Doctors

Ug! I don't like going to the doctors. I hate shots and needles and the like.

Anyway,
I went to the doctor about 2 years ago because I had these weird bumps, 1 in my back and one in my front near my ribcage. The one in my back hurt! So I went to the doctor and she felt them and said they were benign. So she said I didnt need to get them removed. Anyway, 2 years later it still hurts! It hurts my whole back on my left side. And they say it is unnecessary to remove them. Im hoping to go to the doctor again because today I have had the worst pain ever. Ug! Anyway thats my rant.

they sound like cysts to me, did they tell you what they were?

They are tumors. :/

I would get a second opinion. What kind of health care do you have? If they are causing pain, it should be possible to have them removed. With HMOs you sometimes have to be VERY assertive to get past the "front line" physicians to specialists. I have a lot of hardware in one of my feet because I was told there was no fracture and that it might take six months for the soft tissue injury to heal. I went back in 6 months because it still hurt so they sent me to the physical therapist. Eventually the PT palpated it and located the source of the pain, said "I think you better get that xrayed again". At that point, not only was the fracture now visible, but it was so badly messed up from trying to heal and rebreaking that it took a bonegraft, a plate and a bunch of screws to repair it. Because I quietly said "It hurts" instead of weeping and wailing, my "personal physician" assumed I wasn't really in much pain and blew me off. He turned quite pale when saw that radiograph and I was in surgery a week later. Those frontline guys are often trained to try to minimize treatment costs by offering cheaper options if they judge the problem to be less serious, and if you are a stoic type, or a retiring one, you can get written off. You have to be a strong advocate for yourself.

FWIW I subsequently changed to PPO insurance. It costs more by quite a lot, but we have a super GP and the standard of care is hugely improved. I am grateful we can afford it at this point. Taking care of my father when he was dying really sensitized me to the difference having a good physician can make when things go south.

In grade 7, a lump appeared on my right knee. As time passed, it began becoming more and more painful.

My family doctor thought it was arthritis. I did exercise after exercise, with no help.

I eventually convinced my mom to take me to a physiotherapist to see if they could help. They told me I had some obscure illness. They gave me more and more exercises and I began therapeutic ultrasound.

Nothing helped.

So I went back to my family doctor, and I was sent to a specialist in the city.

They had absolutely no clue what was wrong with me.

I was then sent to the children's hospital.

At first, they couldn't figure it out, but after a few MRI (and being injected with some neat radioactive fluid) they finally found the problem.

I had 5 tumors in my knee. One of them was the length of my index finger.

Finally, at the end of grade 11, I got three of the tumors removed.

I spent a week in the hospital, and then I was bed ridden for a month.

I missed a month of school, all at once.

What I suggest is to keep complaining about it. Go to your doctors and explain how much of a bother it is.

Well I cant go back until I get health insurance in NC. My parents are divorced so I have health insurance in California where my mom lives, but not here where we just moved. My dad doesn't get us on his health insurance until the university gives it to him. And I dont know when that will be. So it sucks. Hah.

And Im sorry both of you had to experience that stuff!

hannahbird wrote:

Well I cant go back until I get health insurance in NC. My parents are divorced so I have health insurance in California where my mom lives, but not here where we just moved. My dad doesn't get us on his health insurance until the university gives it to him. And I dont know when that will be. So it sucks.

What kind of insurance is it? Most policies have a provision for when you are out-of-state. It's usually for situations where you are on travel, but you might want to look into that.

We might have to wait a little longer at the doctor's office, but I am glad we have our health care.

Allow the RN Case-Manager to chime in here if you will.

First of all, my rant is this. Health care is a business just as much as any other business. People think that because they did not go to school and may not know as much about medicine as their physician that they are somehow less deserving of superior customer service, but that is simply not the case. If the mind-set of Americans were to change just a little, I believe that it would bring about a change in the health-care system. Patients are consumers of a commodity, and as consumers or customers, we have a right and a responsibility to demand excellent treatment. If we do not receive the care we feel we need and deserve, we should take our business elsewhere.

The same goes for health insurance. And though the model becomes a bit more complicated when you bring HMO's into the picture, it is still a workable model.

Hannah, I am 99.9% certain that you have coverage right now. Your coverage may be out-of-network, thereby having a higher copay then it would if you were in California, but you are most-likely covered. I commend you for waiting to wait until you have local coverage since it will most certainly save your family money, but if you were my child, I would want you to be seen. Especially if you are having increased pain. I don't know the details of your situation, but benign tumors can turn malignant. Even if they remain benign, depending on where they are situated, they can press on nerves causing tremendous pain or even permanent damage to the nerve.

None of that is meant to scare you, and I'm sure neither is the case in your situation. If it were, I'm confident you and your family would be aware of those possibilities and would be proactive in monitoring any change in their size. However, unless you have been told previously by a specialist that exactly what is happening now was to be expected, I think it's in your best interest to have these tumors followed up on by a doc in your new area - sooner rather than later.

