An example of one reason why our healthcare system is bungled

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Perks

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So a little over two weeks ago, I got the flu. I'd never had the flu before and it kicked my ass. The only time I've ever been sicker was a flogging I took nineteen years ago from mononucleosis. I was in enough pain to warrant a trip to the doctor and was sent away with Vicodin and Tamiflu. I died for about for four days, wilted for another two and then started feeling better.

As soon as I pinked up (this was six days post Tamiflu and nine days since my last Vicodin), I noticed a small red splotch on my torso and thought maybe my brassiere had rubbed me wrong. Over the next two days, a few tiny red bumps. Then a full bloom of both rosy smears and red pinpoints all over my ribs and belly. Today is day eight and it's migrated north and south and has wrapped around in a hug of sorts. It doesn't really itch or bother me, it's just weird.

So I call my health insurance's nurse line. She doesn't like the sound of it and says that I might have a bacterial infection which sometimes chases the flu. (My daughter had strep and my husband had some sort of sinusitis attack in the interim, so we've had noseeums floating around in the house.) She wants me to get to the doctor ASAP, even though I feel fine.

So I spent the morning in the doctors office. I wait for an hour. The nurse takes my temperature and blood pressure and then I get to wait another twenty minutes for the doctor to come in.

He barely looks at me and says, "You're fine."

I say, "Great. They were just concerned that it could be strep since it was in my house at the same time I was sick."

He says, "No. If it was strep, you'd feel bad. There's nothing wrong with you. I'll write you a prescription for Prednisone."

"But you said there was nothing wrong."

"Right."

"Then I'd prefer not to take a course of steroids."

"Okay, take a Benadryl."

WTF? As far as I know, the recommended treatment for 'everything's okay' is to go home and get on with your life. But this guy has pen poised to nuclear bomb my healthy ass in repayment for the ninety minutes I've lost in waiting for him. Apparently, putting me into a Benadryl stupor is King Solomon's solution.

This is no way to run a railroad. Come to find out, not only was it wasteful and not very healthy to offer me Prednisone, but once I told the man I'd been exposed to strep, he should have done the test. Not everyone presents the same way. So, now I'm out a co-pay and a Monday morning and I might be fine or I might be sick. Irksome.
 

Bravo

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83% of the doctors i've been to have been quacks.

but i do understand why they feel the need to give patients something, otherwise people don't think they've got their money's worth.

not that i know anything about these drugs.
 

Don Allen

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Is this thread going to be as interesting as the ass thread a few days ago?
 

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Is this thread going to be as interesting as the ass thread a few days ago?
Definitely not. I'm regretting posting it, as it's probably the most indulgent thing I've put up here. I was just frustrated and annoyed.

Move along, nothing to see here!

Mod-medic!
 
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Stew21

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Don't feel bad, Perks. A few weeks ago, I had the flu, Little Stew had an ear infection, littlest Stew had Strep and Mr. Stew had bronchitis. Each of us was on 2 prescriptions (at $10 each) and we each had a $20 copay at the doctor's office.
I didn't have anything an antibiotic could treat, but I got one anyway because...because?...well she said - my flu (though it matched symptom-for-symptom with flu they had been seeing in the office) could be the beginnings of the strep Littlest Stew had.
$160 later...
 

Craig Gosse

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This is no way to run a railroad.

Hey, It could have been 1,278% worse - you could have had the same situation while stuck under Canada's socialist 'medical system'.

Heil Kanada! Sieg Heil!

...but, hey, at least Via Rail runs on time! (*Wry Grin*)

Thank you for listening to this rant. We now return you to your regulalry scheduled life, already in progress...
 

poetinahat

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Ah, good. Incompetent doctor stories (well, health system, doctor, I'll take some license). My turn:

Age: 23. Occupation: Grad student, part-time lecturer. Just shy of spring break, a fever hits me. Hard. Like, oh, 103-104. Then the red welts. All over. First, I look like a mosquito scratching post. A few days later, I look like a strawberry - more red skin than white. In February, in Bowling Green, Ohio, I'm sleeping with the windows open.

I don't have time to see a doctor -- I've got exams to take and to compose and give, lectures to write and give. Finally, class lets out. But it's a college town -- so EVERYONE vanishes. Including doctors.

Finally, through a friend of a friend, I chase down a doctor. I await, shirt off, on the examining table. I stare out at the wisps of snow being twirled over the road by the Ohio prairie winds.

The doctor strolls in -- white hair, purplish skin, More(r) cigarette hanging from his liver-spotted lips. He looks me up and down, takes my temperature, and pronounces:

"You need to change your soap."

Um... but I'm burning up.

"You're reacting to your soap. Change it. You'll be fine."

Bewildered, I drive home -- slowly, painfully -- to stay with my parents for the week. I stagger into the house, stumble into my parents' arms. My father, the dentist, takes one look at me:

"Jesus, Rob. You've got measles."

