what did you do today? (2008-2015) (closed)

[REWahoo]

My doctor told me that they don't have the proper refrigerated storage at their office, it has to be kept colder than normal refrigeration, but that I could pick it up at a pharmacy and bring it in. That sounds a little odd to me.

I got the same story from my doc.

 

[TromboneAl]

I weighed myself this morning and was very pleased to see the numbers 179.

In that order?

 

[antmary]

I got the same story from my doc.

Me too. They told me that Medicare doesn't pay for shingles vaccine. That means my supplemental insurance won't pay. I haven't checked into my drug coverage (Humana). At the county, it costs $170.00.

 

[Khan]

Yes, I did. My doctor's office put my name on a waiting list. I had to wait about a month before they called me. I did see my doctor and asked about the vaccine, but only because I was at a regularly scheduled appointment when I asked. You probably could just call you doctor's office and ask for the vaccine without a real doctor's appointment. A nurse will probably give you the shot without even seeing the doctor after they get you down for wanting the shot. Well...maybe that's not quite right...a doc would need to write the order for the shot...hmmm Call and see what they say?

So in order to get the shingles vaccine I have to acquire a doctor, arrange an appointment, get a prescription...
Why?
Didn't have to do all that stuff for flu or TDaP.

 

[Khan]

Here in Michigan you can get one at a drug store without a prescription. In order for my health insurance to pay for it, I'd have to be 65 yo and have a doc administer the shot.

So prescription requirement varies by state?

 

[Khan]

I was at the doctor on Monday and got both the flu and pneumonia vaccines. One in each arm. Didn't hurt at the time but 4 days later I'm still sore, like I got punched or ran into something.

Our insurance covers the shingles vaccine at 100% for age 50 and over if given at a doctor's office so I asked about getting that one, too. My doctor told me that they don't have the proper refrigerated storage at their office, it has to be kept colder than normal refrigeration, but that I could pick it up at a pharmacy and bring it in. That sounds a little odd to me. Our insurance won't pay for it if given at a pharmacy, it would have to go through our prescription plan and we have a $550 deductible and then 35% copay on prescriptions. The doctor said she'd ask her administrator how to handle this. I'm not in a hurry for the shingles vaccine but I do want to move ahead on it so I'll see what they come up with.

I'm in Ohio where I think you need a prescription for the shingles vaccine. Many pharmacies advertise that they have it available.

They say they have it available but don't mention you need a prescription until you actually ask for it.

 

[ERD50]

I was at the doctor on Monday and got both the flu and pneumonia vaccines. One in each arm. Didn't hurt at the time but 4 days later I'm still sore, like I got punched or ran into something.

Our insurance covers the shingles vaccine at 100% for age 50 and over if given at a doctor's office so I asked about getting that one, too. My doctor told me that they don't have the proper refrigerated storage at their office, it has to be kept colder than normal refrigeration, but that I could pick it up at a pharmacy and bring it in. ...

I got the flu & pneumonia vaccines together this year (timing was right, I was in for regular blood work, statin refills). Arm was a bit sore, but I definitely felt a mild flu-like for a few days, Don't recall ever having that before, but never had the pneumonia shot before.

Doctor also said that if you get one round vaccine shots, you need to wait (6-8 weeks?) before getting another. Something about the body has to finish fighting the first before starting on a second. My son in 3rd year PharmD school agreed. So make sure you wait the appropriate time before getting the Shingles shot.

I still need to check if my ins covers it, but I might pay the cost regardless. My son just came down with it at 25, fortunately it doesn't seem to be an extreme case.

-ERD50

 

[Nords]

I got the same story from my doc.

My doctor told me that they don't have the proper refrigerated storage at their office, it has to be kept colder than normal refrigeration, but that I could pick it up at a pharmacy and bring it in.

Same here, and the pharmacist was opening the freezer to check her stock.

 

[freebird5825]

In that order?

Yuppers! I've been seeing 18x for almost a year. That 7 was a welcome sight.

