Spent a lovely day at the hospital...NOT!

[streetsoldier]

From around 0900 to 1630 yesterday, I took Debi in for stomach and back pains (she's been flat on her back for weeks, in howling pain).

The fact that she asked me to take her (???) was shock enough; seven hours, four cups of hospital "swill" coffee and a backache of my own later, we were told that she has a kidney and bladder infection...THEN, we were shocked again at the cost of her antibiotics and pain meds...$139 for two tiny bottles.

Never again...never! The hospital staff treated us like pariahs...no insurance, y'know. Their response to the untimely care was "(Debi's) 'complaint' was not life-threatening"...yet, there was not a single other patient whose illness didn't fit that description as well. I was there the whole time...I saw them, coming and leaving, while Debi languished in tears on the hardest "bed" (actually, it was an OB-GYN pallet) they had available.

Anyone else ever have this problem?

[ColdFront77]

Bill, I am sorry to hear the ordeal you went through at the hospital yesterday. I hope she feels better sooner rather than later while taking the medicine.

What is a substitution for kidney and bladder infections?

[coriolis]

Wow, Bill. I hope you filled out a satisfaction survey. No I haven't noticed that sort of discrimination here. I'm sure that you guys will pay the bill. What they did was uncalled for.

[streetsoldier]

Coldfront77,

The pain medication was generic; it was the antibiotic that "broke the bank". Our Medicine Shoppe pharmacy always uses generics whenever possible; so far, antibiotics are still mostly "brand-name".

Ed, we will pay them as we are able...it's just that she ignored this for at least the past 2-6 months.

[Stephanie]

I've never really had that problem (knocks on wood) before. I can't imagine the pain that she was in and she's lucky that nothing worse happened.

I'm sorry that you had that experience.

[therock1811]

I have had bladder infections...I take macrodantin to keep them under control...may be time to conmsider doing that...can you apply for any benefits(VA, SS, Medicare, etc.)?

[streetsoldier]

I'm already on Social Security disability...and up until June, my wife and son have dependent's benefits. In June, Debi's are being taken away (since coppertop will be 16), which reduces what little we do get by 1/4 of total. Coppewrtop's dependent benefits expire when he turns 18 (or, if he goes on to college, 22).

In response to that, Debi will have to quit college, one semester before graduating, to find a full-time job...we can't absorb that heavy of a cut.

As to Medicare/Medicaid...they take too much $$ out of our small SS to PAY for it...then, we have to meet a $3K "spenddown" every quarter to GET medical benefits, and those are merely partial. We need the money at home much more, just to pay bills and put food on the table.

[ColdFront77]

Coldfront77,

The pain medication was generic; it was the antibiotic that "broke the bank". Our Medicine Shoppe pharmacy always uses generics whenever possible; so far, antibiotics are still mostly "brand-name".

I see, thanks Bill. Wishing Debi the best.

[azsnowman]

Bill, you have my deepest sympathies on this situation. Ya know, I've never heard of such treatment when it comes to an ER....I've been numerous times over the past 20 years and I've been without insurance from time to time due to cash flow problems, in between meat cutting jobs, and I've NEVER been treated like that! Sounds the like the State of Misery (MO.) is living up to it's name!

Dennis

D