to top it off

I recently received the charges for when I went to the ER for the miscarriage.  Being that I didn't have insurance I knew it wouldn't be cheap but had just no idea how they screw you when you're a patient in the ER. Yes...I'm going to rant a little bit so sit down or come back when you have a few minutes.

I called the Dr office, where I was to have my first prenatal visit, only to learn that they wouldn't see me given the circumstances.  After Googling and learning more about what could/couldn't be done at 5 weeks I figured I just needed a blood test to determine that I was indeed losing the pregnancy.  I called three other Dr offices and a walk in clinic, only to be told the same thing..."you HAVE to go to the ER".  So we went.  I checked in, waited, filled out more paperwork, waited some more...all the time in pain, very uncomfortable and having to "share" what was going on with the others waiting in the ER waiting room.  After an hour of waiting, with no information, I said that I wanted to leave.  Jimmy reluctantly agreed and I went to tell the nurse at registration.  She said the wait was for a bed w/ stirrups for an exam.  I said that I wasn't even sure I wanted an exam...and she said she was sorry but treatment wasn't up to me...so we left.

We went back the next morning and got right in only to wait about 1/2 hour before anyone came in.  The first nurse to come in stayed across the room, right by the door, and seemed very uncomfortable talking to a woman who was miscarring.  While I understand that doctors and nurses don't get emotionally attached to their patients...the utter lack of compassion and asking the same questions three times was very uncomfortable and just made me more upset about the reason I was there in the first place. Why do we fill out all that paperwork only to have to rehash the information verbally?  Just fill in the form while you ask your questions please!!

When the doctor came in, about an hour or so later, I was pretty steamed (close to leaving again).  He too stayed far away from us and wondered why my answers were short and why I appeared angry.  As calmly as I could I explained (like I really had to??!!) that the reason I was in the ER was difficult and upsetting.  He launched in to talking about my spontaneous abortion and I stopped him and asked him to use a different term.  He again asked "why"?  I really wanted to deck him at that point.  Sure...that is the 'medical term' for what was happening but, to me, the term 'abortion' suggests a willingness to end a pregnancy...and this was not something that I was choosing.

Somehow we managed to have a discussion about what I understood to be happening, what I thought I wanted to have done, what he suggested I have done and what we agreed would be done.  At discharge, we had been in the ER for four hours and I saw the Dr/nurses MAYBE a total of 25 mins - total.  

Now that you have that background...lets talk about the bills.  First there is the bill from the ER which was $430.  This included: lab work ($175), ER care ($243) and supplies ($12).  Since there were no further details, but I knew exactly what they did/didn't do, I called to get further explanation about the charges.  After several calls back-and-forth I found they (surprise!) charged me for lab tests that were never performed.  I also found out that it costs $220 just to be a patient in the ER.  Well...I got the bill reduced to $350 and, with a "prompt pay 20% discount" will need to pay $280 for the ER visit.  

About a week later another bill arrived.  Yes, there is a separate bill for the doctor!  This one was 'only' $345.  I will be making my phone call tomorrow asking for justification for this charge.  Ironically, given the fact that I don't have health insurance, the Dr. and I spent a few minutes discussing care...what was necessary now and what could wait or what might be necessary if XYZ happened...he stated that over 70% of his patients didn't pay his bill.  I laughed and said that I didn't have any intention of NOT paying, I just didn't want to be paying for anything unnecessary.  Well...now I know why that many people DON'T pay!!

I'm sure if you sat down with a hospital administrator they would have perfectly reasonable explanation as to why their charges are what they are.  From a patients perspective however, if you're going to charge me $775 I should have had a no waiting, pillow, warm blanket, massage, snack (we were there until lunch time) doctor at my side through the entire stay and...maybe even an "I'm sorry this is happening to you...we'll do everything we can to be sensitive to the situation".   

what a difference a day makes

I have to be the bearer of the news that I am no longer pregnant.  I was pretty excited to share the news (since I actually kept it quiet for 5 weeks) and didn't even consider that there might be a problem...but apparently there was.  I knew Wednesday afternoon that something was going on that shouldn't and, after a (long) visit to the ER Thursday, it was confirmed.  

Physically, I am fine. My body is doing what it does in this situation.  Unless a complication arises, I will have a follow-up in a week or two.  Mentally...well I'm still figuring that out.

I am sure that you will only have kind words of support for Jim and I but, at least for now, I would prefer to just leave the news "as is" and not have conversation about it.  Jim may have different feelings about it...but these are mine.  I may blog about it at a later date.  Right now I am going to dose up on some Advil, grab the heating pad and go to sleep.

Silly, I  know, but I do feel a bit foolish for telling people early (5 weeks) but again, with never having any previous problems, I figured 'sure, why wait?'. Jim said today that he was just processing that I was pregnant and now has to totally shift his thinking.  I'm sure you're feeling the same. Who knows...maybe we'll be sharing good news of a pregnancy again in the future. We still have a month or so to "get what you get by 40". haha.

In the mean time, you can keep up on the latest at our family web site or our individual blogs.

kristi's: http://kcblue@blogspot.com

jim's: http://drjimmyc.blogspot.com

Thank you, as always, for your love and prayers.

sharing the news

Today, on our fifth wedding anniversary, I told Jim that we were expecting again.  I'd already had a couple of days to digest the news so was a little anxious to see his reaction.  He didn't believe me this time either...even with the stick in front of him!

We dove right in to discussing the fact that, while he and Olivia are covered, I currently do not have health insurance.  Given the health issues I dealt with, while pregnant with Olivia, this is a bit nerve-wracking.  Something else to consider is that I don't have an OB/GYN.  I got a 'clean bill of health' from my Dr. before we moved and, given the insurance situation, hadn't bothered to even think about finding one in our new location.  So...parent guilt has already reared it's ugly head.  We will begin a series of phone calls tomorrow to establish a physician, get those important pre-natal vitamins and figure out how much this is going to cost!

With those important questions to answer, we decided that we would wait to share the news. Well...that lasted about 6 hours 'til we were on the phone with my in-laws and we blabbed. We will blab to the girls and my parents tomorrow.

I'm horrible at keeping secrets...well...good news secrets.  I'm feeling like there is so much negativity in the world right now that when there is something truly joyous to share...why hold it in??!!