Still chipping away at the pre-winter ToDo list...anything liquid in the back shed has to be brought into the garage, need to drain garden hoses and turn off outside water spigot, blackberry vines need trimming back, garlic needs to be planted, more falling leaves on the lawn to chop up, 2 window AC units need to be removed, need to carry up more seasoned wood, put Stabil in mower gas tanks, etc etc.

How did I do all this when I w*rked? Phew!

 

[M Paquette]

I'm back at home after a few exciting experiences at the hospital and clinic.

I had a referral to see the urologist at our HMO, about my prostate and urinary retention problem. So it begins...

"You need to wear a Foley catheter for a week to relieve the stress on your bladder.". Um. OK? So, lie back and think happy thoughts... Once the nurse detached me from the ceiling tiles, she gave me a quick rundown on how to clean things, and a few accessories to let me engage in now-complicated tasks like taking a shower. I was then sent home, little knowing what was in store...

An hour after getting home, I feel light headed. I check the collection bag, and see about 200 ml of blood. Not pink or red blood tinted urine, but opaque, dark red blood, exactly like what I see in the bag when donating blood. Now, not having medical training, I find this curious, and a bit alarming. I know that on "House" when this happens all manner of medical hilarity ensues. So, I call Urology and leave a message. I call the advice line for our HMO, and listen to Muzak for 20 minutes or so until I am feeling faint. Then I decide on a more direct approach, inform DW, and we head for the ER. There goes my high deductible savings for the year...

We get to the ER, the triage nurse takes the vitals, and checks the collection bag. When the ER nurse looks startled, you know things are going to be interesting. I was admitted immediately, which was a relief for me. I had managed to get myself in an environment where I could be monitored and kept out of further trouble.

Over the next 16 hours I learned all about catheter placement, the different sizes and tip styles, and the wonders of the three-way Foley for irrigation and the hazards of clots in catheters. (The line clogged a couple of times from clots, which were promptly dislodged. If that had happened at home, I would have had more trouble.)

It turns out that bleeding when decompressing a distended bladder is pretty common. While distended, the internal pressure holds the damaged blood vessels closed. When the pressure is relieved, they may open up and bleed immediately, or after some mechanical irritation (like driving home, bouncing and jolting the shrinking bladder). It would have been nice if the urologist had mentioned this. Even better might be to adopt a practice such as telling the patient to walk around and hang out in the lobby for 30 minutes or so, and have the nurse or tech check the collection bag and line for signs of clots or bleeding before sending the patient home. (I'm sure someone will be along shortly to explain why that would be a useless waste of medical resources. Yeah. Compared to 16 hours of ER time? I'll definitely hit my max out-of-pocket on my high deductible plan, but I'm OK, no signs on nasty complications so far.)

So that's what I've been doing. Gad...

 

[REWahoo]

Damn. I almost passed out just reading this...

 

[W2R]

[...]So that's what I've been doing. Gad...

What an alarming experience! Glad that apparently the only harm from it is to your pocketbook. That can be recovered, in time.

 

[TromboneAl]

Wow, that sounds like no fun!

I bet you were (I have to say it before someone else does) pissed off.

 

[Meadbh]

Ouch! Here's hoping your bladder behaves from now on, MPaquette. Is there a plumber in the house?

 

[M Paquette]

Wow, that sounds like no fun!

I bet you were (I have to say it before someone else does) pissed off.

Insert Mork-from-Ork style laughter here...

I'm doing much better today. I'm sitting on my big ole recliner sofa, with cat, water, and a big screen TV. Movie marathon time. Everything is the right color, and flowing along.

Next week I lose the Foley and get an exciting training session on self-catheterization. "Next, carefully detach yourself from the ceiling and lower yourself to the floor."

In a few weeks I'll try to go through a TSA checkpoint while carrying catheters and supporting goodies. That should be good for more entertaining posts.

 

[simple girl]

Goodness, M Paquette, what a frightening ordeal! Glad you are feeling better, but so sorry you have to endure further treatment/tests. This stuff is no fun, but a positive attitude like yours goes a long way!

BTW, I highly recommend a w/c for the airport trip. Cut through all the lines, get priority boarding, etc. It really is a blessing when you've got something medical going on.

 

[freebird5825]

That was QUITE a story. Shudder....