That's just my 2cents worth. Take it or leave it I'm not an expert, just a very opinionated big-mouth!

VickiNumbers wrote:

That's just my 2cents worth. Take it or leave it I'm not an expert, just a very opinionated big-mouth!

I beg to differ, that was eloquent and based on far more relevant experience that I think most of us have!

ScooterNScotty wrote:

VickiNumbers wrote:

That's just my 2cents worth. Take it or leave it I'm not an expert, just a very opinionated big-mouth!

I beg to differ, that was eloquent and based on far more relevant experience that I think most of us have!

I agree! Thanks for your guys's help!

Ha ha, somehow our parrot forum managed to touch on my area of expertise. But expert or not, I can always be counted on to have an opinion! Lol!

Hannah, I'm sorry if I came across sounding harsh, it wasn't my intent. . I'm really very nice! I HATE giving shots... I used to pay one of my nurse friends to give my injections for me. That's how much I hate giving them! (I don't work with her any more or I'd still do it.) I do think, though, that you should press towards a recheck though. I know the timing may be out if your control, but do what you can. . In the meantime, goodluck! And keep us (me) posted.

ScooterNScotty wrote:

I would get a second opinion. With HMOs you sometimes have to be VERY assertive to get past the "front line" physicians to specialists.

Agreed on the second opinion. Disagree that it's a problem w/ HMOs. When I was much younger under my parents' private insurance (and it was very good), out family physician was basically, in hind sight, an idiot. He misdiagnosed several people and was very flippant about everything being "a cold" or due to "aging". He failed to diagnose my grandmother w/ late onset diabetes (how easy is that to just do a quick finger prick) and she wasn't diagnosed until she went into the ER after dropping in our living room with a grand mal seizure from blood sugar over 800 - he said she was just getting old. He failed to diagnose someone else I knew with a fractured foot -told her she was just fat and needed to lose weight. Failed to diagnose my dad's acoustic neuroma - said my dad was getting old and the restaurant business was loud.

ScooterNScotty wrote:

You have to be a strong advocate for yourself.

Absolutely agreed. I found it easier to manipulate the HMO system to get the care I wanted. I could/would change primary care physician until I found one I liked.

VickiNumbers wrote:

Allow the RN Case-Manager to chime in here if you will.

First of all, my rant is this. Health care is a business just as much as any other business. People think that because they did not go to school and may not know as much about medicine as their physician that they are somehow less deserving of superior customer service, but that is simply not the case. If the mind-set of Americans were to change just a little, I believe that it would bring about a change in the health-care system. Patients are consumers of a commodity, and as consumers or customers, we have a right and a responsibility to demand excellent treatment. If we do not receive the care we feel we need and deserve, we should take our business elsewhere.

The same goes for health insurance. And though the model becomes a bit more complicated when you bring HMO's into the picture, it is still a workable model.

Hannah, I am 99.9% certain that you have coverage right now. Your coverage may be out-of-network, thereby having a higher copay then it would if you were in California, but you are most-likely covered. I commend you for waiting to wait until you have local coverage since it will most certainly save your family money, but if you were my child, I would want you to be seen. Especially if you are having increased pain. I don't know the details of your situation, but benign tumors can turn malignant. Even if they remain benign, depending on where they are situated, they can press on nerves causing tremendous pain or even permanent damage to the nerve.

None of that is meant to scare you, and I'm sure neither is the case in your situation. If it were, I'm confident you and your family would be aware of those possibilities and would be proactive in monitoring any change in their size. However, unless you have been told previously by a specialist that exactly what is happening now was to be expected, I think it's in your best interest to have these tumors followed up on by a doc in your new area - sooner rather than later.

That's just my 2cents worth. Take it or leave it I'm not an expert, just a very opinionated big-mouth!

Yeah, what SHE said!

Hannah - you need medical care. Go to your school nurse and explain the whole situation if your parents won't take you to the doctor.

ScooterNScotty wrote:

I would get a second opinion. (...)

I'm with you on this one.
Couple of years ago, I have something grow on front side of my neck. Regular doctor said cysts, and: don't worry. I gone for second opinion, and my "don't worry cysts" was cancer.
I didn't have insurance, but I made them removed in county hospital- BTW: there is not that good like in the ER movie. Bur I survived. I had 2 surgeries and RAI therapy after and I still pay my hospital bills.
Now imagine, if I would listen to the first doctor and do nothing...
My intention is not to scare nobody, only worn, what can happen...

Thanks for all of your responses! And margret, Im so glad you're better! I will try to get to the doctor but everyone is so busy with unpacking and stuff so I dont want to be a bother, I will just have to wait a little bit. But if it gets worse I will make sure I go right away (:

You guys need to move to Canada.