I spend the next week lying in bathtubs filled with ice.

And washing with the same soap I always used.
 
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joyce

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A few years back my mother was suffering with pains in her chest and goes to the doctor. She'd been going to this guy for years. He tells her that she is only suffering through some later life crazies and it was basically all mental. He asks her if she'd been having relationship problems with my father that would cause panic attacks and the pain in her chest. She tells him after living with the man for 50 years she was having no more problems with him than she'd been having for years. For a year she keeps going to this guy complaining of the pain and he tells her the same thing. Finally one morning she thinks she's having a heart attack and is rushed to the hospital. Her doctor shows up and they run tests on her. Come to find out she had terminal lung cancer and it was now inoperable. If it had been caught a year earlier she would have had a chance. She ended up dying 6 months later. I don't have too much faith in the medical system.
 

Cranky

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Ah, good. Incompetent doctor stories (well, health system, doctor, I'll take some license). My turn:

Age: 23. Occupation: Grad student, part-time lecturer. Just shy of spring break, a fever hits me. Hard. Like, oh, 103-104. Then the red welts. All over. First, I look like a mosquito scratching post. A few days later, I look like a strawberry - more red skin than white. In February, in Bowling Green, Ohio, I'm sleeping with the windows open.

I don't have time to see a doctor -- I've got exams to take and to compose and give, lectures to write and give. Finally, class lets out. But it's a college town -- so EVERYONE vanishes. Including doctors.

Finally, through a friend of a friend, I chase down a doctor. I await, shirt off, on the examining table. I stare out at the wisps of snow being twirled over the road by the Ohio prairie winds.

The doctor strolls in -- white hair, purplish skin, More(r) cigarette hanging from his liver-spotted lips. He looks me up and down, takes my temperature, and pronounces:

"You need to change your soap."

Um... but I'm burning up.

"You're reacting to your soap. Change it. You'll be fine."

Bewildered, I drive home -- slowly, painfully -- to stay with my parents for the week. I stagger into the house, stumble into my parents' arms. My father, the dentist, takes one look at me:

"Jesus, Rob. You've got measles."

I spend the next week lying in bathtubs filled with ice.

And washing with the same soap I always used.


:Jaw::eek:
 

kikazaru

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Perks in my non-medical opinion, you might have a reaction to the medication you've been taking.

I was on a massive course of antibiotics (ruptured appendix, peritonitus) for several weeks, then about 6 months later had some oral surgery on my jaw- again another massive course of antibiotics for weeks and during the last few days of the antibiotic I noticed a red streaks on my torso, like I had been scratching. They didn't itch they just were "there" and very apparent for weeks after I quite taking the antibiotic. I also react this way to "Ibuprofen" so you might also take a look at any of the over the counter stuff you took.

Btw Craig, The Canadian "socialist 'medical' system" saved my life several times over and the lives of many people I care about - I think it is an excellent one.
 

Silver King

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Is this thread going to be as interesting as the ass thread a few days ago?
Perks posted an ass thread? Here? In Office Party? I don't see how it's possible, but I must've missed that one.

Before I set off to look for that most interesting discussion, I'd complain about my doctor, or my HMO or the state of health care in general, but I don't have medical coverage due to cost restraints. I'm fit as a fiddle and strong as an ox, but that'll probably change, like tomorrow, and I'll be screwed.
 

Craig Gosse

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Btw Craig, The Canadian "socialist 'medical' system" saved my life several times over and the lives of many people I care about - I think it is an excellent one.

Well, I'll have to admit that my experience is limited to the Ontario health-care system... but still and all, I'm amazed anybody would think to call it 'excellent'. I mean, it's bad enough when it's super-suctioning cash out of your pocket during the times you don't need it - the times when you actually *do* need it, it's only worse!

Every time, in American political debates, when I see people suggesting they should socialize American health-care as well, I cringe on behalf of my southern cousins. Do they really have no idea what they're, quite literally, asking to get themselves into? Yeesh!

(You may have managed to to figure out that I'm not exactly a fan of socialism in any form. Didn't work for the Nazis, the Soviets... or anybody else who has ever tried it, in the long run. Still, I call it 'The Liver Scenario'. No matter how long or loudly you express your dislike of liver, you'll always find somebody to say 'Yes, but - you've never tried it the way *I* make it.' Same with socialism...)
 

Perks

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Perks in my non-medical opinion, you might have a reaction to the medication you've been taking.
I didn't start the rash until six days after the last dose of meds. And eight days later it's getting worse. Blah. It's a drag. Maybe I need to change my soap to what Poetinahat uses.
 

Don Allen

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Perks didn't post it Silver.. I think it was Moon, damn good ass thread though....If perks has an ass thread starter, I'd jump on it, so to speak..... HA.
 

Perks

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I wonder if that's what's wrong with my writing? Not enough ass. That figures.
 
