I'm Back
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Had several people reach out and yeah I am okay and will be okay. Just a bad stretch where I didn’t want to be online as much.
As I think I have posted before my brother has cancer so that is a lot. He is autistic so I have to handle more or less everything in terms of scheduling, talking with drs etc Well about a month ago the chemo meds probably almost killed him due to a side effect of increasing his blood pressure massively. I thankfully got him to the hospital in time that Sunday night. Also didn’t help that he was dehydrated. This required a multiple day stay in the hospital which also delayed several things regarding his treatment that all had to be rescheduled.
This was coming off of finding out a long time friend committed suicide just days before. Then after that, the dad of my long term GF dies, he was only in his 50s. Then a bunch more medical crap that should be finished for awhile as of yesterday. My brother’s scans came back clean, they did bloodwork etc and he isn’t having to do chemo. They will check back again in three months.
So it’s been a bit of a whirlwind, but things have calmed down now.
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@BShark so sorry you had all of that to go thru. You’re a good man and a good brother!
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Sorry about the bad run. Glad everyone in your life has you there. Please take care of yourself through this.
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Clean scans is awesome though!!
There needs to be some kind of service that just handles all of the bull shit administrative work our ridiculous healthcare system creates for patients and caregivers.
Glad things have hopefully slowed down for you a bit.
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@benshawks08 said in I'm Back:
Clean scans is awesome though!!
There needs to be some kind of service that just handles all of the bull shit administrative work our ridiculous healthcare system creates for patients and caregivers.
Glad things have hopefully slowed down for you a bit.
It’s crazy. I had some where they didn’t process the insurance properly. I didn’t receive any notice about paying, it just went straight to collections. Thankfully the collection person was reasonable, and they were able get it worked out with insurance when I gave them the information.
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Not another administration racking up bills please, just less paperwork. It’s BS. The cost of insurance is outrageous - our family of 4s premium is $32k out of pocket - and then they don’t want to cover everything as they should. The struggle is real and the options are non-existent here. I can have blue cross or I can get laughed at and turned away with anything other coverage I have found.
Best of luck navigating the health care system! We’re trying to get my dad to the correct doctors. 2-3 weeks per inconclusive test and he’s in excruciating nerve pain. I’m ready to create doctor patients to see how they like being treated the same. Total BS
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Had several people reach out and yeah I am okay and will be okay. Just a bad stretch where I didn’t want to be online as much.
As I think I have posted before my brother has cancer so that is a lot. He is autistic so I have to handle more or less everything in terms of scheduling, talking with drs etc Well about a month ago the chemo meds probably almost killed him due to a side effect of increasing his blood pressure massively. I thankfully got him to the hospital in time that Sunday night. Also didn’t help that he was dehydrated. This required a multiple day stay in the hospital which also delayed several things regarding his treatment that all had to be rescheduled.
This was coming off of finding out a long time friend committed suicide just days before. Then after that, the dad of my long term GF dies, he was only in his 50s. Then a bunch more medical crap that should be finished for awhile as of yesterday. My brother’s scans came back clean, they did bloodwork etc and he isn’t having to do chemo. They will check back again in three months.
So it’s been a bit of a whirlwind, but things have calmed down now.
You’re doing good work here. Don’t be afraid to ask for a hand of those in your life. It can be overwhelming on your own!
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I’ve been battling with digestive issues this last year after surgery, with persistent low-grade indeterminate back/chest pain that was driving me nuts, leading to a battery of tests (I now know every unrelated thing thats wrong with me internally, which is good). Last week, the GI told me to take 7 doses of Miralax 2 days in a row (and no, I wasnt really “backed up” prior), and suddenly, zero pain. Because the lack of pain/sensation is so noticeable after a year of it, it’s both unnerving and exhilarating.
We definitely need to enjoy our good health while we have it!
