Being sick really sucks, don't it? Mike got sick around the first of the year with a pretty bad cold. He got mostly better. He still had pressure in his head and started have bad dizzy spells. We were reluctant to go to the doctor, Cause there's no insurance on Mike. But we broke down and took him anyway, yesterday. He was worrried they were gonna say brain tumor or something outrageous like that. Of course, we both really agreed it was probably an ear infection causing fluid build-up in his ears. So, $125.00 later, the doc says it's an infection causing fluid build-up. How is that right? What did I give him that money for? A prescription? I still had to pay for that at the pharmacy! That was another $35 to add to it. He prescribed an antibiotic and a steroid. Strangely enough, my mom had given him that same antibiotic a week or so ago, and it didn't work. Doc says it's because he needed the steroid to go with it. We will have to see, eh?!
Thank you all for your kind words about Black Kitty. They were greatly appreciated. In fact, that was the most comments I have ever received on any post. Gotta head out this afternoon. Meeting with my career counselor for the army. We will have to see where things go, as tomorrow is supposed to be my last day with the army reserves. Don't wanna get out, but they gotta play the right cards, too. Wish me luck!
24 comments:
Dear Randy and Mike, I am horrified at your medical bills. Of course, in the UK we do not really fully understand the health system of the USA but it is often in the news and clearly there are problems. Happily here it remains free if a little unreliable at times.
But, I am so glad that Mike is, or will be, all right. These things when they happen are always alarming and one tends always to think the worst. I am sure the medication will work wonders!
I am so pleased that you had so many comments about Black Kitty. It helps, a little.
I do not think that I understand if you are going into the army or coming out. I thought you farmed with chickens!
I may slag out NHS system off from time to time....but after reading your post I thank god for it!
A health system that is free for all is a wonderful system....but it IS one we all take for granted here....
god hrlp anyone in the US that needs complicated health care and who doesn't have medical cover
Randy, I'm glad you took Mike to the doctor. I'm sure being relieved of the accompanying anxiety will help as much as the steroid/antibiotic combo. When I had severe bronchitis last fall, it was that same combo that finally helped me.
As to the health care comments above, I must say that, while the price of Mike's doctor appointment and prescriptions may seem high, there is some value to reliable, on-demand health care. In addition, I suspect the price of that visit reflects the fact that the doctor must compensate for the under-compensation of the government health care coverage that currently exists. Medicare and medicaid are notoriously difficult payors and under payors. Those programs are already operating at a deficit. That deficit must be made up somewhere and it is made up in the pay schedule for private payors (insured and uninsured). (If the current gov't programs did not exist and each patient paid for his own actual costs, their bill would have been much lower.) The gap between payment and expenses in those programs combined with the exorbitant cost of malpractice insurance is driving the cost. IMO, the government programs + the malpractice lawyers are responsible for rising health care costs. Reform them and then get back to me. Beware of simplistic indictments made by the media. I would not trade our current "broken" health care system for any other in the world.
Where did you get that darling chicken wallpaper? I'm totaling stealing it.
Just before I went to Concord, I came down with a gawd-awful cold, dizzy spells, the works. At the conference someone recommending Mucinex, and it helped enormously, 3 pills later my cold was gone. Before that, I had been taking DayQuil which was barely helping.
renee.
Interesting point.
but I disagree with a system which discriminates against the poor.. Randy's story is a case in point. Mike considered not to go to the doctors because of the cost....
if his condition was a serious one, then that " wait" before being reviewed could mean the difference between life or death. Believe me I know, I am an intensive care nurse.
however I sort of agree...a good service needs to be paid for......and with a growing, more elderly population, how will that actually happen?
Edith Hope-I am wanting to stay in the army, but I'm having issues with physical training. I'm not the fastest runner, and I gotta pass the run soon to stay in.
John-Our health system sucks terribly here in the US, but this government reform will only mean people such as myself paying more in taxes to pay for someone else's health care...as is the current situation....hmmm....it's really a no win situation.
Renee-I am quite familiar with the idiocracies of our stupendous health system (like my big words? LOL) I hated have to fork over cash I didn't really have. But my biggest complaint was that I paid all that money for information that I already had! It was like paying money for a hamburger when you've already got one in your hand!
Joanna-I got that paper from Simply Blog It. I asked her to make me a background with chickens, and that's what I got from her. You are more than welcome to use it, too! There's a link to her blog site at the top of mine! Yeah, that DayQuil was not helping Mike, either.
~Randy
Good luck with the counselor tomorrow!
Feel better Mike! Cold, dreary weather makes a cold weary body feel worse! Good luck with the Army stuff! Hope it works out like you want it to.
Anna
First off, hadn't been on for a bit, so I missed the bit about Black Kitty. I send my condolences. I also love the header you have on today.
Boy, I can feel for your doc troubles, we didn't even have a doc for about 2 years, as none would accept the type of insurance we have. It was go to the emergency room, look it up on the internet, or suffer. I wish that the... people... in our government would figure out what's what and deal with the problem, but it seems to be the never ending game of hot potato, with a side of snark. Sigh. But I hope that the combo works for Mike, and I hope your counselor works out for the best.
Cat
Good luck...let us know if your looking for a new job! Insurance sucks...what more can be said!
I am so glad we don't have to pay to go to the doctors here in Canada....
Gill in Canada
P.S.Good luck with your meeting.
I pay $800 a month for health insurance. It is only good for big things. Like car wrecks and cancer.
It makes me want to move to Spain!
Sorry about Mike being ill! Hope he gets better Soon!
Why get out of the Army? Are they riffing you?
Oh well, Just be Happy!!
hughugs
I will stay out of the health care discussion because that's the field I work in...But will just say that I agree, there are big problems that need to be fixed...
*****
I did want to say that I somehow missed the post about Black Kitty...I am so sorry about your loss! I know how hard it is to lose a 4 legged family member, and when it's something like this, it makes it even more difficult...Again, I'm so sorry!!
O.K. wishing you luck, finger-crossed, knock on wood, step on a crack, sign of the cross...can't think of any others!
Now tell Mike to go ahead and get better, he owes you..;p
We have wonderful health care here in the UK anyway, hope Mike feels better soon.
So Randy, is it cake for pudding ?
I hate going to doctors too. It costs so much money and I can relate to everything out of pocket because I have no ins. Sure hope Mike gets to feeling better soon. Good luck on the military thing.
(About the award please do not be offended but I am going to decline. I would rather not do the awards thingy anymore. Nice of you to think of me for such a nice award. I have always loved reading your blog.)
Randy, have you had your cock for pud? LOL, BTW YOU HAVE BEEN TAGGED!!!! xxx
Sending you wishes for lots of luck! Hope the meds work this time and Mike gets well quickly.
hope Mikes better soon :)
love your background!! where dya get it?!?!
Ames xxx
GET WELL SOON~BOTH OF YOU XXX
Hope Mikes better, have mike checked for Labryinthitis which is an infection in the ear causing loss of balance its a real bugger. I had it a year ago and lost complete balance and felt like my head was going to explode through pressure
Johns right in the UK we have free health service and in Wales our prescriptions are free aswell. Its not much in the UK but at least we got one thing right
Cya soon
Tell Mike I hope he's feeling better, Randy- I think he and I had the same thing. Three mornings last week I got up with vertigo and barely made it to the bathroom before throwing up- turns out I had a BAD inner ear infection and had to go on some strong antibiotics. Sure isn't any fun being dizzy all day long. Ugh.
Hope you both feel well soon. I love your blog. Sorry about your black kitty. So sad
Nice to meet ya! ~:>
Post a Comment