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PatKirby · M
About $2,000 out of pocket after going to the ER for a second bout with kidney stones. That was [i]with insurance.[/i] Now, [i]without insurance,[/i] my first bout of kidney stones was about $24,500 out of pocket after going to the ER that I fortunately managed to negotiate down to about $2,200.
PatKirby · M
@Mikeawesome1986
Good on ya. But let me tell you, when you're experiencing the greatest amount of pain in your life, you don't think about the cost. Just relief. It's as painful as giving birth and the nurses said they've seen huge men crawling on all fours like a dog in searing pain. On a scale of 1-10, it was a 12 non-stop for 3-4 hours in the emergency room. When the rocks left my system it was not a pretty sight. Bright side is I know what not to eat and what to do now if it happens again. Got insurance this time.
Good on ya. But let me tell you, when you're experiencing the greatest amount of pain in your life, you don't think about the cost. Just relief. It's as painful as giving birth and the nurses said they've seen huge men crawling on all fours like a dog in searing pain. On a scale of 1-10, it was a 12 non-stop for 3-4 hours in the emergency room. When the rocks left my system it was not a pretty sight. Bright side is I know what not to eat and what to do now if it happens again. Got insurance this time.
Mikeawesome1986 · 36-40, M
@PatKirby I'm sorry, its a crap situation to be in. For me, it's the relief of not having to think about costs and the stress of it all.
I know if I was in that same situation, I would end up in A&E and they would do what they need to, then send me home when I was ready. There is no payment, no negotiation required. Ambulances are free, child birth is free, it's just not something we have to worry about here.
I know if I was in that same situation, I would end up in A&E and they would do what they need to, then send me home when I was ready. There is no payment, no negotiation required. Ambulances are free, child birth is free, it's just not something we have to worry about here.
PatKirby · M
@Mikeawesome1986
I've been doing some research for the past few years and intend to move to another country, most likely Panama, for this very reason. We're getting royally screwed by the astronomically high hospitalization and medical care costs. I had to find out the hard way that had I gone to the Urgent Care center just down the street, it would've cost a fraction of what the ER costs - and they would've treated me within 1-15 minutes! Not ignored and left me in the crowded emergency waiting area. They do this because they make more money this way knowing that if you found out, you'd never go there.
That's alright though. I always look at the bright side of things and figure the extreme pain (3-4 hours straight each time) of both kidney stone episodes taught me how much pain I can endure and taught me a little bit of what to expect when the end of life comes. Btw, my 78 year old mother passed away in blissful peace the month before of kidney failure. She worked at that exact hospital system for 39 years as a unit secretary. I learned a lot from her, especially her passing. May she rest in peace.
I've been doing some research for the past few years and intend to move to another country, most likely Panama, for this very reason. We're getting royally screwed by the astronomically high hospitalization and medical care costs. I had to find out the hard way that had I gone to the Urgent Care center just down the street, it would've cost a fraction of what the ER costs - and they would've treated me within 1-15 minutes! Not ignored and left me in the crowded emergency waiting area. They do this because they make more money this way knowing that if you found out, you'd never go there.
That's alright though. I always look at the bright side of things and figure the extreme pain (3-4 hours straight each time) of both kidney stone episodes taught me how much pain I can endure and taught me a little bit of what to expect when the end of life comes. Btw, my 78 year old mother passed away in blissful peace the month before of kidney failure. She worked at that exact hospital system for 39 years as a unit secretary. I learned a lot from her, especially her passing. May she rest in peace.
Mikeawesome1986 · 36-40, M
@PatKirby really sorry to hear that.
PSuss1 · 51-55, M
@Mikeawesome1986 for the time being....
PatKirby · M
@cherokeepatti
Yep. I now follow this recipe: 2 lemons, 1 lime, 1 orange squeezed + pulp (using a hand juice squeezer) into an extra large 48oz thermal jug. Fill the rest with brewed green tea. Drink it down at least five times a week. Plus, all that fiber is good for the GI tract and it's tasty! The citric acid is effective at breaking up the possible formation of oxalate stones. I see you know your stuff!
Yep. I now follow this recipe: 2 lemons, 1 lime, 1 orange squeezed + pulp (using a hand juice squeezer) into an extra large 48oz thermal jug. Fill the rest with brewed green tea. Drink it down at least five times a week. Plus, all that fiber is good for the GI tract and it's tasty! The citric acid is effective at breaking up the possible formation of oxalate stones. I see you know your stuff!
cherokeepatti · 61-69, F
@PatKirby I know someone who has had them twice, the kind with barbs. The first time the surgeon tried to get the stone out and he lacerated the urethra and had to do microsurgery, was in the hospital 42 days for that. The second time about 15 years later he had them again and it cut him trying to pass it, landed in his bladder and had to have surgery and a stint for that. So now he is more careful, gave up drinking Pepsi and drinks more water, plus the lemon juice pretty regularly helps too.
PatKirby · M
@cherokeepatti
Sounds familiar. Usually the most painful part is when the stone passes from the kidney to the bladder via the ureter. As it travels through the ureter it's busy 'scraping' against the walls all the way to the bladder with the sharp edges. Man alive it's painful and worse, it's non-stop, and lasts a long time. Some people get delirious. I couldn't think straight, all my thoughts were about getting relief sitting there in the ER.
When the stone finally does reach the bladder the pain typically subsides as by then the stone is almost always disintegrated into small sand-like particles because of the acidic environment. Poor guy, your friend sounds like his remained integrated all the way through, and we know what that means. I do hope he has healed as time has passed.
Btw, when I was finally diagnosed after hours sitting in the ER waiting in pain they gave me a small dose of morphine which brought immediate and blissful relief - I was in pain-relief heaven. My two kidney stone episodes happened within eighteen months of each other. These little monsters will take down the most powerful bodybuilders in the world and humble them like small puppies. Thank you for listening to me vent.
Sounds familiar. Usually the most painful part is when the stone passes from the kidney to the bladder via the ureter. As it travels through the ureter it's busy 'scraping' against the walls all the way to the bladder with the sharp edges. Man alive it's painful and worse, it's non-stop, and lasts a long time. Some people get delirious. I couldn't think straight, all my thoughts were about getting relief sitting there in the ER.
When the stone finally does reach the bladder the pain typically subsides as by then the stone is almost always disintegrated into small sand-like particles because of the acidic environment. Poor guy, your friend sounds like his remained integrated all the way through, and we know what that means. I do hope he has healed as time has passed.
Btw, when I was finally diagnosed after hours sitting in the ER waiting in pain they gave me a small dose of morphine which brought immediate and blissful relief - I was in pain-relief heaven. My two kidney stone episodes happened within eighteen months of each other. These little monsters will take down the most powerful bodybuilders in the world and humble them like small puppies. Thank you for listening to me vent.
PatKirby · M
@cherokeepatti
Good for him! I do have to add though, after doing lengthy research on the subject doctors discovered there has been a sudden and distinct increase in the prevalence of kidney stones in society in the last 20 years for some reason. They don't know why, yet.
Good for him! I do have to add though, after doing lengthy research on the subject doctors discovered there has been a sudden and distinct increase in the prevalence of kidney stones in society in the last 20 years for some reason. They don't know why, yet.