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Best of luck navigating the health care system! We’re trying to get my dad to the correct doctors. 2-3 weeks per inconclusive test and he’s in excruciating nerve pain. I’m ready to create doctor patients to see how they like being treated the same. Total BS
A friend of mine had a long saga like this. Not nerve pain but was to do with his breathing etc Ultimately the doctors never did shit and some advice from his dad helped more. Of course, racked up big bills throughout that useless process.
The double standard is tremendous in all of this. My brother had an appointment for an optional surgery. Was set for roughly 10 am if memory serves maybe slightly earlier. Just kept getting later and later so eventually had to keep pressing the receptionist to try and get answers. Then they were flabbergasted when we left at 2pm… Of course he hadn’t eaten anything in well over a day at that point as was required for the surgery. RAHRAHRAHRHRHRRR grrrr
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@approxinfinity said in I'm Back:
I’ve been battling with digestive issues this last year after surgery, with persistent low-grade indeterminate back/chest pain that was driving me nuts, leading to a battery of tests (I now know every unrelated thing thats wrong with me internally, which is good). Last week, the GI told me to take 7 doses of Miralax 2 days in a row (and no, I wasnt really “backed up” prior), and suddenly, zero pain. Because the lack of pain/sensation is so noticeable after a year of it, it’s both unnerving and exhilarating.
We definitely need to enjoy our good health while we have it!
Bananas and peanuts helped my digestion tremendously. I know you have it solved now, but some advice for anyone.
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Hang in there. Seems like this stuff always comes in bunches / threes.
Hope everyone here and their loved ones find their way back to stable health. …And may we all have perfect GPS when navigating health insurance and health care.
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@BShark ugh, that’s a lot to deal with. I’m sure you brother is grateful for the help. Here’s to smooth sailing from here on out — for all of us!
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@rockchalkjayhawk said in I'm Back:
@BShark ugh, that’s a lot to deal with. I’m sure you brother is grateful for the help. Here’s to smooth sailing from here on out — for all of us!
Yeah he has been very grateful and is in all around good spirits considering everything
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@BShark You are the perfect example of the catalyst that allows the health care industrial complex to continue to fool itself and politicians that we have the best care in the world, no changes needed, Americans are so lucky, etc.
Because you are your family’s everyday health care advocate-- really, “hero” is the better word. Every day, thousands of parents, children, siblings, grandparents, cousins, aunt and uncles, and family friends have to step in and save their family members from convoluted rules, poorly trained staff, and overburdened or uncaring administrators.
We had to do the same for my mother. I was able to do it because I was retired so I had time, and had training in advocacy as a lawyer, but I fear for all the people who get screwed with little recourse. The stories of people losing their homes from erroneous insurance denials and huge med bills are insane.
Glad to hear your brother is doing better. May the love and compassion you bring to all the people in your life you have comforted and cared for come back to you a hundredfold!
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@mayjay thank you for all the kind words. I thankfully have experience dealing with collection agencies and the like already so that was not a new experience. The key is being tenacious and knowing your rights. Not everyone does of course. I also gained experience with the medical system helping mom navigate it when my dad was going through things before passing in 2017. My apologies to jaybate again even if he never sees this. I unfairly took out some frustrations on him in our exchanges here at that time. Part of being more offline was not wanting to lash out at anyone like that again.
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Rooting for you Shark
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@BShark I am sorry to hear about the stressful challenges you have had to deal with. I am glad that your situation has improved to the point that you are able to spend time with us. Your insight into KU sports is valued.
This so-called healthcare industry in the U.S. is broken. I know this intimately, as I am a healthcare provider. I could write a book about the many failures that I see on a daily basis. Dislike for insurance is too kind of a word in the way they screw patients over and make care more inefficient and costlier. I don’t want to make this a diatribe on the healthcare industry, but I can discuss my experience if bucketeers are interested.
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So many issues happened in such a short time. Down time is exactly what you need (needed?) to recover. Take it easy as much as you can and get better. Hoping everyone else is improving too.
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@patoh3 as someone who also works in the Healthcare industry. I agree wholeheartedly.
