable, but they see that you're sincere in respecting their culture and reply accordingly.

I found that Montreal is very much like that as well -- most people there do speak at least enough English to conduct a common business transaction, but they sincerely appreciate the effort when you order "jambon et fromage," even if you have to order that all the time because it's the only thing you recognize on the menu.

One of the things I loved about going to Expos games was that the PA announcements were always made in both French and English. "Frappeur" and "Lanceur" are more picturesque than "Batter" or "Pitcher." And the PA announcer there was legendary for the flourish he would give to certain names. "Le frappeur, John Boc-a-BELL-a!"

 

[vitanola]

This is the way it is here in Texas...and everywhere else I've ever lived too. It's not an easement. Your property line ends 10 feet or so from the sidewalk. Nonetheless, the homeowner is responsible for the upkeep all the way to the roadway, and people tend to think "if I mow it, it's mine".

IN Michigan, the town lot extends to a line in the center of the street. The city receives an "easement" for the street and its verge. The "Tree lawn" is in the city's easement. This odd interpretation of the ADA is unique to our city attorney. None of the surrounding towns have anything like this. I am told by old-timers that this particular legal anomaly is the result of a long standing feud between the attorney's father and his father's next-door neighbor.

Thanx for the kind thoughts. I think I've passed it out of the kidney because the worst of the blinding pain is gone. But I haven't seen it come thru the rest of the way yet. The doctor said that will be comparatively less painful, but I don't know if that means comparative as in it hurts less to jam your hand in a car door than it does to drop a window sash on it.

I'm functional enough at the moment on a couple of Excedrin to go into work and clean up some loose ends before taking the rest of the day off, but I'm still feeling drained and weak. It doesn't help that it's hot out today and stultifyingly humid.

So very sorry to hear of this. The pain is , I know, exquisite. I hope that the worst has passed and that you will be feeling better very soon.

 

[LizzieMaine]

1) As Chitownscion noted - and in particular if you aren't already getting a "discounted insurance" price - bargain. The one benefit I got in this from my very high premium / stupidly huge deductible Obamacare policy is that the hospital billed me at my insurer's rate. Hence, the doctor who spent five minutes (at most) with me in the emergency room explaining the cat scan results billed $418, but the "insurance managed rate" reduced it to $118. So, the $118 was what I had to pay out of pocket as I only reach my deductible when I've spent the equivalent of buying a new car (each year) on medical care. I have found that some doctors / labs will reduce your rate - if it isn't already reduced by an insurance managed" rate - just for asking. My eye doctor does it - when I tell him my insurance doesn't cover him, he gives me the "insurance company rate" for an eye exam, which is 70% (yup, not a typo) off his "regular" rate.

I've got insurance thru work, and every year the front office "shops around" for the policy that will cost them the least and me the most, which is tiresome to say the least. But at least they're honest about what they're doing. We just started with Aetna this year, which so far has bounced back every claim I've made, even though the procedures listed -- a physical and a mammogram -- were all clearly stated in the materials as being covered. So I imagine another round-about-we-go when the bills for this latest incident start showing up.

The previous policy with some Maine-based company or other was just as bad -- I keep getting bills from the anaesthesiologist who did my appendectomy because he doesn't appear in the insurance company's database or some fool thing. Sorry about that, I wasn't exactly in a position to make a free choice of provider there.

When I'm dictator I shall take great pleasure in the liquidation of the insurance industry. Not one stone in Hartford will be left atop another.

(2) There are a bunch of things you can do to reduce your odds of getting another one - hydrate daily, have fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice, avoid certain foods in large quantities, etc. I don't know if it will work for you, or for me, but if there's a chance I don't have to revisit hell, I'm going to try.

As said, hopefully, you'll start to feel better quickly - my girlfriend and I - who are only too familiar with what you are going through - are sending good wishes your way.

One of the kids brought me a large jar of applesauce, which, although it makes me feel like a three-year-old, I am trying to down today. At least it isn't chicken broth. I'd kill for a cheese burger right now, but that's probably the worst thing I could eat.

Thanx again for the well-wishes. I'm alternating between feeling reasonably OK and feeling burning pains where you don't like to feel them, so I guess that means it's moving along as it should be. Fun fun fun.

 

[Trenchfriend]

The great thing on my classic oatmeal on water, every morning, is, that I'm not getting "weary" of it, because the taste is neutral to little nutty. Big Pro!

The trick is just, to hold on on the normal portion, maximum a half muesli-bowl. Otherwise you will get "concrete" in your belly.

Horse-nutrition: Daily oats and matlbeer and all the good stuff.

PS:
And yes, Apple-spritzer, good invention!