Thursday, 16 July 2009

• My Hubby's Medical Emergency - Need Advice

  
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  First of all, you may be thinking, "Hey, you're the one that's pregnant, shouldn't you be the one having medical emergencies?" Well, we would have thought so, but that's not what happened 2 weekends ago (and is still going on).

  Two weeks ago on Thursday my husband started having stomach pains. His lower right side and middle of his stomach above his belly button started hurting. The first thing you think when you hear the lower right side is appendix, but we weren't sure and we don't have health insurance, so we were not too eager to rush to the doctor on a false alarm. Plus the other pain didn't make sense or seem to go along with that and he was uncomfortable but not in a state of horrible pain. Friday he was still hurting but was able to go to work again. He barely slept that night even with the help of a Tylenol PM but we still thought it was gas pains or a pulled muscle. Saturday morning we were supposed to go on a picnic at a nearby lake with our church. I wasn't sure if we should go or not, but he was really looking forward to it and was determined to go. I bargained with him and convinced him to leave after eating lunch if we had to go. So we got ready as if we were going (hence me ending up wearing my bathing suit under my clothes nearly all day, though we never got near any water). About the time we needed to leave (about 8:30), I decided there was no way we could go. He was having trouble walking around and in obvious pain with every movement. We googled the nearest urgent care facility and called a friend to let them know why we wouldn't be at the picnic.

  The urgent care is 15 min. from our home. We were able to get in really fast (apparently most people aren't up early enough to hurt themselves on Saturday morning). We had to pay $75 up front before they would even see us since we didn't have insurance. The doctor was incredibly nice. He said he just wanted to eliminate the appendix option. It was odd, since Josh didn't have a fever or nausea, diarrhea, etc. and the upper abdomen pain seemed to throw everyone off too. Unfortunately the doctor could not eliminate the possibility that this was his appendix, but he was kind enough to refund us our money and call ahead to the emergency room.

  We drove back to our hometown (the hospital there is about 2 blocks from our house) and headed to the ER. We were the only ones there (again, people must not have early emergencies on the weekend) and got in quickly. I was in complete denial that this could be his appendix because I knew there was no way we could afford such a thing, and besides, my husband is one of the healthiest people I know. He never gets sick. So we spent a good amount of time in the ER room waiting on different people to ask him the same questions, poke around his stomach, and start tests. The whole time I'm staying calm (I'm usually the cool, collected type) but hearing the "cha-ching" of a cash register every time they touch him. I just kept thinking, "Okay, when are you going to tell us it's something we can get medication for and send us home?" The doctor at the urgent care facility had told us that if we caught an appendix in time he could take antibiotics, so that was our 'worst case scenario'. The only way to really rule out the appendix was a CT Scan (again, "cha-ching") and, you guessed it, it was his appendix--and it had to come out today.

  We are roll with the punches type of people, so we just focused on the next leg of the journey. The surgeon came in and talked with us and said he was stable for now, so we would do the surgery around 6 pm. We got moved to a hospital room and they gave him plenty of pain meds and IV fluids. He hadn't eaten since the night before around 7, so that was good (but hard because he was really hungry). I was the informer during all this-calling our parents and the friends at the lake to give updates as soon as we'd get them. Some of them came to visit us when they got back, but they had taken DH to surgery by then. It was supposed to take an hour but they got started a little late and kept him in Post-Op for a long time because he was having trouble remembering to breathe under the heavy medication. He left for anesthesiology at 5:30 and didn't get back until 9:30. I was getting worried, but tried to keep myself distracted with TV after the friends left around 7:30 or 8. He looked so pale and in pain when he got back. He was pretty drugged, so he was able to rest quickly. I did cry then, just a little, because seeing him like that was really hard.

  I was able to get some sleep on the pull out sofa in his room, although it was far from comfy. I guess they make the mattresses super hard so they won't wear out as fast. The next day we eagerly awaited the doctor's visit to tell us we could go home. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. When the surgeon had gotten inside DH, he realized things were worse than he thought. He hadn't ruptured, but his appendix was twice the normal size and there was a lot of inflammation. He told us we were going to need to stay one more night for observation and antibiotics through the IV. I was actually a bit relieved even though the "cha-ching" sound kept getting bigger. Josh was barely able to sit up on the side of the bed. I was helping him do everything-eat, use the bathroom, etc. and I'm not really supposed to be lifting anything too heavy with my pregnant self. I don't think there is any way we could have survived a day like that at home.

  Meanwhile, we were finally able to get a hold of his boss to tell him what was going on so he could find a replacement for DH's route (he delivers auto parts). We were stressing about the work situation since he is technically self-employed. That means no pay until he gets back to work, and no benefits (and he doesn't make enough for us to afford insurance). Another long day and night in the hospital followed by another day and finally being dismissed in the afternoon. The doctor would see us in his office the next Tuesday (this was Monday) to remove the drain he'd inserted to help avoid infection (due to the amount of inflamation) and discuss when he could return to work. Fast forward until yesterday when we went back to the doctor. He took out the drain and didn't say a word about work until we asked. He said next Monday at the earliest with the help of someone else doing the lifting (a guy at work volunteered his son if my husband would pay him a small amount). So that's two weeks without a paycheck. Which is, well, pretty much undoable, considering we have nothing left over at the end of each month.

  We got the hospital bill, which was 'reduced by 60% due to our lack of insurance'. After being reduced, it is about half of what Josh grosses each year (and I'm unemployed now). Then yesterday the anesthesiologist bills came in. I called the hospital to get an itemized bill (they had already sent me a financial assistance form) and ask what other bills I need to be looking for. There are still bills for the surgeon (which we sort of knew about after our doctor's visit), the ER physician, and radiology. Before they reduced it, the original bill (which was for 'facility fees' only) was more than we make in a year. A two night stay in the hospital is more than we make in a year?!?!

  On the bright side, when I called to set up a payment plan with the anesthesiology company they said they would revise our bill since we didn't have insurance and get it out to us next week, and the minimum payment is $25 a month.

  Through all of this, I have not been afraid or lost hope. I know that God will take care of this bill. I mean, He has to because we obviously can't. The hospital facility fees are supposed to be paid in a year, which would require all of my husband's net income per month besides $500. But we make 'too much' for Medicare benefits (which look at his gross income-this doesn't work for him since he spends almost half of it on gas and taking out his own taxes). I'm trying my best to stay positive and calm. Apparently it is bugging me though because every time I woke up last night to go to the bathroom (third trimester starting) I started thinking about it. Luckily I was able to pray it away for a while.

  Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We will really need it. I am going to try to reapply for Medicare for us since the baby is on the way and I am unemployed (although my husband grosses more than the limit by himself). I am going to try to explain his situation (he has to pay for all his gas and car repairs and expenses himself). They asked him the questions in the hospital for Medicare and said he made too much but they aren't really looking at the whole picture, so maybe they will if I reapply.

  If you have any suggestions on what to do about our situation or people we should talk to, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!

  • 12:01 PM
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