We were supposed to see the Neurosurgeon for the 1st follow-up on 11/15. They called 11/14 at 10am and cancelled - he will be doing an emergency surgery on Friday. Considering that he did the same thing to fix the Mr's back - can't be po'd can we? But somebody cancelled today and could we be there at 1:30? You Bet!! So we closed up shop and headed over to Walnut Creek. He took some of the staples out of the incision. But the upper part has some swelling. A seroma he called it. Gave me an RX for an antibiotic and said if it started draining, call in the RX and call him. Otherwise, he is doing well.
So the Mr. thinks that he should be able to ride the golf cart, drive the ranch truck and go fishing. The Dr. said - here is what I think. Whatever you THINK that you are able to do - do 50% less! And for the next week until that seroma gets better, I want you to do even less than that. Like, not much! So he has decided that he will be a really good guy for a week. His motivation - one day after the last staples come out - he can have a shower! That cool NASA no-rinse soap even when I use hundreds of baby wipes to give him a sponge bath - just aren't the same.
He wanted to see the incision so I took some photos before I dressed it tonight. Handed him the SD card and reader as I was finishing dinner. So - did you check it out? yea.
That was a pretty subdued yea. Felt like a oh holy fucking hell is that MY back? yea. It's like a foot long or better. And is still pretty scary looking. So maybe looking at the pix will dampen his enthusiasm a bit for riding the golf cart or WORSE! going fishing!
So the explanation of benefits showed up from Anthem for the ambulance ride from Sutter Delta to John Muir. 2125 dollars! They say it is our responsibility to pay 1604 But they cut us a check for 520. Why didn't they just pay the ambulance co? My mind is fucking reeling. 244 applies to the deductible. 244 lousy fucking dollars applies to the deductible? This is a fucking nightmare and this bill is just for the ambulance ride. The 2nd ambulance ride. Haven't seen anything for the one from the house to Sutter Delta. So there is 1604 bucks to add to the total we will have to pay out of pocket.
I am trying very hard right now not to become depressed. Total Out Of Pocket will not mean shit if we have to pay this percentage of every bill that comes in.
He is getting better every day. He can do a little more. He had the brace on from 9am to 7pm tonight - that is a long time. Says that riding in the car does not hurt but I hear the grunts when we hit a bump. The ride from Sherman Island to Walnut Creek isn't short. He pushed a cart in the grocery store on the way home. He helped fix dinner. Washed a pan and fried taco meat. Told him at that point, the brace needed to come off. I dressed the seroma. Finished the meal and he ate and is now sleeping.
The Dr. said - you have a home bed? Yes - the hospital required it before discharge. He said - I actually do not like those, you should be sleeping in your own bed! WTF? I am starting to see why the medical device tax should be implemented. All sorts of things are being sold/rented that you do not actually need while you are just freaked out. I called a co. in Brentwood about renting a commode. She said - you can't rent a commode, you have to buy one! It's $110 - 'coz sanitary reasons! And I got to thinking - if it's unsanitary to rent a commode, why the fuck are public toilets legal? If that was the case then I should rip out the toilet in my campground every time somebody uses it!!! Called a Co. in Antioch (where the poors live) of course! you can rent a commode - it's 35 a month. How long will you need it? About two months - then you might as well buy it - it's 70 bucks. That was the gal who told me that if YOU are not ready for him to come home - you tell them to shove it! They wanted me to bring him home in the dark on 11/4. I told him - NO WAY! You tell them I will be there tomorrow morning. I am NOT driving you home to the sticks in the dark. It's unsafe. Today, on the ride to the Dr's office - as we were on the steep and winding parts of Kirker Pass - he agreed that it would have not been good to be driving that late at night! Win!