I had testing done for potential seizure activity. Free

My mum had her hip replaced. Free

My brother paid a bill in Mexico while on Vacation for minor surgery and stitches in his hand. Canada paid him back.

Damn right Zanzy!

Although I really do think we need a new national anthem. It lacks in oomph.

I'm really glad y'all are happy with your health care system!!

While I am a staunch conservative/libertarian (I know, ewwww!), AND a nurse, I am making a conscious and deliberate choice not to engage in a discussion regarding the politics of health care. LOL, y'all can thank me any time you want! Lol!

Maybe we should start another forum: PARROTS AND POLITICS! lol!

I have to add though, that I think it's the coolest thing how the people of this forum are becoming friends as opposed to a bunch of people who just sit around and talk about birds. A forum that discusses everything is SO much more engaging than one restricted to a single topic.

I'm afraid I am with the Canadians on this one... but we're avoiding the political thing, right? When I was in Spain, I had a very serious fall from a horse. Initial xrays at an outpatient facility indicated need for a CT scan at the hospital. In the end, I wound up paying the bill out of hand because the entire billed charge for all care, ER, radiographs, scan, meds and followup was less than the deductible on my US insurance.

Hannah, I just want to say, that while people might be busy unpacking and all, I cannot imagine anyone deep down feeling you were "being a bother" by seeking care.

VickiNumbers wrote:

I'm really glad y'all are happy with your health care system!!

While I am a staunch conservative/libertarian (I know, ewwww!), AND a nurse, I am making a conscious and deliberate choice not to engage in a discussion regarding the politics of health care. LOL, y'all can thank me any time you want! Lol!

Maybe we should start another forum: PARROTS AND POLITICS! lol!

I have to add though, that I think it's the coolest thing how the people of this forum are becoming friends as opposed to a bunch of people who just sit around and talk about birds. A forum that discusses everything is SO much more engaging than one restricted to a single topic.

Well, I AM curious what you have to say. Put it out there! I don't think we're opposed to talk on politics, it's just if it gets ugly. So far so good, we're all being careful to not get ugly.

ScooterNScotty wrote:

I'm afraid I am with the Canadians on this one... but we're avoiding the political thing, right? When I was in Spain, I had a very serious fall from a horse. Initial xrays at an outpatient facility indicated need for a CT scan at the hospital. In the end, I wound up paying the bill out of hand because the entire billed charge for all care, ER, radiographs, scan, meds and followup was less than the deductible on my US insurance.

Hannah, I just want to say, that while people might be busy unpacking and all, I cannot imagine anyone deep down feeling you were "being a bother" by seeking care.

Yes, if US health care (not insurance) were more affordable, it wouldn't really matter if we had insurance or not. When I broke my arm I had "catastrophic" insurance. Apparently a broken arm's not considered catastrophic so I paid all x-rays and follow up visits out of pocket. That was fine as I negotiated w/ the docs for a cash pay price. The x-rays and office visits were less than what I pay the vet a lot of times.

Then my arm didn't heal and I needed to get it pinned. Insurance paid for that. The hospital charged almost $75,000 for the surgery; insurance paid about $20,000; and the hospital wrote off the rest. What kind of ridiculousness is that? If the hospital just charged me a straight $20,000 I could have written them a home equity line check and just bypass insurance. I understand not everyone has resources available to them; I'm just using this for illustrative purposes of the system being silly.

More ridiculousness (actually, insurance ripping you off). I had the surgery in October. I had already met my deductible for that year. Insurance delayed and waited until Feb of the next year to pay the hospital and told me I had to pay the deductible again as it's based on calendar year of when the claim is paid, not when the claim is incurred. Isn't that lovely?

Hannah - You're old enough! Call your mother and get the insurance info. Look up a doctor who takes the insurance. Coordinate the appointment and tell your dad when the appointment is!

My mom has medical, and my moms health insurance doesnt have me on it anymore because she doesnt pay child support or something. I cant remember what my dad said. Something along those lines

Nope. I'm seriously not going to go there. I've got too much invested in my sanity to go there right now! LOL!

For the record, I will say that I think that there are a lot of things wrong with the U.S. health care system and I honestly don't know if it's fixable in the way (I think) it should be fixed. Beyond that, the last thing I'm going to say in this thread is:

Hannah, I really hope you feel better soon!!! You had no idea this was what you would get when you were venting about not feeling good, did you? LOL! Hugs to you little sister!!!

VickiNumbers wrote:

Nope. I'm seriously not going to go there. I've got too much invested in my sanity to go there right now! LOL!

For the record, I will say that I think that there are a lot of things wrong with the U.S. health care system and I honestly don't know if it's fixable in the way (I think) it should be fixed. Beyond that, the last thing I'm going to say in this thread is:

Hannah, I really hope you feel better soon!!! You had no idea this was what you would get when you were venting about not feeling good, did you? LOL! Hugs to you little sister!!!

Thank you!

I am thankful for the healthcare we have..