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Gretchen, I'm so glad to read that you're already on the road to recovery. It's amazing what can be done w/surgery nowadays. Keep on w/your positive attitude; I'm sure it helped in your healing and getting you home so fast. And your typing looks just fine to me. Continued prayers are going up for you. :love:
I know exactly what you mean- but allow yourself some time. This is NOT a small thing :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Grace
Holy Cow :eek:
The hospital bill came in the mail today! I was in the hospital for 53 hours, and the bill is $62,000!!!!!!!
Still to receive the doctor's bill :eek:
I have some questions about some of the listed items - will call about them on Monday.
Did you get the bill, or do you mean a copy of the bill? I have Medicare
and my own health insurance and all I see are copies of bills and sometimes
a bill for my co-pay, if it hasn't already been paid. I do get a copy of the
Doctor charges from my HMO, but not a bill.
I can imagine how many pages a bill that size would be.:eek: Wow.:eek:
I suspect there will be more bills, lol: Anesthesiologist, lab, and on and on. Seems each and every one bills separately!Quote:
Originally Posted by Grace
Now, you put that ENORMOUS number in the thread title. DO post and tell us you have insurance coverage!!! As lizbud said.
Yeah - it's only a single page - but it says at the top Hospital Inpatient Bill - then different charges are listed. ICU 1 day - 3,683; Room Charge 1 day - 1422; then a bunch of ancillary charges, including Pharmacy, Sterile Supplies, Anesthesia, Operating Room, MRI, etc. At the bottom - No Payment Due At This Time.Quote:
Originally Posted by lizbud
Yes, I have wonderful medical insurance. Medicare, of course, with supplemental backup from The University of Michigan - which is where I had the surgery. Once upon a long time ago, I worked in the Neuro ICU - this time I was a patient there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Freedom
Whew! I had visions of the furkids having to give up their treats! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Grace
I'm very sorry to have missed this Gretchen, but glad to hear that your doing well.
It's a good thing you don't have to pay that big bill!
I think I've been on another planet because I totally missed this Post on PT.
Gretchen, I am so glad you are doing so well. I know you are fully aware of the OT that is required sometime to fully restore fine motor. I know you will be back to normal in no time, posting two handed without spell check. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grace
They probably put the "no payment due at this time" in very small print too.:rolleyes: The better to get your heart pumping overtime.:p
You get started on your PT next week, right? I hope all goes well and
you are back to 100% in no time.:)
Unfortunately, you can probably expect the final total to be much more. Bobcat had back surgery last November. The grand total was over $200,000!!!!!!! :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
That's insane!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by kuhio98
It's funny- here all things medical are cheaper anyway- plus there are 15 years in between. The hospital room in my case was about 300 Euro (we didn't have Euro then) and the surgery without the anesthesia- so the biggest part of the bill- was like 5000 Euro.
A bargain compared to yours ;)
I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to know that your surgery went well. My Mom had the same type of tumor, her surgery also went extremely well. Hers was the size of a tennis ball.
Please know that my thoughts, and especially my prayers, are with you for a swift and full recovery :love:
I'm wishing you a speedy recovery Gretchen, from across the ocean!!!
Saw the Neurosurgeon today - all staples removed. My hand is getting better - now typing with it. Not always totally correct, but it's progress. Can tie my shoes. Still having problems putting on my earrings, and hooking my bra :D
Oh, that's great, Gretchen!
Will you be up to having coffee at the Bearclaw Cafe any time soon, do you think?
Good progress report! And thank goodness you've got good insurance! There should be insurance coverage for the shock one suffers when reading a hospital bill.
I'm glad you're getting better. Brain surgery has to be scary...don't want to "flash away all your med school" (line from Men in Black).
So glad you are getting better and better! :)
Wow, just reading this. I'm glad that they were able to remove your tumor. I hope you gain full function in your hand. Hugs.
Even 15 years ago, when I had my brain surgery, the bill was something like $30,000 - all covered by my insurance, thankfully. So I am not surprised it's even more now! Still it is startling to get a bill with such huge numbers on it - even if it's nothing you actually have to pay!
I was wondering how you were doing. Has the PT been a help in your
use of your hand? Just thought it was time for a general update if you
feel up to it. I do miss your postings & hope all is well with you.:)
Yea me too! How are you? Please update us here...
I'm just now seeing this. I hope your recovery is still moving forward. Would be a scary thing to have experienced.
Thanks for inquiring liz, Laura and Val. Sorry I didn't get to this sooner.
Surgery was 6 weeks ago today, and I saw my surgeon yesterday for a final check. All is well - except for that left hand. Two of the fingers, middle and index, continue to be extremely numb. And if you can't feel it, you don't know what it's doing. This doesn't work too well with typing. I am getting better with that, though. The surgeon feels that I will regain all feeling and normal function in the future.
I had several visits with O.T., and they gave me exercises and activities to do at home. I find that the best thing for me has been to return to my volunteer work in the school library. I started back two weeks ago and it has done wonders for my spirits as well as my hand. I get there and start doing all the stuff, and suddenly realize I'm using my left hand without thinking about it. That's what I need to do.
The staples were removed a month ago, and the scar has really faded. Unless you know where to look, you won't see it. I asked him how big the bone flap was - as big as his hand - Yikes!!
He said I have no restrictions now - can do whatever I want. I'll have another MRI in a year, and an EEG in March. I got put on an anti-convulsant post-op, prophylactically, and if the EEG is clear, I can stop them then.
I still need a nap once in awhile, but basically I'm doing well. Putting on my earrings is still a challenge, as is hooking my bra (hope that's not TMI ??).
I got a copy of the surgery report - I've read things like this for years, but when it's your own . . . . . . .
I learned this, I think, from Heloise. Put your bra around you, upside down and inside out. So the outside is next to your skin and straps hanging down. Turn it around so the fasteners are in front of you. Should be easier to fasten, if you can see them. Then turn it around so fasteners are in the back, put your hands, then arms through the straps and pull up and over your shoulders. Good luck ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Grace
Can't help you with the earrings.
LOL Not TMI at all.:) re: that problem with the hooks, just wanted to
say that that's what husbands are for.:) It's great that you can get back
out for volunteering again.:) Thanks for updating us.
Grace it's nice to hear that your working and feeling so much better!
That's great news, Grace. So nice to learn how well you're doing!
Are you up for some coffee at Bearclaw any time soon?
Pat
Glad to hear things are improving! Having good spirits are really important in healing. Sounds like the library job is just what you need :)