A Tale of Heathcare
In the spring, I had the flu (for the third time that school year). I was miserable and went to the doctor for something to get me through it. I had a UTI. I had been having a lot of them. The nurse practitioner made an appointment for me to go to a urologist. That took until August. At that appointment, the nurse practitioner for the urologist signed me up for a cystoscopy and a CAT scan of bladder because I had blood in my urine, more than was normal. (There's usually a little bit for most people, I have been told).
In early October I had those two tests. Nothing was anatomical wrong, so I was sent for physical therapy for the pelvic floor. I didn't at the time know there was such a thing. That was helpful; I imagine I will be doing those PT exercises for a long time. I changed some other habits; different way of consuming water, scheduling bathroom visits, no iced tea or soda, putting my feet up. They even massaged my bladder (painful but felt great afterward). I also take probiotics and cranberry.
I have better control and no UTIs. My back is better, too. I don't worry about it either.
So. The CAT scan of my bladder cost me $1360. The PT cost me over $800 out of pocket. The urologist appointments, cystoscopy, etc. takes the cost well over $2500 and closer to $3000. It's good to know there is nothing wrong with me, but this is absolutely the last time I let a minor problem escalate into such an expensive endeavor.
Don't I have insurance? Yes, but I have a $4000 family deductible. It mostly reduces the costs of what they are allowed to charge, but consequently only those reduced costs go toward the deductible, meaning I am unlikely to ever meet the deductible. The drug portion and the wellness portion are better though, and I pay very little for my high deductible insurance.
Bottom line: My GP says I'm quite healthy, there's nothing wrong with my bladder, and I had heart tests last year to show my heart is fine. I am going to take care of myself and stop worrying. Unless I have cancer, a broken bone, or a stroke/heart attack, I'm staying away from the medical establishment as much as possible and will not worry about relatively small things. That was an expensive UTI.
In early October I had those two tests. Nothing was anatomical wrong, so I was sent for physical therapy for the pelvic floor. I didn't at the time know there was such a thing. That was helpful; I imagine I will be doing those PT exercises for a long time. I changed some other habits; different way of consuming water, scheduling bathroom visits, no iced tea or soda, putting my feet up. They even massaged my bladder (painful but felt great afterward). I also take probiotics and cranberry.
I have better control and no UTIs. My back is better, too. I don't worry about it either.
So. The CAT scan of my bladder cost me $1360. The PT cost me over $800 out of pocket. The urologist appointments, cystoscopy, etc. takes the cost well over $2500 and closer to $3000. It's good to know there is nothing wrong with me, but this is absolutely the last time I let a minor problem escalate into such an expensive endeavor.
Don't I have insurance? Yes, but I have a $4000 family deductible. It mostly reduces the costs of what they are allowed to charge, but consequently only those reduced costs go toward the deductible, meaning I am unlikely to ever meet the deductible. The drug portion and the wellness portion are better though, and I pay very little for my high deductible insurance.
Bottom line: My GP says I'm quite healthy, there's nothing wrong with my bladder, and I had heart tests last year to show my heart is fine. I am going to take care of myself and stop worrying. Unless I have cancer, a broken bone, or a stroke/heart attack, I'm staying away from the medical establishment as much as possible and will not worry about relatively small things. That was an expensive UTI.
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