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Bravo

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it perpetually saddens me.

:(
 

Shadow_Ferret

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Was this your regular doctor or some "urgent care" guy who isn't intelligent enough to have his own cadre of patients?

Because my doc, and most doctors I've dignified as refering to as "my doctor" have always been wonderful.

It's the transitory morons who serve as "on-call" urgent care specialists that I find are the quacks.
 

Unique

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Perks in my non-medical opinion, you might have a reaction to the medication you've been taking.

Btw Craig, The Canadian "socialist 'medical' system" saved my life several times over and the lives of many people I care about - I think it is an excellent one.

Perks - One time, and one time only, I was prescribed a sulfa drug (antibiotic type) I developed a rash that looked like measles on the very last tablet! I only had one more to go. Didn't itch, wasn't 3 dimensional, but it looked like hell. Torso and upper thighs only.

Just so you know reactions aren't always immediate.

I didn't start the rash until six days after the last dose of meds. And eight days later it's getting worse. Blah. It's a drag. Maybe I need to change my soap to what Poetinahat uses.
See above.

Was this your regular doctor or some "urgent care" guy who isn't intelligent enough to have his own cadre of patients?

Because my doc, and most doctors I've dignified as refering to as "my doctor" have always been wonderful.

It's the transitory morons who serve as "on-call" urgent care specialists that I find are the quacks.

Hey, now! The two doctors my son and I see ARE urgent care docs. We see them because they are the best I've found. I'd love to have a "regular" doc - I tried a place with a contingent of primary care docs (that one of those recommended - never again!)

I keep going back to them because: 1) they listen to me; and 2) they don't have the attitude of, 'I'm the doc, I'm smart; you're the patient, you're stupid. I hate that and it pisses me off like nothing else.

Also - Perks - I went to one of the above mentioned and he said, 'I think you have the flu.' I said, 'I think I have strep - humour me and do a culture'. (They're fast nowadays) Guess what? I had BOTH. Also, Tamiflu works wonders but I have heard from more than one doc - you have to take it within 36-48 hours of symtom onset or it doesn't do any good.

My flu lasted 2 days but I took my Tamiflu quickly. Within 24 hours of symptom onset.

kikazaru - my mom is always talking about how 'terrible' Canadian & European health care is - I'm sending her your quote. :)
 

RumpleTumbler

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Will you post a picture of the rash?

If not just a picture with your shirt off pre-rash is ok.

kthxbai!
 

Perks

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Also, Tamiflu works wonders but I have heard from more than one doc - you have to take it within 36-48 hours of symtom onset or it doesn't do any good.

My flu lasted 2 days but I took my Tamiflu quickly. Within 24 hours of symptom onset.
Yeah, I think I got it too late. My flu lasted about 6 or 7 days with the first four being evil and the last three a simple matter of crawling out of the grave.

Thanks for all the input! I thought about the drugs, but I just can't see it starting six days after the Tamiflu and eight days after the Vicodin, then getting progressively worse over the next now nine days.

It's probably some stupid thing that has nothing to do with the flu. I feel fine. I'm just going to take a Benadryl at night and give it a few more days. It's kinda strange, although the rash is only over my torso and hips, my face keeps flushing. I'm not running a fever. I'm a biological wonder.

If I die, you can have my laptop.
 

Paichka

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Oh! Fun! Crazy doctor stories.

Well I'm in the military. When I was in Officer Basic Course at lovely Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, we had a whole spate of Quack Doctor stories.

1) One of my friends was having cramps, bad ones. So bad they were incapacitating her. She went to the doctor, and this yahoo tells her she has ovarian cancer. She's wigging out, the Small Group Instructors are wigging out, the entire CLASS is wigging out. Turns out she was just having bad period cramps. Two weeks and a couple of midol later, she's fine. With a few more gray hairs, though.

2) Out in the field, one of the guys develops this narsty rash all over his torso. It's itching, it's bleeding in places, it's just...narsty. So he goes in to the doctor and is prescribed nine (9!) different medications for this skin condition, that he's told might be measles, shingles, chicken pox, whatever. One day he's in class, itching away, turns gray and passes out. Come to find out that not only were two of his medications negatively reacting with each other, but he didn't have some crazy skin condition. He had diaper rash, from not changing his t-shirt often enough out in the field.

It was the same doctor in both cases. It actually went all the way up the chain, and old boy got fired for gross incompetance.

Obviously these were isolated cases, I'm sure. There's a lot to love about the military medical system, not in the least of which being that it's free.
 

kikazaru

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Perks - One time, and one time only, I was prescribed a sulfa drug (antibiotic type) I developed a rash that looked like measles on the very last tablet! I only had one more to go. Didn't itch, wasn't 3 dimensional, but it looked like hell. Torso and upper thighs only.

Yes my rash lasted for weeks after I quit taking the drug (Ceflex). Kind of scary how long it can stay/have an affect in your system.
 
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