Glad to hear things are improved, M Paquette.

 

[harley]

It turns out that bleeding when decompressing a distended bladder is pretty common.

Sure is a good thing that they warned you about this before you had to get totally freaked out and spend a lot of money and time in the ER...no, wait...nevermind.

 

[M Paquette]

Sure is a good thing that they warned you about this before you had to get totally freaked out and spend a lot of money and time in the ER...no, wait...nevermind.

Thank goodness for Dr. Google, eh?

Oh, best ER page ever: "Paging Dr. Fine; Dr. Fine, please call 40024." Whoooop! Woobwoobwoob, Nyuk, Nyuk, Nyuk...

Presumably doctors Howard and Curley were on another shift.

 

[Leonidas]

Parents weekend at the youngest kid's university. Ate a nice brunch - surprisingly good for institutional food - did the tailgate thing and sat with a near capacity crowd to watch the home team destroy the opponents (56-3 to go 6-0 for the season).

We had some free time and DS asked if we wanted to see his room. Mom immediately set to neatening up - apparently all part of his diabolical plot to get someone else to clean up his room.

 

[redduck]

Insert Mork-from-Ork style laughter here...

I'm doing much better today.

Next week I lose the Foley and get an exciting training session on self-catheterization.
.

You're doing great. Even with your unsettling experience, you write that you will "lose" the Foley as opposed to you will "loose" the Foley.


...did I just wander in from another thread?

 

[REWahoo]

At 1:25 am, a bomb exploded outside our bedroom window - at least, that's what it sounded like. It was actually a bolt of lightning which also instantly set off our home alarm system, including the ear-piercing 85 db internal "burglar stopper" siren. The combination of the two woke us up (understatement) and it was a rude, adrenaline surging, fuzzy-brained, "WTF!?!?" awakening.

To ad insult to injury, the electrical surge that set off the alarm also screwed up the control pad and the alarm would not shut off! As the piercing scream from the alarm continued to fry my brain, I had to find a screwdriver, dig through a bunch of stuff in the back of my closet, locate the the alarm control unit, remove the screws from the cover, unplug the unit from AC power, and disconnect the backup battery to finally shut it up. The entire process probably took 2-3 minutes but it seemed like much, much longer.

That was almost two hours and I'm still awake - wide awake.

But we are getting some nice rain...

Postscript: I did get back to sleep around 4. At 6 am I had a very vivid dream about playing basketball with my grandsons. I went up to dunk the ball, knocked the lamp off my nightstand, the ceramic base hit the uncarpeted floor and shattered into 100 pieces.

I'm up...

 

[Nords]

At 1:25 am, a bomb exploded outside our bedroom window - at least, that's what it sounded like. It was actually a bolt of lightning which also instantly set off our home alarm system, including the ear-piercing 85 db internal "burglar stopper" siren.

Other than ruining sensitive electronics, did the lightning hit any trees or other structures?

I'm impressed that you had the presence of mind to go through the process of removing alarm power. I wouldn't have killed it that quickly...

 

[REWahoo]

Other than ruining sensitive electronics, did the lightning hit any trees or other structures?

Not that I can tell, but I'll know more once the sun comes up.

What is really strange is we didn't lose power - no flashing digital displays or any other sign of the disturbance. My knowledge of electron behavior is miniscule but I suspect the alarm was triggered by the several hundred feet of wire running from the sensors on each door and window in the house. That makes for a large antenna to pick up any sort of electrical disturbance and channel it to a central point - the alarm control box.

Wonder what will happen when I return power to the alarm system? Guess I'll wait until late morning to find out. I'm probably not too popular with my nearest neighbors - even though their house is a couple of hundred yards across the road.

 

[ls99]

Well you now KNOW the alarm works. Timing of the test not so good. Yea long wiring is good for inducing problems, Shielded wiring may have helped at much greater cost.

Years, 25 maybe, ago ripped out a transistorized siren fire alarm control system for a fire department. Sucker set off all the sirens around town at the hint of a thunderstorm. Replaced with good old relays and relay logic in metal cans. Still in service, no glitches. Fire dept is happy.