medical mess

 Have been visiting everybody for my surgery beforehand as it required.  Have not been taking my pain pill as it is not allowed.  When I went to the pre-admission at the hospital....they wanted my $250 copay for surgery plus another $12 up front.  I could not believe it.  They also would not tell me the time of the surgery. They will  let me know the day before. Everybody says "that's what they do".  Like Hitler killing everybody "that's what they do". 

I don't think the government will be able to make the medical people become more humane.  They kept saying that the surgeons select the times of surgery the day before.  I left like saying I am the one who is paying for this...they are being paid.  It is because I am asking my friends to give me drives that I am so upset about this.  I took care of my husband before he died but now there is no one to take care of me.  It is upsetting to me and when I got home I started crying about it all.  My friend gave me three wonderous cupcakes that night.  It did make me feel better.  Just worn out but I still think that the medical people are a bunch of pompous jerks...and that's final.

Sorry to be so negative. They also will not guarantee me a spot at a rehab facility though I live alone and have to walk up stairs.  My neighbor downstairs will be handling my mail and turning my car over for me.  In the cold weather, it is necessary to turn the engine on around two times a week.  I am lucky everybody is helping me.

My aide is a jewel and went to a second hand store and got me a shower spray.  Another friend volunteers at the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and got me a walker, high toilet seat and a shower chair that goes over the side of the tub.  This all cost nothing except I gave the aide a $20 bill for all her help and with Christmas coming up ... she could probably use it. I am going to bake my VFW friend a banana bread with walnuts as he like that when I am able to do that sort of thing again.  Also want to take all my friends and the aide out to lunch at a nice restaurant about 15 minutes from here when I am able to do it.

Thanks goodness there are so many nice people...but not the medical group.

 

Post Edited (Joan M) : 11/27/2009 4:19:27 PM (GMT-7)

I agree, the up-front co-pay is obnoxious!
Also the thing about not letting you know the time of surgery until the day before. We just went through that with my mom - she had hip replacement. The hard thing was that I needed to go to the next town, where she lives, and bring her to the hospital, and I have a teenaged kid I drive to school in the mornings... so, yes, not knowing when until the day before was quite anxiety-producing for the whole extended family!
Also, as you mentioned - not being able to be on the pain meds for the 10 days or 2 weeks (I'm sorry, one or the other, I don't remember) before the surgery put my mom into so much pain it took her hours to get ready in the mornings, so she was very frightened of an early surgery time.

The medical system is very difficult!
The good thing is that the surgery took away her pain and she is recovering well. I hope the same for you!

Joan,

I wish you the very best with your surgery and I know that it will all work out in the end but before surgery it is hard not to let all the hoops you have to go through cause you to feel frustrated and upset.



You have my prayers for a quick recover and know we are all here for you.



Gentle Hugs,



Kitt

Good suggestion Hep93!! Another thought I had for Joan was could your friend just spend the night with you the night before surgery. That way you don't have to worry about the weather etc. Good luck!